Some Observations of AA vs UA by a UA flyer(s)
Nov 21, 2016, 8:32 am
#481
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: AA PP, OZ *G, Hyatt Expl, Marriott Gold, Lots of Ex-statuses
Posts: 318
I'm a UA 1K who recently status matched to AA EXP. Differences I have seen so far:
1. UA 1K desk & FA's are equivalent to their AA counterparts. I have seen some small things like AA FA's have never offered PDB whereas UA FA's did, but that's pretty minor.
2. UA SDC is more flexible as it's anywhere in the last 24 hours, even if it's on a different day. AA is more restrictive that way.
3. UA CPU tiebreakers are on fare class, not time of check-in. I don't like the AA system because I book last-minute pretty often so I usually don't have good request times. This is changing next year though to 12-month rolling spend, so it'll be different.
4. UA has a LOT more award availability than AA, both domestically and internationally. I have consistently seen more saver awards for sure.
5. ORD->EWR->BOM is a UA route and with Star Alliance you have a lot of routes to UK/India off of AI/LX/LH. For UK/India, BA has a lot of options as does American. Like another poster mentioned, you have JFK/PHL/CLT/MIA who all fly to LHR, whereas with UA the east coast hubs are EWR/IAD. They also fly LAX/SFO/IAH -> LHR, but then you're going the other way.
6. I think the SA network is much bigger and better internationally than One World, especially for Asia where you have ANA, Eva, Asiana, Air New Zealand, and SQ (though hard to get UA flights + SQ flights cheaply on same itinerary). Since you don't travel internationally though, that's not relevant for you.
7. You get 6 GPUs as a 1K but only 4 SWUs going forward. BUT the GPU's must be used on W fare or above, which can be much pricier than the cheapest economy ticket. However the GPUs can be used on Lufthansa/ANA, unlike SWUs which are American only.
UA has been on the upswing service wise, and I'm excited to see the Polaris business seats. I have flown UA J a lot in my life and know and like the product, but no doubt other J cabins are better. I am going to be flying AA J soon so I'll have a better idea of the int'l biz product.
Overall I think both programs are comparable. You could status match just to try it out as I did. I think you'll be fine with either airline out of ORD, because your biggest issues are related to being in ORD with all the cancellations ;P
1. UA 1K desk & FA's are equivalent to their AA counterparts. I have seen some small things like AA FA's have never offered PDB whereas UA FA's did, but that's pretty minor.
2. UA SDC is more flexible as it's anywhere in the last 24 hours, even if it's on a different day. AA is more restrictive that way.
3. UA CPU tiebreakers are on fare class, not time of check-in. I don't like the AA system because I book last-minute pretty often so I usually don't have good request times. This is changing next year though to 12-month rolling spend, so it'll be different.
4. UA has a LOT more award availability than AA, both domestically and internationally. I have consistently seen more saver awards for sure.
5. ORD->EWR->BOM is a UA route and with Star Alliance you have a lot of routes to UK/India off of AI/LX/LH. For UK/India, BA has a lot of options as does American. Like another poster mentioned, you have JFK/PHL/CLT/MIA who all fly to LHR, whereas with UA the east coast hubs are EWR/IAD. They also fly LAX/SFO/IAH -> LHR, but then you're going the other way.
6. I think the SA network is much bigger and better internationally than One World, especially for Asia where you have ANA, Eva, Asiana, Air New Zealand, and SQ (though hard to get UA flights + SQ flights cheaply on same itinerary). Since you don't travel internationally though, that's not relevant for you.
7. You get 6 GPUs as a 1K but only 4 SWUs going forward. BUT the GPU's must be used on W fare or above, which can be much pricier than the cheapest economy ticket. However the GPUs can be used on Lufthansa/ANA, unlike SWUs which are American only.
UA has been on the upswing service wise, and I'm excited to see the Polaris business seats. I have flown UA J a lot in my life and know and like the product, but no doubt other J cabins are better. I am going to be flying AA J soon so I'll have a better idea of the int'l biz product.
Overall I think both programs are comparable. You could status match just to try it out as I did. I think you'll be fine with either airline out of ORD, because your biggest issues are related to being in ORD with all the cancellations ;P
Nov 21, 2016, 9:03 am
#482
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
FWIW, I believe this is gone. I haven't seen it offered my last few times through. Pouring salt in the wound, the generous 8oz pours seem to have been reduced to a standard 5oz glass. I miss this benefit. Hopefully I just hit a bad day in the club and this isn't a systemwide change...
Nov 21, 2016, 10:09 am
#483
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA 1K/HH Diamond
Posts: 36
FWIW, I believe this is gone. I haven't seen it offered my last few times through. Pouring salt in the wound, the generous 8oz pours seem to have been reduced to a standard 5oz glass. I miss this benefit. Hopefully I just hit a bad day in the club and this isn't a systemwide change...
-Justin
Nov 21, 2016, 10:39 am
#484
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Nov 21, 2016, 9:44 pm
#485
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, UA Silver, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Avis Pres Club
Posts: 403
I'm also an AA EXP considering jumping ship to UA 1K via a corporate-sponsored status match.
Any thoughts on upgrade rates out of ORD for UA 1K vs AA EXP? I heard 1K rates are poor - but are they really that poor?
Any thoughts on upgrade rates out of ORD for UA 1K vs AA EXP? I heard 1K rates are poor - but are they really that poor?
