inpd

Hi,

I've been United FF for many years, typically 1K, but now happily at Gold level flying.

I recently got status matched to the equivalent in both Delta (Gold) and AA (Platinum). I'm unsure who I should commit my business to and was wondering if people could add in why they decided to move from United to Delta or AA.

I really like that Delta and AA both give 100% bonus miles at Gold Level while United only give 50%.

I'm not happy that with Delta FF redemption to places like Australia is well over 100K miles but with UA and AA its about 80K.

eghansen

So much depends on where you live. Nobody in Houston is jumping to AA or DL. but if you live in Chicago or New York or Los Angeles, it is a different matter.

trk1

Staying put
economy plus is the deal breaker

Bear4Asian

If I go it will be to Delta as I'm in SEA and fly to Asia a lot. But the E+ is also a big consideration. Torn.

CLEContinental

I did the ultimate best of both worlds compromise: Status matched to Alaska Airlines MVP Gold.

I can fly either DL or AA, use my status on both airlines and accrue miles on both into my Alaska account.

United lost me for good. Flexibility is a beautiful thing.

Staymates788

Staying put for the time being... No other carrier flys direct to the Bay Area (SFO, OAK) from SNA.

goingbananas

Speak for your self. Granted, I am a 100,000+ mile a year flyer, but I am based in Houston and changed to AA and haven't looked back. Between US and AA there is roughly 35 flights a day to several destinations. But then again, I am not flying to places like MFE, SAT, AUS, MSY etc..

spin88

Ignore the voice of United.... Both DL and AA have E+. The DL product is far better btb, and includes a free drink and snack on some routes. VX does this as well.

AA is upgrades by certs. You will get they for every 10K you fly. DL is "comp" So if you are going to be flying high demand routes, then upgrades on DL will be few and far between (but better than the impossible on UAL at this point). You may do better on AA.

But both have far better service domestically, and as you note, the 50K level on MP is a bad joke....

inpd

I just flew Delta yesterday. And they don't have economy plus but they have economy comfort. Exact same thing. But on international flights Delta give you 50% discounted Economy plus but its free for domestic. That seems a bit stingy.

Now I did see something that had me thinking. Delta like UA has CPU. But half of first class was empty ... on two legs (ANC -> SEA) and (SEA -> SJC). I've never ever seen a United plane with more than one or two empty seats in first class. So maybe Delta is also a bit stingy with CPUs?

mrydoc

I made the switch to AA last year and am very happy. I have been gold, plat and 1K with UA and am happier now as an AA plat than I was as a 1K. I get to fly in 1st more (and especially when it really matters to me), have had no operational issues and I have received excellent customer service on the phone, at the airport and on their planes. The difference in food quality in first was truly shocking IMO. The big potential downside is what will happen with the merger. I went through the merger with both airlines, and it is clear to me that AA is handling it much better. If AA flights even come close to fulling your needs, I think you will better off as an AA Plat than UA gold.

iflyuaaa

You are misinterpreting. Means they don't do tod

SEA777GUY

As I live in Seattle, I have so many choices. I am doing the same as above. UAL DBA COAL has lost my business.

discoverCSG

I'm a UA Gold, mainly leisure, flyer, who would be Plat or 1K without PQD. I'm trying to decide where to shift my 2015 business. DL is a non-starter due to QD. I'm trying to decide between AA with MCE, stickers, OneWorld, potential SWU's, and the uncertainty of the merger/possibility of QD/spend accrual...and AS with fewer upgrade options in the east but better redemption partners and a less a likely a to a be a devalued program. Decision to be made in November or so.

Thoughts?

spin88

Both routes are probably very "elite light" for a DL flight. But there is a fundemental difference in how CPU is handeled.

Delta will (when space is available) sell discounted P/A fares. And as the flight gets full in Y, but F is not full, the spread can get close. I've paid $99 or $109 more for a P/A on DL when Y was only available in top buckets. United does a similar thing when only Y/B/M/E fares are available.

But on DAL:

(1) there are no deep discount F fares with little price spread when Y is cheap
(2) Delta does not sell TODs. It makes no offers at all to upsell to F (unlike United who e-mails them to you, offers at check in, offers when printing the ticket) once you have purchased the coach fare, UNLESS, everyone on the upgrade list has been upgraded. The only time I've seen upgrades being sold are on flights where the upgrade list has no one on it.
(3) GS fliers (many of which are corporate give aways) don't trump other status, and
(4) deep discounted corporate tickets (that 40% B/M that cost less than your H, W, etc) don't then take up much of the upgrades.

Delta has succeeded in selling more F seats (and there are fewer upgrades than a few years ago as a result) but it has done so by selling First Class, not by selling upgrades.

The net result (if you look at the DL board, or folks here) is that upgrades happen far more often on DAL than on United. I've even been upgrades a few times using my Alaska MVP75 status, and its bottom of the pecking order.

yup. AA does not do it either. Its a CO/Jeff special "change you will like"

mkr

Yes, I heard AA is now serving electric eel in First.