AA's Killer Advantage over Mileage Plus
Aug 19, 2006 | 6:48 pm
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: HY
Programs: AA-EXP (3.3MM), AAirpass, SQ-PPS Solitaire, DL-PM (.777MM), SPG-Plat, HH-D
Posts: 2,307
Originally Posted by gleff
This is an advantage. It is certainly not a killer advantage. I have nice balances with both programs, and I won't neglect my Mileage Plus balance in recognition of the ability to do a stopover on a domestic award with American.
And this certainly shouldn't influence which carrier you fly and earn status with...!
And this certainly shouldn't influence which carrier you fly and earn status with...!
Aug 19, 2006 | 8:27 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
Both programs have strengths and weaknesses and it is impossible to say which one is best overall.
Using UA miles one can fly from Asia to South America and have a stop over in US for 150K in F i.e. HKG-SFOx-LAX-DENx-YYZx-GRU-ORDx-NRTx-ICNx-HKG or for the same mileage you can fly from US to to Japan in F and have a stop over in Europe.
You absolutely CANNOT (99% or more of the time) change the UA issued *A award once the travel has begun where AA allows date changes.
AA's OW mileage based awards are truly nice i.e. RTW LAX-LIM-SCL-EZE-GRU-MADx-JNB-MAD-TLV-LHR-LCA-LHRx-HKG-NRT-MEL-HKGx-LAX for 220K AA miles in C.
If you reach certain threshold on UA you can earn quadruple miles for a month that makes MR's so much more "enjoyable".
Using UA miles one can fly from Asia to South America and have a stop over in US for 150K in F i.e. HKG-SFOx-LAX-DENx-YYZx-GRU-ORDx-NRTx-ICNx-HKG or for the same mileage you can fly from US to to Japan in F and have a stop over in Europe.
You absolutely CANNOT (99% or more of the time) change the UA issued *A award once the travel has begun where AA allows date changes.
AA's OW mileage based awards are truly nice i.e. RTW LAX-LIM-SCL-EZE-GRU-MADx-JNB-MAD-TLV-LHR-LCA-LHRx-HKG-NRT-MEL-HKGx-LAX for 220K AA miles in C.
If you reach certain threshold on UA you can earn quadruple miles for a month that makes MR's so much more "enjoyable".
Last edited by holtju2; Aug 19, 2006 at 9:46 pm
Aug 19, 2006 | 8:48 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 20,405
Originally Posted by gleff
This is an advantage. It is certainly not a killer advantage. I have nice balances with both programs, and I won't neglect my Mileage Plus balance in recognition of the ability to do a stopover on a domestic award with American.
And this certainly shouldn't influence which carrier you fly and earn status with...!
And this certainly shouldn't influence which carrier you fly and earn status with...!
Aug 19, 2006 | 9:36 pm
#20
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
Originally Posted by gleff
This is an advantage. It is certainly not a killer advantage. I have nice balances with both programs, and I won't neglect my Mileage Plus balance in recognition of the ability to do a stopover on a domestic award with American.
And this certainly shouldn't influence which carrier you fly and earn status with...!
And this certainly shouldn't influence which carrier you fly and earn status with...!
It could, however, be a reason for someone who only wants to use their miles domestically to choose AA as their preferred carrier, provided their schedule and needs fit visiting two destinations on every award ticket.
UA definitely is stronger when it comes to other awards, especially Asia.
Aug 19, 2006 | 10:40 pm
#21
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United LT-GS, AA LT-Plat, Hyatt LT-Globalist, Hilton LT-Diamond, Marriott LT-Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 15,834
The benefit for me is that it's easier to get Platinum elite-for-life status on AA. Miles from all sources count, which is great!!
Aug 20, 2006 | 12:16 am
#22
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.
Posts: 15,436
http://www.aa.com/apps/AAdvantage/Vi...artnersContent
Mileage redemption AA vs UA
US to Europe
F 125 vs UA = 100k
C 90 vs UA = 80k
US to ASIA
F 125 or 135 vs UA = 120k (the lower number is off-peak).
C 90 or 110 vs UA = 90K
UA has always been cheaper on award redemptions to many destinations.
While I do like AA's stop-over policy, most of my redemption is for international C class travel on UA.
Mileage redemption AA vs UA
US to Europe
F 125 vs UA = 100k
C 90 vs UA = 80k
US to ASIA
F 125 or 135 vs UA = 120k (the lower number is off-peak).
C 90 or 110 vs UA = 90K
UA has always been cheaper on award redemptions to many destinations.
While I do like AA's stop-over policy, most of my redemption is for international C class travel on UA.
Aug 20, 2006 | 7:18 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: UA,AA,DL
Posts: 123
I am talking about domestic award tickets here.
Originally Posted by hw248i
I flew to Salvador Brazil on United with a stop over in Rio at no charge on a award ticket? not sure what your talking about?
Aug 20, 2006 | 10:55 am
#24
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Houston
Programs: Too much flying; Lots of hotels
Posts: 555
Originally Posted by wanaflyforless
Oneworld works.
While AA does not serve a lot of Asian destinations, CX and JL do.
CX tends to treat AA elites better than AA does ^ , so long as you are willing to connect on CX/JL to go to most places with full benefits.
With UA you only earn a status bonus on UA and US flights; not star alliance wide.
With AA the status bonus is also alliance wide.
Yes, there are some hiccups, like the BA/AA transatlantic restrictions stemming from antitrust concerns, but in general, Oneworld works!
