Which FF pgm to choose?
 

I am about to take a new position within my company that requires heavy total US and Canadian travel...3 or 4 days per week originating in Tampa. This after being fairly inactive flyer for the past three years. I am taking a hard look at the carriers that I can choose from for the best FF program...my goal is to be upgraded as much as possible. They are AA (Gold for life...Million miler), NWA (currently Silver but will lose this in March), and Delta (not an elite member). I may go back to American but I don't like their $40 coupons for upgrades nor plans to squish coach seats closer again. NWA is very liberal with upgrades but not certain that it is the best choice for total USA/Canada travel. Delta has the most flights out of Tampa but wonder if new FF pgm changes are really all that good. Of AA, DL, or NWA, which would you choose? Thanks for your opinion.

Looks like we both have the same question!! I hope we get alot of answers!

What are your primary destinations?

What types of fares do you tend to buy?

Actually, NW is really only a program to choose for domestic flying. International benefits are really quite limited.

One plus for NW is that if you're flying DL on the lowest fares you'll earn one elite mile for each mile flown rather than the .5 mile that DL will credit. In other words, flying DL on low fares it's better to credit the miles to NW than to DL!

You need to look at your destinations. Will you need to go through a hub to get to most of them? If so, then you really have lots of options.

In the US, aside from quality of service (lots of very subjective opinions out there, so go with what you like) things are relatively equal. With 2 flights you can get anywhere in the US on NW, AA or DL.

As far as NWA is concerned it has the most flights to Canada. A lot of their flights there are on Saabs and CRJ, so no upgrades. If you travel to YVR, YYC, YEG, YUL and YYZ you are likely to fly Airbus or DC9.

DL and AA have limited service to the bigger cities in Canada, I do not know aircraft types but I seem to remember a lot of RJs.