I need a second airline for elite status
 

Hi. I've made a few posts in the past about switching by business from US Airways to another airline because, although US provides me with great service, the lacks of their route network can be felt.

But, since then, I've had a few great experiences with US Airways, which makes me want to stay loyal to them. But, since I fly between 100,000 and 150,000 miles per year depending on patterns, I think I can pull off elite status on another airline.

Most of my travel is in the US (all parts, actually) and Europe. I'm trying to decide what airline is best. The important factors are:
1. Ease of upgrades. I'll probably be in the lower or middle tier, depending on how I work out my travel. Since my business only pays coach for domestic travel, this is very important.
2. International comfort and service. I usually fly business, but if the flight is long, I can easily get my business to pay for First class (actually, technically, I could get First for all int'l flights, but I like to keep the leverage by picking only a few...). I've had great experiences with US in Envoy Class. Delta has a huge European network, which is important. Continental also is pretty large to Europe.
3. Airlines convenient to Tampa, my home. Since you have to connect to get just about everywhere, this is not really a problem. CO has convenient connections at EWR (Europe), CLE, and IAH from TPA. With Delta, fly a frequent flight to ATL and you just about have the world. AA has introduced new jet service to MIA, complementing their ORD and DFW service, and their Eagle MIA flights. Also they have flights to LGA, but they are more origin/destination.
4. Overall positive experiences with the airline, also recognition as an elite.

What airline do you think best fits me?

Thank you very much in advanced,
Chairman's Preferred

CP: My experiences on CO:

1. Ease of upgrades. Domestically: if you fly full fares, if you're gold (middle tier), you can confirm an upgrade with no coupons, certificates or stickers. Silvers I believe can upgrade two days before the flight. For less than full fares, you can upgrade by calling a day or two in advance depending on your level. You also have the same award privileges on NW and HP. (I think when they are finally done with the remodel at DTW in 2001, NW will get a lot better.) International: dicier, some fares cannot be upgraded even with miles. I believe certain domestic classes on DL cannot be upgraded at all.

2. International comfort and service. Cabins are two classes only (same as DL) and the service is excellent.

3. Airlines convenient to Tampa. Just a comment, there was a discussion recently on the problems at MIA. Most people seemed not to like MIA very much; you might want to find the discussion and consider if you really want to be flying through there a lot if you can avoid it. EWR has nice facilities but a bad on-time record; I think it was rated worse in the country the last survey I read.

4. Overall positive experiences with the airline, also recognition as an elite. For my money, CO crews are the friendliest. I nearly always feel like they try hard to give the pax great service. A huge plus for me, since I nearly always check baggage is CO's superior baggage service. They give elites special tags and at most of the airports I fly into, my bags are nearly always among the first onto the luggage carrousel. This one perk has saved me hours waiting at baggage claim the last two years.

Sounds like a tough choice between DL and CO. As a gold medallion a couple of years ago, I always had trouble getting domestic upgrades on DL, and I sometimes had to pay for them by buying points. I am almost always upgraded on CO, but I've always been top tier (gold or platinum, which was introduced only this year). OTOH I'd rather fly through ATL than EWR, and DL's international partners are a little nicer than CO's for the most part. I hear great things about DL's BusinessElite service, sounds at least as good as CO's BusinessFirst.

Another thing you might want to consider is whether TPA has a Crown Room or a President's Club. Either is a big asset when one flies so much.

Good luck with your decision and let us know which way you decide to go.

I agree with everything that my friend, dgolds says. I say go Continental.
Other factores to consider include where you want to use the free trips you will earn going to. Does DL or CO fit your future plans better.
Also, What is the availability of NW and America West flights in Tampa. Remember that you can have flights on these credited to you CO account, as well as use miles for trips on all three. NW has a particularly attractive route system to Asia and CO to South America. Your choice should really be dictated by your future plans. Good luck.

Go Continental!

