With the way things are at DL, you are right to pursue AA. They have a "challenge" where you fly X amount in Y time and you get either Gold (lowest elite) or Platinum (mid elite). I don't think there's a Executive Platinum (EXP, top elite) challenge. Search the American forum for the details, unless someone else is kind enough to provide them here.

Maybe one day I'll be able to say that Delta is at the top of frequent flier programs. Today is not that day. Sample the mood of the community at the Delta forum and you'll see what we mean.


------------------
"Sire, it is not a revolt. It is a Revolution!"

How Valuable is Elite Status?

To answer that question we would have to determine two things:

• How much are FC upgrades worth?
• How much are FF miles worth?

As a OnePass Platinum I'm upgraded over 90% of the time, even on the cheapest of fares, and receive a bonus of 125% added to my mileage.

I you were to assume that FC upgrades are worth a premiun equal to the lowest trans-con coach fare, lets say $.04 mile and that a FF mile is worth $.02 OnePass Platinum status for a traveler doing 75,000 miles and 75 segments receives a value of over $6,000.

[This message has been edited by Old Gold (edited 05-03-2001).]

Elite status is not nearly as valuable as it used to be particularly with DL because of their restricted cheaper tickets not allowing upgrades. If your employer buys you upgradable tickets then you can upgrade regularly without having to buy the most expensive FC tickets.

Hello FTers,

I concur with the statement of "elite status being worth attaining" based on my experience. I also dropped being a DL elite (lowest level) for being middle level (Gold Preferred) on US. I have never regretted the decision.


Cheers,

Va.SquireFlyer

Based on all the chat here, it's a safe bet that AA and CO will BOTH comp you to their equivalent of 'Gold medallion' which provides very good benefits on either of those programs, ESPECIALLY compared to DL. This is designed to let you have a fair amount of comfort in the 7-9 months it'll take you to prove your loyalty. BTW, It is very very rare you will be comped to Top-tier status by any airline, unless you fly 2 R/T "Y" fares a week and can prove it. BUT, If you do, mail copies of your statements, maybe you'll get lucky.

I myself am a Top-tier USAirways, forsaking DL whenever possible, as their FF program has been trashed by their mgmt. But, in your case, I think US is a bad bet as you are based in NY, as they have the most trouble in their entire network with 3 cities: LGA, EWR, and PHL. Not just my opinion, the opinion of a LOT of experienced reservations agents at the 'Chairman's Desk.'

Hope this helps, good luck, and welcome to FlyerTalk!



------------------
"You can never have too much Reverb."

Welcome to FT, shannonk.

I think AA or CO will absolutely comp elite if you have ALREADY ATTAINED elite status on a competitor and have the card and recent mileage statements to prove it to them. I don't think they will comp elite if you're only halfway to elite status on DL.

As for which to go for, I've been CO elite for years and love it because of the couponless, unlimited domestic upgrades. But many have been frustrated with CO's refusal to confirm upgrade award travel internationally. If you're going to Europe a lot I'd concentrate on AAdvantage; if not, CO. Good luck.

[This message has been edited by BearX220 (edited 05-03-2001).]

Hi-

Since you're only 1/2 way to DL elite, you're a prime candidate for the AA Challenges.

Read the AA forum for more information than you need to know. In a nutshell- you have three months to get 5,000 (Gold) or 10,000 (Platinum) Q-points to get status. Q-points are earned at 50% of mileage on discount economy, so two cheap JFK-LHR tickets will net you Gold, for instance.

A BIG NOTE: However, challenges started in the first half of the year only earn status through 02/02, while challenges started after are good through 02/03. So unless you have a lot of flying coming up and/or you can requalify for next year on actual mileage in 2001 (25, 50 or 100K), my advice is to not worry about anything for the next few months and do an AA challenge in the 2nd half of the year.

I'm an AA flyer and have had no problems flying out of JFK, LGA and (sometimes) EWR. However, if you're convenient to EWR, you might want to consider CO for the range of non-stops.

Elite status is very much worth it.

Why?

1. The announced benefits of elite status - more miles, more upgrade chances and perks such as boarding privileges and the ability to use the first class counters regardless of the class of ticket you have. This, alone, is worth it.

