Which is the best elite program?
Mar 26, 2008 | 9:18 am
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM, HA, VS
Posts: 91,899
If you're looking for lifetime status, AA offers lifetime Gold at 1MM and lifetime Platinum at 2MM. The miles can come from any source (flying, credit card, promotions). UA also offers lifetime Premier Executive status at 1MM, but in their case it's actual UA flight miles, so much harder to attain than AA.
Mar 26, 2008 | 1:44 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA 2.996MM & Plat Pro, DL 1MM, GM & Flying Colonel
Posts: 25,031
The nice thing about AA, at least for people who are not rabid fliers, is that you can get lifetime Gold on AA and there is no similar lifetime plateau on UA. As to it being easier on American to reach lifetime Platinum, it probably is for most people, but if you get almost all your miles from flying and seldom qualify for 100% bonuses because you don't fly that frequently, it's probably easier to qualify on UA.
Mar 26, 2008 | 3:48 pm
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM, HA, VS
Posts: 91,899
If you "seldom qualify for 100% bonuses" on those airlines, you average at most 40,000 or so miles per year. At that rate it would take a quarter-century to qualify on UA if, as also posited, "you get almost all your miles from flying." Granted, that's less than the 40 years it would take on AA (with the 25% first-tier mileage bonus counting toward the higher figure of 2MM there), but to most people those are both far longer planning horizons than they want to work with.
Mar 26, 2008 | 3:52 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: QDF
Programs: AA EXP (2MM), Marriott Plt
Posts: 1,071
I have been flying alot for the last five years and was wondering if it is worth staying with Delta or moving to another airline. I generally fly 150,000 to 250,000 qualifing miles with Delta and about 30,000-90,000 qualifing miles on Northwest (flights that doesn't share miles with delta). I live in Cinicinnati and that is the reason I started with Delta and never really flew anyone else. What is your opinion of American vs. Delta or United vs. Delta?
Jul 4, 2008 | 5:56 am
#20
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,216
Jul 4, 2008 | 8:20 am
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM, HA, VS
Posts: 91,899