I'm currently silver with NW and not particularly thrilled with the changes DL is making to the program (and will probably keep making). I'm in LA (almost always fly out of LAX, but having availability to the other airports can be a life saver sometimes), and make the majority of my trips to NYC (EWR, LGA, HPN, and SWF are best). I can typically do 5 of these flights/year to get silver status, and since I'm paying, I generally get the cheapest possible. I will likely also be traveling for work in the next few years, with a few overseas trips possible. I won't be moving out of the area for at least 3-4 years. I'll also likely be doing some personal traveling overseas, with central/south america and the australia region being the most likely in the next few years. I'll probably continue with about 25k/year, with the possibility of hitting 50k (but that's unlikely).

Primary interests in program:
- Access to seats with good legroom. Not necessarily F, but exit rows are essential (I'm tall)
- Priority through security lines and check in. Good customer service in case of IROPS
- Good award availability with minimal cost (taxes/fees)

I'm 2.5k away from silver on NW for next year, so I'll get that. But I'd like to figure out what I'm doing for next year. I'm somewhat leaning towards AA, but not very set. While I've enjoyed flying on CO, I don't like the 0.5 EQM/mile for discount fares.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

The .5 EQM thing on CO only matters if you are forced into booking through a corporate travel agent. Otherwise just book at co.com and get the 100%. Still, transcon upgrades are harder to come by so that may push you away from CO. So will the expectation of good IRROPS handling (they seem to be getting better, but there is a large hole to climb out of) and access to seats with legroom (transcons are mostly 739s with but one useful exit row.

UA gets you everything except reasonable access to reward inventory.

B6 gets you access to legroom and a soon to be decent program for your domestic and Caribbean travel habits, but until they announce something with EI and LH their international program does you zero good. Even with it being based on spend your transcon habits will get you into the "elite" ranks there pretty quickly.

AA seems to get you everything.

Be sure about that. Not only do you get full EQM for booking on CO.com, but you also can get full EQM on some corporate travel reservations. Starting a couple months ago many of us starting receiving full credit for travel booked through work. There were a couple threads on it in the CO forum.

Having said that, since you put that leg room was one of your priorities I would steer you away from CO if you can only get silver status. You cannot pre-select exit seats with silver status on CO (I believe plat and gold can), and Y in CO is IMHO very uncomfortable for long hauls. UA may be better for you with PE. CO also only flies to CNS in Australia, but has nice access to Central and South America from the Houston hub.

UA or AA might be more aligned with your needs.

I know about CO giving 1.0 eqm/mile if you book through CO.com. But, the problem is that in the past they've only given 0.5 eqm/mile for discount fares on their partners. It's one of the primary reasons I've limited my flying with them thus far since they're not always the cheapest. If that changes with *A, I will consider them. However, the leg room problem is definitely an issue.

I know UA has E+. How does AA Y compare to UA Y (and, I assume, most of the time E+)?

Thanks for the advice thus far.