Ok Flyertalkers, need your help...
 

So I am pretty new to this whole frequent flyer/elite program game. Trying to figure out which program is really the best for me. I travel out of LAX a ton doing a lot of trips up to SFO (at least 12 a year), a few trans-cons (4-5 a year) and a couple long-haul international trips a year (Western Europe). Currently I am pretty locked in to DL and I'll hit GM this summer. I am wondering though, with UA and AA both offering status match challenges, are either of those programs worth looking at? For me I enjoy the random upgrades, priority security lines and boarding, increased baggage allowance and lounge access.

What I am really wanting to better understand (and this is where I need some help) is which airline will make it easiest for me to spend my miles? I've got about 150k DL miles, but I am finding those to be pretty useless in finding fare options (even with the awards calendar) - and those would be for a couple J tickets international - looking at South America.

AA has already hit me up to come status match with them. Is it worth taking. Would I have an easier time redeeming miles for reward travel on UA and AA vs DL?

Really appreciate any feedback you can offer. Thanks!

How did AA hit you up to come status match with them?

I signed up for their program and traded some miles. Called in to ask about something and we got on the conversation about status match.

Yes, you'll find AA and UA both much easier to redeem. If you want South America, AA and UA both fly there.

I'd give the edge to AA though. They already hit you up to status match, and they partner with LAN, which has a huge presence to South America and within South America, plus a really nice biz product.

Thanks. That's who I am leaning too. Almost wondering if it is better to wait though until my status is higher to make the switch and burn through the DL miles I have. Appreciate your input though.

Well right now is a pretty good time to try to get status on AA flying out of LA. Double EQMs to ORD and DFW can add up pretty fast.

Only way I flying those routes right now though are MR's. Already booked on a few DL (or Skyteam) flights through the summer so it doesn't make sense quite yet to switch. Was looking to switch mid-summer so I could handle my challenge on my flight to South America - which should more than cover the miles I need to keep status.

Since award travel from British Airways Avios is distance based, it takes very few of them to fly on American Airlines between San Francisco and Los Angeles. For a $95 annual fee the current British Airways credit card offer gives you

• 50,000 bonus Avios after your first purchase
• 25,000 bonus Avios after you make $10,000 in purchases within the first year of account opening
• Plus an additional 25,000 bonus Avios after you make an additional $10,000 in purchases also within the first year of account opening
• 2.5 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways purchases and 1.25 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases

The 25K points alone should get you a few round trips between SFO and LAX.

You can read about this card on my website below in the Credit Cards > Annual Fee Cards section.

I have a list of booking tips links on my website.
here's some useful ones for your situation:
using delta miles : http://travelsort.com/blog/how-to-fi...am-award-space
finding awards to south America using AA : http://millionmilesecrets.com/2012/04/09/lan-awards/

Having status with both of those carriers, let me point out some things to consider.

1. How many miler per year do you intend to fly? At AA, flying anything over 50K gets you 100% bonus miles. At UA, you'll get 50% bonus miles for flying 50,000-74,999, a 75% bonus for flying 75,000-99,999, and a 100% bonus for flying over 100K a year. If you intend to use those miles for award travel, pretty easy to sort out where you would get the most miles in account, particularly if you'll have years where you fly less than 100K.

2. If you do fly over 100K, look at the variation between AA and UA on how they handle systemwide upgrades. UA requires a "W" or higher fare on international with no refund of the fare difference from the lowest fare if you don't clear by departure. AA allows all published fares. UA does have a much larger route to use systemwides on international flights, so you would have more flexibility with them, though it could be costly flexibility if you don't clear.

That is a pretty good deal. Best I've found the LAX -> SFO trips for on AA are 12,500 miles each way. I'm assuming I can use Avios to book those - correct? Really new to One World and how their system works.

Thank you - awesome resources!

Good tips. I'll fly at least 50k a year - this year I'll 100k thanks to some long-haul int'l trips. You make an excellent point though re: the bonus miles with AA.

OP note that AA has fewer partners than UA and that BA charges high fuel surcharges (YQ).

Also, if you want premium awards to Europe, AA seems to have significantly reduced award availability on AA metal. Plenty of availability on BA but that has very high YQ charges.