American AA vs. United UA [Consolidated]
Aug 25, 2013, 12:12 am
#121
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Gold, AA Lifetime Gold, United Silver, BA Gold
Posts: 864
American Airlines v/s United Airlines
Based purely on availability of award travel (United has a huge availability even during Christmas and the network is huge) and less number of miles required (for ex: Business Class to India needs 120K with United vs 130K with AA and paying huge BA surcharges unless you can fly Etihad/RJ). I have lived in DFW and have almost a million miles with AA, but I have stopped taking AA flight and concentrate all my efforts on UA accrual as I fly to India at least once a year in Business on Award travel and I never get availability in AA unless I am willing to pay 1200$ in surcharge to BA which has wide availability OR willing to travel thru hoops and bounds (RJ/Etihad).
Aug 25, 2013, 10:26 am
#122
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1
What is the best timing when trying to book award travel on AA to Spain? Have found that award travel itself doesn't seem to be enough. There are many surcharges amounting to as much as $1200 for Business travel. Help! Is there something I'm missing?
Aug 25, 2013, 11:15 am
#123
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: TXL/SXF
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Thanks everyone for your input-- it is much appreciated.
I think I'm going to try and meet the AA status challenge for now, and then perhaps match to UA next year or so.
I think I'm going to try and meet the AA status challenge for now, and then perhaps match to UA next year or so.
Aug 25, 2013, 4:11 pm
#124
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Yes: aa.com is not able to display award-seat availability on IB metal. Call AA and ask.
Originally Posted by bon144
What is the best timing when trying to book award travel on AA to Spain? Have found that award travel itself doesn't seem to be enough. There are many surcharges amounting to as much as $1200 for Business travel. Help! Is there something I'm missing?
Aug 25, 2013, 5:02 pm
#125
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Speaking as a low tier elite with both carriers (AA Gold and UA Silver) I think AA is far better. AA Golds get priority boarding, priority security and check-in and for now, exit rows. Also, while the upgrades aren't free, you'll have a much better shot at them then you would as a UA Silver. Plus, if you're based in Dallas, the amount of AA nonstops makes the choice much easier. And if you make AA Plat, it's even more superior than UA Gold.
Aug 25, 2013, 6:31 pm
#126
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If the OP is going to be doing the long-haul trips as revenue travel then AA makes a ton of sense. If awards are the goal on those it is less certain. AA awards are solid into Asia thanks to Cathay. India is harder as there is much less coverage and you're basically forced on to BA metal which means much higher award costs.
Aug 25, 2013, 7:46 pm
#127
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And AA provides the exact same level of service to HNL. Not really a solid differentiation point there.
If the OP is going to be doing the long-haul trips as revenue travel then AA makes a ton of sense. If awards are the goal on those it is less certain. AA awards are solid into Asia thanks to Cathay. India is harder as there is much less coverage and you're basically forced on to BA metal which means much higher award costs.
If the OP is going to be doing the long-haul trips as revenue travel then AA makes a ton of sense. If awards are the goal on those it is less certain. AA awards are solid into Asia thanks to Cathay. India is harder as there is much less coverage and you're basically forced on to BA metal which means much higher award costs.
Aug 25, 2013, 9:19 pm
#128
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I was over in Barcelona just three weeks ago on AA metal and total taxes were $57 on a coach award.
Tom in Las Vegas
Aug 26, 2013, 3:09 pm
#129
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Unfortunately, you have no choice. 
If your short hops were all inside the Wright Amendment footprint, you could potentially explore a two-airline approach: WN for the regional stuff and Star Alliance for Asia, quickly snagging an Aegean elite status to facilitate the travels. But Southwest will only get you to MSY, not BNA or MCO without a stop.
In other words, you are AA's prisoner and I don't think there is really anything you can do about it.
If your short hops were all inside the Wright Amendment footprint, you could potentially explore a two-airline approach: WN for the regional stuff and Star Alliance for Asia, quickly snagging an Aegean elite status to facilitate the travels. But Southwest will only get you to MSY, not BNA or MCO without a stop.
In other words, you are AA's prisoner and I don't think there is really anything you can do about it.
Aug 26, 2013, 3:31 pm
#130
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Unfortunately, you have no choice.
If your short hops were all inside the Wright Amendment footprint, you could potentially explore a two-airline approach: WN for the regional stuff and Star Alliance for Asia, quickly snagging an Aegean elite status to facilitate the travels. But Southwest will only get you to MSY, not BNA or MCO without a stop.
In other words, you are AA's prisoner and I don't think there is really anything you can do about it.
If your short hops were all inside the Wright Amendment footprint, you could potentially explore a two-airline approach: WN for the regional stuff and Star Alliance for Asia, quickly snagging an Aegean elite status to facilitate the travels. But Southwest will only get you to MSY, not BNA or MCO without a stop.
In other words, you are AA's prisoner and I don't think there is really anything you can do about it.
Aug 26, 2013, 3:51 pm
#131
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Then you'd be somewhat freed of AA's grip, as you could *probably* choose similar itins on both OW and Star to get to Asia.
Aug 31, 2013, 6:43 pm
#132
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: BA Gold; AA Lfe Time PLT ; Marriott Titanium, LFT GLD
Posts: 1,276
I have the same experience as Tom911. I have had 100% clearance on my SWU's (to Beijing, London, Paris, Brussels, Tokyo, Beijing, London) over the last 3 years on AA. At the same time I am at 100% clearance on domestic flights this year (Vancouver, Chicago, Pittsburgh, DC, Cleveland, San Francisco, Chicago, DC, etc.) and ~98% previous two years.
Aug 31, 2013, 7:25 pm
#133
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NYC
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Is there a good reference for how upgrades work for AA Gold? I'm moving over from US Silver, where upgrades were free when available. Here, I see a lot of talk about SWUs, 500-mile upgrades, etc. Any help or cliff notes?
Aug 31, 2013, 10:04 pm
#134
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At AA Gold you'd build up 2,000 miles worth of upgrades for every 10,000 miles you fly, so you'd need to be selective on what flights you request upgrades for unless you're prepared to buy additional upgrades (cheaper on line than at the gate).
As to whether you would clear at the Gold level, it's really dependent on day or week and route. You could start a new thread asking about Gold upgrades from your origin airport and you might get some feedback from someone based there. Keep in mind you'll be competing for space and on some routes even EXP flyers have a tough time clearing.
The Gold guide on the AA website would be a good place to check out:
http://www.aa.com/content/images/AAd...mber_Guide.pdf
Tom in Arlington, Virginia
As to whether you would clear at the Gold level, it's really dependent on day or week and route. You could start a new thread asking about Gold upgrades from your origin airport and you might get some feedback from someone based there. Keep in mind you'll be competing for space and on some routes even EXP flyers have a tough time clearing.
The Gold guide on the AA website would be a good place to check out:
http://www.aa.com/content/images/AAd...mber_Guide.pdf
Tom in Arlington, Virginia