Reevaluating FF Program from DCA
 

I'm based out of DCA and do about 30,000 miles a year to a good portion of the country outside the Northeast.

I've been USAir - Gold for the past year, but I was able to achieve that mostly on a mileage run last year. It looks like I'll be headed back to Silver for 2012.

This has got me thinking, and I'm wondering what most people fly out of DCA. I've had mostly positive experiences on USAir, but the rollover MQMs from Delta are appealing enough that I'm considering switching for 2012. I feel like USAir being a smaller airline, there is less competition for upgrades, etc...as opposed to flying on Delta.

Curious on folks' opinion. United/Continental is also a possibility as I occasionally fly out of IAD. Also just received Sapphire Preferred, which should give me a 50,000 start on the United/Continental program.

Thanks!

Being almost exclusively based of out DCA I fly Delta. I am a soon to be PM. While, I am not thrilled about the Skymiles program I can live with it. Miles are easy to come by, so that negates the inflation a bit. Also I receive great customer service both on the ground and in the air. I would like to try other airlines, mainly AA, but the only one that offers anything near Delta's frequency to where I need to go is US and I try to avoid them at all costs.

I would definitely say stick with US- esp for the Shuttle and superior mileage program.

How close are you to DCA? You're going to have a lot more options flying out of IAD.

@cwilson - Literally down the street, I can leave my house and be through security sometimes in 20 minutes. Hard to beat that convenience.

@bfxfd - Why so anti-USAir? Just curious. I know everyone has their nightmare stories, but I've been flying them pretty exclusively for a few years now and haven't had any significant issues. Only continuing complaint is that the baggage handlers at DCA have to be the slowest I've seen, it can take 30 minutes to retrieve checked bags sometimes.

I fly mostly DCA-west coast and am very price conscious (mostly personal travel, always deep discount economy). I will end up AA Gold, my very first elite status of any kind, this year, as they've usually had the best prices and I can take the very nice AS nonstop to LAX.

US isn't superior, steer clear of that USless airline! Although sky pesos are devalued, the FFP overall is 10x better than US Airways. Between Choice Benefits, SDC, and Rollover MQMs.

DL also has enough frequencies on the shuttle routes, so don't let US Airways extra 3x frequencies a day capture you.

As a DCA based person, I fly DL and I love being a Diamond Medallion. Being based out of BOS and WAS.

Remember that the slot swap with US at LGA will mean that DL will offer fewer flights to and from DCA.

Also, the DL gate area and lounge at DCA tend to be a crowded mess at anything near a peak time.

If DL gets that crowded at National ... I'm curious what the upgrade rates are for DL Silvers/Golds, if anyone has any insight. Out of DCA, I imagine they must be very low.

Lame with the less flights. DCA is elite heavy all week and the Skyclub line has gone out the door multiple times at DCA.

Upgrade rate during the week for a Silver, 0% and 2% for Gold. Even as a Silver I wouldn't make an upgrade to BOS or CVG. Heck when I was Platinum Medallion I missed upgrades for DCA-BOS TWICE! And that is usually a guaranteed upgrade for me. Fear no longer, being DM is a blessing when it comes to getting an upgrade!

That pretty much confirms what I thought. For low-tier elites, switching to DL ex DCA - probably ex most places - isn't worth it. The concept of free upgrades is nice, but only if you can actually get them. Tack on the devalued miles and higher prices ... ouch.

DL skypesos = worthless. avoid like plague. if you ever tried to redeem international flights using DL, you'll know why.

US Scareways miles okay, but their online, booking engine is weak, and you CANNOT book one-ways, only rt with US miles (a huge huge negative!!!). their phone agents are incompetent too - they thought Austria = Australia. fail.

USAir routes arent really that great outside of shuttle convenience. if you fly to west coast or international, you have to make a connection regardless. hence i recommend United/CO program.

I think i agree with this. As UsAir Gold I'm pretty happy with my upgrade %, even headed back to Silver I think I'll nab a few next year. With less flights out of DCA and more competition for upgrades on Delta, I feel like I should continue on with UsAir.

There's nothing wrong with US- it reminds me of Continental of the late 90's. It's on its way up and will only get better.

I'm DCA also and like US for these additional reasons:

The US credit card is churnable for 40K miles each time, no fee, and gives priority boarding, a 5K discount on US metal rewards, and a 10K annual bonus. Plus Barclays only pulls Transunion.

The US international routes out of PHL are really nice and PHL is convenient.

The US off-peak to Rio twice a year for 30K rt if you have the credit card is outstanding.

I hate Atlanta.