I forget about that flight. They keep changing the times on those flights... mid-morning/afternoon flights work fine, but 0700 departures out of LAS OR LAX, well, no thanks.

I would suggest Alaska, as many previous posters also suggested, but only if you are actually doing some flying from LAX/ONT/BUR/SNA/LGB to PDX/SEA, at least from time to time. Otherwise, Alaska would be a great vehicle for you to "consolidate" all of your mileage earnings, but you'd lose out out elite upgrades and such, if you found all of your travel turns out to be transcon or to the midwest.

Another consideration -- United. United is great for west coast flying, as well as transcon and international, and if it comes to pass (maybe it already has) that AmericaWest/USAir remains in Star Alliance, then in short order, all of your local flying in the southwest could be done on TED and/or USAir to/from Phoenix/Las Vegas and beyond.

Another consideration -- United. United is great for west coast flying, as well as transcon and international, and if it comes to pass (maybe it already has) that AmericaWest/USAir remains in Star Alliance, then in short order, all of your local flying in the southwest could be done on TED and/or USAir to/from Phoenix/Las Vegas and beyond

with regard to UA, do you know if they're still offering eqm's for the gold/plat visa? again, thanks for the input