Thinking about switching - need advice!
Dec 8, 2005 | 8:33 pm
#31
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posts: 663
Another plug for UA...
A last minute award ticket is free on UA ^
It costs up to $75 on AA.
(Plus, I've found availability to be better on UA/*A internationally.)
But, a plus for AA...
If you don't requalify for status next year, AA drops you one status level. ^
UA just drops you.
A last minute award ticket is free on UA ^
It costs up to $75 on AA.
(Plus, I've found availability to be better on UA/*A internationally.)
But, a plus for AA...
If you don't requalify for status next year, AA drops you one status level. ^
UA just drops you.
Originally Posted by wanaflyforless
HOWEVER, AA still lets you upgrade from deep discount econ fares with miles. The copay is not always more than the difference in fare you would have to pay to get upgradable international on other carriers. Regardless...the OP is not concerned about international.
For domestic:
- AA and UA upgades work about the same for mid-tier - except AA only costs $25 per 500 miles and UA cost more, $40?
- UA has E+; AA doesn't
- UA and AA have similar premium products on most domestic routes
- You would probably have less upgrade competition to the ORD on AA
- Of the three preferred carriers, only DL has free upgrades for mid-tier
- If you make 1K, you would have top upgrade priority, earn free region 1 domestic advance confirmed upgrades, and enough SWU to trade with other FTers if wanted to to upgrade all of your longer UA trips ahead of time
For domestic:
- AA and UA upgades work about the same for mid-tier - except AA only costs $25 per 500 miles and UA cost more, $40?
- UA has E+; AA doesn't
- UA and AA have similar premium products on most domestic routes
- You would probably have less upgrade competition to the ORD on AA
- Of the three preferred carriers, only DL has free upgrades for mid-tier
- If you make 1K, you would have top upgrade priority, earn free region 1 domestic advance confirmed upgrades, and enough SWU to trade with other FTers if wanted to to upgrade all of your longer UA trips ahead of time
Dec 12, 2005 | 5:45 pm
#32
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ann Arbor
Programs: HHonors Gold , National Emerald Exec, Hertz Presidents, Delta Gold
Posts: 2,604
My 2 cents
AA has lifetime elite status for 1,000,000 banked miles.
UA E+ has the same leg room as NW F.
UA E+ has the same leg room as NW F.
Last edited by Bikeguy; Dec 12, 2005 at 5:57 pm
Dec 12, 2005 | 6:13 pm
#33
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MCI
Programs: AA EXP (1.5MM), Hilton/SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,335
I would get AA PLAT no matter what, soon. At least you will be earning upgrades and double miles when you do fly them. You use Carlson as your TA, as I have to. And your companies % discounts/contracts are the ones "prefering" AA/UA/DL, not Carlson.
Often, i will see AA flights that are the cheapest, and have the time in First, when everyone else is in Coach. But there is no way to know what the difference is between our discounts and yours. Generally, they work like this..
Deep Discount Coach Fares = no discount
Discount Fares = 12% off
Full Fare Economy/Discount First, and Full Fare First = 33% off.....
When flights get full, or you are booking 1-2 weeks out and all the Deep discount is gone, you can often find that 33% off the higher price is what will come up. And the important thing about this, is that as AA PLat, all will have you sitting up from. Full Fare Economy gets you there with no stickers, if there is room. Discount and Regular first get you there too, of couse.
Out of WAS, I would give UA and AA a good testing. Make UA comp you, take the AA challege. But do not compare top tier UA to Plat AA. You need to fly 100k with AA to get the full benefits.....
Also, MRTC is gone on AA. But, on most places, if you know where to sit (Generally ahead of the exit row), than the seats haven't moved. Get familiar with Seatguru.com
You will want PLAT and UA just to grab exit rows, if you can.
Often, i will see AA flights that are the cheapest, and have the time in First, when everyone else is in Coach. But there is no way to know what the difference is between our discounts and yours. Generally, they work like this..
Deep Discount Coach Fares = no discount
Discount Fares = 12% off
Full Fare Economy/Discount First, and Full Fare First = 33% off.....
When flights get full, or you are booking 1-2 weeks out and all the Deep discount is gone, you can often find that 33% off the higher price is what will come up. And the important thing about this, is that as AA PLat, all will have you sitting up from. Full Fare Economy gets you there with no stickers, if there is room. Discount and Regular first get you there too, of couse.
Out of WAS, I would give UA and AA a good testing. Make UA comp you, take the AA challege. But do not compare top tier UA to Plat AA. You need to fly 100k with AA to get the full benefits.....
Also, MRTC is gone on AA. But, on most places, if you know where to sit (Generally ahead of the exit row), than the seats haven't moved. Get familiar with Seatguru.com
You will want PLAT and UA just to grab exit rows, if you can.
Dec 12, 2005 | 6:18 pm
#34
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida, U.S.A.
Posts: 7,664
Originally Posted by wanaflyforless
HOWEVER, AA still lets you upgrade from deep discount econ fares with miles. The copay is not always more than the difference in fare you would have to pay to get upgradable international on other carriers.
Plus you can upgrade B fares with 10k miles only ( and no Co-pay) which the "comprehensive " analysis of the AA upgrade structure conveniently manages to omit
mike
Last edited by MIKESILV; Dec 12, 2005 at 6:20 pm