Frequent flyer program decision crunch time
 

Curious what people suggest. My travel is about 30%-40% US, an equal amount to Europe (LHR by far most common) and the rest Asia (multiple locations). I posted here rather than an airline specific forum because multiple airlines could potentially be involved. I just requalified for AA EXP with 110,000 + EQPs (about 75 EQMs). Im also a long term 1K, MM on UA. So I have "lifetime" Star gold status.

Im currently at about 30K miles on UA for the year. I have three planned transpacs before the end of the year (NRT, PVG and HKG) plus some assorted other short trips. The tickets will mostly be refundable, Y or B. So the question is - who should I fly the rest of the year? I could fly the remaining transpacs on AA or partners, which would put me close to 180,000 EQP which as I understand it gives me, well, nothing, that EXP doesnt already do. If I did them on UA I would hit 1K again. Im weighing whether that is worth it compared to alternatives (if it was just about that I would have posted in the UA forum). Alternately there is Delta or even a foreign carrier. Thoughts or suggestions anyone? Thanks.

I'd say go with UA, why waste the miles on AA, when they won't do anything for you? At the very least don't touch DL or even if you do credit the miles to AS.

Even though I am an AA loyalist at the moment, based on the information you have provided this is a no-brainer: UA. :)

UA looks like the wise choice to me, too, especially considering your heavy Asia travel.

For Asia travel from the US, there are really only two options: AA and UA. Since you already filled your ticket for AA, it would probably be a good idea to finish off 1K to get all the perks associated with that.

How close are you to LT Plat? That would be one incentive for me to stick with AA.

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What is that?

Life time Platinum for reaching 2 Million miles.

I'm not sure this would be the best option for the OP, let me explain...

The OP has at least 1MM on AA as stated by his profile, meaning he needs at most 1,000,000 more miles to reach LT Plat. He is currently EXP and if he plans on keeping up the same travel pattern for a few years, he'll maintain EXP for those years and reach LT Platinum fairly quickly for use when he travels less. Additionally, he could have the opportunity to reach LT status on UA if he contributes some there as well as reaching 1K for next year and getting all the benefits that come with that.

My recommendation would be to attribute to UA until you reach 1K and evaluate where you stand on lifetime miles in each as you may be closer than you think to reaching lifetime thresholds (also, you can contribute only BIS miles to UA, while AA has other earning methods).

If you could reach 3MM on UA, you'd be 1K for life...not bad at all.

1.07 MM on UA, over 1.5 MM on AA. The problem is that UA doesnt service NY very well the last few years. CO may change that which is probably the only reason I havent left UA. But I dont see that UA number ever getting to 2 MM, much less 3 MM. As said though, the AA number will hit 2 MM rather quickly if I keep flying like this.

There is certainly a lack of love for Delta ;)

What's a Delta?

I tend to think UA is the way to go, but one point in AA's favor is that they reportedly give high-mileage flyers additional SWUs (eVIPs, in AA-speak) nearly on request. This is especially true for people with a high points-to-miles ratio, which the OP has. More on that in this thread in the AA forum.

It's a greek letter shaped like a triangle, but that's not important right now.

Just my 2 SkyPesos, but I agree UA is the way to go based on the info provided, especially with the upcoming TPAC travel.

With CO, you have a hub in EWR (provided it is not too bad to get to from where you live in NYC).

Surely you can't be serious...

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. :D

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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
:D:D:D

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. :D

:)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. :mad:

:)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.

Indeed. It does depend on preference. Although the gals who work on Singapore are so very cute, aint they? hehehehe

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/index.jsp

And in my opinion, econ on Singapore is like business class on most airlines.

I dunno... when flying say... BOS-AMS, I have ALWAYS had great ease in finding the flight I want using miles even within a month out. It seemed to me after having successfully booked 4 this past spring, that the mileage requirement only changed due to the season, not nec the length of time one booked the flight. Surely both were in play but I recall one flight only costing 60k miles for econ. Taxes were low and booking online presented no hidden fees I had to later pay once mid way through the process. United often does that and it bugs the %$*-*& outta me.

And as for service, I have to say the personnel aboard DL flight 230/231 were perfectly professional and friendly, and even though I was but a mere econ traveler sitting in the back of the plane on an award ticket, I got great treatment and was even once told, "Sir, 3 rows behind you has only one other person in the 4-seat row. If you wish to move you can, and I will bring you an extra pillow and a meal if you want it." And the DL planes were new, with movie screens at every seat. This is in econ, remember, where things like that are often not found, let alone, for example, on UA flights 908/909 flying ORD-AMS.

Besides, when you watch the pre-flight safety video on DL, you get to watch "Deltalina" speak... a somewhat attractive woman with huge lips who is actually called that by all the FA's because her big lips make her look a bit like Angelina Jolie. I mean how can you NOT now chuckle when you next fly the carrier and see what I'm talking about :D

(should the OP now consider Delta too despite being called "Shirley with the triangle?")

;)MM

Actually, you do seem a little surly. ;)

Do not go with Delta
 

[QUOTE=TravellingMan;14775008 do not go with Delta. Their service sucks as well as their FF program.[/QUOTE]

I completely agree. As a Delta Platinum I don't want you other FFs on Delta. Already I've once been denied an upgrade due to the Diamonds.

Don't fly Delta, please.

Great first post! Welcome to Flyertalk :D

I think the OP has got the message loud and clear :)

As another 1K/EXP (at least through 2011), I'd join the near-consensus in terms of maintaining EXP and 1K status. The CO merger should alleviate the relatively poor position UA is in for FFs based in the NYC area. While the OP's travel preferences and patterns naturally make this a YMMV situation, I find that having status and accumulating miles on both airlines naturally opens up more upgrade, routing, $-saving and mileage vacation options.

Did you know there is another FTer called UAfan? In Shirley's name there is a DELTA between "UA" and "AA".:D:D:D

I shirley do.

are you sure?

OP - I wish had your "dilema" :)

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My dilema is even more complicated now perhaps, although at least I have more time to decode.

I just discovered that may have to go directly from NRT directly to Europe. After 1 day. I can't get to the city I may need to get to directly so I will have to connect. LH or BA would work so I can still go with either alliance. Or mix I suppose. The bigger problem is that I am supposed to be in Tokyo 10/6 and still don't know if I need to go to Europe before or after NRT, although probably after.

Well. Im pretty close to booking the first one. It is looking like it will be

Mon.: JFK-IAD-SEA-NRT on UA in Y, upgraded to business on the transpac part

Thurs.: NRT-FRA-DUB on LH in C

Sat.: DUB-LHR (BMI)-IAD-JFK on UA in Y