DL Alternative?
 

I am a disgruntled DL Skymiles member who will not make medallion this year because of the new policies. Am wondering if others have found other airlines/programs they prefer? I fly domestic US, and am mostly interested in being able to upgrade. Thanks.

You fly domestic and like upgrades?, sounds like OnePass is the program for you, no, wait, they just copied DL! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

Thanks for the reply. I haven't figured out if I'm better of with OnePass or WorldPerks either. I've really come to hate flying CO, tho NW isn't bad. Any thoughts about the merits of those two programs, and which one is the better one to accue miles to?

Personally, I like flying AA. No free upgrades in the US unless you're flying on the higher coach fares, but they do give you some free upgrades (4 500 "stickers" for each 10,000 miles you fly).

And, unlike airlines like Continental, if you don't get an upgrade, coach still has enough leg room for you to get comfortable.

Another good benefit of AA is the ability to upgrade using miles on almost all published fares internationally, including the really cheap ones like net savers.

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There's actually a discussion over in the US forum about someone moving over from DL. I think you'll find many US flyers swear by the airline, and as of right now, they have about the best flyer program out there.

I agree wholeheartedly with Kreeft. US's elite program (Dividend Miles Preferred) is most generous with even it's lowest-level elites, and their highest level elites get unlimited domestic upgrades (subject to availability, of course).

US often runs promotions which give passengers double qualifying miles, as well as challenges whereby passengers can qualify for elite or next-level elite status by flying a certain number of miles within a 90-day period.

american also has programs where you can accelerate your elite status by flying a certain amount-ie "platinum challenge"

To the AA advocates:

How hard is it to use miles on AA to upgrade on international flights, especially from cheaper fares? One of my big gripes about NW is the great difficulty there is in finding upgradable fares as much as 11+ months ahead of time, especially if you're going anywhere people like to go for leisure (e.g., Europe in the summer).

What is the biggest DOWN side to AA?

Someone tell us about Northwest??

I moved from DL to AA a few years ago and have been a happy camper since. I have had no trouble upgrading cheap fares with miles, though you may already know that it takes 25,000 miles each way to upgrade discount economy to business whereas you can upgrade full-fare economy for only 10,000 miles.

The biggest downside, as I see it, is the concern that AA may follow DL and others and make discount economy travel much worse from a mileage- and status-earning point of view. This is already the case when you fly with some of their oneWorld partners. In general, things have gone downhill somewhat in the past couple of years as regards FF benefits, but where haven't they?

If you leave the DL/CO/NW alliance and go to US/UA or AA, you might be able to get your status comped across at the same level or one level lower. That would give you status on whatever airline you started with on day 1.

A few months ago I sat next to a top DL who converted to US and was given top status in the US program. (Normally they would comp to middle tier, but he could document a lot of expensive fares so they knew he'd earn top status shortly anyway.)

And since no one has said it so far, welcome to FlyerTalk!

[This message has been edited by StSebastian (edited 09-27-2003).]

Judging by your location, your best bet would be either with AA or US/UA.

I would suggest AA. They offer more room throughout coach for all coach passengers (except 757 and A300 which are for leisure routes). They have a very strong presence throughout the east coast, along with US and UA (in IAD).

With AA, they determine your elite status by either Q-Miles or Q-Points, whichever one gets to the elite threshold first. For example, if you are a Gold flying full fare economy, you will get 100% Q-Points + 25% GLD rewarded Q-Points. You will receive 100% Q-Miles. For discounted economy, as a gold, you will get 50% Q-Points + 25% GLD Q-Points = 75% Q-Points. You would get 100% Q-Miles.

Basically, AA doesn't punish you if you fly discounted economy as you will get 100% Q-Miles either way, it only helps you when you fly full fare economy and are an elite member.

If that confused you, be rest assured that you will get 100% elite-qualifying miles for any economy fare, including discounted economy.

As for the AA network, they have tons of east coast-west coast flights. They also have a very strong network to basically anywhere you want to go through their hubs in Chicago, Miami, Dallas, San Juan, and St. Louis. They provide east coast shuttle flights with American Eagle.

I have to agree with the positive comments others made regarding AA.

Regarding upgrading from coach on an Internantional flight, I have done so twice, both times with no problems.

