I am serious. And don't call me Shirley.

Hmmm... I see how it leans toward UA... then again, AA 2mil status is not far off either.

But if I were someone who flew as much as the OP seems to and such a toss up were presented to me, I would base it all on service and how the company conducts itself (and not just my status). Yes, let's take this to a different level, shall we?

For example, how does UA handle the little things? The glitches, the problems all of us travelers face when flying? Considering issues found in here or with people we may know of who fly either airline, how does UA's website mishandle issues with Foreign US residents who have green cards, for example, and sometimes cannot check in online because of annoying UAL site errors, or what their performance has been with on time flight arrivals or lost baggage, or how they handle customer complaints (with UA, one cannot SPEAK to Customer Service, one has to write to them only), and issues like that.

Compare the airlines in this way... How does AA handle all of these same things for you or people you know? Why, you could even go further and base it on how the two airlines invest as a company and whether you agree with their choices, or what political issues they support or align with that you may also like/dislike...

My opinion is that someone who flies as much as the OP is considered a highly valued customer on these airlines. At least they take notice of something when a 1k flies, right? Or at least one would think/hope for.

That being said, it is these fliers who can, above all others, make a bit of a difference on customer service issues if they decide to fly carrier A over carrier B. Thus, this is exactly where the OP can make a difference for himself and others, and said OP is therefore granted a very interesting gift.

Me in the same situation? This time I would pick it based on the one that does a better job for you or those you know.

MM

What is Delta you ask? Well, take a look at the Delta Gut: To measure your Delta Gut, suck in your belly and wrap a tape measure around and jot down the number. Now let it out and do the same. the difference = Delta... and that's your Delta Gut.

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Thanks. That is an interesting perspective. On the little things it is a major slam dunk for AA. As an example, I had a delayed flight at LGA that would strand me at my connection site and the AC staff rebooked me out of JFK and called a limo service to take me there. Lots of other examples as well. I need to cogitate on that a bit. Also, UA really doesn't provide much service out of NYC in my opinion. The CO merger changes that but I have to decide how much. For instance it takes me an extra day basically to get to London on UA since I have to take mainly horrible service to IAD and connect. Ah, decisions....

It's amazing to me that someone with 20,000 + posts is asking us for opinions! For most of this stuff, I guess there really is no one "right" answer.

As to your question, I have no idea!

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I forget if it was Plato or Aristotle that said something along the lines of "I am wise because I know what I do not know".

I have had some valuable and insightful input that gave me new ways to think about what to do. Including to forget about the triangular Greek letter.

Well, maybe the OP has had more interesting content in those 20k posts than what you said


OK I'm just razzin' ya... But personally I think it's great that even those who are on FT a lot are still asking questions and giving everyone a chance to weigh in.

You are welcome. I am just thinking that if one uses more than one company to get a product or service and they wish to rethink the use or adjust to whom they give their loyalty, the consideration of things like the ones you brought up should weigh in.

I have had good and bad experiences on each of the major airlines, and yet the conveniences or nuances weigh in the most. For example, last night at BOS I picked up someone at United and wanted to help grab their luggage. While this shouldn't be a big thing, the carts there are available for $3 while the same type of cart is available in other terminals and other airline baggage claims at the same airport for nothing. Expand this type of 'experience' to something worth say, $30 or $300 and now you're talking. Or, that limo service you mentioned... and on and on.

Oh so much to consider...
I know you will make your decision wisely and triangles may not even factor into it, even if your name were Shirley.

MM

there is always something to learn, it never ends.

Seems like UA is a no brainer

Concur completely.

I'm facing a similar, but somewhat different decision.

I'm currently EXP on AA (with 70K already in the bag and 30K additional travel booked already to re-up for next year - they are the preferred carrier of my current employer), DL Platinum & lifetime Gold (with 2011 Platinum status already secured at about 90K w/rollover included - they are secondary carrier for my employer), and have CO Platinum (through a match) with about 5,000 miles this year. There is a moderate possibility that I may do heavy travel out of Denver next year... and I expect a couple more trips IAD-DEN for the rest of this year that are NOT on the company dime. I still have probably another 30K yet to book for this year. UA is not a company preferred carrier (in fact it is "out of policy" and requires justification if we book them), but it appears that CO is still "OK" if the price is right. I have nothing on UA this year.

I'm planning on crediting the DEN trips to CO even if it's on UA metal - I should make first tier on CO - the question is whether to try and stretch the other trips onto CO even if it falls short of Gold. Or do them on DL where I at least get the rollover benefit (which would allow me to secure PLT again next year with a couple of mileage runs).

I'll probably back off of DL in the future and move that travel to *A, but will probably not get to the magic 100K level, especially if I end up continuing on AA. AA has a much better program at the moment, who knows what the future will bring, as there's some chance I may change employers within a year (in which case the current environment between program devaluation and TSA makes me want to call a halt to flying).

Thoughts on that logic?

Above logic seems good to me.

And since your company is less inclined to like anyone flying UA but may not mind CO, you could still burn the miles you've earned on later flights with its partners such as the one I consider to be one of the world's best: Singapore Airlines?

And since Singapore Airlines IS aligned with UA and CO, this actually makes me suggest that the OP lean toward UA as well. AA might be good and all, but their other partners are no where as good in my opinion.

What I don't like is when companies try to tell ya how or whom to fly.

MM

Actually it's neither Plato nor Aristotle, it's from Socrates:

Original quote:
"I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing."

"Wisest is he who knows he does not know"

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Actually i would put BA, Cathay and Qantas up against anyone. One HUGE benefit of Oneworld vs Star is that as an EXP I can use first class rather than business class lounges. Having spent a few hours in the QF first lounge in MEL and have people come around with breakfast menus and deliver a very nice omelet and then another person come around and ask me if I wanted a spa or message treatment while I waited I really like first class lounges. The BA ones at LHR and Cathay at HKG are great also. Then there is the thread on the whisky selection in the JAL first lounge at NRT .

But flying more on either AA or UA wont change my lounge access.

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At least I had the right school

I am and have long been a great fan of SQ. However, while there can always be individual preferences, CX is certainly in the same league.

Whether you choose UA or AA, for heavens sake do not go with Delta. Their service sucks as well as their FF program.