Northwest- Best- Ability to book coach award ticket on-line for 19000 points.

Worst- No FF credit for cyberfares

I use OnePass, but I have to admit that the year round 20K mile rewards on FlightFund have caused me to think about switching in the past . . .

Best Of Air Canada

No capacity controls on award redemption at time of booking for SE (top tier) status. The ONLY FFP that I'm aware of where you are not at the mercy of yield management and their impenetrable methodology about how many seats are award vs. revenue, and when seats are finally (if at all) tossed back to award inventory.

FOR INTL. J TRAVEL, THERE IS NO PEER TO AEROPLAN.

Plus, during select times of the year, SEs get award travel at 25-33% off regular award levels, which are reasonable in the first place.

Worst of AC:

For domestic mileage accumulation, AC is now leveraging its market dominance...lousy earning potential.

Upgrades are only transferable to those with same status.

Northwest and Continental do not charge express redemption fees either. And there was a loophole mentioned in FT to avoid the fees charged by Delta.

And with AAdvantage - if you know that you are going to make a trip within a year, you can request a certificate and use it for a last minute trip without paying any fees.

Are you interested in hotel programs as well?

Others have hit mine with regards to Delta.

Hilton
Best - Diamond members are promised upgrades if available and free breakfast, as well as the diamond line for reservations.

Worst - Inconsistent execution of the benefits depending on the property you stay at.

For the airlines that I am quite familiar with, here are my best/worst features:

British Airways
pros: No blackout on club/1st awards, good partner promos, allow household miles to be pooled
cons: No mileage on discount tickets

Northwest Airlines
pros: Unlimited domestic upgrades, reduced off peak awards, 125% bonus for Plat.
cons: No intl. upgrades for Plat., no mileage for cybersavers

United
pros: Blackouts waived for 1K, SWU for 1Ks
cons: Mileage Plus is a follower not a leader in FFPs.


[This message has been edited by PG (edited 12-09-2001).]

US Airways:

Pro: Unlimited NA Upgrades for Top Tier, all levels of elite get SWUs

Con: Paper upgrades non transferable.

However, CO does charge a $75 fee when you are booking last minute reward travel that requires a paper ticket!

(I got burned by this last week when I booked last minute plans using OP mileage on AS.) :-(

Somthing I don't think anyone's mentioning is award ticket availability, the ability to use your miles for free trips.

You've got the miles, but if you can't use them what good are they?

AA, UA: good award ticket availability esp domestically. NO SATURDAY STAY REQUIRED FOR LOW END AWARDS.

CO: poor award ticket availability, for either free trips or upgrades. And CO (along with US now) requires Sat stay for normal domestic award tix. This makes them at best worth about what a discount coach ticket is worth, perhaps $400.

Without this Sat night stay requirement, a FF award ticket can be worth $2000 or more domestically.

Quite a difference!

America West Airline

• Best feature:
  Almost guaranteed upgrades due to limited competition from few elite members.
• Worst feature:
  It's America's Worst Airline

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif Bring back the old smilies! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

United
pros: SWU for 1Ks - but should be unlimited, Electronic awards avoiding paper/fees/delays
cons: MP is a follower/not leader, No Double-Upgrades option/ restriction, Staff training / I know more about the UA Mileage Plus and Star Alliance programs than UA staff


------------------
- Bob

worst has to be HoKeY, hands down!

Delta

Best - unlimited upgrades at time of booking and free CRC membership ( for PM only)

Worst - non upgradeable fares (LUser for domestic, anything less than "M" for int'l)

Southwest

Best - any open seat available for award redemption with virtually no blackouts.

Worst - no priority check in, reserved seats or any other amenity for Companion Pass holders.

Continental. HoKeY. Period.

CO: best - unlimited domestic upgrades; worst: HoKeY fares => highly restricted international upgrades.

[This message has been edited by dgolds (edited 12-06-2001).]