Nov 21, 2016, 10:55 pm
#486
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,392
Hey guys,
If all that's true, that's kind of impressive. Today... I am a Platinum Marriott Member, and a National Exec Elite car renter, so I would basically have to switch my entire life around it sounds like.
However.... all this aside, American has never done me wrong. I enjoy their new fleet of aircraft, I can pretty much always find a route where I've need to be the past several years (Really the only overseas travel I've had has been to Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Rio). I really love the System Wide Upgrades for international flights and the 77W that have full lie flat private beds.
With my new company I'll have to be doing some travel to India and to the UK (I assume London at this point) in the near future, plus a lot of east coast domestic travel from ORD (at least in the beginning).
With all that being said I'm trying to weigh the benefits of remaining with AAdvantage vs switching to United. I don't really know anything about United's program and how it compares, but Upgrades is my #1 concern (i.e. ability to purchase economy on domestic / international flights and upgrade for free - complimentary - systemwide). Flexible flights and wide network range is also a big concern.
Can some people weigh in on these programs and offer me some insight?
If all that's true, that's kind of impressive. Today... I am a Platinum Marriott Member, and a National Exec Elite car renter, so I would basically have to switch my entire life around it sounds like.
However.... all this aside, American has never done me wrong. I enjoy their new fleet of aircraft, I can pretty much always find a route where I've need to be the past several years (Really the only overseas travel I've had has been to Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Rio). I really love the System Wide Upgrades for international flights and the 77W that have full lie flat private beds.
With my new company I'll have to be doing some travel to India and to the UK (I assume London at this point) in the near future, plus a lot of east coast domestic travel from ORD (at least in the beginning).
With all that being said I'm trying to weigh the benefits of remaining with AAdvantage vs switching to United. I don't really know anything about United's program and how it compares, but Upgrades is my #1 concern (i.e. ability to purchase economy on domestic / international flights and upgrade for free - complimentary - systemwide). Flexible flights and wide network range is also a big concern.
Can some people weigh in on these programs and offer me some insight?
Nov 21, 2016, 11:28 pm
#487
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
And airline program is totally independent from hotel program for me. Though I do appreciate the free Marriott Gold status via UA
Nov 22, 2016, 4:14 pm
#488
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Suburban Philadelphia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,392
Nov 22, 2016, 4:39 pm
#489
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...merged-23.html
However, you shouldn't rely on this particular benefit to determine whether you should switch to AA.
Nov 22, 2016, 5:01 pm
#490
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1MM, MP 1K, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 462
I thought I was the only one - I stick with National as well.
Nov 22, 2016, 8:29 pm
#491
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
I recently tried out the new Polaris seat at the showcase. I still prefer AA's J seats on the 77W and 788.
Nov 22, 2016, 8:49 pm
#492
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
Definitely not the only one. National is one of the few companies in any industry that I truly sing the virtues of. They have been nothing less than fabulous, except for a fumbled midnight pickup in Vegas (rectified with $100 off of a $200 rental)...They wipe the floor with any other rental company out there...Hertz has peed me off three too many times to ever use them again, not to mention they have never recognized this Chairman Circle Whatever status that comes with 1K, after being specifically told in PHL "Your status means nothing. And no, you can't pick from that area, even though you have..." (again) whatever that high alleged status is.
Nov 24, 2016, 9:08 am
#494
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: LAX, SFO
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 245
Moving to Chicago--United or AA
Hi all,
I am moving to Chicago and wondering which airline most ORD people prefer.
I travel every week for work and book business/first. Most of my travel is domestic but also go to Europe/Asia ~4 times per year (2 each).
I have flown both AA and United a few times over the years and haven't really noticed a consistent difference in equipment, service, etc.
However, it seems like the United GS is much better than American's Concierge Key.
United also has many more direct flights from ORD to Europe.
And United miles seem more valuable.
... so I'm leaning towards United.
Thoughts?
I am moving to Chicago and wondering which airline most ORD people prefer.
I travel every week for work and book business/first. Most of my travel is domestic but also go to Europe/Asia ~4 times per year (2 each).
I have flown both AA and United a few times over the years and haven't really noticed a consistent difference in equipment, service, etc.
However, it seems like the United GS is much better than American's Concierge Key.
United also has many more direct flights from ORD to Europe.
And United miles seem more valuable.
... so I'm leaning towards United.
Thoughts?
Nov 24, 2016, 9:31 am
#495
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: United 1K, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 590
Hi all,
I am moving to Chicago and wondering which airline most ORD people prefer.
I travel every week for work and book business/first. Most of my travel is domestic but also go to Europe/Asia ~4 times per year (2 each).
I have flown both AA and United a few times over the years and haven't really noticed a consistent difference in equipment, service, etc.
However, it seems like the United GS is much better than American's Concierge Key.
United also has many more direct flights from ORD to Europe.
And United miles seem more valuable.
... so I'm leaning towards United.
Thoughts?
I am moving to Chicago and wondering which airline most ORD people prefer.
I travel every week for work and book business/first. Most of my travel is domestic but also go to Europe/Asia ~4 times per year (2 each).
I have flown both AA and United a few times over the years and haven't really noticed a consistent difference in equipment, service, etc.
However, it seems like the United GS is much better than American's Concierge Key.
United also has many more direct flights from ORD to Europe.
And United miles seem more valuable.
... so I'm leaning towards United.
Thoughts?
Consider where your domestic travel will go, and evaluate network and schedule for that.