I'm not sure this fits here, but I also don't think it would do well in either the DL or AA fora.

Anyway, I recently (early this year) moved to a city that is not served by my previous carrier of choice, United. Since moving, I have earned both AA Plat and DL Gold Medallion status via challenges.

I have to connect on almost every trip, but after that connection, each airline serves my destinations with about equal convenience.

I've identified the following pros and cons for each program. As you can see from the (hopefully readable) chart below, DL is slightly more convenient because of hubs in CVG and ATL and a mini-hub at DFW. However, I have not used DL miles for anything as yet and would like some comments on how easy it is to find award availability to Europe, Asia (partner) and Hawaii. I've had pretty good luck using AA miles. Also, I assume that all DL miles, including bonus miles and those earned via CC will count toward Million Miler and lifetime status.

Based on my travel patterns YTD, I will probably be able to qualify at top tier in one program and lowest-to-middle tier in the other. I will use your input to help decide which program to focus on for the balance of the year. Thanks in advance.

AA

Pros
Shorter transit time to left coast (DFW)
MRTC on big planes (mostly)
Every mile counts toward lifetime status
Solvent
Can qual on segs.

Cons

100% RJs out of LIT
DFW sucks for connections
500 mile upgrades mean sit in back mostly


DL

Pros
Free u/g with decent clearing %
DL Amex card has 2x miles for many purch
More direct flights to hubs per day (CVG/ATL)
NW and CO as partners means more options for qualification
750 mile min (on the kind of fares I buy) per seg

Cons
About to go bankrupt?
Able to use miles?
Comair/ASA
ATL sux for connections

[edit to reformat so readable]

My airline of choice is AA. I got lifetime platinum status with AA. Only use Delta when going to the south - Geogia - where th fares are dramatically different. I have about 100K in Delta - see them as back-up in case I can't get on an AA or BA flight. The AMEX starpoints gives 5K bonus for each 20K tranferred - not double but 1.25%. It also allows for use with any airline whereas the Skymiles card limits you to Delta. Did have one when there were great bonus - which is why I have 100K (and MCI deals). If they offer comparable fares and convenience. - I'd vote for AA.

You're in error about DL lifetime miles. Only butt-in-seat miles count toward status there. This became the policy when they introduced SkyMiles in 1995 to replace their earlier Frequent Flyer program. Previously, all miles counted toward lifetime status. They left existing lifetime totals intact when they switched, but since then only flown miles count.

You'd think this would be offset by correspondingly higher benefits for reaching MM totals on Delta, but in general it isn't. Both give lifetime first-tier status (DL Silver, AA Gold) for 1MM, mid-tier (DL Gold, AA Platinum) for 2MM. DL also gives lifetime top-tier (their Platinum) for 4MM, but for most of us that's not of much practical importance - it's 200,000 actual flown miles per year for 20 years in a row. At that point they should name at least an airplane, if not the whole airline, after you!

I like AA. More legroom in coach ^ , however, I have read that "More Room Throughout Coach" will be removed from AA's 757.
And I don't see many big differences in both mileage programs ...

The AAdvantage advantage:

1) All miles count twords lifetime status.
2) You can upgade any published fare, worldwide, with miles (or if you make EXP with VIP04's)
3) If you concentrate all your travel on AA, you should hit EXP and get free domestic upgrades.
4) OneWorld alliance (BA, Cathay, Quantas, Lan Chile, Aer Lingus, Finnair, Iberia) plus 13 other air partners including Hawaiian.
5) In 8 years I've cashed in over 2 million miles and have only been denied standard awards during peak holiday travel time.
6) no danger of going bankrupt any time soon.

Flipside

I'm a DL refugee - moved to AA last year and havn't looked back once! especially as I'm now EXP so there are no 500 miles upgrade requirements (i.e. upgrades are now free & I've been upgraded on every flight so far this year) in addition EXP's receive 8 VIPOWs good for an upgrade on ANY AA flight, including international (same as the old SWUs DL used to have) I even used two recently to upgrade on a supposedly very difficult flight LAX-LHR. Bottom line for this ex-Dl Plat member is a ^ for AA

That policy started later than 1995, I'm pretty sure it came into affect on January 1, 1997 (I remember because I became a Delta FF in late 1996 so I received some benefit from this policy before it was dropped).

Do you plan on buying a Club membership? For me, DL would get a pro for free drinks in the CRC, but if you don't plan on being a club member this doesn't matter.

You missed that top tier AA elites (EXP) now get free upgrades with close to 100% clearance rates on domestic flights.

'cause I like seeing myself post, I would also add that I don't think any potential bankruptcy of DL is a real concern, they're not going anywhere, and if anything a bankruptcy might mean even better promotions ...

Oh, 'cause I really like seeing myself post, I would also add that Delta PM's get free club membership ...

Yikes! Gives me new respect (or sympathy) for my colleague who is a 3MM.

I appreciate the comments, and the other benefits I overlooked.

To state the obvious: upgrades, free and otherwise, mean something only when there's a first class section on the plane. Apply that concept to three real-life examples:

1a) LIT-LGA on DL. I get an MD-88 to ATL, then a 757 or MD-88 to LGA. I should be able to upgrade the whole way most of the time. Total time is about 3 hours (in flight).
1b) LIT-LGA on AA. Two options here: LIT-DFW on an RJ, then an MD-80 to LGA. I upgrade for 3 hour of a 4 hour (flying) trip. Or I could go LIT-ORD on an RJ, then ORD-LGA on an MD-80 or possibly a 757. Upgraded for 2 hours of a 3.5 hour (flying) trip.

2a) LIT-LAX on DL. MD-88 to ATL, then possibly a widebody to the coast. Possibility of upgrade for 100% of the flight. But I have to go about 2.5 hours the "wrong way" (LIT-ATL, then however much time it takes to get back to the airspace above LIT). Total flying time is probably 5.5-6 hours(?)
2b) LIT-LAX on AA. RJ to DFW, then probably a 757 to the coast. Upgraded for about 2.5 hours of a 3.5-4 hour (flying) trip.

3a) LIT-CMH on DL. Either an RJ to CVG then another RJ to CMH (possible big plane), or an MD-88 to ATL then a 757, 737 or MD-88 to CMH. Upgrade potential costs me about 1.5-2 hours.
3b) LIT-CMH on AA. RJ to DFW, then either RJ or MD to CMH. Possible upgrade for 2 hours of 3 total. RJ to ORD, then RJ or MD to CMH. Possible upgrade for <1 hour of 2.5 total.

After all that, I'm scratching my head on why I don't live somewhere else (topic for another thread, I guess).

Do you fly full fare or deep discount? It makes a difference.
If you fly full fare or higher fare (non-L,U), I think DL might service you better.

Reasons:
1 Less RJ.
2. Very good upgrade percentage.
3. Free Crown Room membership (as PM)
4. You can also connect thought Memphis, Detroit on NW hub and CLE, IAH on CO hub. Although you won't get upgrade on CO or NW, their policy might change after CO/NW join Sky Team.
5. You can redeem on SQ or Virgin Atlantic to Europe and Asian.

AA is good. But if you have to fly RJ, I will stay away from it.

Though I'm a NW person....Delta is just a crappy airline, their service is mediocre to bad, tend to have lots of CRJs and I'm just not happy flying them. I've have had much difficulty getting to use my 50k miles on Delta as well....Further, many of my friends are AA elite and LOVE the airline....