Worst you say? I think US FF programs are pretty generous overall. I'm in Cathay Pacific's Marco Polo club, and top level gets you: no upgrade certificates, no miles bonus, not too much of anything except guaranteed seats and the best shot at operational upgrades (only if coach is completely full). So, let's put this in perspective.....

Southwest is a major. Plain and simple. Sure, thy don't have the long haul international routes. But all of those little, short hops add up. They always turn a profit, and that says something in the airline industry.

If you live in Dallas, and travel on business (or even for pleasure) heavily to other cities in Texas, OK (Houston, San Antontio, El Paso, Lubbock, OK City, Tulsa, etc), Southwest should seriously be considered, especially if Love Field is more convenient than DFW.

I haven't flow Southwest it several years. Being Platinum on AA, it would be tough to go back to SWA. I can't stand the boarding process. Awful. I wanted assinged seats, and I don't like havign to get to the gate super early just to get a decent seat and space for my stuff.

But their award program is stone simple, just like everything else they do. No black outs, no capcity control. No endless array of awards. They just mail you flight coupons as you earn them.

The companion pass can be of great value, unless you travel alone all of the time. Think of how much value this has for small businesses. Think of the value it has if you like to travel around Texas for leisure (its a big state. Flying is frequently the way to go)

If you want to be technical, the industry considers anyone over $1.0B in revs to be a major. Southwest is always included as a major. It is also domestic and point-to-point, versus international and hub and spoke for the other majors, but these are not criteria.

>>> BIAS!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

OK, I like this thread:

WN ---------- > YAWN... while they have cute and young stews,.... the waiting in line and circus at the gate, I have turned down free travel on them, thank you

Delta ---------- > Their wonderful L fare policy is great... It puts their elites( sometimes referred to as suckers, sorry http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif )
in the back. I fly non-rev with a buddy who works for Delta. Almost always get upgraded while a PM sits in the middle section of the plane... Sorry, I laugh my head off every time... Thank you Delta!!! the best airline to non-rev on and pay a fraction of the fare and get an upgrade, it is so appreciated...
Sorry, but we elites at the other airlines are wondering(and loudly sometimes), why do Delta elites stay there? Masochistic??? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

AMERICAN ---- > the best for int'l travel, MRTC, lounge access-and that at a Platinum level(50K), vs. DL(100K) duh! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif , lot's of op upgrades and access to the incredible Oneworld alliance, with BA and QF good partners. Their FF program is the best and the choice of partners to go hop around the world is incredible(why I don't upgrade my tickets to Europe)... With more room throughout coach, coach is actually doable...

British Airways ----- > for us yanks, nothing special, not bad. The way they screwed their own people over in not giving miles on cheap fares to their own people, shameful. The Britts should have voted with their feet. The idea of flying to Australia on a $1,000 ticket and no miles. Get real!

CO/NW---- > best for domestic, hands down. Free upgrades domestically. This was a ways back, but intl'y, they weren't bad, lot's of op upgrades. Good Business Class...
I love the Worldclub! my favorite US airline lounge. QF/BA/CX best otherwise for lounges.

United(Untied)---- >>> some good, some bad...
They don't offer the perks with their partners that AA/Oneworld does. No double miles on partners save certain LH(Luftwaffe http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif ) flights... that right there ends it... I couldn't do that... also, UA is cheap with upgrades, but I do like many of their flight attendants, AA could learn a thing or 2... If you connect UA domestic to a connecting partner flight on an award ticket, whatever class you fly, you go coach on United, then, say, Business on Lufthansa. I was appalled when they told me that, I would stay away right there.

ciao...



------------------
Michael
AA PLT,1 MLN Miles+
HH GLD, SCI GLD, MM SIL
LE PRESIDENT ETERNEL DE CAMAIR-CAMEROUN AIRLINES :)

Just to refresh your memory, AA Plat is the same as everyone else's Gold level. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif EXP is everyone else's Plat. I see their marketing scheme worked on you! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

You wondered why DL elites stay with DL. For many of us it makes sense. Out of my home airport, SRQ, DL's lowest published fares are almost always K fares. As a mere Gold Medallion, my upgrade percentage the last two years is very near 100% when originating from SRQ. There are two segments last year I didn't get upgraded: A non-stop SRQ-CVG on a comair CRJ (long story... I usually avoid RJ'sas much as possible), and one segment returning to SRQ from CVG, where I forgot(GASP!) to call at the 72 hour window. I called about 30 minutes late and got shut out. That accounts for about 90% of my flying. The other 10% of my flying is out of TPA, and I am running about 25% or so on upgrades from U fares(yes you CAN occasionally upgrade a "LU-ser" fare, if you play the game right!). So overall my upgrade percentage is running about 92% as a Gold. The ban on L and U upgrades significantly decreases the competition for upgrades, so I don't mind it at all. The 800 mile segments are a big plus, as is the fact that I get 8 of those for every 10,000 base miles. The only thing really lacking in DL's program is SWU's, and since I don't fly any paid international, it's a non-issue for me. I always cash in miles for Biz the few times I go international.

Am I the only one who continues to be amazed that hitting 1MM on USAirways got me a leather luggage tag and a letter, but nothing else. Ever.

>>> When I hit AA 1 million, lifetime AAdvantage Gold status and some upgrades...
Also, my new Platinum card reflects that I am a million miler... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif Hit 2 million lifetime miles and you get lifetime Platinum... that is fantastic!

USAirways is a good airline. You will kindly note that I didn't attack it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

SRQ Guy: Would you please explain how you upgrade an L/U fare? How do you play the game?

I have ocassionally gotten the operational upgrade (on L/U) but that's it. Would love more details. Thanks!


[This message has been edited by paradocs (edited 03-28-2002).]

Sorry duplicate!

[This message has been edited by paradocs (edited 03-28-2002).]

I frequently get L/U upgrades when I standby for an earlier flight which is fairly full. Despite some people's insistence that it can't be done, I find a little bit of being nice goes a long way towards getting gate agents to help me out. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I am about 25% on these types of upgrades. Still not stellar, but not too bad either.

Then why do you stay with them? At the chance of an operational upgrade? Seems to me, that AA and One World would be better for you because you can continue to fly CX and get all the bonus miles and perks across the One World alliance. Just a thought...