I would really appreciate any advice re- choosing betweem American and United's FFP. I'm currently Royalwing with KLM/NWA (top tier) but want to change to either AA or United (primarily for the broader alliances and better benefits than KLM/NW offers, but also cause KLM seems to be relatively expensive these days). Problem is, I've never flown either airline, having been loyal to KLM/NW since I started flying! I'm based in Scotland and fly almost exclusively economy.
United have offered to comp me PremEx status; AA will not comp anything, but can do the Gold/Platinum challenge.
Question is whether it's worth doing the challenge with AA, or should I go with United?
Any help will be MUCH appreciated.

Right now, it seems that UA international business class is being diluted by a lower service level. Since you'll be on a lot of those trans-atlantic flights, you'll be better off with AA's MRTC and business class products.

As an Europe-based AAdvantage member, you would also have access to all Admiral's Clubs when you travel. The upgrade policy on AA is a bit more generous, especially on international flights, because you can upgrade with miles on all published fares.

Of course, I could be a little biased.

[This message has been edited by Plato90s (edited 10-30-2001).]

I would suggest going with UA. Based on them comping you to 1P, you'll get the following:

- Economy Plus seating, equivalent to AA's MRTC

- Free Red Carpet Club membership (this is an undocumented benefit, but please see Matthew Clements excellent unofficial MP site for more info).

------------------
Who is John Galt?
------------------

This is a hard question to answer because AA flyers would tell you to fly AA and UA flyers would tell you to fly UA, it all depends on you. AA has alot of hidden benefits like the most generous Million Miler program which they count miles from ALL SOURCES, and to my knowledge unlimited GLD/PLT challenges, you just have to choose yourself.

------------------
Albert

[This message has been edited by afang (edited 10-30-2001).]

You'll also get 100% mileage bonus from day one, instead of after qualifying via Challenge.

Free RCC is a nice benefit, although only truly useful if you travel domestically in the USA -- otherwise the *G + international ticket will work -- *A coverage means you can use the BMI lounges at most of the Scottish airports.

UA's LHR-USA flights tend to be overbooked, and I've had terrific luck getting operational upgrades on a fairly regular basis as a 1P and 1K.

As a UK AAdvantage member, you'll earn credit on fewer BA fares (basically, only full-fare) than your American counterparts. MP allows you to earn full credit on most partner airlines.

I'm not sure about the whole "Q-miles" versus "Q-points" on AA, but I suspect your earning/qualifying potential is better on UA.

Speaking of alliances, you may wish to investigate AirCanada. Lower (re)qualification levels, reasonably inexpensive tickets on international routes, and (as a SuperElite) virtually limitless international upgrades from discounted fares. There's an excellent discussion of the merits of AC*SE vs. UA*1K over here

Good luck in your decision.

Address for United site is in my signature. You'll find good information (about the enemy!) on FewMiles Unofficial Guide to American Airlines. BTW, 767-322ETOPS thanks for the compliment!

------------------
Please visit The Mileage Runner's Toolkit and Unofficial United Airlines Guide

[This message has been edited by MatthewClement (edited 10-30-2001).]

I had good luck with UA C class last year, but was thoroughly unimpressed with it on my trip last weekend. As a 1K, I can only marginally recommend United in its current state. As a 1k and 1p I was upgraded on almost every flight I qualified for.

With AA you can upgrade any fare to business, although I'm not sure of the success rate. Also, with AA you get bonus points for Oneworld partners, whereas with UAL, you only get base points. AA also seems to have more bonuses and may allow double upgrades.

Sometime the grass seems greener, but right now United is an extremely unfriendly company.

I would say it depends on your travelling pattern (intra-European mostly, transatlantic, etc) and what you want from the FF programme (status, upgrades, free flights, etc).

Some points:

If you have a UK address you will not get AA miles for discount coach on BA nor on EI. No miles for BA transatlantic in any fare class.

Flights on LH except transatlantic in coach accrue only 50% mileage with UA.

To maintain status on AA you need at least four flights per year on AA metal.

The 100% bonus miles you get as AA Platinum applies to all oneworld flights. UA's 100% bonus for PremExec is only good on UA code, UA metal (or UA code, LH metal transatlantic).

All (eligible) oneworld flights count toward electronic upgrades with AA which can be traded for miles.

These are just some examples of things to consider. You will probably get better advice if you tell us a little more about how you travel and what you want from the FF programme.

All you need to do is vist the AA and UA boards and see how many people are unhappy with their airline.

Both Airlines have good programs---both have good and bad points, it all depends upon what is important to you.

Thanks to everyone for the useful info and advice. Unfortunately, I'm no less uncertain than b4!
My primary concern is comfort; free flights are unimportant to me as is theoretical "status"; so upgrades, comfort (and service)in coach (when I can't get upgrade!) and access to comfortable lounges are most important to me.
To date, most of my travel has been to Asia and Middle East, occasional weekends in Europe, but in light of recent events I'm thinking more North and South America, maybe South Africa and occasional weekends in Europe.
Any further advice? I know I need to make up my own mind, but good advice never does any harm. Do you think it would be worthwhile holding off to early next year when benefits are confirmed for 2002?

When I had to choose between the two a few years ago, it came dow to this:

AA charges more miles for upgrade and free tickets than UA does.

So I went with UA.

If you are not concerned with status or free flights, I would go with AA. United only has more legroom in Economy+. You have to have status to get these seats, and even then you are not guareenteed that you will get one of these precious seats - especially if you change flights at the last minute like I often do.

AA has MRTC so you always have a decent amount of legroom - as a tall person I really value this wherever I sit.

------------------
I Love New York

AA does charge more miles for int award tickets but at least it will get you where you want to go. UA will get you only as far as UA metal goes--from that point onwards it will cost you money or more miles.

Big difference that I have noticed between the 2, is that UA partner awards generally require 2 awards if not traveling to the home country. To travel to/from scotland to US, one needs an award to germany, then another award to scotland/USA. SO LH award would be 70K, wheras AA would be 40 or 60 depending on season. Could be crucial for scotland, since I don't belive UA flies there. Also AA awards let you combine transatlantic carriers, UA doesn't. This gives AA awards much more availability if you are flexible. I personally find AA service much better, but that's just my opinion.

Not entirely true, I flew UA a few times this year and I was put in E+ eventhough I had no status with the airline.



------------------
Albert

Perhaps you should consider which airline FF program or airline is likely to go under first. In my view, it's not even close....AAdvantage is a far stonger program.