AA Exec Plat -- should I bail to Delta or Star?
 

Like all of us, I travel....alot. It's all out of pocket personal expense for the most part. I live in New York and can use JFK/LGA/EWR as my home base. Given the new Continental/United frequent flier sharing, I have a bit more flexibility in the Star Alliance. Here's my dilemma, and I'm deferring to the experts on this:

I currently have AA Exec Platinum status for all of 2010. I am Premier on United. I have nothing on Delta (though I could ask for status match to Gold, from what I've seen, but not confirmed). Should I give up my domestic Exec Platinum benefits in 2010, and switch alliances?

My situation:

I have a girlfriend that alternates living in Miami and Chicago, with a whole bunch of her own travelling in between for business. I have flown to many random cities the past 2 years while we've been dating, hence all of my travel.

What do I value? Security and status, knowing I will get home to show up for work on Monday morning. I have probably flown 43 of 48 weekends YTD, and never once have I missed a day of work. This is important, i can't underestimate that. When I have to fly non-AA, I will buy first class sometimes to ensure my travel/personal life does not interfere with work. Should something unexpected occur, I view the first class ticket as rebooking, on-time(ish) arrival insurance.

I love AA's domestic upgrades -- and considering I am Explat, I have them all of 2010....are Star Alliance or Delta's upgrade hit rate as high as AAs are? I have been upgraded on all but 2 of approximately 60 flights this year on AA.


Below are my 3 most common routes, all Friday night flights out with Sunday returns, with my thoughts on each:

1) NYC to LAS -- I play cards. I say I visit vegas 9 to 12 times per year. I might have a problem, but that's for another thread. AA does not fly direct to Las Vegas, except when I work during the day. Delta has great Friday night flights and a bunch of Sunday returns. Continental also has an 8:55 flight at night. All direct.....except AA.

2) NYC to ORD -- this is a United and American route. Delta only flies from JFK at 7:20 pm. I'm unsure I can make that on Friday nights.

3) NYC to MIA -- AA services this the best, Continental has an 8:35 flight out on Friday nights.

The wildcards: I have a single trip I need to book to Hong Kong via Narita in business class in March 2010. This is a huge status-gainer for 2010 I cannot waste (I wasted it on Star last year, hence my status). It's for work, and thus I would not use my American SWUs anyway. Whatever choice I end up making, I'd like to select one of these alliances in advance, as I have 2 Vegas trips planned in January, and I would like to get the qualification for 2010 going.

I don't think the earned SWUs should come into play in the decision-making process. I will give them to my parents or my girlfriend when she travels internationally this year. It was about the "pursuit" (Up in the Air Reference), not the reward. Sunk costs are sunk in terms of luxury, but if I keep American, obviously, I could enjoy them myself. All international trips I take this year should be flown on the alliance I choose, regardless of SWUs.

I know there's been a massive shakeup in Delta SkyMiles, and it doesn't appear you guys like it.....at all. This makes me apprehensive.

Finally, I think EWR is a terribly unreliable airport. I'm basing this on gut and experience, not empirical information. I find JFK/LGA to be most reliable on the routes I fly. Yes, I might be delayed, but I always feel I will land there given my routes. I have less confidence in EWR. Plus, I can get to LGA/JFK by subway/train (yes you can take the subway 90% of the way to LGA from Manhattan) much faster from work on a Friday afternoon than EWR.

Please help me decide the best alliance, given the above criteria. I am indebted to your collective experience and knowledge. Plus, I know you're the only group of people out there that feels my pain on this.

Stick with aa. And dump the out of town girlfriend.

aa exec plat question
 

From your routes, looks like you could get away with the star alliance continental/united. Miami seems like the only one that is more limited.

For the international stuff, especially if you are going to asia, seems like the star alliance might be better. Singapore Air, Thai, United, etc etc.

I suppose one angle you might try is to pay for the status match on one of the star alliance where you do a 90 day challenge. Do it when your hong kong trip is scheduled and you could get the benefits sooner.

You mentioned that your GF does a lot of business flying. Which airline/alliance does she have her status with?

