They will status match me to Platinum. I agree anything starting w/ less would be bad.

I should get 1MM still. I'll keep flying 250,000 MQM/yr on DL.

Next year I may try for a Triple Diamond - should be able to hit it but it will certainly be difficult.

I won't be able to do it in two years unless I achieve 580MQM next year. I will hit it for 50k or less.

Frugal flying . I do okay for myself and enjoy flying.

Yes. I hate USFail I have Gold with them and they hold me back to board in Zone 4.

AA wins:
- Higher domestic upgrade success rate because AA B738s and AA MD80s have a higher ratio of F than UA A319s and UA A320s.
- More generous international upgrade program. AA gives 8 transferable international upgrade certificates valid on any fare, UA gives less and they are not valid on the lowest fares.
- Better food in domestic First (only by a small margin, neither airline's food is great)
- When flying international, AA EXP gets you into Oneworld First Class lounges (BA, CX, JL, and QF have some really great F lounges). UA 1K only gets into Star Alliance business class lounges.
- Better phone support. UA 1K line is good but less empowered and less able to complete a wide variety of tasks themselves compared to AA's EXP desk.
- From Boston: AA flies to LHR (all year) and CDG (seasonal) non-stop. UA has 0 nonstop transatlantic flights from BOS. There are Star Alliance transatlantic on LH and LX but upgrade options are limited.
- From Boston: AA is partnered with Jetblue, they have the most non stop routes from BOS. AA's partnership with Jetblue is likely to grow closer (merger rumors, my prediction is an actual merger is unlikely but much more code sharing and reciprocal benefits to come).
- From Boston: AA partner JAL has a nonstop to Asia, Star alliance lacks any Asia non-stops.

UA wins:
- Larger route network, providing more domestic options from BOS. Star Alliance has more options than Oneworld in general.

if I may add:
Ladies everywhere win:
- Either way, this means more time that OP is in the air and not at a bar trying to buy every female around him a shot of patron in hopes of being noticed for a change.

+1. I can still flirt with the cute girls in the air .

Not so fast. US is def the place you should go next. Not quite SQ, but the FAs are the best in the biz. ...and they'll soon own AA and I'm sure that Dougie will take the best of both so that the combined US/AA will have the best route network and best FFer program. Win-Win.

Remember you can buy up to Preferred on US... if you fall a little short of a threshold you can buy those last 20 PQMs instead of going on a 200-mile trip.

FWIW I was Gold with US once upon a time (but that was due to a happy computer glitch). I never got to use my benefits. But even as a non-Preferred passenger, US has generally treated me well. Although Air Wisconsin is better... (and Piedmont is just fun!)

-J.

AA treats its elites extremely well. As an AA Platinum (before I made Exec. Plat), I felt that AA was far beyond UA, where I was/still am a 1K. As an EXP/1K this year, I'm strongly questioning my decision to fly UA this summer (given EXP is in the bag) to requal for 1K (missed upgrades, multihour delays, canceled flights, etc.), but Doug Parker keeps making noise about merging with AA.

It's entirely possible that the kettle experience on AA is worse than UA, but I'm pretty sure every network carrier is in a race to the bottom to make it worse.

I've been PLT on AA and 1K on UA. It really depends on the routes you fly. UA usually has a better hard product, but the current airline has a pretty sour soft product. AA has a lot of Mad Dogs but service is usually pretty decent and if you fly certain routes, the new 737s and their 777s are pretty nice.

AA miles are better than UA miles for a lot of things, but of course they both trump the skypesos.

Do not go to UA. I'm status matching my Plat status over to DL to get the hell out of there. Been flying CO since 1992 and I'm done with it all. Most of my travel is domestic, so, I don't know what your routes look like.

I've just tired of getting home hours after I should have b/c of delays and MX issues with their metal.

I've not had any issues with their elite line phone support, but, I can't imagine what it's like for a non-elite based on what I've heard from others. The in person product however (FA's, in airport, dragons in the club) seriously need some finishing school time.

The what appears to be inevitable US involvement with AA is enough for me to steer miles away from that hot mess.

until they merge

UA post 3/3/12 has been a complete joke. They lead in overall mx and cx nowadays, while FA's and the rest of the employee base have lost "interest" in the brand and customer service... it shows, quite sorely. Jeff Smisek ruined a great brand, despite the "changes you're going to like" line he gleefully explains in the intro video onboard.

I used to be a CO guy. Loved that airline, but news of the merger in 2010 made me rethink it and move to DL. Kellner went off, and Smisek took over, leading the merged UA in a nosedive. Stay away at all costs. I'm sure you enjoy DM now, on UA think 1k CPU's going to "FCM", non existent customer service, multiple weather and mechanical delays,... just the tip of the iceberg.

I've heard great things about AA but am hesitant to build a mileage bank there with potential merger rumors. The route network is not as strong as *A, but OW is ok. Stay on DL, and like others have said, try to get "lifetime DM"

+1 x100. Same of what I said but worded much better.

Seriously, stay the hell away from UA. It's toxic, at least for now. Maybe in a few years, who knows.

Out of Boston, this is hardly true, especially if we consider international.

MBW, because you are so, so special, may we recommend you forget AA and UA (and DL!) and bless Allegiant with your greatness? On that airline, you will be surely be reverenced as King of the DYKWIAs, which appears to be your goal in life.

I was thinking maybe he would want to go over to UA. No doubt they would offer him his own elite level.... 2k.