What should I do?!
Jan 20, 2020 | 1:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 4
Moving closer to a UA Hub, do I switch to UA or stick with AA?!
Hi, I’ve been with AA for quite awhile now but I’m moving where there is a United hub. I won’t have status on any airline after 1/31 so do I move all my travel (mostly work travel but unsure how much there will be this year) to United or stick with AA? Obviously AA will have fewer options at the new airport but is it worth leaving an airline where I have almost 200k miles saved? Is United better for status if I fly enough? Thanks for your help!!
Last edited by TMRU; Jan 20, 2020 at 3:19 pm Reason: Made it clearer
Jan 20, 2020 | 1:42 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,996
Hi, I’ve been with AA for quite awhile now but I’m moving where there is a United hub. I won’t have status on any airline after 1/31 so do I move all my travel (mostly work travel but unsure how much there will be this year) to United or stick with AA? Obviously AA will have fewer options at the new airport but is it worth leaving an airline where I have almost 200k miles saved? Is United better for status if I fly enough? Thanks for your help!!
And you can always redeem 500 AA miles for a magazine subscription, if you need to.
Jan 20, 2020 | 2:36 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 4
If you won't be able to achieve status with any FFP, what difference does it make how many miles you have with AA? As long as you have some activity (earning or redeeming) in your AAdvantage account, your AA miles will not expire. Even if you never fly AA on a cash ticket again, you can still earn AA miles via hotel stays, car rentals, the AAdvantage shopping portal, and AAdvantage Dining -- to name a few.
And you can always redeem 500 AA miles for a magazine subscription, if you need to.
And you can always redeem 500 AA miles for a magazine subscription, if you need to.
Jan 20, 2020 | 2:56 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,996
Depending on the frequency of your business travel and the fare class of your tickets, even if you end up flying AA, you might be able to achieve oneworld elite status faster by crediting those AA flights to a different FFP -- like Iberia Plus.
AAdvantage and Mileage Plus have their own plusses and minuses. And since each offers one-way redemptions, it might make sense to diversify, and have a stash of miles in both programs.
Jan 20, 2020 | 3:22 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 4
What are you desired award redemptions? Domestic or international? Economy Class or premium cabins?
Depending on the frequency of your business travel and the fare class of your tickets, even if you end up flying AA, you might be able to achieve oneworld elite status faster by crediting those AA flights to a different FFP -- like Iberia Plus.
AAdvantage and Mileage Plus have their own plusses and minuses. And since each offers one-way redemptions, it might make sense to diversify, and have a stash of miles in both programs.
Depending on the frequency of your business travel and the fare class of your tickets, even if you end up flying AA, you might be able to achieve oneworld elite status faster by crediting those AA flights to a different FFP -- like Iberia Plus.
AAdvantage and Mileage Plus have their own plusses and minuses. And since each offers one-way redemptions, it might make sense to diversify, and have a stash of miles in both programs.
Jan 20, 2020 | 3:27 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 4
I tried changing the title, not sure it worked! That’s the thing, I don’t know how much I’ll be traveling for work or how much I’ll spend. I saw UA changed how they reward and I’ve never really flown UA so I don’t know how their service or fleet is or if their status worth it.
Jan 20, 2020 | 3:29 pm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,439
I tried changing the title, not sure it worked! That’s the thing, I don’t know how much I’ll be traveling for work or how much I’ll spend. I saw UA changed how they reward and I’ve never really flown UA so I don’t know how their service or fleet is or if their status worth it.
Jan 20, 2020 | 6:20 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
I tried changing the title, not sure it worked! That’s the thing, I don’t know how much I’ll be traveling for work or how much I’ll spend. I saw UA changed how they reward and I’ve never really flown UA so I don’t know how their service or fleet is or if their status worth it.
Jan 20, 2020 | 7:24 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,037