2. Better access - all airlines give elites, at some tier - a different phone line and a different address to send complaints or requests to. Every time you talk to an airline, it is likely the agent will be checking your status with them.

3. Comping - being an elite with an airline will often mean easy elite status with a hotel chain as well.

- - -

Delta has crashed its FF program - assuming, it seems, that people who fly with Delta have no choice, and hence they don't need to give them much in the way of goodies. Hence, people with a choice don't fly Delta.

The easiest program to qualify for is AA. For Domestic upgrades CO is a better choice, but their international upgrade policy is widely regarded as the worst. Remember that AA is part of One World and CO is in the Wings alliance with KL, NW, HP and now Midway airlines - so look at which partners you might use, and what degree they comp you to.

Your other choice is US Airways, which probably means eventually being with United. United is part of the Star alliance, and thus the largest and most extensive FF program in the world. It is also a pretty stingy airline with benefits until you hit the top tier, and has had a number of problems with managing its business. However, for many people, United is the friendly skies, because it serves more destinations with more flights.

The improved status is well worth it even when traveling on fares that are not upgradeable. The access to a decent quiet lounge without having to spend $8+ for a poor cup of coffee in an echoing barn during a three hour connection is a joy. If you're lucky, your elite or whatever status, will get you bumped to business or even first class when they have oversold the steerage. Happened to me twice trans pacific in the last two years.

A couple of questions about CO for those who've already posted here:

- At the lowest elite level, is there usually a hold time on the phone when making reservations or changing flights? At the mid-tier level, nearly all airlines will serve you promptly, but different airlines take very different approaches with their phone service to 25K flyers (for example, TW doesn't provide a separate number until their 50K level; UA has a separate number but it still requires a long hold time; AA and US seem to serve you promptly unless they are having major cancellations).

- How available are the complimentary domestic upgrades to the lowest level elites? Seems like the only possible downside to CO's system is that F would always be full of the higher elites, leaving the 25K-level flyers without many upgrades. Once you hit the mid-tier level, it sounds like CO's system is far superior to most others. (In my experience as an AA Plat: I get the upgrade 75% of the time, but there's a limit of free ones before I have to buy more e-upgrades.)

- Wilro: Does CO give you lounge access at some level? Or were you talking about another airline? I know AA and US give occasional day-passes to their elites, but that's it. TW used to run promos where you can earn Ambassador's Club access with a few RT purchases, but I imagine that those promos are gone forever.

All of the above is nice, but you've missed the single biggest benefit - waitlist priority. At least a couple of times a year I find myself in DFW or IAD or MIA with snow at my homebase (ORD). The early flights are all cancelled, last flight of the day has a waiting list as long as your arm; the babies are crying, the oldsters are whining. Up to the counter, out with the 1K card, "window or aisle, sir?".

I also get a couple of hundred dollar discount on a family RCC membership; no matter what you decide ALWAYS join your airlines club. All it takes is one delay when the line is out the door at the regular counter to pay for the membership in terms of aggravation avoided.

CO:
NO lounge to any elite
No dedicated phone line just a "special" light on the switchboard of the regular line - as an insult they ask you to put in your elite number to access but if you put in any number they will take IT ANY WAY
Upgrades: depending on time and place you travel but all I know say that competition has become very, very tough for silvers (unlimited NON-upgrades)

------------------
Viele Gr��e

Oliver

I would like to add that Continental Elites do not receive priority on the standby waitlist. That is, they do NOT have a higher priority on the standby waitlist for a seat on a departing airplane at the airport.

mid level with AA, you get upgrade seat almost 100% of time if you want it. First class check in domesticly. I never wait more than a couple of minutes to checkin. I do use the admirals club alot, discount price. Priority waitlist for standby and award upgrades. Platinum phone line has virtually no waiting. Is it worth it? It make business travel alot better. With this level of service I can't wait to see EXP service level as I am told that there is no comparison to PLT. Also Platinum service centers are another place to checkin if in DFW, MIA, or ORD. Travel with status or not? I want status.

But for my American Airlines executive platinum card, Admirals Club card, Hertz Number One Gold membership, and American Express Mileage Rewards, I would stop traveling!