AA or UA?
 

What to do? I’ve just started a new job where I’ll be traveling a lot. I’m not sure to what destinations, but primarily domestic US. I’m based in Chicago, so have my pick of AA or UA. Given the uncertainty of my destinations, I can’t provide any more details or specifics. From that info, which airline would you choose, AA or UA?

I'd say join both for now. Then figure which one works better for your travel destinations once you have a clearer idea of where you will be working...

But in general, UA has newer and nicer planes.

AA or UA in Chicago
 

I live in Chicago and have gone back and forth between AA and UA over the years. Right now I am flying mostly AA. At elite levels, domestic upgrades are half the price, and are more likely to include meals. On international, AA lets you upgrade off even the cheapest fares, and the OneWorld round-the-world fares are much less restrictive than Star Alliance's.

UA is also using Ted and RJ's on a lot of flights from Chicago, even to cities like Dallas and Atlanta. The seating on these planes is not nearly as good as UA Economy Plus or AA's roomier seating. Ted is a cattle car with no first class - it was probably what drove me to AA most recently.

UA international awards are a bit cheaper so if you're focused on that rather than immediate comfort, that would be a consideration.

I agree with the above poster about trying both programs. I don't fly AA frequently, so I can't comment on how they are for the elite level traveler. For me, personally, the extra legroom in UA's Economy Plus (E+) is a big selling point because I'm 6'-4" and every extra inch does count! :)
As an elite flyer, you can select E+ seat assignments when booking. As a non-elite you can purchase a year of E+ seating assignments (I think it's $300), or purchase full fare Y (yeah, right). I really notice the difference when I have to fly on AA, DL, CO, HP, WN, etc. in coach.
I've been elite with a couple of other programs over the years and I can say (again, for me personally) UA's customer service is the best I've experienced. And I seem to get a lot of upgrades, but as they say, your experience may vary. Just my opinion of course. There have been ups and downs, but overall I'm been very pleased with UA.
So welcome to the forum. Let us know how things go, and safe flying to you.

Welcome to FlyerTalk.

I really do not have a choice between UA and AA being based in Denver. However, UA has been a reliable airline for me with little problems. I have been treated well as a 1K flyer and most certainly as a UGS member. There are many people on both boards that could provide information so I would suggest that you create a thread on both the UA and AA boards for opinion. I would suggest sticking with one airline to maximize your status and the benefits that go along with the airline. Best of luck.

RD

hello! im in chicago also and work at ohare! i flew for the first time in my adulthood early october. i joined both AAdvantage and Mileage Plus! i ended up flying AA and will stick with AAdvantage because i want to become elite. i chose AA for the simple fact that they had more frequencies out of ORD to places i wanted to travel. BUT, it was hard because UA, i could fly a triple 7 to lax instead of the md80! im a fan of wide bodies! so once i go elite on AA and go through all the levels, ill switch over to UA and give them a try. after that decide which airline to stick with. or just fly both and work on becoming elite on both.

you could do the same. how about flying both airlines, without joining their FF programs. then based on service, join a FF program with one of the airlines you like better!

Try them both. You'll probably end up w/ a natural favorite based on planes/schedules on your common routes.

I prefer UA to AA because: a) I don't like the MD-80 on AA; and b) I like UA's EconomyPlus (E+). You can buy a 12-month pass for $300 so you can start to enjoy E+ now before you have status.

I remember when I was in the same situation and trying to decide between AA and UA. Flying from SJC and SFO made this a tough choice because AA had more So. Cal. destinations direct from SJC. But I fly all over so, it did not stop me.

My ultimate choice was UA and then reach 2nd level status on AA. Well, I have flown enough to be 1k and Plat Exec., but some how I've only been on UA tickets.

Some of the reasons why UA continues to get my business and my 17,000 BIS miles on AA last year never amounted to more this year:

- E+ is great for transcons and you would not have to worry about a Super 80 long hual.

- TED for an elite is not that bad, there is a good chance of getting E+ with a middle seat blocked.

- If you have a good chance of going to the middle of no where (fly over states) then UX is great. See their new branding, EXPLUS.

- The MP program has been fantastic. As a 1k, I feel appreciated 99% of the time. However, I can't comment on how well AA treats their top elites.

I agree. My few experiences with AA were nightmares with customer service.

