Choosing a Second Program
 

So it is looking like I am going to hit United 1K status this year and really don't want to go too much over 100,000 miles on UAL so I am looking to pick up an alternative carrier. Currently, I have 3,000 EQM on American and nothing besides that to date on any other carriers except what will amount to about 74,000 EQM on united by the end of March. In general, what is another good carrier to pick up considering I am based in Chicago at ORD & MDW. I want to do about 50k on my new carrier this year and about 50k on both United and my new carrier next year. 95% of the time I fly for the MR purposes just because I like flying on Saturdays for the fun of it. Something about catching the 6:00 AM ORD-LAX flight on a Saturday morning and want to find a second carrier to share the wealth on. So what is everybody's opinions for a secondary carrier.

As you are in ORD, AA is good second option. However, I think I would lean more towards skyteam for your second program as most of your trips are MRs and you are going to get better deals with someone who doesn't use ORD as a hub.

Going with Skyteam will give you more options for earning miles on more airlines and more sales (NW/CO/DL). NW/CO gives you free upgrades at low and mid tier for both programs that you would otherwise have to pay with stickers with AA, which may be a consideration. You have to watch out for COs low fares for EQM... but between NW and COs programs, I prefer NW's - more bonuses, better redemption, lots of bump opportunities for elites, and a great website. But AA has a good program and you really couldn't go wrong either way... I would focus more on what you hope to do with the miles and who has regular routes and sales that work for your schedule.

If you're looking for miles rather than status, AS is worth a look, as you can put both AA (and most other OW) and NW/DL/CO on there, and you only need 50k EQMs to get to 100% bonus - though you get a satus match and get the bonus from the get-go. NW/DL give EQMs and get the bonus, CO doesn't. Also has one of the best partner networks - combined with UA you could book awards on pretty much any airline.

Smart person to be looking for a second carrier but if I understand you will wait until you get to the magic 1K level with the SWU benefits on UA before you switch, right? I did this in the past but in 2006 I got sucked in on the 150000 extra SWU offer. Likely made a mistake....comments?

If you like the West Coast at all, AS is another option, but it is limited service into ORD I understand... but think of the MR's to ANC! No major alliances, but it ties into several major US carriers including DL, NW, AA, and CO (no status credit for CO though- boo)... so could be an option.

OP, if i read your post correctly you only/mainly fly for MR purposes without actually having a need to be somewhere most of times? Are alot of people in this same boat?

I never did a MR, and find MRers/MRs amusing and interesting but imho this to me is just plane strange. Best of Luck though.

I would go with AA since your in ORD an redemption ease for me is/was a big plus why I flew millions of miles on AA.

1MM UA - lifetime 2nd tier
2MM AA - lifetime 2nd tier (all earning counts towards lifetime)

American airlines.

Consider the other ways of getting miles besides flying. If you want to do a total of 100K on your other carrier this year and next, consider that Citibank will give you another 35,000 minimum American Airlines miles for free for getting its two personal credit cards (and another 20,000 if you own a business). 135,000 miles will get you a business class ticket to Europe plus a cattle class ticket to Central or northern South America or the Carribean, with 10,000 miles left over. Or consider Hawaii. See the Credit Card > Annual Fee cards section of my website below.

Also consider that American has lots of other offers. Look at my Finance page under Stock and Bond Brokers and Banks, for example. Two of the best are 25,000 miles available from TD Ameritrade, and another 25,000 from Fidelity Brokerage. Plus some nice bank offers, like that of BankDirect.

There are lots of other American offers. It is one of the more aggressive sellers of miles to businesses who then give them to us for free.

building on pgary's post, and clarifying my first post >

-fly UA mostly
-fly AA when they have good promos (double/triple miles etc)
-get AA miles via credit card signups and spending, and other earning partners

AA is good for the lifetime status, but one weakness is that you cant get BA transatlantic awards

Given your location is ORD I second AA.

On the other hand you might consider a few other things. 1) Are there any particular destinations that are easily serviced by a particular carrier that you would want to make an award trip to? I would also take a look at farecompare.com and look to see what carrier offers the lowest fares out of ORD. 3) Certain airlines will give you 10,000 EQM's for spending 25k per year (earn 20,0000 EQM's for spending 50k) on their credit card. I know US Airways and Delta do it but I am not sure about the others. If you're a big spender it would make it easier to gain a higher status. (i.e. spend 50k per year with a Delta Amex and you're already to 20,000 EQM's.)

unfortunately those EQMs from credit cards dont count for UA and DL lifetime status