Just out of curiosity is anyone 1K and EXP?

While we're at it

Is anyone Top Tier at 5 hotel chains.

(SPG, Marriot, Hyatt, Hilton and Priority Club/something else)

I've met 4 (SPG, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt) there are plenty of 3.

I'm 1k and EXP. I only have 2 hotels though: Hilton Diamond & Marriott Platinum.

I expect to have no hotel status next year, but both 1k and EXP are good until 2011

To add some more meat to the question ... for those who are both, what have been the most notable (both positive and negative) differences between EXP and 1K from a loyalty/service perspective? (I understand the basic differences between AA and UA when it comes to their product, aircraft, etc.)

As I re-evaluate my frequent flyer loyalties, particularly with the potential for the AA/BA transatlantic cooperation, I'm considering moving some over to AA.

Why limit to 1K & EXP? There are quite a few FTers with more than 2 top airline status tiers

Perhaps because they compete directly against eachother with similar hubs.

I'm 1K and a few EQM short of AA EXP. Should have it by the end of the year.

1K and EXP this year - biggest difference for me is the automatic upgrades on EXP in domestic - of almost no value to me since most flights are intl except personal - no stickers earned so no upgrade for spouse. Figure I would have earned 40 stickers since hitting EXP last summer, which would have been huge for marital happiness on the domestic flights. On the other hand, 8 evips v 6 swus good for intl. Won't keep 1K due to decline in travel and company arrangement with AA / NW.

There are many who are both 1K and EXP. I have been many years and will make both again this year.

If I were to do 200K on AA or UA, I would only get one set up systemwide upgrades. Making both EXP and 1K gets two sets of systemwides.

I expect to earn top tier status on three airlines this year. Some years I have earned as many as five. Others on FT have earned more than that.

If you fly 200K-600K miles per year, multiple statuses is definitely the way to go.

The big difference is on the redemption of award tickets.

1. AA gives you more options and availability while UA gives you nothing despite of the number of *A members serving the region I want to fly.

2. AA allows one way award redemption, while UA does not.

3. AA has lower miles redemption (at least for the award I would like to redeem)

I have been trying to book 3 rewards seats on Business from MNL-ZRH for travel in April 2009. AA gives me the option to book on CX, BA and QF for the three of us while UA does not have any seats open even on any *A partners. AA allowed me to book 3 one way on business for 52.5K each way or 105K return. For the same city pairs, UA requires 120K for a return redemption.

I am top tier at 4 hotel chains, Marriott, Hyatt, SPG, and Priority Club. But ExP only with AA. I don't like UA! Bad experiences. I used to be top tier with Southwest, 3 years in a row. But after they changed their FF program, I stopped flying them.

yes, I am one of those.

I was, but now am UA 1K and BMI gold. I knew quite a few folks who held both 1K and EXP ay the time I did.

I am, though I shall drop two of the five by the end of the year.

In the world - are there estimates of the number of people that are 1k and EXP.

Some people mentioned people are the top on 3 - 1K / EXP / DL Plat. I would just imagine that people are earning these just through Bus / FC trips booked through work? FC ticket to Asia from US RT would be about 20k EQM with DEQM its 40?

What's the strategy in trying to attain both when you have none with either? Do you finish one and then finish the other or do you do them some here and some there?

UA and AA have some of the same hubs and so I'm just surprised but I guess it makes sense too.

I would imagine there are a lot more of top 3 hotel chains than top 2 airlines ? (25 / 28 stays and 75 nights seems a lot easier than flying 200,000 miles? ) Plus hotels are more likely to match in my opinion?

I'm EXP and !K and will be DL Plat Medallion. Wife makes 1K and prob EXP this year, too. We both are 1MM UA and liftetime AA plats. Don't know what it gets us except a lot of time in the air together. Tomorrow's our 39th. We mostly go all around stalking our children and spoiling our grandchildren. Life could be worse.

Except for one year when I dropped to Platinum, I've been both EXP and 1K for the past several years. First a few comments on blueslip's comments, then some additional kinds of comparisons:

A few other points of comparison:

1. AA EXP CSRs generally are better than UA 1K CSRs in terms of knowledge, helpfulness and authority to take the initiative.
2. UA 1Ks get to change or cancel award tix for free. AA charges to do so.
3. AA will let an EXP hold an outbound award reservation as soon as the 330-day window advance booking window opens, and later let you then book the return at the time of the window opening for the return trip. As a UA 1K, you have to ticket the outbound along with a fake return booking, then change the return date and possibly the routing (depending on what's available) when the date on which you actually want to return opens up. Not a huge problem since the change is free, but still a bit more of a hassle.
4. As an AA EXP you get access to its own and its OW partners' F lounges even when on an award ticket. As a 1K you only have access to regular UA and its *A partners' regular lounges.

There's lots more, but I'll leave it at that.