From 1K to Delta?
Jan 16, 2020, 3:22 pm
#16
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
Seriously. Hard to see choosing ORD or EWR over MSP or DTW based on ease of connection and likelihood of actually making your connection.
Jan 16, 2020, 3:33 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pasadena, California
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 10,412
Funny; I'm the other way 'round on the motivations here. I actually would have more motivation to switch to DL (not gonna, though) because of the international routes. My most frequent TATL destination is FCO, which can be a pain to get to (I actually don't mind much) on *A, but would be easy on SkyTeam. OTOH, another frequent domestic destination for me is SAT; and I just don't think I want to have to fly through SLC to get there. (Like UA, DL has direct LAX-SAT flights, but none of them are very convenient.)
Jan 16, 2020, 3:39 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1MM GS, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 283
After getting stranded in ATL on both the outbound AND return of an international J ticket, there’s no way I would choose to connect on DL over a direct UA flight and even on a connecting itinerary, it would have to be significantly cheaper for me to choose it. Based on all the FT love for DL I expected it to be much better...
Jan 16, 2020, 3:47 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The World!!!
Programs: Some of them not all ...
Posts: 1,532
Sounds like it is all about where you live or are based. I am actually thinking about leaving UA (1K Currently) and go to DL. But I also live/work at the only airport in the USA where all 4 major airlines Hub (LAX) and my go to airport for domestic being SNA. So, my coworkers are all mixed as we do not have a corporate contract and we travel to SYD, MEL, SIN, HKG, LHR, and big/main cities around the USA. Some of my coworkers are AA Explats, I definitely want to go to DL, at least as a Platinum from start once I switch my international travel to them. For domestic, I am still in love with WN due to the Companion Pass.
Jan 16, 2020, 3:54 pm
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,030
There seem to be many threads on this topic these days. As others have said, Delta honestly is pretty solid. Skymiles (which became bad a long time ago) still sucks, but this is a non-issue now that AA and UA have emulated it.
Jan 16, 2020, 4:00 pm
#21
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS (1MM), DL Gold, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Avis CC
Posts: 526
because I live in NY, have tons of family in Chicago (and company HQ), and go to SFO frequently so those are my home bases. If I want to end a work trip to Chicago and go to Austin to visit my mom, I’m not going to go thru MSP for a marginally better club. Main point being, UA hubs tend much more to be in large, international cities.
Jan 16, 2020, 4:07 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: TPA
Programs: United MP
Posts: 463
DL announced some time back that AUS was going to be a focus city for them. IIRC they were last in the 3 legacy carriers in and out of AUS so probably a smart move on their part. While I do like DLs soft product generally I haven't flown them much in recent years due to pricing and routing. Thankfully I still have some SkyPesos rotting away. 
Jan 16, 2020, 4:10 pm
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,030
because I live in NY, have tons of family in Chicago (and company HQ), and go to SFO frequently so those are my home bases. If I want to end a work trip to Chicago and go to Austin to visit my mom, I’m not going to go thru MSP for a marginally better club. Main point being, UA hubs tend much more to be in large, international cities.
I also want to point out that loyalty isn't nearly as important these days as it was 10 years ago. Don't be afraid to fly AA to HKG, even if you are married to DL or UA.
Jan 16, 2020, 4:49 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,395
because I live in NY, have tons of family in Chicago (and company HQ), and go to SFO frequently so those are my home bases. If I want to end a work trip to Chicago and go to Austin to visit my mom, I’m not going to go thru MSP for a marginally better club. Main point being, UA hubs tend much more to be in large, international cities.
Jan 16, 2020, 5:01 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,617
Yes, travel patterns are more important than airline quality, in my opinion, but if you live in a city that entails connection on almost every flight (I use JAX as my example), you might as well focus on getting good service from your airline.
I also want to point out that loyalty isn't nearly as important these days as it was 10 years ago. Don't be afraid to fly AA to HKG, even if you are married to DL or UA.
I also want to point out that loyalty isn't nearly as important these days as it was 10 years ago. Don't be afraid to fly AA to HKG, even if you are married to DL or UA.
I have migrated to this philosophy as well over the years. Travel patterns for me are key to the airline I use. Hence, more recently am flying more with AS. Splitting my travel dollars has resulted in a decrease in status with basically both airlines in my case. I recently lost my GS status with UA by using AS for much of my Hawaii and West Coast travel but still use UA for international and some of the TCON travel but I can live with that. While I can't say the "loyality programs" are of no importance to me I do agree they are clearly less important to me now than say 10 years ago. Much of this has to do with devaluation in various forms in the programs (not just UAs but all).
Jan 16, 2020, 5:03 pm
#26
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: EWR
Programs: UA GS, MR TE, HH Diamond, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, National EE, Avis PC
Posts: 135
Jan 16, 2020, 6:07 pm
#27
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,030
+1
I have migrated to this philosophy as well over the years. Travel patterns for me are key to the airline I use. Hence, more recently am flying more with AS. Splitting my travel dollars has resulted in a decrease in status with basically both airlines in my case. I recently lost my GS status with UA by using AS for much of my Hawaii and West Coast travel but still use UA for international and some of the TCON travel but I can live with that. While I can't say the "loyality programs" are of no importance to me I do agree they are clearly less important to me now than say 10 years ago. Much of this has to do with devaluation in various forms in the programs (not just UAs but all).
I have migrated to this philosophy as well over the years. Travel patterns for me are key to the airline I use. Hence, more recently am flying more with AS. Splitting my travel dollars has resulted in a decrease in status with basically both airlines in my case. I recently lost my GS status with UA by using AS for much of my Hawaii and West Coast travel but still use UA for international and some of the TCON travel but I can live with that. While I can't say the "loyality programs" are of no importance to me I do agree they are clearly less important to me now than say 10 years ago. Much of this has to do with devaluation in various forms in the programs (not just UAs but all).
Jan 16, 2020, 6:23 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K MM, Subway Club Member
Posts: 1,988
Jan 16, 2020, 6:39 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,349
But, in 2019 I had fewer international trips and only got to Gold. I never thought about switching while I was 1K but, if I'm going to consider it, this would be a good year. I expect my international travel to pick up this year and might have a run for elite status again.
Added: okay, maybe it's switching now as UA Gold to DL, but isn't the thread title wrong then?
