LAX: UA vs AA?
 

Please feel free to direct me to a thread if there is a decent one already! (couldn't find one) I'm moving back to CA and it looks like I'll do a fair amount of flying out of LAX. I can bet on flying to ORD, NYC (JFK/LGA/EWR), plus with fair potential to fly anywhere random in the U.S.

I understand LAX is a UA hub, but I'm wondering if life as an elite would be better on UA or AA, or another carrier from LAX? I'd imagine flight options are better on UA, but won't I be one of the gazillion elites at LAX for UA? Upgrades, preferential treatment on standby/irreg ops are both important too. Does anyone have advice/thoughts on this to share? Please feel free to make suggestions for other carriers too. Thanks in advance!

I've been 1k out of LAX for some years now and I'm running 9 out of 10 flights. I've found UA & LH particularly good for Intl. Europe - the only upgrade that didn't clear was the one back from LHR where I celebrated my million mile flight - how ironic is that! No experience with AA.

LAX is AA hub as well
 

not to be a shill for AA, but LAX is their west coast hub.

they offer lots of flights from there to various destinations in the Western US and HI. there's a fair number of AA flights to Japan, and bigger East Coast cities (JFK, BOS, MIA). of course there are lots of flights to AA's other hubs, especially DFW and ORD.

HTH,
benzguy80

PS: rumor has it upgrading is much easier on AA, suggest you ask about this on relevant forum

Mr. MOD, will you please move this post to UA and AA? (can this be done?) I think I might get better exposure there.

No offense, but what do you think you'll see posted in the UA and AA forums? The AA guys will say AA is better and the UA guys will say UA is better.

I can tell you that LAX seems to be easier to upgrade out of than some of UA's hubs (like SFO).

Depends on your paid class of travel.

If buying first or business class tickets, make UA your main LAX airline and use the bmi loyalty program, not Mileage Plus. This is what I do because I travel mostly long-haul premium cabins. For the fewer UA domestic flights, I either buy Y-UP fares or do paid upgrades-for-cash at check-in --- the good thing is that UA sells these upgrades before upgrading elites on day of departure.

If flying on economy tickets, make AA your airline and use it's mileage program for the upgrades. AA domestic upgrades are easier with bigger F cabins. Better LAX club on AA vs. UA. UA mileage program sucks with an expensive award chart and partner blocking.

Discounting the fact that cross-posting is frowned upon, it is not technically doable.

I'm no expert, but this thread may be of help: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...aa-ua-1ks.html

Sorry, I thought having a single thread appear on both boards was possible (didnt realize this would count as double-cross posting, thought we would keep on thread.)

i'll check out that link! thanks guys :)

Also check the forum for SFO advice on the same questions (keeping in mind that UA has a far larger presence and share at SFO).

In general I would recommend AA over UA if you plan to use your miles for premium travel, i.e. upgrades or One World business class travel. UA blocks redemption on its partners and in general blacks out international C award travel until shortly before departure. I think most would agree that award redemption is rarely an issue on AA.

Also I have found it easier to do paid upgrades on AA than UA. And don't discount the benefit of dealing with competent friendly US-based CSRs vs. the awful ICC outsource that staff UA's phone lines.

However, if you will be flying paid C transcon then you may prefer UA's P.S. service. Also if you will be flying in the economy cabin you may prefer UA's E+ seating to AA's (though I have rarely had difficulty securing an exit row on AA).

OP says he'll be flying out of LAX.

What would he learn about LAX in the SF forum?

Because the comparison is virtually the same on many issues, with the exception of the schedule and possibly variation in # of elites. It is a subject that has been addressed many times in many threads in many forums. "Search" ;)

Premium Service
 

If you're flying FC, UA's PS out of JFK is nice. I think if I was going coach I would try to get UA's E+. The extra legroom is worth the effort getting it.

Except it's not really E+. And PS has really been devalued in the last couple of years to make it almost not worthwhile and/or worth the premium you pay.