View Poll Results: Will you switch frequent flyer programs / what will you switch to?
Stay with UA (or join UA - please post)
233
42.75%
Change to American Airlines
28
5.14%
Change to Delta Air Lines
44
8.07%
Change to Alaska Airlines
28
5.14%
Change to non-US Star Alliance (please post which program)
53
9.72%
Change to non-US Oneworld (please post which program)
10
1.83%
Change to non-US SkyTeam (please post which program)
2
0.37%
Split alliances / programs (please post which programs)
28
5.14%
Cease preference for any program
91
16.70%
Retain no preference for any program
28
5.14%
Voters: 545. You may not vote on this poll
2020 MP changes — Will you switch loyalty programs? What program will you switch to?
Nov 18, 2019, 12:43 pm
#346
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: YEG
Programs: AC 25K
Posts: 120
Do we have a separate thread for people announcing/discussing switches to OAL? I am going to be moving to DL. I just looked at their status match page, and noticed something interesting: it used to be that UA Silver matched to DL Silver and UA Gold to DL Gold, but now UA Silver matches to DL Gold and UA Gold matches to DL Platinum. I think this is a recent (last couple of months) change, I am sure it is in response to UA qualification changes: DL is trying to incentivize as many people to switch as possible by being more generous with their match status.
Note that matching from AA to DL is the opposite: DL gives a lower status level to AA flyers who switch. (I.e., AA Gold gets DL Silver, etc.)
The major negative is that DL matches 1K down to Platinum.
Note that matching from AA to DL is the opposite: DL gives a lower status level to AA flyers who switch. (I.e., AA Gold gets DL Silver, etc.)
The major negative is that DL matches 1K down to Platinum.
Nov 18, 2019, 12:47 pm
#347
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,025
Nov 18, 2019, 12:57 pm
#348
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: YEG
Programs: AC 25K
Posts: 120
I am going to be moving to DL. As a long-time EWR and then IAH-based flyer, I didn't have much choice, but since I have retired and moved back to Canada, it isn't such a lock any more. DL gives me somewhat better connectivity out of YEG, and their partnership with WS really helps things.
I just looked at their status match page, and noticed something interesting: it used to be that UA Silver matched to DL Silver and UA Gold to DL Gold, but now UA Silver matches to DL Gold and UA Gold matches to DL Platinum. I think this is a recent (last couple of months) change, I am sure it is in response to UA qualification changes: DL is trying to incentivize as many people to switch as possible by being more generous with their match status.
Note that matching from AA to DL is the opposite: DL gives a lower status level to AA flyers who switch. (I.e., AA Gold gets DL Silver, etc.)
The major negative is that DL matches 1K down to Platinum.
I just looked at their status match page, and noticed something interesting: it used to be that UA Silver matched to DL Silver and UA Gold to DL Gold, but now UA Silver matches to DL Gold and UA Gold matches to DL Platinum. I think this is a recent (last couple of months) change, I am sure it is in response to UA qualification changes: DL is trying to incentivize as many people to switch as possible by being more generous with their match status.
Note that matching from AA to DL is the opposite: DL gives a lower status level to AA flyers who switch. (I.e., AA Gold gets DL Silver, etc.)
The major negative is that DL matches 1K down to Platinum.
Nov 18, 2019, 1:39 pm
#350
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
I just looked at their status match page, and noticed something interesting: it used to be that UA Silver matched to DL Silver and UA Gold to DL Gold, but now UA Silver matches to DL Gold and UA Gold matches to DL Platinum. I think this is a recent (last couple of months) change, I am sure it is in response to UA qualification changes: DL is trying to incentivize as many people to switch as possible by being more generous with their match status.
Note that matching from AA to DL is the opposite: DL gives a lower status level to AA flyers who switch. (I.e., AA Gold gets DL Silver, etc.).
This is very interesting.
Is DL trying to get those "low margin elites" fired by UA?
Nov 18, 2019, 1:53 pm
#351
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,802
Initially, I thought AA or DL wouldn’t be interested in getting them, but I can see how it makes sense. If these flyers are angry or feel let down by United, even when DL and AA implement their own version of the program (spend rather than distance), the hope is that these UA emigrants will stay put.
Nov 18, 2019, 2:05 pm
#352
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Initially, I thought AA or DL wouldn’t be interested in getting them, but I can see how it makes sense. If these flyers are angry or feel let down by United, even when DL and AA implement their own version of the program (spend rather than distance), the hope is that these UA emigrants will stay put.
UA miscalculated by raising the bars for elites too high across the board. The arrogance pissed off lots of elites.
Many of them are profitable customers whom DL and AA would be happy to have.
It's much easier to lose a customer than gaining a new one. Not sure Kirby et co. understand this.
Nov 18, 2019, 2:07 pm
#353
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,510
Do we have a separate thread for people announcing/discussing switches to OAL? I am going to be moving to DL. I just looked at their status match page, and noticed something interesting: it used to be that UA Silver matched to DL Silver and UA Gold to DL Gold, but now UA Silver matches to DL Gold and UA Gold matches to DL Platinum. I think this is a recent (last couple of months) change, I am sure it is in response to UA qualification changes: DL is trying to incentivize as many people to switch as possible by being more generous with their match status.
Note that matching from AA to DL is the opposite: DL gives a lower status level to AA flyers who switch. (I.e., AA Gold gets DL Silver, etc.)
The major negative is that DL matches 1K down to Platinum.
Note that matching from AA to DL is the opposite: DL gives a lower status level to AA flyers who switch. (I.e., AA Gold gets DL Silver, etc.)
The major negative is that DL matches 1K down to Platinum.
Nov 18, 2019, 2:17 pm
#354
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,509
AA Gold = DL Silver = UA Silver
AA Plat = DL Gold = UA Gold
AA Plat Pro = DL Plat = UA Plat
AA EXP = DL Diamond = UA 1K
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 18, 2019 at 2:53 pm Reason: split post
Nov 18, 2019, 2:22 pm
#356
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Still, it's telling that DL is giving UA elites preferential treatment by matching UA Silver to DL Gold and UA Gold to DL Platinum.
https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles...atch-challenge
I found it fascinating.
Nov 18, 2019, 2:26 pm
#357
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,802
Another possibility:
UA miscalculated by raising the bars for elites too high across the board. The arrogance pissed off lots of elites.
Many of them are profitable customers whom DL and AA would be happy to have.
It's much easier to lose a customer than gaining a new one. Not sure Kirby et co. understand this.
UA miscalculated by raising the bars for elites too high across the board. The arrogance pissed off lots of elites.
Many of them are profitable customers whom DL and AA would be happy to have.
It's much easier to lose a customer than gaining a new one. Not sure Kirby et co. understand this.
Nov 18, 2019, 2:36 pm
#358
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 599
Of course, there's always the risk that people will just become free agents instead as well instead of staying put...
Nov 18, 2019, 2:46 pm
#359
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 417
You are right about AA Gold=UA Silver.
Still, it's telling that DL is giving UA elites preferential treatment by matching UA Silver to DL Gold and UA Gold to DL Platinum.
https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles...atch-challenge
I found it fascinating.
Still, it's telling that DL is giving UA elites preferential treatment by matching UA Silver to DL Gold and UA Gold to DL Platinum.
https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles...atch-challenge
I found it fascinating.
Nov 18, 2019, 3:10 pm
#360
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693