I mention this as, should your relationship continue to grow, ;) the two of you may be traveling together more than you do now.

Quick advice: Junk AA, you and your family deserve better than those stinkin' SWU's, and give those to me. :)

Long Advice: AA has the best frequent flyer program. No US carrier has particularly good service. Star Alliance has the best network of carriers for most situations---but perhaps not for your situation. Delta and Skyteam seem neither here nor there.

AA seems to serve most of your regular routes well enough, and I would consider staying with them.

I wouldn't fret over a one-time trip to Asia - do whatever is convenient.

As for your LAS addiction: cut down on those trips, start enjoying more miles from connections, and occasionally stray to Delta if you have to.

By all means ask United and Delta for a status match. :)

Of the US majors, Delta Airlines' SkyMiles provides the poorest return on miles earned from flight activity and used for award tickets.

I think ultimately I have to stay AA until I'm no longer Explat because I enjoy the free domestic upgrades and the SWUs. But once I'm no longer Explat, I may need to look elsewhere, perhaps......assuming no variables change, which is highly unlikely given my stage in life.

LAS, I have to keep those trips -- I can actually relax in Vegas, as odd as that sounds. I appreciate your advice on all other aspects, it was definitely helpful. I know the switch from one FF program to another will be painful when I eventually do it. I can just tell, it's going to be harder than ending a relationship or quitting a job. It's full-time work getting status, and it's something I value.

The prior comment about the travel and keeping same FF programs, she has gold/premier on AA/United, so it's pretty much a toss up. She's historically used her miles for her Melbourne, London, Paris annual trips so her balances are low and her annual miles earning power not as high. However, her longstanding loyalty is to United, so I think eventually I may need to relent, but only if it's when I am sub-explat, because I don't think she'll complain too much if we take a nice trip somewhere this year with the SWUs (and she'll get some big AA miles in the process). The year the SWUs go, though, I'll be on less firm footing and will be more open to switching, I guess.

I have the opposite problem. My boyfriend is practically married to AA (well he allegedly lives in DFW , the city/airport) but that's another story.

To address your dilemma

EWR and getting back to work on Monday
- If you live in Manhattan EWR is a great airport. Two long runways, I've found it to be more reliable, than LGA, which has one long and one short runway. JFK is a toss up. Next time there is a weather delay, look at the departure boards - you'll notice LGA will be delayed, and EWR will be a go.

- Getting back to the city can be a ....., but the trains are frequent. NJ trainsit out of the city is only 20 minutes

- For CO, the nice thing is - there is a backup airport, LGA. CO flies IAH-LGA, so if EWR has a problem you can always connect through Houston.


Upgrades
I have friends who fly DL out of NYC and I am CO plat elite

-If you care about flying F, you'll have better luck with AA. CO flies 737-800/900 primarily, and those seats clear at the plat elite level, but sometimes it's hard to get. Personally, I am happy with exit row, I dont' care much for CO's F seat

IRROP
- In terms of IRROP, I've heard that AA is outstanding. If the problem is whether related, CO will break all rules and let you do what is convenient for you. They will let you altenate between EWR/LGA to get you home (only during weather problems). DL may get you to jump hoops.


As for your route, the only ding is NYC - LAS, which CO flies. The nice thing about CO is that it is also served by LGA, so you can alternate connecting in IAH or direct (your choice)

Program
I prefer star because it lets me redeeem awards on very nice carriers, OZ, LH, SQ etc. With AA you are stuck with BA, CX, QF not much variety there.

Conclusion
I would stick with AA. And use the SWU to bump yourself to a seat that not only goes fully flat, it swivels! .

A quick babble from the PHL Admirals Club
 

I can't think of a better program to be in
American absolutely rocks.The grass is simply not greener elsewhere with some exceptions depending where the indivdual travels and what carrier one personally prefers.However sometimes its good to change programs to see for yourself or dabble in another without leaving your primary program DOA.
Have been in them at all and at most elite levels.
Americans award availability has consistently been amongst the very best in our country.
Other well known travel reporters have noted that Exec Plat benfits are richer then any other program out there.

