FF Programs: United or US Airways?
 

I will be using both airlines, but I am having a hard time determining which program is better. I read an article that said that US Airways has a terrible redemption policy, but I've also read that United does not always allow you to use your miles on US Air flights?

I will be flying out of DCA and IAD. Mostly DCA to MCO and IAD to LAX.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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How are you hoping to use the miles you accumulate?

If it makes a difference, UA now offers one-way awards (on UA metal only) for half the roundtrip award mileage.

US Airways has very few 'rules' regarding award redemptions. Their international awards on *A partners typically require fewer miles than if you were to book with United miles. There's a fantastic Award Redemption FAQ thread in the US Airways forum.

Whether you fly US Airways, United or Continental, just about any fare will allow you to earn miles in any of those three programs. And you can certainly use United miles to book domestic or international flights on US Airways, or vice versa.

However, United does something called STARNET blocking. This is a major detraction. Basically they will tell you there are no seats available on a particular *A partner flight you want to book even though there may very well be a seat which you could book with US miles. You can search the United forum and learn more about this from many discussions.

As bravesfan21 asks, it really boils down to what you intend to use the miles for - awards versus class of service upgrades. It also depends whether you will fly US or UA more than the other - because that will also determine with which one you should seek elite status and the associated benefits. In your case, United sounds like the better option. Earn United status and you will get to sit in Economy Plus with more leg room. Earn high enough status and you'll get upgraded to first fairly regularly.

US Air also often has special promotions where you can buy miles and get double the amount - a great way to buy up enough miles for their Star Alliance partner rewards to Europe etc. We have done VERY well booking thru US Air for Business and First Class.

Go with US. Redeem the miles for international first or business class tickets with Star Alliance partners. Domestic redemptions are less worthwhile.

Review the programs when UA and CO merge. For now US is better, UNLESS one flies UA internationally a lot.

I wouldn't go with US because:

1) many of your elite benefits are limited to US itself, which is a bad airline
2) while I really like their miles, there are usually easy ways to obtain them that don't involve flying

I prefer US, but wouldn't bank the miles for retirement - Acquire and use on a regular basis.

The elite bonus is different between the programs. If you plan on flying more than 50k miles per year UA will give you a 100% bonus and US will give you 50-75%.

I'm actually doing the the DCA to MCO (and soon to be IAD to MCO) segment every week. I did about 6 weeks with US and I can't stand them anymore. Their customer service is absolutely appalling and they will absolutely not do any type of match of statuses. They screwed me over on the Silver Trial because of Jump Start and they want $200 for a Silver Challenge. No thanks. United matched based on a simple email and their customer service has been slightly better.

Also, I would say 30% of my US flights have been delayed too...going to start flying UA in August to see if its any better.

US might have a slightly better FF program, but UA (warts and all) is a much better airline than US, which is the bottom of the barrel. Plus, if it matters, once you get status on US you'll have access to E+ seating. I'd go with UA.

IMHO, fly United! I live in PHX and still do everything possible to stay on UA (of course I am close to MM status)

US has fees for reward travel on partner airlines. Agents are not as good and website sucks. I would definitely rather have UA miles than US. UA also offers one way awards too. Though I would probably prefer CO to both of them.

If you go with UA, you can power earn on CO and UA until they merge.