While I personally do not fly them a lot (and the last time I flew them it was an invol reroute and it was not a good flight) I have heard good things about American from my colleagues who travel internationally.

It boils down to a great route network and partners (oneworld). Also as an USAirways member you can pool miles for awards, and there is always that possibility they will increase their marketing alliance...

It does seem that American hubs at JFK, O'Hare and Miami are all not that great, however. It's a tough call; however if I was in your position I'd go with American since the main reason you are not flying USAirways is due to their lack of a route map.

I only travel domestically and I feel that pain too ... soon there won't be any major USAirways destination I have not been to (that I can't easily drive to)!

I would think DL would be the obvious choice ...

If CO hubs are "convenient" I would think the DL hub at ATL is ultra-convenient since it's about an hour closer by air, and as you say you have access to the world from there pretty much ...

CO is definitely your solution. If the situation is ATL vs. EWR, Newark wins without a fight. Although EWR "supposedly" has worse delays, I cant tell you the number of times I've been delayed at good ol' Hartsfield. In addition, in the event you were stuck in EWR on your way to Europe (ie., a missed connection), it would certainly be easier to find another flight to Europe in Newark than in Atlanta. Except for LH and 1 or 2 other exceptions, DL and its cronies are the only ones who fly to Europe from Atlanta.

Besides, the OnePass program is far superior to SkyMiles on all major points, especially in the area of partnerships with other carriers. In fact, CO/NW/et. al. have excellent mileage redemption opportunities. Others, such as DL/UA, might be larger, but its doesn't amount to a hill of beans if those points can never be practically used.

Thanks for the replies, I always know I can get great advice here!

One point about me, that I know differs from most people: I don't really care about award travel! I travel so much each year, that when I'm on vacation, I want to stay home! So, award destinations and stuff like that don't matter to me. I only redeem awards for friends and relatives, almost never for myself!

I think right now it basically comes down to Delta and Continental. I was a Delta flyer for while, but after the guy before Mullin left (sorry, I forget his name!), things started to rapidly decline. I've heard that they've picked up their act a little. I've flown them a few times when I had an early morning meeting in ATL and I couldn't fly TPA-CLT-ATL, which, although unpractical, I would do.

Domestic travel is about even. Delta has very frequent flights to ATL, as well as CVG, DFW, LAX, BOS, and EWR (last two are DL Express). CO to EWR, IAH, and CLE. HP to LAS and PHX, and NWA to MSP, DTW, and MEM.

Delta has a large route network to Europe, but not that much bigger than CO.

One major point is that Delta has a CRC in TPA. CO doesn't.

Oh, it is a hard choice! At least I still have about a month or two before I should apply for comp status!

As for the others, AA would be a possibility. Jet service to MIA, DFW, and ORD. They are a little more appealing with their 727s to MIA. I was never too fond of their puddle-jumpers on the MIA-TPA route. I've heard great things about UAL, but they aren't strong in Tampa.

One separate point that shows the CO/HP/NW alliance: CO has long handled ground services for HP and HP used CO gates. But now, NWA has moved into CO's Airside A, sharing gates with them. NWA no longer uses their gates in old, junky Airside D. Are they doing this anywhere else? Perhaps would one airline handle check-in for the other in the future, similar to CO and HP. NWA and CO/HP both maintain separate ticketing facilities.

Chairman's Preferred

Having just left TPA for ATL, I would be not be in a huge hurry to have premium level with DL...if you haven't been on the sh*ttle that flies ATLTPA, you will experience DL in it's full arrogance. One good point is that CO flies into the new airside, while the rest of the airlines are in older facilities (interesting that NW moved over there--I wonder if they're still flying to MBJ from TPA?)

my 2 cents...

jl

For ease of upgrades, TWA is a good choice. Always have had success getting upgraded as a lowly Elite from any fare, which is a nice bonus.

Don't think there are a lot of flights from Tampa other than to St. Louis and New York.

But I've always been treated well, and as importantly, they are almost always on time.