Tough decision: UA 1k or AA Exec plat?
Jan 22, 2011, 6:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3
Tough decision: UA 1k or AA Exec plat?
Hey guys,
Need some advice. I'm exec plat on AA and 1K on UA. I'm not going to be flying enough to get both next year, so I have to choose one or the other.
What are your thoughts? Has anyone else had this dilemma and chose one after trying both?
1. I fly a lot from SFO->JFK/BOS/ORD
2. Internationally, my primary flight is SFO->LHR
For vacations, I'd really like to fly to Asia/Europe and use SWUs. That's the real sweetener for me.
What I see right now:
1. United PS doesn't allow upgrades, but you can use regional upgrades on them, which is nice. I'll probably get plenty of these from flying.
2. AA doesn't fly directly to Europe from SFO except via BA, and you can't use SWUs on those flights. But I've heard they're nice anyways.
3. Lufthansa is supposed to be one of the best airlines, but so is Cathay pacific, and they are on opposite sides of the fence.
4. My AA upgrade frequency from SFO->JFK was not that high.
Need some advice. I'm exec plat on AA and 1K on UA. I'm not going to be flying enough to get both next year, so I have to choose one or the other.
What are your thoughts? Has anyone else had this dilemma and chose one after trying both?
1. I fly a lot from SFO->JFK/BOS/ORD
2. Internationally, my primary flight is SFO->LHR
For vacations, I'd really like to fly to Asia/Europe and use SWUs. That's the real sweetener for me.
What I see right now:
1. United PS doesn't allow upgrades, but you can use regional upgrades on them, which is nice. I'll probably get plenty of these from flying.
2. AA doesn't fly directly to Europe from SFO except via BA, and you can't use SWUs on those flights. But I've heard they're nice anyways.
3. Lufthansa is supposed to be one of the best airlines, but so is Cathay pacific, and they are on opposite sides of the fence.
4. My AA upgrade frequency from SFO->JFK was not that high.
Jan 23, 2011, 8:14 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
I'm in a potentially similar boat. But as for your situation, it would help to know what you like to use your miles for and, when you do pay, whether it is generally in economy.
Jan 23, 2011, 9:10 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Washington D.C.
Programs: AA 1MM, AA Plat, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 448
Hey guys,
Need some advice. I'm exec plat on AA and 1K on UA. I'm not going to be flying enough to get both next year, so I have to choose one or the other.
What are your thoughts? Has anyone else had this dilemma and chose one after trying both?
1. I fly a lot from SFO->JFK/BOS/ORD
2. Internationally, my primary flight is SFO->LHR
For vacations, I'd really like to fly to Asia/Europe and use SWUs. That's the real sweetener for me.
What I see right now:
1. United PS doesn't allow upgrades, but you can use regional upgrades on them, which is nice. I'll probably get plenty of these from flying.
2. AA doesn't fly directly to Europe from SFO except via BA, and you can't use SWUs on those flights. But I've heard they're nice anyways.
3. Lufthansa is supposed to be one of the best airlines, but so is Cathay pacific, and they are on opposite sides of the fence.
4. My AA upgrade frequency from SFO->JFK was not that high.
Need some advice. I'm exec plat on AA and 1K on UA. I'm not going to be flying enough to get both next year, so I have to choose one or the other.
What are your thoughts? Has anyone else had this dilemma and chose one after trying both?
1. I fly a lot from SFO->JFK/BOS/ORD
2. Internationally, my primary flight is SFO->LHR
For vacations, I'd really like to fly to Asia/Europe and use SWUs. That's the real sweetener for me.
What I see right now:
1. United PS doesn't allow upgrades, but you can use regional upgrades on them, which is nice. I'll probably get plenty of these from flying.
2. AA doesn't fly directly to Europe from SFO except via BA, and you can't use SWUs on those flights. But I've heard they're nice anyways.
3. Lufthansa is supposed to be one of the best airlines, but so is Cathay pacific, and they are on opposite sides of the fence.
4. My AA upgrade frequency from SFO->JFK was not that high.
Jan 24, 2011, 5:50 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
Programs: AA EXP, UA GLD, Bonvoy Titan, HH Dia, WoH Exp
Posts: 2,673
Hey guys,
Need some advice. I'm exec plat on AA and 1K on UA. I'm not going to be flying enough to get both next year, so I have to choose one or the other.
