Best Program for Kansas City Based?
 

Hello to all. Just looking for some input. I am relocating to Kansas City and was interested in getting advice on what airline would be the best for a mid level (currently NWA Gold) elite. NWA might be the best choice considering it's partnership with DL and CO. However I was interested in seeing other travelers opinion on this. I really like American however I also think Delta might work with the position opf their hubs (however I hate their skymiles program). Thanks g\for the input.

One benefit of MCI is that you can't make a really bad choice. There are no hub airlines in KC (unless you count YX's mini-hub), so everyone basically flies MCI to/from their hubs, with a few other interesting routes here and there.

I have always used AA as my primary carrier from MCI. That started because I was working in Dallas and Chicago just about every month, but continued when they rolled out MRTC. I have never flown anything but a mainline jet out of KC.

But if your destinations call for UA/US or Deltinentalwest, those aren't bad either.

I only wish that my travel needs fit exactly with YX's route map. It'd be nice to fly them all the time, but it just doesn't work for me.

IMHO, it depends on to where you most often travel from MCI and if you don't mind connections.

Southwest is the #1 carrier out of KC. Since Southwest doesn't have hubs, they call it a "major connection airport" or some such.

Heading to Newark, Houston, or Cleveland often? Go with CO or if you believe that the NW/CO partnership will last, stick with NW. Heading to DFW or ORD? AA will do nicely.

If you travel often and stick with an airline other than Southwest, you can easily get on a first-name basis with the airline staff.

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On the road, In the air,
I enjoy travel, From here to there.

I'll most likely be traveling to PHX, PBI, NYC, and a few other random cities. Maybe this helps narrow it down...

For New York, AA, YX, and CO fly nonstop. For PBI/FLL, you have one stop no matter who you choose. For PHX, you have one stop on all of the majors, but you could get there nonstop on America West or Southwest.

If the nonstops are most important, make NW your primary accrual account. Fly America West to PHX and CO to Newark. Fly whatever Deltinentalwest option is best at the given time for PBI/FLL. That gets you a lot of nonstops in exchange for a heavy dose of low-fare treatment and regional jets.

If comfort, elite status, upgrades, and a strong mileage program are more important, fly AA everywhere. You'll get the nonstop to LGA and one-stop in DFW for PHX and Florida, everything on mainline jets and most flights with MRTC. (AA runs MD-80's to PBI, so you avoid the LRTC 757's.)

Thanks for the input. Upgrades are very important to me, however AA doesn't offer their mid tier (plat) free unlimited upgrades like NWA does. I think AA is a better overall airline than NWA but the upgrade thing does sway my decision a bit. Any thoughts?

You just answered your own question, you want the upgrades. Only NW/CO offer free unlimited upgrades to all elites on any fares, and since you are already a Gold on NW, your best bet is to stay where you are at.

Can anyone tell me how many upgrades would I get as a mid tier with AA. maybe I could do my short routes in coach and longer flights use upgrades? Thanks.

You earn four 500-mile upgrade credits for every 10,000 miles flown on AA. AA also recently reduced the cost to buy the upgrades to $25 per credit.

IME as an AA Plat, I usually got the seats when I wanted them. AA recently relaxed the rules about how EXP's get upgraded, so we have yet to see how those rules will impact Plat/Gold upgrade availability.

The only downside to staying where you are with NW is that your Gold status won't translate to upgrades on America West to PHX (although you *can* buy them, when available), and the CO flights to Newark are all regional jets (not sure if they've even put an F cabin in those).

If you switched to AA and did a Gold or Platinum Challenge, you'd be back in Upgradeville on mainline jets fairly quickly, and your period of suffering in coach wouldn't be that bad thanks to More Room Throughout Coach.

Last time I flew NW into MCI, it was mainline to/from MSP and DTW (DC-9 IIRC). Not sure if it is today, but if it is, they you will get the upgrades.

Forget about the HP idea and buying space positive upgrades, fly NW MCI-MSP/DTW-PHX and get your free upgrades. The majority of MSP-PHX flights are 757s, so upgrades are almost a breeze with 22/24F seats. I've only once not gotten upgraded MSP-PHX on NW as a CO Gold in years, and that was an A320. Odds are pretty good.

MCI-MSP and MCI-DTW are still mainline jets. You would probably get upgraded on those.

MCI-PHX with a one-hour connection in MSP is about a 5.5 hour airport-to-airport trip, assuming MSP is running smoothly.

MCI-PHX on America West is 3 hours going and 2.5 hours back home.

MCI-DTW-PHX is too painful to even think about. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif

So an all-NW option is possible, but you'd be spending a lot of time in MSP to get to PHX and a lot of time in either MSP or DTW to get into New York without an RJ.

The only alliance we haven't brought up is UA/US. Denver is a good route to connect for PHX - second only to going nonstop. PHL/PIT are good connections to NYC, and ORD isn't too bad if you need it. Getting to FL would probably be done through CLT on US. Should be all mainline jets, although there will probably be some "Ted" mixed in on that DEN-PHX segment. ("Ted" has mainline jets with economy plus, but not a true first class.)

I'd still take AA to get MRTC and the LGA nonstop, but a US/UA Fan would still do okay for those three destinations.

You could fly Vanguard...... oh wait, never mind.

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"I just wanna wish you good luck, we're all counting on you"
-Dr. Rumack

Mci
 

Welcome to MCI, Paul! I hope you find the house-buying process the same delightful shock we did (moved from Bergen County, NJ).

I was Silver on CO, which relegated me to Jungle Jets out of MCI. Had a business trip to India and took AA's Platinum Challenge, so now I'm Platinum, which will come in handy since my husband and I are leaving for London via ORD today.

IMHO, one of the few bad things about this area is getting anywhere. You're stuck with RJs, or going through a hub (sometimes on an RJ!), or Southwest. Southwest isn't bad for what they are, but if you like upgrades and free trips to Europe you're outta luck. I also hate the airport setup- beyond the secured area there are no bathrooms, no food concessions and generally no airline clubs (I think DL is an exception).

Too early to give you an experienced opinion on the switch to AA, but that's what I did.

New Admirals Club at MCI is also inside security: http://www.aa.com/content/aboutAA/AA...nsasCity.jhtml

Also, all AA flights out of KC are mainline, no RJ's.

After more thought.... (and a few flights on both airlines!) I'm deciding to go with AA. I really think that NW has a subpar product. F seats are old and ratty, F food blows, no IFE and have u seen their intl amenity kit? Up until now I have ben a big fan and supporter of NW, but I truly believe that AA has a much better overall product. If anyone has any input that may sway my decision I'd love to hear it....

Paul~