AA: Best - MRTC; award seat availability

CO: Worst - award seat availability, especially with international partners; on some routes, inability to confirm award seat in F until 30 or fewer days prior to departure, except for top-tier members.

CO overall - easiet to accrue miles but miles have the lowest value, so what's the point?

The point is that I'll take OnePass points over useless Dividend Miles ANYTIME... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I will add:

Pro for CP: Personal Liaisons, upgrading of companions with no coupon all NA flights, upgrading any flight systemwide any price for self & companion cert.
Pro in general: more Airbus, mix your own drinks in fc

Con for CP: Charge for club access starting this year except for top 10% of CP.
Con in general: loss of AAdvantage mileage transfers, incl. loss of Hawaii, poor economic health of airline ~ program at risk

Best: unlimited domestic upgrades (with no restriction based on fare paid)

Worst: the absolute worst has to be the new HoKeY rule for international upgrades - only the most expensive fares put you into a lottery for using miles to upgrade.



------------------
Rachel
CO - Platinum
Hilton - Diamond
SPG - Platinum

Continental:


Best: Unlimited domestic upgrades
Worst: HoKeY fares 'enhancement' on BF product. These fares and the 30 day rule mean that I have not requalified for CO elite this year, because for usually at least $500 less I can get a guarenteed mileage upgrade with other programs




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

NW
Best:
1-Domestic upgrade policy
2-gold line res agents
3-20,000mi (19,000mi if booked online) domestic coach awards--ARE UPGRADEABLE w/ EUA

Worst:
1-inconsistant quality of food in FC
2-few fares are available for intl UG

UA:
Best:
1-* alliance
2-E+ when stuck in coach


Worst:
1-Having to use E+ a lot
2-Inconsistant/poor customer service in flight and on the ground.
3-Dealing with 500milers to Upgrade

CO

Best:
Unlimited domestic upgrades.

Worst:
The BF upgrade lottery.

AA:

Best: Many non-flying mileage opportunities, like the 20 partners/20k promo

Worst: Can't transfer American Express Membership miles

Southwest:

Best: Free ticket after 4 RTs booked online, few blackout dates or restrictions

Worst: None

AA:
Best - Upgrade an paid fare; award availability.
Worst - The expedite fees for award tix inside 3 weeks.

WN:
Best - Award flight after 4.
Worst - 12 month credit expiration.

If you're considering the number of "votes" for a best/worst feature, I'm with Jet777 and AnthonyAnthony on the best and worst of CO.

I don't think there's any question in any OnePass Elite's mind that the unlimited domestic upgrades can't be beat; they're what keeps us loyal. OTOH, the HoKeY fares just might cause some of us who fly internationally a lot to jump ship.

Another nice CO feature is the ability for elite members to redeposit mileage without a fee on unused reward tickets. A couple of "baddies" (not as bad as HoKeY fares by any means): No recognition for million-milers, and no systemwide upgrades.


[This message has been edited by Nightflyer (edited 12-07-2001).]

For AIR CANADA, Aeroplan features:

Best -
1. low threshold for Elite level (35k instead of 50k elsewhere)
2. lounge access included in Elite and SuperElite levels

Worst -
1. no reward upgrade
2. no online ticketing, usual hold for phone >60 mins
3. domestic discount fares only earns 35% of mileage
4. many fees introduced in 2002 ($10 for replacement member card, $10 for statment, $25 to change time of flight, $75 to change or cancel/redeposit flight, etc)

Continental:

Best: Unlimited domestic upgrades

Absolute Worst: "HoKY" fares.

My sentiments on HoKY will serve as the basis for my voting in this year's Freddies.

Just a comment on swag's WN:

Best: None

Worst: Expiration of credits without an opportunity to extend beyond the 12 month period. I would fly WN on occasion if I could build the credits and keep them (i.e. if I could automatically extend with at least one flight in a certain period liek all the other programs)however I don't fly them at all b/c I can't.

For USAirways Dividend Miles:

Pros: Ease of upgrading even at Silver Preferred Level. 50% mileage bonuses at SP, with 100% at GP and CP. SWUs for all elites.

Cons: Lack of alliance partners. Lack of partners for Hawaii trips. Lack of domestic partners (with loss of AA). Financial health of airline - leading to viability concerns.

WN's Rapid Rewards Best:
-Award availability
-Double credit on website

WN's Rapid Rewards Worst:
-Companion pass too restrictive
-No international partner on which to use awards
-Not a great deal of perks (pre-boarding for CP holders, or lifting the 1-hr check-in requirement for CP holders would be nice and would not cost a thing).

UA Mileage Plus' Best:
Star Alliance
-1K SWU certificates
UA Mileage Plus' Worst:
-No double upgrade mechanism
-Not enough SWU for 1Ks ( 6 a year)
-Lowest International fares not upgradeable with miles

Overall, I think the threat of unilateral devaluation of miles is a large drawback of all programs. We can all wake up tomorrow and find out that our miles are worth half of what they are today.