What are your thoughts? Has anyone else had this dilemma and chose one after trying both?
1. I fly a lot from SFO->JFK/BOS/ORD
2. Internationally, my primary flight is SFO->LHR
For vacations, I'd really like to fly to Asia/Europe and use SWUs. That's the real sweetener for me.
What I see right now:
1. United PS doesn't allow upgrades, but you can use regional upgrades on them, which is nice. I'll probably get plenty of these from flying.
2. AA doesn't fly directly to Europe from SFO except via BA, and you can't use SWUs on those flights. But I've heard they're nice anyways.
3. Lufthansa is supposed to be one of the best airlines, but so is Cathay pacific, and they are on opposite sides of the fence.
4. My AA upgrade frequency from SFO->JFK was not that high.
Need some advice. I'm exec plat on AA and 1K on UA. I'm not going to be flying enough to get both next year, so I have to choose one or the other.
What are your thoughts? Has anyone else had this dilemma and chose one after trying both?
1. I fly a lot from SFO->JFK/BOS/ORD
2. Internationally, my primary flight is SFO->LHR
For vacations, I'd really like to fly to Asia/Europe and use SWUs. That's the real sweetener for me.
What I see right now:
1. United PS doesn't allow upgrades, but you can use regional upgrades on them, which is nice. I'll probably get plenty of these from flying.
2. AA doesn't fly directly to Europe from SFO except via BA, and you can't use SWUs on those flights. But I've heard they're nice anyways.
3. Lufthansa is supposed to be one of the best airlines, but so is Cathay pacific, and they are on opposite sides of the fence.
4. My AA upgrade frequency from SFO->JFK was not that high.
Jan 24, 2011, 5:55 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,731
One thing to keep in mind is that AA has soft-landing, so, even if you don't make any status next year, you will still only drop to PLAT (and then GLD after that).
A viable option would be to go for UA 1K, and just enjoy the free soft-landing to PLAT on AA. UA 1K + AA PLAT may work out better than AA EXP + UA nobody (even though I personally feel that top-tier on AA is better than on UA, between the 2 extra SWU and the lack of fare class restriction in using them).
A viable option would be to go for UA 1K, and just enjoy the free soft-landing to PLAT on AA. UA 1K + AA PLAT may work out better than AA EXP + UA nobody (even though I personally feel that top-tier on AA is better than on UA, between the 2 extra SWU and the lack of fare class restriction in using them).
Jan 25, 2011, 9:50 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: *G, SPG, OW Sapphire
Posts: 2,565
Hey guys,
Need some advice. I'm exec plat on AA and 1K on UA. I'm not going to be flying enough to get both next year, so I have to choose one or the other.
What are your thoughts? Has anyone else had this dilemma and chose one after trying both?
1. I fly a lot from SFO->JFK/BOS/ORD
2. Internationally, my primary flight is SFO->LHR
For vacations, I'd really like to fly to Asia/Europe and use SWUs. That's the real sweetener for me.
What I see right now:
1. United PS doesn't allow upgrades, but you can use regional upgrades on them, which is nice. I'll probably get plenty of these from flying.
2. AA doesn't fly directly to Europe from SFO except via BA, and you can't use SWUs on those flights. But I've heard they're nice anyways.
3. Lufthansa is supposed to be one of the best airlines, but so is Cathay pacific, and they are on opposite sides of the fence.
4. My AA upgrade frequency from SFO->JFK was not that high.
Need some advice. I'm exec plat on AA and 1K on UA. I'm not going to be flying enough to get both next year, so I have to choose one or the other.
What are your thoughts? Has anyone else had this dilemma and chose one after trying both?
1. I fly a lot from SFO->JFK/BOS/ORD
2. Internationally, my primary flight is SFO->LHR
For vacations, I'd really like to fly to Asia/Europe and use SWUs. That's the real sweetener for me.
What I see right now:
1. United PS doesn't allow upgrades, but you can use regional upgrades on them, which is nice. I'll probably get plenty of these from flying.
2. AA doesn't fly directly to Europe from SFO except via BA, and you can't use SWUs on those flights. But I've heard they're nice anyways.
3. Lufthansa is supposed to be one of the best airlines, but so is Cathay pacific, and they are on opposite sides of the fence.
4. My AA upgrade frequency from SFO->JFK was not that high.