UA-NYC

Of course - but Gold at Marriott takes 50 nights, vs. 25 at SPG

And 50 nights only makes you second tier at Marriott, vs. top tier in other programs

Bonehead

Try redeeming TATL saver awards on AA metal vs UA metal. Huge difference in availability in my experience, and not only that, AA availability has gotten much worse in the last year, unless you want to fly BA and pay $1000+ per ticket.

AA has fallen off big time in that one area and that's the one that counts the most for me...

Can people vote more than once? It's not clear to me from the description.

tom911

There's a separate award for best redemption ability and it was won by Southwest. I've always had very good experiences redeeming UA miles myself, but Southwest must have had a lot of support to take the win over UA.

spin88

United has had horrible NPS scores since Jeff started his reign of "savvy" "changes you will like." And they simply doubled down on their current course. There are (just in the last month or so, making me think they are finally waking up in a panic, I can speculate based upon the PRASM guidance they lost a bunch of elite traffic with the 2015 MP changes) some changes recently that are on balance more good than bad, but there is a long track record of this pmCO management thinking that they are on the right course, despite abysmal results in every poll and in DOT data.



I would love it if someone can find something with some more insight into the results, but having filled out the ballot, and read what I posted, it appears the methodology strongly favors bigger programs, if (and a big if) those programs can get their members to vote for them. They could control for program size, but I don't know where they would the 411 on membership in each program, or how to normalize it for activity in the program. I just don't see the data collected in the ballot being other than a "can I get my members to vote for me" AA (and DL) could , UA could not. AS (smaller) is just screwed.

I expect that these results reflect not just the "program" but the overall feel of the airline experience. United's poor product/service rubs off on MP.

I also think directionally where a program is going probably is more important (since this is getting people to vote for you), and UA is directionally getting much worse, while DL is getting better (note I did not say "much" ). Its not like people are compairing skypesos to mileageminus, they are saying of MP: "well I no longer get upgraded due to DOTs, I am getting fewer miles with this spending stuff, its harder to get reward seats than before, and premium *A rewards are now outrageous in price, and I no longer get the special service I used to get, [and for silver] I don't even get E+ " On DL they are saying "DL is opening up more saver seats, and availability is up, I get a CPU periodically (no TODs), [DMs] I get usable SWUs now, not the old crappy ones and skyclub assess, and the service is better."

While You may feel MP is still a better program, IMHO the feelings about where the programs are going explains a lot.

+1.

and P.S. this "reality" impacted me. I have not used my skypeso number since 1999, my DL flying went into my AS account. But I started using my SkyPeso account again in January, and just made gold. So I am putting my miles where my mouth is.

Kacee

IMO, AA deserves the win for its mileage earning scheme alone.

Agree. Hard to be objective about MP these days when all they do is take away. There's probably also an anticipation component to the poor showing ("what will they take away next?").

LASUA1K

Again, I honestly think, a birdie has told me, that things will change for the program. That's all I'm saying.

pdx1M

Well as a Lifetime 1K who avoids UA whenever possible these days I really hope you are right. I fully accept that airlines have to relate service and benefits across the board to profitability but I think it is pretty easy to argue that UA has gone way too far toward the bottom even if you are not an anti-UA crusader here. I'd like nothing more than to feel that UA service and benefits were the equal of its competitors.

channa

While there are indeed issues with the methodology, some of the players do not have an adequate footprint to be relevant.

Sure, Hyatt has a better loyalty program than Marriott, but Hyatt's problem is there aren't enough Hyatts around. As a more extreme example, Sonesta or Melia may have better perks, but if they don't exist where you need them, it doesn't matter.

UA-NYC

Normally I'd say "that's great!" - except that it's been all cuts, and only GS getting added benefits at the expense of all the other mileage levels.

But of course would love to be proven wrong...will believe it when I see it!

spin88

Well the annual switch-fly reward availability survey will come out in a few days (its usually released in first to second week in May) and my guess is DL does yet better than last year, United does worse. AA will also likely do worse.

Will DL surpass UA as Jeff turns MileagePlus into "NonePass"?

Cumulatively the changes have all been anti-consumer, and often times anti-HVFer, and even the recent moves to fix the food have been sort of half assed. Going to some wide-bodies (in 2016-7) involves a really tight configuration, and its now clear that United will go with 10 across in E+ on their 773s, and 772 domestic birds. It is just hard for me to see any real changes from this bunch. The changes will happen when fuel spikes, traffic gets scarcer than it already is for UA, and they start to run in the red, and Jeff gets fired.

Bonehead

Not really a surprise, is it? WN has a rather cult-like following in my opinion that still believes their fares are always the lowest, that the new seats are just fine, and that the ability to redeem premium-cabin awards to the ends of the Earth is irrelevant. I weaned my SO off WN last year and she's rather pleased with United now that she's 1K and can fly DEN-NYC in FC instead of WN cattle-class.

I really don't get this. To me there's no comparison between the two airlines out of Denver...UA wins hands down. I guess the occasional travelers who really don't think about international travel or premium cabins love WN for those areas where it does shine...no bag fees and the lack of change fees (but give me free SDC anytime over the WN policy of having to upfare).

UA-NYC

Or maybe those who don't love 50 seat RJs (or RJs at all)?

Bonehead

I'll take the A-side of a 145 any day over any seat on WN (or UA mainline coach for that matter). The 200s? Not so much

UA-NYC

All OT - but given the MX/delay rates on UX, the lack of all creature comforts, EWR Terminal A, no Wifi...we'll agree to disagree

Bonehead

Fair enough, although things have been better for me lately (fingers crossed).

Back OT...wonder what the answer to my question is about whether folks can vote more than once. Can you vote once for each loyalty program that you belong to? IOW, can someone do a complete vote as a MP and as an AAdvantage member?