Help me out! DL or CO?
 

This problem has been on my mind for a while. I decided that I could you a second airline in addition to my beloved US Airways to get elite status on. I'll probably be doing a lot more flying this year and in upcoming years than in years past.

I've had pleasant experiences with both recently. I flew Delta last week to ATL, and even though the flight was short and it was one of my few non-upgraded flights in coach, I was impressed and had a great flight. Then, when I was at the airport after the ATL trip, I stopped by the CO ticket counter. I needed to process an upgrade using dormant FF miles in my OnePass account for a friend as a "gift". The agent did the whole thing in about thirty seconds, and he was really kind. I was impressed that it was at the evening rush hour but CO has tons of staff at the ticketing desk and the line was short.

So, I have limited it down to CO or DL. Here are a few factors that I've come up with:

• I'll probably be logging 50,000 miles or so on this airline. I will make Gold with DL. If I go with CO, I can try to push for Platinum, since it is only 75,000 miles, but will definetely make Gold. I have read on the DL board that upgrading as a gold is easy. What about upgrading as a platinum/gold on CO?
• Delta has a CRC in Tampa. I'm not sure if this is a major factor or not. CO's airside is brand new and is always quiet, so a club may not be neccessary.
• Will either comp me? This is probably the biggest point. Generally I do not like the concept of comping. But I'm not going to fly 50K without elite status this year if I could fly US as an elite (ie in First Class).
• I've picked up both airlines' timetables and both schedules are convenient for me.
• I have heard the CO has outstanding service. Better than DL?
• I'll be flying CO/DL to Europe a lot, especially to Milan. I've heard good things about both BizElite and BizFirst. Which is better?

I need to make my choice by next week, because I have a trip to Milan in two weeks and want to go on my new secondary airline (I decided my current US TPA-CLT-LGW BA LGW-MXP was a bit too much). How do I go about getting comped? I should probably book my Milan trip then too, so they know I'm planning on using their airline.

Thanks for your help. I'll post additional questions on the specific airline's board should I have any.

Thanks,
CP

As a Gold on CO for the past 3 years, I would recommend CO. Upgrades are free on CO provided the seats are available. My success upgrading as a Gold has been 90%+. CO service has been excellent; the best by far of any the airlines I am familiar with. (I am UA 1K, AA Gold, US Preferred) I believe you will have an easy time getting comped to Gold on CO and a slim chance of getting comped on DL.

If you're going to fly to Europe and care about upgrades to business, I recommend Delta due to the systemwide upgrades (which you start getting after reaching Silver Medallion).

I don't think OnePass has anything like it (and I've been with OnePass for 15 years).

If you pay for business -- I think either will do, I like them both.

CP -

It all depends on the fare class you fly in the most. I'd recommend DL if you don't fly on the lowest fares - you can't upgrade on those "L-class" fares. Plus, as mentioned, the system-wide upgrades are great.

CO, however, has a better upgrade policy on lower fares. And, better overall service. I just got comped on CO in 10 minutes on the phone - just sign up for RewardOne on their website and then call the RewardOone line and ask for an immediate comp.

But, overall I'd go with DL because their schedules out of TPA via ATL are most convenient.

Carberry

I have been flying DL almost exclusively since 1983, GM last 7 or 8 yrs (since it was called Royal Medallion, circa 1992). Being from ATL, DL is an easy and natural choice.
I think DL has the best schedule to Europe; some flights are avail out of MCO (which must be a just short drive away from Tampa). You will enjoy BizElite!
I hate DL's L-fare policy; as a GM, I usually get an upgrade. System-wides are great! Of course, upgrades are *not* an issue when flying BizElite.
No experience on CO since 1994. I hear they have very good customer service. DL's is improving, but is nowhere near what it was 10-12 yrs ago.

I think the key here is International Upgrades. The CO upgrade policy is only valid domestically I believe, isn't it? DL's systemwide upgrades are the one key advantage of Medallion over every other US elite level, every 20,000 base miles you get two one-way systemwide upgrades (must fly M, B, or Y fares internationally though) confirmable at any time.

I have experienced terrific service on CO from ground and air personnel, both internationally and domestically. That said, as noted the DL systemwide upgrades could be valuable if you travel internationally. IMHO, DL's coach international service is far inferior to CO's, in both comfort and level of service. I sadly can't comment on the BusinessFirst/BizElite, though the seats are certainly appealing.

