Which Elite Program?
Oct 15, 1999 | 8:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: DL DM, Hilton, Marriott & SPG Platinum & a whole lot of other programs...
Posts: 745
Which Elite Program?
I am currently Continental Elite and my company no longer permits me to use them for Travel. However, arangements have been made to offer me Elite status with My choice of one of their Airlines. I have A choice of Delta, United or American. My Home Airport is EWR and mainly travel Domestically about 30,000 miles a year. Thanks for your thoughts!
Oct 15, 1999 | 11:34 pm
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: New York
Posts: 2,115
Strange that your company wouldn't let you use the carrier with 60% of the flights at your home airport.
As for your choices, it depends on where you fly to.
As for program differences I suggest looking at webflyer's program reviews and look at the benefits closely.
I think with all 3 you'll see fewer benefits as an elite.
As for your choices, it depends on where you fly to.
As for program differences I suggest looking at webflyer's program reviews and look at the benefits closely.
I think with all 3 you'll see fewer benefits as an elite.
Oct 16, 1999 | 1:27 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: BKK, STL, ORD
Posts: 308
Ignoring the most important part, which airline flies from your hub to where you need to go (in the most circuitous route using the most segments and minimum mileage guarantees all on the cheapest fare available in the market place)...
IMHO, Delta and AA offer the better programs for your use, actually delta may be the number one.
Upgrades: with the 30K annually you get 3 bundles of upgrade certs, 1 (at 20K) giving 2 systemwides (or is it 1?), this compares favorably to both aa and ua which i believe will give you 3 4 packs of 500 mile upgrades for your troubles (and UA's seem to be a hassle to even get once earned-and then a FA will be in your upgrade seat).
Alliance: I put Delta and AA ahead of UA because my opinion of the star alliance on a strictly benefit basis is really low, as an elite, you get no elite bonuses (25% at your level, more of a difference if you have 100% bonus) on partners, whereas AA's oneworld and Delta's AF partnership (alliance with no name) does, with Delta's upgrade certs useable on several partners, and you never know when you may take your partner on a romantic cheap upgradeable mileage earning partner airline flight....
But, I think all will agree, you need to see what works best with your home base and destinations, if half your flights go to an airport not served by DL, then DL is out of consideration, etc.
And I guess if CO is banned, they won't let you get on NW either?? That way at least you could keep your program unchanged.
tg
IMHO, Delta and AA offer the better programs for your use, actually delta may be the number one.
Upgrades: with the 30K annually you get 3 bundles of upgrade certs, 1 (at 20K) giving 2 systemwides (or is it 1?), this compares favorably to both aa and ua which i believe will give you 3 4 packs of 500 mile upgrades for your troubles (and UA's seem to be a hassle to even get once earned-and then a FA will be in your upgrade seat).
Alliance: I put Delta and AA ahead of UA because my opinion of the star alliance on a strictly benefit basis is really low, as an elite, you get no elite bonuses (25% at your level, more of a difference if you have 100% bonus) on partners, whereas AA's oneworld and Delta's AF partnership (alliance with no name) does, with Delta's upgrade certs useable on several partners, and you never know when you may take your partner on a romantic cheap upgradeable mileage earning partner airline flight....
But, I think all will agree, you need to see what works best with your home base and destinations, if half your flights go to an airport not served by DL, then DL is out of consideration, etc.
And I guess if CO is banned, they won't let you get on NW either?? That way at least you could keep your program unchanged.
tg
Oct 16, 1999 | 9:33 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Manhattan
Programs: 40 46'N 73 57'W; AA Gold; CO Silver
Posts: 381
I'm guessing that your company isn't based in the Newark area and just has some deal with its hometown airline.
UA I think has the 2nd-highest market share (domestically) in Newark, although they don't do many int'l flights from there.
UA I think has the 2nd-highest market share (domestically) in Newark, although they don't do many int'l flights from there.
Oct 17, 1999 | 5:15 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: DL DM, Hilton, Marriott & SPG Platinum & a whole lot of other programs...
Posts: 745
I work for PricewaterhouseCoopers. We are global and since Consulting is a large part of our Business, there is a lot of travel involved. The reason for the Airline restriction is becuase of special discounts and benefits that are exclusive to our agreement. Occasionally if there is a much cheaper fare or no reasonable direct route, we can fly a non-preferred Airline, but those instances are rare.
Thanks for your thoughts so far!
Thanks for your thoughts so far!
Oct 17, 1999 | 11:01 pm
#7
Join Date: May 1999
Location: New York City
Programs: UA MM-1P, Hilton Life Diamond, Marriot Life Gold, ICH Spire
Posts: 4,080
Some of this has been stated before, but I think you have to consider the following:
What are your most likely destinations for business travel, and which of the three airlines serves these destinations the best?
What are your most desired destinations for award travel, and which airline serves them?
If you get only one match between the two, it is a slam-dunk.
Regarding the domestic business travel, also think about each airline's hubs. You will be connecting there often. For instance, AA and UA both use ORD, but, given the choice that you are faced with, I would not choose AA because I have had bad luck for years with their DFW hub: flight cancellations, system delays due to thunderstorms, denied upgrades, loooong walks, etc.
On the other hand, AA has it all over the other two with leisure travel destinations in the Caribbean. UA is stronger in Asia, both do a good job in Hawaii and Europe (including onward BA connections from AA), and so forth.
I would be surprised to find DL winding up a better choice than AA/UA for an EWR-based flyer. But if you were LGA-based, you could make an argument for DL.
You must have a great travel department &/or agency to offer you a choice of elite status on three airlines up front!
What are your most likely destinations for business travel, and which of the three airlines serves these destinations the best?
What are your most desired destinations for award travel, and which airline serves them?
If you get only one match between the two, it is a slam-dunk.
Regarding the domestic business travel, also think about each airline's hubs. You will be connecting there often. For instance, AA and UA both use ORD, but, given the choice that you are faced with, I would not choose AA because I have had bad luck for years with their DFW hub: flight cancellations, system delays due to thunderstorms, denied upgrades, loooong walks, etc.
On the other hand, AA has it all over the other two with leisure travel destinations in the Caribbean. UA is stronger in Asia, both do a good job in Hawaii and Europe (including onward BA connections from AA), and so forth.
I would be surprised to find DL winding up a better choice than AA/UA for an EWR-based flyer. But if you were LGA-based, you could make an argument for DL.
You must have a great travel department &/or agency to offer you a choice of elite status on three airlines up front!