(AA has by far the most usable award restrictions in my experience; and these rules apply to partner awards too).
While AA does not serve a lot of Asian destinations, CX and JL do.
CX tends to treat AA elites better than AA does ^ , so long as you are willing to connect on CX/JL to go to most places with full benefits.
With UA you only earn a status bonus on UA and US flights; not star alliance wide.
With AA the status bonus is also alliance wide.
Yes, there are some hiccups, like the BA/AA transatlantic restrictions stemming from antitrust concerns, but in general, Oneworld works!
(AA has by far the most usable award restrictions in my experience; and these rules apply to partner awards too).
It will be especially enjoyable later this year when I reach ExPlat and will be able to use CX F lounges (theoretically BA as well, but that is just a theory
).And I get AA elite qualification bonuses for flying in C class on other OW carriers - a huge advantage over the UA/*Alliance procedures.
Aug 20, 2006 | 12:42 pm
#25
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sao Paulo
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP 2M, Starwood Gold
Posts: 98
"With UA you only earn a status bonus on UA and US flights; not star alliance wide."
which star alliance member earns bonus on all its members??? this is something i dislike allot and found out the hard way on UA having switched to them from AA this year. is LH or another european carrier program more advisable? i live in spain and fly allot to north and south america.
which star alliance member earns bonus on all its members??? this is something i dislike allot and found out the hard way on UA having switched to them from AA this year. is LH or another european carrier program more advisable? i live in spain and fly allot to north and south america.
Aug 20, 2006 | 2:43 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
Originally Posted by Christian Smith
which star alliance member earns bonus on all its members??? this is something i dislike allot and found out the hard way on UA having switched to them from AA this year. is LH or another european carrier program more advisable? i live in spain and fly allot to north and south america.
Aug 20, 2006 | 3:14 pm
#27
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Siesta Key
Programs: AA EXP-1.6MM, Hilton Diamond, ManU & Chicago Bears #1 Fan
Posts: 9,697
Originally Posted by dhammer53
http://www.aa.com/apps/AAdvantage/Vi...artnersContent
Mileage redemption AA vs UA
US to Europe
F 125 vs UA = 100k
C 90 vs UA = 80k
US to ASIA
F 125 or 135 vs UA = 120k (the lower number is off-peak).
C 90 or 110 vs UA = 90K
UA has always been cheaper on award redemptions to many destinations.
While I do like AA's stop-over policy, most of my redemption is for international C class travel on UA.
Mileage redemption AA vs UA
US to Europe
F 125 vs UA = 100k
C 90 vs UA = 80k
US to ASIA
F 125 or 135 vs UA = 120k (the lower number is off-peak).
C 90 or 110 vs UA = 90K
UA has always been cheaper on award redemptions to many destinations.
While I do like AA's stop-over policy, most of my redemption is for international C class travel on UA.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
1805
TPA Tampa
10/18/2006 08:10 PM
MIA Miami
10/18/2006 09:10 PM
First
Z
3E
LAN PERU S.A
511
MIA Miami
10/19/2006 01:20 AM
LIM Lima
10/19/2006 05:50 AM
Business
U
2D
LAN PERU S.A
510
LIM Lima
10/23/2006 10:40 AM
MIA Miami
10/23/2006 05:25 PM
Business
U
2D
AMERICAN AIRLINES
1562
MIA Miami
03/06/2007 01:35 PM
YYZ Toronto
03/06/2007 04:49 PM
Business
U
3E
BRITISH AIRWAYS
92
YYZ Toronto
03/06/2007 06:25 PM
LHR London
03/07/2007 06:25 AM
Business
U
61B
BRITISH AIRWAYS
846
LHR London
03/07/2007 08:20 AM
WAW Warsaw
03/07/2007 11:40 AM
Business
U
2A
BRITISH AIRWAYS
849
WAW Warsaw
03/21/2007 07:40 AM
LHR London
03/21/2007 09:25 AM
Business
U
2A
BRITISH AIRWAYS
1388
LHR London
03/21/2007 11:00 AM
MAN Manchester
03/21/2007 11:55 AM
Economy
V
unassigned
AMERICAN AIRLINES
55
MAN Manchester
03/27/2007 10:45 AM
ORD Chicago
03/27/2007 01:00 PM
Business
U
3D
AMERICAN AIRLINES
781
ORD Chicago
06/13/2007 11:02 AM
SFO San Francisco
06/13/2007 01:37 PM
First
Z
3E
AMERICAN AIRLINES
1662
SFO San Francisco
06/17/2007 08:27 AM
DFW Dallas/ Fort Worth
06/17/2007 01:52 PM
First
Z
3E
AMERICAN AIRLINES
1316
DFW Dallas/ Fort Worth
06/17/2007 03:10 PM
TPA Tampa
06/17/2007 06:30 PM
First
Z
3E
All for 130K AA miles
, South America in October, Europe in March and US west coast in June....
Last edited by andrzej; Aug 20, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Aug 20, 2006 | 3:17 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,123
Originally Posted by lucky9876coins
Welcome to FT! ^
I guess it depends on who you ask... For me, that is no advantage at all. I never redeem awards for domestic flights, so I really don't care either way.
I guess it depends on who you ask... For me, that is no advantage at all. I never redeem awards for domestic flights, so I really don't care either way.
On the other hand, to me anyway, the ability to redeem my UA MP miles for upgrades on select Star Alliance carriers is a HUGE advantage to me that trumps the one in question hands down. (*A is the only alliance that allows this)