My sense is that DL also has more restrictive blackout dates on awards, if this is at all important.

Blackout dates don't apply for DL Medallion members.

having just left TPA, I think I would choose DL b/c of the slightly greater range of cities available in TPA and MCO that DL offers (LAS, LAX come to mind). No real int'l service out of MCO any more, though, except for TransBrasil (which is reputedly dire...)

jl

who says dl's coach service internationally is far inferior to that of co? i just flew to rome on co, and i had the most inedible meals i've ever experienced. i think you're drawing distinctions that don't really exist. the only advantages co has vs dl is they fly 777 on some routes, and they may have a more junior(therefore possibly more eager in-flight crew). otherwise, dl has traditionally offered the following;

1. better pricing
2. a longer period of availabity for purchase at lower fares (sometimes even day of vs co at least 3 days)
3. more routing options via code-shares with its partners (dl-af code shares to ssecondary european cities are much more affordable and extensive than co-af routes)

cuisine, in-flight entertainment, beverage service are quite similar. passable but in no way stellar.

as many people have said, the differences lie in upgrades. co's domestic are unlimited vs dl's accumulated(at least until you're platinum). dl gives systemwides(good on some int'l fares) vs co which only come from miles. by the way, if you get up to dl platinum you get your crc membership included, rather than buying a pres club mem from co.

I was just deciding bet. DL & AA.I went DL since I fly intl alot they have a better prog. for getting free ups even if M is the lowest fare many times its not that much more and this way you dont use up your miles for thatI've heard great things about CO, but I dont care for their award levels I'd need 80,000 to up a disc. tkt. or 80,000 for a free off-peak coach to where I fly to.DL cant help me to europe but from Europe to NY & on to LAX its 40,000 so I guess coach here I come BUT my suggestion is work out to where you will be flying & on a piece of paper list what is good and bad about each airline and then decide that's what I did .Actually, had AA not dropped their BOS to LGW then I would have gone AA too many bonuses to have pasted up,I feel that I'll be going to AA in 2001.

Chairman's Preferred: Good post, and tough questions.

>>I have read on the DL board that upgrading as a gold is easy. What about upgrading as a platinum/gold on CO?

Domestic: I have had no problems getting upgrades as CO Platinum. As a DL gold a few years ago, I almost never got upgrades. But maybe that's changed now, or maybe the flights I was trying to upgrade on (usually SFO-ATL) were particularly difficult.

International: With CO, you can only upgrade certain fare categories; the lowest discounted fares are not upgradeable. I'm not sure how DL's policies compare.

>>Delta has a CRC in Tampa. I'm not sure if this is a major factor or not. CO's airside is brand new and is always quiet, so a club may not be neccessary.

That would be a big deal for me. My hometown CO President's Club is "the place where everybody knows my name." They've helped me out on many occasions and definitely make my life better on the road. I personally wouldn't want to be a frequent flyer on an airline that didn't have a club room in my home base.

>>Will either comp me? This is probably the biggest point. Generally I do not like the concept of comping. But I'm not going to fly 50K without elite status this year if I could fly US as an elite (ie in First Class).

CO will comp you. You might find it interesting to read the threads on the Northwest forum started by Carberry last week. Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/000338.html

>>I have heard the CO has outstanding service. Better than DL?

I haven't flown DL enough internationally to make a fair comparison, but having flown about 300K miles on CO and its partners in the last 3 years now, I will tell you I am one very satisfied customer.

Other points to consider:

With CO, you can earn status miles on Alitalia code shares, and accrue miles on any AZ flight. You can also earn status miles on NW and HP.

Consider what your connecting hubs are going to be, and how difficult they might make your life.

[This message has been edited by dgolds (edited 01-07-2000).]

DGolds, I generally agree w/what you say, but the TPA airport is a special case--it is so pleasant to use that IMHO you don't really need a club to be comfortable and quiet. I've never seen an airport that the day before Thanksgiving literally has a "welcoming committee" when you use on-airport parking--they have people directing you around the parking decks to the open spaces.

I happen to *hate* the way DL runs their old L1011s btwn TPA and ATL so would personally make a different decision than I recommended.

[This message has been edited by jamiel (edited 01-07-2000).]