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?
Oct 11, 2019, 12:14 pm
#31
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MSY
Programs: AA Plat Pro, UA Plat, VS Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,531
Switched to AA this year because of a change in flying pattern and also because the writing was on the wall with UA. Happy to have done so. Sad day for MP, though. It used to be a great program.
For people who travel mostly within the Americas, these changes are particularly brutal.
For people who travel mostly within the Americas, these changes are particularly brutal.
Oct 11, 2019, 12:18 pm
#32
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,029
Switched to AA this year because of a change in flying pattern and also because the writing was on the wall with UA. Happy to have done so. Sad day for MP, though. It used to be a great program.
For people who travel mostly within the Americas, these changes are particularly brutal.
For people who travel mostly within the Americas, these changes are particularly brutal.
Regards
Oct 11, 2019, 12:39 pm
#35
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
Oh, I know. But the gravy train will roll on for at least another year at AA compared to UA, unless AA quickly matches the change, which seems doubtful if not impossible, given its partnerships, CC deals, etc. We'll see.
Oct 11, 2019, 12:55 pm
#37
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 240
I'm being thinned from the herd and also I'm becoming a free agent like many. I’m on 50% “other people’s money” and 50% my own. The increasing spend and the corresponding value I get, make the cost-benefit ratio not worth it for me. I live in a Delta hub city, but choose to fly UA. Part nostalgia, part global network.
But, this year dropping to Plat and for 2020 I’m finally letting 1K lapse and I will just book on what’s most convenient. I think I’ll always place a preference on UA, but will place a greater importance on convenience/product over loyalty. I’m already buying up front for personal trips and am sitting on 9 GPUs that will die come 1/31. So, it’s not like those help dissuade me.
Absent anything new and amazing with my United Club Card benefits, I’m dropping that and switching to Sapphire Reserve. So, for UA, that’s two diminishing revenue streams from me.
But, this year dropping to Plat and for 2020 I’m finally letting 1K lapse and I will just book on what’s most convenient. I think I’ll always place a preference on UA, but will place a greater importance on convenience/product over loyalty. I’m already buying up front for personal trips and am sitting on 9 GPUs that will die come 1/31. So, it’s not like those help dissuade me.
Absent anything new and amazing with my United Club Card benefits, I’m dropping that and switching to Sapphire Reserve. So, for UA, that’s two diminishing revenue streams from me.
Oct 11, 2019, 1:20 pm
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,994
So with the new requirements, although I will be a 1K for 2020, I will not be close to anything close to Platinum for 2021. I will be Gold due to 1MM status.
I fly TATL to London/Europe 2-3 times a year and TPAC 2-3 times a year.
I do fly an assortment of airlines but am looking for the program that will give me the best bang for my buck to try and do a status match or start earning status.
I am based in SAN so can position myself to LAX if needed for flight origination.
Try to find a new FF program or just wing it?
I think NZ may be the way to go as they go to both London and Sydney...I can then also use my *G benefits.
Or perhaps LH for the *G benefits
So will not be a status match but at least leverage my *G benefits.
I fly TATL to London/Europe 2-3 times a year and TPAC 2-3 times a year.
I do fly an assortment of airlines but am looking for the program that will give me the best bang for my buck to try and do a status match or start earning status.
I am based in SAN so can position myself to LAX if needed for flight origination.
Try to find a new FF program or just wing it?
I think NZ may be the way to go as they go to both London and Sydney...I can then also use my *G benefits.
Or perhaps LH for the *G benefits
So will not be a status match but at least leverage my *G benefits.
Switched to AA this year because of a change in flying pattern and also because the writing was on the wall with UA. Happy to have done so. Sad day for MP, though. It used to be a great program.
For people who travel mostly within the Americas, these changes are particularly brutal.
For people who travel mostly within the Americas, these changes are particularly brutal.
With the majority of ffp's, benefits are reducing and ff mile award/upgrade costs are going up. Status & upgrades are now harder to get. The halcyon days of frequent flyer programs a decade ago are gone: just accept reality.
FF miles & benefits are a side product of flying to where you want to go: not the reason to travel.