See my comments regarding switching from DL to AA here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum71/HTML/018513.html


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AA EXP, DL Silver, HH Diamond, Marriott GLD, Starwood PLT, Hytt PLT

The biggest downside to AA for me is that their European partners ought to be called ''limited partners''. You cannot earn or burn trans-Atlantic miles on BA, their main European partner, and on the others you only get a fraction of your real miles on some fares.

I have left DL, after quite a few years as a GM, and am looking primarily at NW, with US, UA, and AF also in the running.

After being PM on DL for the past 6 years I switched to UA this year primarily because of its IAD hub. I have not been disappointed. UA offered me gold premier executive instantly (comparable with DLs gold medallion). UA has a economy plus section for its frequent flyers that gives you more legroom. Also I have been upgraded on 70 percent of my flights this year even though I purchased deeply discounted tickets (even HKG/ORD, LHR/IAD). I have found UA employees to be much more pleasant than DL, especially the FAs. My tally so far this year is DL -- 0 miles; UA 65,000. Travel plans for the remainder of the year will give me top UA status. My only regret is that I stayed with DL far too long. Finally, it's nice to travel somewhere without connecting at ATL or CVG.

Thanks for all the replies and for the welcome...I can very easily see becoming addicted to this site!

Re: the AA suggestions: I am a former AA Gold member, and left many years ago because AA went to 3-cabin service on transcon flights, which limited my upgrade to their (then) crappy domestic business class...is that still the case? Also, isn't AA undoing their reconfigured coach class to reduce leg room to its previous cramped levels?

Re: the US/UA suggestions: my recollections are horrible planes and service. Has there been improvement over the last several years? (I swore off UA after a 90 minute wait for baggage at SFO). I have a lot of upcoming travel where US makes a lot of sense, but I still think of them as US Scare.

Re: the US/UA suggestions: my recollections are horrible planes and service. Has there been improvement over the last several years? (I swore off UA after a 90 minute wait for baggage at SFO). I have a lot of upcoming travel where US makes a lot of sense, but I still think of them as US Scare.[/B][/QUOTE]

We are also upset with DL Medallion Program changes after many years at PM level - we also have distinctly different travel patterns. I decided to take a US comp to GP - moved up quickly to Chairman's status. Upgrades have been nearly 100% although some flights at RSW are coach configuration only/ Ms. gulfcoast comped on UA to 1P - Gold - has done well on upgrade opportunity - especially international - much better than DL!
Good Luck!

On US:
Horrible planes, yes (some of the time). The Boeing aircraft tend to be grimier than the Airbii, with smaller F cabins. Additionally, US has drastically reduced mainline service, primarily out of PIT. However, US's A330's, which fly primarily to Europe, are fabulous (phenomenal Envoy cabin, more legroom in Y, fully-fitted AVOD system).

Service: True, US has scaled back service in both classes, and PHL is still a mess, but US frontline employees are extremely dedicated and helpful. Hopefully if their financials improve, US will restore some of the onboard service which has been stripped over the past couple of years.

AA is only changing leg room in coach class on 757's and A300. Most business routes are flown on other aircraft. Rumor has it that the 757's on business routes will not have leg room changed. The A300 is primarily a tourist aircraft to the Caribean and will probably have less room.

As for the transcon 3 class, I can't comment directly. 2 class cabin service on AA is excellent - particular the 2-3 hour or longer dinner hour flights. I'm not sure if the upgrade on non-dinner flights are worth it unless the flight is particularly crowded. The exit rows on AA aircraft have more seat pitch than F on other airlines so, powerports, and AA will try to keep the middle seat open for elites. Elites can reserve exit rows on line. With those features, the only difference in F is a wider seat and free drinks.

I don't travel much on transcon 3 cabin service flights. As for 2 cabin service flights, service is generally excellent on AA, particularly mid-con dinner flights. I'm not sure the non-dinner flights are worth it except on the most crowded flights.

As for the service recently on US, I can't comment on whether it has improved. I stopped flying US when they led the wave of passenger unfriendly changes. Remember the the non-refundable tickets that could not be changed and no miles for discounted tickets. All of these initiatives were started by US. I remember and won't fly US whenever it is avoidable.

As for AA, they have led the way in passenger friendly changes. For example, AA was the first airline to change the handling of non-refundable tickets recently, the first airline to allow cell phone use in the cabin after landing, the first airline to install powerports throughout (almost) the plan, the first airline to announce rescheduling during Isabel.

All things being equal, we should fly on airlines that lead the pack in customer friendly actions.