I am going from DCA to ORD for a Saturday-Sunday convention meeting. Which airline should I choose, UA or AA? They both have the times I want, and the fare is exactly the same: $116.00 round trip. Please post by 9:00 P.M. Friday; because this is a government fare, I can change it at any time to either carrier WITHOUT PENALTY!!! I can even mix-n-match carriers, if I please.

American operates MD-80's and Fokker jets, and UA operates A319s and 737-300s. I will be taking the first flight out on either carrier in either direction, no matter what I choose.

Thank you.


(P.S. Although CO is my FAVORITE airline in the world, they are not competitive in terms of price or non-stop service on the route.)

[This message has been edited by avek00 (edited 08-05-1999).]

[This message has been edited by avek00 (edited 08-05-1999).]

I believe that UA flights from DCA arrive at terminal B. AA probably terminal C. So if you like to walk through the tunnel, take AA. If a shorter distance to the great outdoors is your preference, then UA.

(above information based on my extremely fuzzy memory from when I lived in Chicago!)

Cheers,

'toad

Assuming your an HHonors member, I would go with UA to get the UA miles + HHonors points ...

Although I'm not familiar with the terminal letters, I believe part of UA's terminal is the only one you have to go through the tunnel for, and that is only one of their terminals, not all of their gates.

Hmmmmm. A lot of questions to ask here, Avek00. As far a service is concerned, you are going to have pretty much the same quality on both AA and UA for such a short trip. Can you upgrade on one airline and not the other? Which airline offers the most flights AFTER yours in case of delay, cancellation, etc.??? Which miles are of more use to you, AA or UA??? If neither, then are you a US Airways Div. Miles member??? If so, get the AA miles which can then be combined with U's miles for an award. Delta and United have a similar deal. The list of questions could go on and on....

My suggestion: Get one of those new US quarters (maybe the Delaware quarter with Ceaser Rodney riding his horse) and flip it in the air:

Heads = American (besides, their miles don't expire anymore)
Tails = United

Cheers,

[This message has been edited by geo1004 (edited 08-04-1999).]

If you can get the AA online booking bonus go with AA (either way, try to get the online booking bonus, I believe right now AA's bonus is better for the first booking). As mentioned they relaxed expiration policies too, so edge is with AA. Both UA and AA can be transfered to HHonors, right now because of the promotion they are the same, but eventually AA to HHonors conversion will not be as good as UA to HHonors.

[This message has been edited by pgupta011 (edited 08-04-1999).]

Hammertoad: yea, your memory is fuzzy. UA owns Terminal 1 ORD and it is one of the best in the US. AA owns Terminal 3. As to the great out of doors, all of beautiful Chicago is the great out of doors - except sometimes

in winter, once in a while in spring and summer, and almost always in fall. Cheers.

I would suggest signing up for the AVON1 or SportAid OLYMP bonuses and pocket the extra 2000 and/or 500 mile bonuses and fly AA.

To elaborate on the Terminal/Concourse thing: UA check-in is at Terminal 1, AA is at Terminal 3. UA has gates on Concourses B,C,E,F. B and C make up Terminal 1. E,F are in Terminal 2 but UA has some gates there, mostly for UA Express flights and some flights to Canada, etc. From DCA you will prolly come into B or C. The Gershwin tunnel is between B and C. AA has gates on Concourses G,H,K,L. These are all in Terminal 3. From DCA you will prolly come into H or K. For more detailed information, see http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Aviation/OHare/ . O'Hare will always be my "home airport" no matter where I live, if home is where the heart is.

As for which airline you should fly, well... maybe you should see what aircraft they fly and which ones you like better. See which one gives you a meal or little things like that. Or you could just fly United and maybe we'll run into each other on Sunday. I like geo1004's coin flip suggestion too.

Oops. I'm 3 hours late... oh well. For the record, anyway...

P.S. Oh yeah, if you would like some suggestions on Chicago Things to Do, Places to Eat, etc... feel free to ask! I grew up there after all...

[This message has been edited by jet (edited 08-04-1999).]

Do you get miles on a govt fare? Holding it on-line (if you can with that fare???) signing up for the bonuses as stated earlier (avona and olymi with AA and now that the miles don't expire...wow,I'd go with AA

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DtG

Well akek00??? It's well after your deadline, which airline did you choose??? And how did you choose???

Inquiring FlyerTalker's want to know....

The AA promo codes are AVON1 and OLYMP. You can get both on the same flight. AVON1 is 2000 miles for your first round trip and that's it. OLYMP is 500 miles per trip indefinitely. More on them in the AA forums.

OTOH, United miles won't expire any more starting next week, so that AA plus goes away. (They fell into line.)

You guys:

Tentatively, I have chosen American Airlines for the trip. In part, my decision was based on American's announcement that AAdvantage miles no longer expire, even though I NEVER fly AA (Im a CO/NW/KL/AZ/HP kind of guy).

However, for you guys who want me to choose United, dont give up. Being that this ticket is fully refundable, has no advance purchase restrictions, AND is fully endorsable, I can easily change this ticket, even for just one of the segments.

I do have one other question: what are AA's Fokker jets and UA A319/A320's like? And how is the meal service on either carrier on the DCA-ORD route (I will be receiving "breakfast")?

Much thanks.

In terms of bonus miles, the 500 OLYMP AA miles is a better deal than the UA Hilton bonus points (due to poor conversion rate from points to miles), plus you'll get AVON1 bonus as well for your 1st trip on AA.

Fokker is something similar to MD-80, but a little bit smaller plane (97 seats only). You could go to AA website, scroll down to "Programs and Services", then "AA and AE fleet" and pick Fokker-100 to see the photo and seating chart.

For UA A319/A320, goto UA website, choose "In the Air" and then "Seat Maps", then pick A319 or A320.

You are aware that UA has also jumped on the no expiration bandwagon!