I agree with trying both, but with a twist. I would sign up for a platinum challenge on American, and then I would fly nothing but American until the challenge was completed (go to the American forum, and read the sticky at the top of the page about challenges). I am under the impression that UA will match status, but you might inquire on the United forum about that. If you could get a match, you would then have status in both programs. You should compare flying with status on American to flying with status on United. You will be doing a lot of flying, so you will have status on whatever airline you finally choose. If you spend 6 months flying both airlines, I would think one of them would stand out for your needs. I would definitely try then to put as much business on your preferred airline as possible, unless you will be flying enough to make top tier on both.

IF you ever start flying enough to be top tier, I would defiinitely choose AA for the unlimited domestic upgrades. That and 8 systemwide international upgrades verses six on UA.

But flying less than this it is not so clear. Depends on routes and your personal preferences. Both are good airlines.

I fly AA more than UA but will try for top tier on UA as well as AA next year.

Whoever you fly is up to you of course. But at the very least, sign up for both credit cards and for UA, toss in ameniti 2 year membership, upgrade your CC to gold immediately, if your limit can handle it write your self a $20K convienience check to earn for 10K miles, then do it again after the first of the year.

Also if you'll fly 12miles before before Dec 15, think about the Double EQM/EQS promo for $200 if it will get you 2P.

Schoflyer, can you elaborate on getting miles for writing a convenience check? Doesn't this count as a cash advance which doesn't qualify for miles?
Thanks, BL17

Welcome to Flyertalk.

Increasingly, I'm getting "write yourself a cash advance or use for balance transfer" convenience checks from Chase and other banks that, according to the fine print, actually post as a purchase even if written to cash. :eek:

If it matters any UA's O'Hare terminal is nicer than AA's.

Destinations!!!
 

IMHO, this whole thread is academic without destinations.

There are some obvious deciding destinations, such as DEN (UA) and DFW (AA) and a host of places with subtle differences.

In my experience, AA flights tend to be more likely to be on time than UA flights, but that could just be my luck.

With AA and the oneWorld alliance, you get one North American airline: AA. With UA and the * Alliance, you get three North American airlines: UA, US and AC.

Also, keep in mind the recent US-HP merger which has added even more * Alliance routes on which you'll get Mileage Plus EQMs.

Good luck on the new job and have fun getting those miles!

Edited to add:

Of course I forgot non-alliance partners, of which AA has (marginally) more than UA.

AA:
Alaska (non-stop service to SEA and ANC from ORD)
Hawaiian

UA:
Aloha

"UA's customer service is the best I've experienced. And I seem to get a lot of upgrades, but as they say, your experience may vary."

United give elite members 4 500 mile upgrade certificates for every 10k miles flown. In an ideal situation, that means that you can be upgraded 20% of the time. However, almost no flights are exactly 500 miles, so an 1100 mile flight is 3 certificates. Also, there are plenty of people who are able to expense $$ for upgrade coupons and so you'll liikely be in a long list of people to be upgraded. This means that even if you do want to use your coupons, you may not get to use them. The chances of you being able to redeem the coupons on the 15% or so of flights that you'll have them for is sketchy.

Also, the coupons expire. So if you can't use them as your status isn't high enough then you won't get to use them at all. Realistically, you might get upgraded 10% ish or the time. I used to fly UA for 3 years at a silver/gold status. I've sat in coach plenty of times while there were seats open in FC. It is purely an insult to their flyers.

AA have seemed alright to me, but I don't think they have the unlimited upgrades that CO and NW offer. Another thing to note is that if you get a lounge membership with UA or AA (as far as I know for AA anyways) you still have to pay the 'nominal fee' (aka full bar price +) and put up with the service with a snarl service from the people in the lounges. It's not good enough that you pay $300 for a lounge pass to a RCC, but you also end up paying $6 for a beer. Try complaining to UA about this. They're run by a different company and you have to actually write them a letter to complain. Rediculous. Personlly, I'd go with the non-direct flights on CO/NW and enjoy the benefits of a company who actually wants your business.

as an AA explat for the last 3 years and a recent 1K for United, I would give a slight advantage to AA for treatment of their highest level flyers-unlimited upgrades on domestic routes, the ability to use the SWU on virtually any overseas fare, and just a general sense of respect in being the highest fare

with the end of MRTC and the older fleet, at the lower flying levels, i think the alternative might be in the direction of United

on the use of miles for award purposes, the *alliance and its opportunities seem greater than OneWorld