Any advise is appreciated.

I am a weekly US domestic traveler, averaging 125 segments and 100,000+ annual miles.

I live in Denver so I have used UA for the past 5 years. I have seen the value of 1K drop substantially in the last 2 years especially, including what feels like 100 people in boarding group 1, about a 15% upgrade rate, and poor service towards my family when traveling together.

My travel now is primarily to CAE, ORD, and DFW, and smaller airports in the south that I will have to go to ORD or IAH to connect through.

In 16 months I will also be moving to DFW.

So the question is, if given the opportunity to immediately switch to AA and receive EXPlatinum status, should I do that now, or wait until later in the year or when I move?

What is anyone's experience in AA vs UA at these levels?

Primary importance is upgrades on weekly flights, award travel for family (I have to get 4 seats for anytrip) and route schedule.

I know i'll have to switch once I get to DFW, and I can get to wherever I'm going between now and then on AA just as much as I can on UA (directs are to the same places and connections are in Chicago or Texas anyway) so is it better to do it now or ride out UA until the end.

thanks in advance!

I too am considering a move from UA to AA at the same level ..but my travel is about 8 to 10 transatlantic flights from England to the USA and South America each year.

Important to me is seat comfort and upgrades. I also see my reward travel rewards being diminished.

Would love to hear from people who have experienced both airlines about which airline is the best.

AA is the call..... The 4 roundtrips upgrades on ANY fare, is a great deal for international travel. You can check for SPACE prior to purchase and instantly secure. Or buy more expensive UA fares and HOPE to use a GPU.... I was a 1k for the last 2 years, but let it go this year and moved to AA. If you are a 1k, just get a challenge going with AA/US its a no brainer. AA is good about clearing domestic free upgrades. very happy with the move and I'm based in PHX.

UA is too crowded but that will start to drop a little as the spend requirements kick in. make the move sooner rather than later.

If you're going for EXP, I'd do it now. There will most definitely be changes made to the program in the near future. Get it now while it's still 100k EQM or 120 segments to reach EXP.

If you decide to move to AA, Call and ask if they will MATCH.... at worst do a Challenge so your upfront quickly. They will be very interested in knocking off 1K's

I've already got the email in my inbox from AA, all I have to do is reply with the documents they've requested and it's set up, but when I make the move I want to commit 100%, that's why I want to be sure of the move before I hit reply, since I'm sure this is a 1 time chance...

on that note, does AA also automatically add me onto their TSA pre-check like UA has done, or will I need to apply for pre-check. Also what is anyone's experience with upgrades on AA domestically?

DENMike Welcome to FT

Your question has been asked before. Look at the links in post 3:- http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html

Links to AA threads
- AA Program Basics Flyerguide wiki
- AA Elite Status Flyerguide wiki
- AA Miles and Points Flyerguide wiki
- Earning Non-Air AA Mileage Flyerguide wiki
- AAdvantage Participating Airlines Upgrades (on BA, IB)

- AAdvantage Elite Status Challenge Flyerguide wiki
- Help desk AAdvantage elite status challenge Gold Platinum
- AA offers UA elite status matches / challenges (consolidated)
- Elite Status Match by American Airlines (consolidated)
- free trial instant shortcut AAdvantage elite status consolidated Feb 2013
- AA doing free UA elite status matches [on 27-Apr-2012 ltd. to 1K/GS] <----- Look here

Good question. I was in the initial round that AA invited to join, but don't know what the current program is. There is a newbies thread on the AA forum and you could ask there.

I've cleared 18 since January 1 and last year was my lowest year (87%) since they started the EXP comp program in 2004. The only one I missed this year was MIA-SFO which was part of a systemwide upgrade (MAD-MIA, a 9.25 hour flight, cleared at the gate). The MIA-SFO flight had been sold out for weeks and I never expected it to clear. Had an empty seat next to me in coach and enjoyed my EXP sandwich and Sam Adams beer.

I've also cleared 7 more systemwides in the months ahead, on Europe routes, with the exception of one pending domestic segment. I usually don't redeem in the summer months.

Two things you need to consider:

1. What kind of presence does AA have at DEN? From past threads, I always thought that was a difficult market to be an AA flyer.

2. How far out do you book? The current AA program bases most EXP domestic upgrades on date of request, and then come day of departure connecting passengers get a higher replacement. If you book just a day or two out, the AA program might work against you unless you're buying Y fares.

AA flies the new 777-300 on some of the London routes (JFK, LAX). It's a very comfortable plane. I've cleared a few upgrades to/from LAX, as well as on the same aircraft DFW-HKG. You could always work around the more popular aircraft, if there isn't availability up front, by flying older versions of the 767 and 777 with the angled flat seats. Some of those planes are being retrofitted with a new seat configuration while others are being retired.

777-300 business class seat:

Positive big points for AA EXP (at least currently, may change in CY '16)
- 8 x SWU applicable to any fare (personally have purchased 6 R/T tickets ranging from $700-$1050 to either BKK or HKG and was able to confirm upgrades to 77W J at time of purchase! Probably not as likely these days though).
- No spend requirement for qualification


Negative Points for AA EXP
- AA has definitely tightened down both save award and advance upgrade availability on all flights
- Expect spend requirement to come in 2016 qualifying year
- AA food qualify in J/F has gone downhill. UA at least seems to be trying to invest in this area.

I'm AA EXP but purely as leisure traveler. I figure that QY '15 is my last qualifying year and that once spend requirements come in to play that I'll just live on my current LT Gold status (and see how LT Plat status survives the merger and program changes).

Many thanks for all the info ..I am off to see if they will do a status match

In my view the single best perk of AA EXP are the people at the EXP phone desk. Miracle workers, again and again.