AA only gets a barely passing grade for some very tired old aircraft and a number of bitter unhappy FAs
At the end of the day the earnings are generous in the program and the reward options are rich
I am thrilled to fly Qantas on the new 380 in first on AA miles and on British Airways to Europe in First without the extortion surcharges.

Delta :eek: doesn't compare IMO at its best its just barely satisfactory on average
United Mileage Plus and its Starnet blocking :td:
Why would anyone subject their butt in seat and partner earnings for a program that has devalued severely over the years and has heavy handed terms and conditions.
Until Continental proves it isn't a Mileage plus clone with poor availabity on award seats I am staying far away other then to park some rainy day partner miles there

I am delighted to stay indefinately as an Exeutive Platinum or Platinum member
Approaching 4 million miles and have earned lifetime Platinum status 2 miilion miles ago
Would like to add that any concern/mishap when traveling that mattered to me has mattered to AA
In fact American has consistently done better over the years at recovery then some hotel companies.

American hs problems and issues however they do an excellent job overall and the new one way awards simply brilliant.The one downside is the new loss of stopovers the only mistake I am aware of in one of the worlds best frequent flyer programs ever written and let us not forget the worlds first
Very grateful to American at least for today ;)
Good luck in your choice
Cheers

This struck me as slightly odd. Your AA SWUs would enable you to upgrade JFK-NRT into First Class (assuming that space is available). When I fly to NRT in D or J for business (generally, on OPM), I upgrade to F if possible.

Since it was all about the chase, I assume you flew 125k elite qualifying miles this year, which will enable you to select up to four more SWUs. ;)

Spending two of the twelve to make the trip to/from NRT verrrrrryyyy comfortable seems reasonable to me.

Seems like a good plan. Good luck!

Funny -- I have like 103k miles, and I am taking a weeklong vacation next week spanning both weekends, so with the Double Qualies, I'll be to 115k and then I'm out of weekends. i just can't do it. I mean, I could, but I just can't. I'm out of vacation days, I've got to fly to Miami on the 18th, Atlanta for Christmas. I've put off my New Year's trip to Vegas til Jan 1 to start the 2010 clock with fresh miles. I would end up being like 2k miles short. I just ran out of time.

To be completely honest, I didn't know about the 125k thing until September, and I just ran out of weekends. I was at like 41,604 when they announced this 2nd double miles promotion, and I made 4 straight weekend trips to Vegas to get qualified, had a wedding in the sticks in France in there for a weekend and I took two London trips during the first promotion, so getting ExPlat wasn't expected until this second promotion. Given that I have a fulltime job that requires zero travel aside from 1 trip a year to Asia, getting 85,000 miles in 1 quarter was a daunting task. But if I had another weekend, I would have gotten it. Trust me, my stomach churns over this, but I wouldn't be able to use all 10 anyway.

I need my job to feed my travel habit, you know?

As an AA EXP and UA 1K and recent CO PLT and DL Gold who has spent a lot of time trying to maximize each of these programs, I want to add my voice to the above posters saying AA has the best program. As an EXP, AA has the best international upgrades and the highest domestic upgrade success rate of any of those programs 100,000 mile levels. AA also has above average award availability and the best phone agents (EXP desk).

IF the AA route network can work for you, I think the choice is obvious, stick with AA. If you leave AA, you will be giving up the richest FF program for perhaps other benefits (better routes for your needs or preferred plane type or preferred partner airlines to redeem on).

Add me to the pro-AA consensus for your situation. Since your situation ain't broke, why fix it?

I'm AA EXP and UA 1K, and while I see the two programs and airlines as more evenly matched than some here, the bottom line is that you're doing great with AA upgrades and reliability. In addition, the UA program has deteriorated somewhat in recent years, and may continue to do so.

Plus you have AA EXP status already, which can come in very handy to get you home on time during irregular ops. Building up equivalent status on UA or Delta means sacrificing upgrades and not being well taken care of on those airlines in the interim until you achieve top status.

As a long-time AA EXP and DL Platinum, I too would suggest AA over DL for customers who earn most of their miles from flights and care about redemption value of those miles used for flights.