- General FFP:- Which Frequent Flyer Program to Join? Help Is Here!
- Oneworld:- Deciding on a Oneworld Frequent Flyer Program? Help is here
- Star Alliance: Need advice on which Star Alliance FF scheme to join? - please post here
- Skyteam:- Which SkyTeam program should I sign up for?
- Be mindful of expiry Miles/Points that Do and Don't Expire. Click to open the wiki.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Oct 11, 2019 at 1:26 pm
Oct 11, 2019, 2:04 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,453
I propose the following poll questions:
Will you switch frequent flyer programs?
[ ] yes (including switching to no program / free agent)
[ ] no
Will you primarily credit to a US based frequent flyer program?
[ ] yes, UA
[ ] yes, not UA
[ ] no
What alliance will you use? {allow multiple selections}
[ ] Star Alliance
[ ] Oneworld
[ ] SkyTeam
[ ] none
Open to suggestions for improvement.
Oct 11, 2019, 2:26 pm
#41
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,373
Why not specifically list all of the (major) USA based FF programs? IIRC you can have questions with up to about ten multiple answer responses.
In the first question, I'd make free agent and other program different choices.
Maybe ask about switching away from UA credit cards?
Maybe also some question about whether one will continue to strive for UA MM status, although of course it's better if the poll isn't too long.
In the first question, I'd make free agent and other program different choices.
Maybe ask about switching away from UA credit cards?
Maybe also some question about whether one will continue to strive for UA MM status, although of course it's better if the poll isn't too long.
Oct 11, 2019, 3:18 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,221
I have 1.5 million miles and was aiming for 2million by the time I slow down on flying - a little insurance for any MM devaluation. But this change means I will get nowhere near 1K so will no longer earn GPUs or points or whatever they are now called.
My initial reaction is to use up my remaining upgrades for this and next year and focus on BA instead. But then I just got off a miserable UA flight with FAs from hell.
My initial reaction is to use up my remaining upgrades for this and next year and focus on BA instead. But then I just got off a miserable UA flight with FAs from hell.
Oct 11, 2019, 3:32 pm
#43
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,783
Oct 11, 2019, 3:51 pm
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,215
I am not sure if the new OP can add. I was originally the OP (another earlier thread merged into this), and I cannot see a way. Maybe it needs a moderator to do it.
I propose the following poll questions:
Will you switch frequent flyer programs?
[ ] yes (including switching to no program / free agent)
[ ] no
Will you primarily credit to a US based frequent flyer program?
[ ] yes, UA
[ ] yes, not UA
[ ] no
What alliance will you use? {allow multiple selections}
[ ] Star Alliance
[ ] Oneworld
[ ] SkyTeam
[ ] none
Open to suggestions for improvement.
I propose the following poll questions:
Will you switch frequent flyer programs?
[ ] yes (including switching to no program / free agent)
[ ] no
Will you primarily credit to a US based frequent flyer program?
[ ] yes, UA
[ ] yes, not UA
[ ] no
What alliance will you use? {allow multiple selections}
[ ] Star Alliance
[ ] Oneworld
[ ] SkyTeam
[ ] none
Open to suggestions for improvement.
Oct 11, 2019, 3:55 pm
#45
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,424
2020 will be burn, baby burn - UA miles and upgrades. Will keep Explorer card for CPUs on awards, then cancel 2021. Will not renew UC membership (was on the fence already).
I will continue to fly TPAC CX in paid J (and the occasional EK and JL) and accrue those trips to AS, to renew at 75K. AS will also see additional west coast and Hawaii traffic from me.
T-cons (NYC, BOS) in paid front cabin will go first to B6, second to DL.
I see spend on UA dropping drastically from currently levels (will finish this year over $20k) - could easily be under $5k next year on upgradeable tickets only.
I will continue to fly TPAC CX in paid J (and the occasional EK and JL) and accrue those trips to AS, to renew at 75K. AS will also see additional west coast and Hawaii traffic from me.
T-cons (NYC, BOS) in paid front cabin will go first to B6, second to DL.
I see spend on UA dropping drastically from currently levels (will finish this year over $20k) - could easily be under $5k next year on upgradeable tickets only.