American VS Delta, NY Based
Dec 28, 2015 | 3:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 12
American VS Delta, NY Based
Hello,
I am based on Long Island, NY and frequently use JFK and LGA although I live right near Islip for flying. I would say I am at the bottom to mid tier in turns of travel. All of my business travel is domestic with 2/3 of it being in the eastern half of the country. I barely made American platinum this year so I would say I could easily maintain gold and sporadically hit platinum year after year.
I generally prefer first class as I find I can be so much more productive work wise with the real estate, it really has nothing to do with the drinks, meals, etc. More comfort and realistic work space is premium for me.
My primary goal to earning miles is to travel with my family of 5 (for example going to Disney, 5 free tickets on Southwest in a few weeks).
The upgrades to first are nice but most of the time since not guaranteed if it is within 100-200 Ill just pay for it to ensure I get it.
I currently fly American. But I find that I have to connect on every flight, it seems unless you go to Chicago or Dallas (obviously) there is nothing direct. Flight times are tough too. I read an article you wrote a few years ago how American really does not focus on NY based routes but people flying into NY which I can see being very true.
I am trying to decide if switching over to Delta would be a good move for me. Some observations:
1. Being a less frequently traveler rollover MQMs seems like a HUGE benefit to me
2. Lack of mileage expiration is a good thing too
3. Upgrades solely on priority is probably beneficial although I am sure I will rarely get them (I earned 4 500 mile upgrades all of last year on American as this was my first year with status so I view them as pretty much worthless)
4. I am very concerned about the mileage value though. Everything I read says Deltas miles are the most worthless in the industry
5. Giving up my status and 90,000+ miles on American. Of course I would try to use them via free flights so I dont lose them but I did just earn platinum status for next year
6. Maybe just something I seem to notice but the Delta planes tend to be more recently upgraded and just feel more comfortable
Thoughts? I would just go the jetblue route but I do enjoy the first class room. So the real question is Delta vs American. Again the flight times and connections seem to be the real issue on American.
Thanks so much for the time to respond!
I am based on Long Island, NY and frequently use JFK and LGA although I live right near Islip for flying. I would say I am at the bottom to mid tier in turns of travel. All of my business travel is domestic with 2/3 of it being in the eastern half of the country. I barely made American platinum this year so I would say I could easily maintain gold and sporadically hit platinum year after year.
I generally prefer first class as I find I can be so much more productive work wise with the real estate, it really has nothing to do with the drinks, meals, etc. More comfort and realistic work space is premium for me.
My primary goal to earning miles is to travel with my family of 5 (for example going to Disney, 5 free tickets on Southwest in a few weeks).
The upgrades to first are nice but most of the time since not guaranteed if it is within 100-200 Ill just pay for it to ensure I get it.
I currently fly American. But I find that I have to connect on every flight, it seems unless you go to Chicago or Dallas (obviously) there is nothing direct. Flight times are tough too. I read an article you wrote a few years ago how American really does not focus on NY based routes but people flying into NY which I can see being very true.
I am trying to decide if switching over to Delta would be a good move for me. Some observations:
1. Being a less frequently traveler rollover MQMs seems like a HUGE benefit to me
2. Lack of mileage expiration is a good thing too
3. Upgrades solely on priority is probably beneficial although I am sure I will rarely get them (I earned 4 500 mile upgrades all of last year on American as this was my first year with status so I view them as pretty much worthless)
4. I am very concerned about the mileage value though. Everything I read says Deltas miles are the most worthless in the industry
5. Giving up my status and 90,000+ miles on American. Of course I would try to use them via free flights so I dont lose them but I did just earn platinum status for next year
6. Maybe just something I seem to notice but the Delta planes tend to be more recently upgraded and just feel more comfortable
Thoughts? I would just go the jetblue route but I do enjoy the first class room. So the real question is Delta vs American. Again the flight times and connections seem to be the real issue on American.
Thanks so much for the time to respond!
Dec 28, 2015 | 4:27 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,931
Look and ask here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html Many linked threads in post 3
Several AA refugees (after the ffp changes) looking for better
Several DL looking for better.
What are your common destinations?
AA miles do not expire if you have eligible activity in 18 months.
DL sky pesos not expiring is the exception in the ffp world
The airline you fly most or an airline of the country you live is the best ffp for many people.
The airline you fly and the airline ffp you credit those flights to does not need to be the same.
Freq flyer miles are not equal to earn or burn.
The grass in not always greener on the other side
Several AA refugees (after the ffp changes) looking for better
Several DL looking for better.
What are your common destinations?
AA miles do not expire if you have eligible activity in 18 months.
DL sky pesos not expiring is the exception in the ffp world
The airline you fly most or an airline of the country you live is the best ffp for many people.
The airline you fly and the airline ffp you credit those flights to does not need to be the same.
Freq flyer miles are not equal to earn or burn.
The grass in not always greener on the other side
Dec 28, 2015 | 8:28 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 12
I can repost it on that other forum but I also learned posting in more than forum is against rules (I wasnt sure where it should go so I did post in 3 locations to ensure a response).
AA points dont expire for 18 months but if I convert to Delta, I risk them unless I use them as I am really trying as of late to fly one airline exclusively.
Unfortunately I do not have common destinations. My flights are project and client based. If we get a request for a project in city X, I go there. Often only 1-3 times. And this just rotates fairly randomly. There are times we do one project frequently in one city but within 1 year that changes.
Last year I did SFO monthly, earlier this year Chicago monthly for 6 months. Now, I am on a random pattern so it all depends on where the clients send us.
AA points dont expire for 18 months but if I convert to Delta, I risk them unless I use them as I am really trying as of late to fly one airline exclusively.
Unfortunately I do not have common destinations. My flights are project and client based. If we get a request for a project in city X, I go there. Often only 1-3 times. And this just rotates fairly randomly. There are times we do one project frequently in one city but within 1 year that changes.
Last year I did SFO monthly, earlier this year Chicago monthly for 6 months. Now, I am on a random pattern so it all depends on where the clients send us.
Dec 28, 2015 | 10:07 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,931
If you go to DL, it is easy to fly 1 AA flight, eligible car rental or hotel every 18 months. Is not hard to keep AA miles alive.
Your post 920 in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25928292-post920.html Which ffp
I will ask the moderators to lock this thread. You have got some good answers in your other threads
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...-ny-based.html DL forum
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-ny-based.html AA forum (locked)
Your post 920 in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25928292-post920.html Which ffp
I will ask the moderators to lock this thread. You have got some good answers in your other threads
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...-ny-based.html DL forum
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-ny-based.html AA forum (locked)