From the posts so far it looks like the general opinion is that AA is a better choice and I concur. Being a DL PM every year for the last 13-14 years and also an AA EXP I find awards availability in premium Classes to some of my destinations better with AA than with DL. The free Crown Room membership (and the free drinks) for DL PM is an added benefit as others have pointed out but in my case I already have a lifetime membership in the Crown Room. Most of my travel is international; so I get admitted anyway to AA's AC and FL (ORD, LHR, BOS, LAX).

If you are a compulsive mileage tracker needing immediate posting then you'll find that the DL miles are posted in your account by the time you land. With AA it takes a few days.

My vote 60% AA, 40% DL

I didn't think my memory was that far off, so I asked Delta. Here's what they wrote:

Dear Efrem,

Thank you for contacting Delta Air Lines.

May 1, 1995, marked the beginning of Delta's SkyMiles program and the
end of our Frequent Flyer program. All mileage accrued prior to May 1,
1995, is considered Frequent Flyer Miles or Previous Program Miles.
Frequent Flyer miles do not have an expiration date. SkyMiles are
subject to expire 3 years after the last posting to your account.

If you have mileage in both programs, you can add the two balances
together to redeem a SkyMiles award. You may also use Frequent Flyer
miles to request an award under the Frequent Flyer program. Mileage
earned in the SkyMiles program cannot be added to your Frequent Flyer
program balance to redeem a Frequent Flyer award.

Your selection of Delta is appreciated, and we will always do our best
to merit your confidence and support.

Sincerely,

Diana Helbig
Online Customer Support Desk


Unless, of course, he/she earned a good chunk of those miles prior to May 1995, when all miles from all sources counted. It's getting up there today that's tough.

I was considering Delta bonds maturing 12-15-2005 (in 19 months) that are paying 38% APY for my IRA. If Delta doesn't file for bankruptacy in the next 19 months, that is a great return, but perhaps the bond market knows something we don't.

Thanks for the replies. I'm still undecided, but you all have given me some additional data and opinion to chew on.

One possible plus for the DL alliance is that you can redeem awards on CO and NW also. When trying to put together a difficult award redemption it can help having this choice.

We were trying to fly to Hawaii for spring break and could never find a complete roundtrip on AA, DL, CO or NW. But we were able to mix and match and piece together a trip using DL, CO and NW segments. It was cumbersome to do the research on all 3 websites and the routing was odd but it worked.

As a AA EXP living in Dallas, DL should be my backup. My problem with them is two fold, first, if I have to sit in coach they have a bad coach product compared to AA and my backup UA. Second, they have horrible upgrade rules for international flights, M class or better, which can get real expensive. So I live, at least part time in a DL hub city and can't figure out how to use them as a backup, let alone my main carrier. Just my 2 cents.

Well, I've just been upgraded 100% the past two trips on DL. Scales tipping......

Plus, I've just gotten the DL AMEX, which offers 2x miles June 15-July 15, not to mention the 2x miles available year round for "everyday expenses."

Now, if I could just figure out whether all these miles are going to be useable...

Thanks for all the point pro and con about both programs.

You seem to be very concerned with upgrading so I want to mention that you can get on a 777 DFW-LAX and 777 DFW-ORD and 777 DFW-MIA. You dont seemed to be as concered with time so the LIT-DFW-ORD-CMH option (if the fare allows) might get you on a 777. Point being, sitting in a Flagship Suite on a domestic flight under domestic upgrade rules is better than Delta can offer.

Also, perhaps you charge massive amounts of money to your DL Amex. making the 2x quite valuable. However, AA does have an offer of 12,500 miles for signing up to their World Mastercard with a 6-month waiver on the annual fee.
AA Credit Card 12,500 Bonus Miles

Finally, if you like travelling domestically in F, AA/oneworld (CX/BA etc.) offers some pretty nice intl C/F products.

Just my 2 cents but AA has done me quite well. And although I havent reached EXP yet, I undertstand that some of the EXP agents will bend over backwards for you re: change fees, overbooked flights and award availability. Will DL do that for you?

Happy TrAAvels

Just to whet your appetite......you might want to take a look at the AA/oneworld Systemwide Map. Its quite impressive especially with the oneworld and Codeshare destinations.

AA/oneworld Destinations

Happy TrAAvels

FYI, LIT-CHM--DL shows a code share (#6686) on NW metal, a DC-9, with one stop (MEM). In evaluating DL, consider other flights on partner NW via MEM, MSP, & DTW.

100% of your AA itineraries involve some RJs, while many Delta ones won't (LIT). Not sure how you feel about that, but I'd think carefully about it in terms of comfort and transfer experiences.

I'd also think hard about which carrier you naturally tend to fly more. Think about the destinations you most often go to, and which carrier is most convenient to those. You don't want to be struggling for top tier on a carrier that involves taking less convenient flights on a regular basis.

You mentioned that you'd be top tier in one and bottom or mid in the other. Mid tier on AA is pretty great, with double miles and lounge access on flights touching places outside of North America. Bottom tier (gold) really isn't much in my opinion. With top tier you get unusually good service from phone reps, free north america upgrades, and the 8 international upgrades mentioned by others.

This is only heresay, but AA has a relatively good reputation for award redemption, especially versus Delta.

I'm considering flying AA later this year out of MCI and while I'd take Plat challebge to starty out with, after my year and a half of Plat I'll only be able to sustain Gold. My question is, why do you Gold really isn't much? If you can elaborate that would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I was a Delta Gold that moved to AA on a Platinum challenge because Delta only gave half a status mile on L,U,T fares, and I moved from NYC to LA. I was frequently upgraded, even as a DL Silver, without having to use segments. The BizElite seats are also much nicer than anything American has. If DL changes their rules, I may go back

AA is the best choice out of LIT since you can easily connect to either ORD or DFW where you have tons of flight choices. AA is best for award redemption and their international network, not to mention their superior website and all of the other ways to earn miles (AAdvantage was the first and is still the most widely available in terms of partner awards through cereals, banks, other deals, etc).

Thanks for the comment, ScottTexas, but the comment re: the website is horsesh!t. Delta's website is superior in every way to American's.

After I come back from dinner with my wife, who is pestering me to get out the door, I'll enumerate the ways.