Moving to SFO - switch from SkyMiles?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: Delta
Posts: 2
Moving to SFO - switch from SkyMiles?
This year I am borderline being able to hit Diamond on SkyMiles - I get high volume of miles, not segments, due to fewer but long trips.
I am moving permanently from LAX -> SFO, and SkyMiles is a lot less useful to me there. So, I'm debating what I should be doing as i book my next trip:
- Continue in 2021 on SkyMiles - Book on Delta, probably hit Diamond by end of year
OR
- Switch now do status match on United, hit Premier Platinum by end of year.
Then - next year, status match on United? The perks of Diamond on Delta are obvs a lot less useful in SFO.
I am moving permanently from LAX -> SFO, and SkyMiles is a lot less useful to me there. So, I'm debating what I should be doing as i book my next trip:
- Continue in 2021 on SkyMiles - Book on Delta, probably hit Diamond by end of year
OR
- Switch now do status match on United, hit Premier Platinum by end of year.
Then - next year, status match on United? The perks of Diamond on Delta are obvs a lot less useful in SFO.
#2
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,454
depends on quite a bit. where are you traveling to? what types of fares? which FF benefits are most important to you? keep in mind SF has a huge concentration of GS and this has an impact on the relative value of 1K.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,763
As a 1K out of SFO, don't count on any upgrades or special treatment. Everyone is GS, especially now that they've been extended multiple years due to COVID. You may not even make it into the top ten on the upgrade list on a lot of flights.
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,448
It's very difficult to make DL work out of SFO if you're doing anything close to Diamond level flying. Assuming that UA will work better for you (and it almost certainly will) I would suggest challenging to 1K as soon as you've made the move.
(I challenged to DL Plat several years ago and couldn't sustain the status because DL couldn't take me where I needed to go.)
(I challenged to DL Plat several years ago and couldn't sustain the status because DL couldn't take me where I needed to go.)
#5
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,454
Anyway, we could use more info, but I don't think moving to UA is a no-brainer.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,448
Another current UA advantage is it has much better IT and cs availability. I'm frankly surprised frequent flyers aren't bailing on DL in droves given its inability to offer a functional app/website or to answer a call in anything less than three hours.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,454
I have to respectfully disagree that DL is in any way comparable internationally for an SFO based flyer. UA's nonstop TPAC offerings from SFO far surpass what DL offers one-stop via LAX/SEA. And SkyTeam options absolutely suck compared to *A. KE is simply not in the same class as NH/BR/SQ. TATL is a bit closer, but I still much prefer LH Group over KL/AF/VS. VS will only get you to LHR; nothing onwards. CDG is a transit nightmare.
Another current UA advantage is it has much better IT and cs availability. I'm frankly surprised frequent flyers aren't bailing on DL in droves given its inability to offer a functional app/website or to answer a call in anything less than three hours.
Another current UA advantage is it has much better IT and cs availability. I'm frankly surprised frequent flyers aren't bailing on DL in droves given its inability to offer a functional app/website or to answer a call in anything less than three hours.
Ultimately it all depends on OPs travel patterns and what they're seeking to leverage from an FF program.
Last edited by aCavalierInCoach; Jul 26, 2021 at 3:13 pm Reason: typo
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SEA or BGR, Lower Earth Orbit
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 17,217
Premier heavy hubs kinda suck to be based from. Had a flight 2 years ago that was ORD-SFO (or was it LAX?) anyway, they boarded by row because the flight was more than 75% elite. I talked to the GA and he told me that there were over 50 GS flyers alone. There were over 100 on the upgrade list. I never felt better about coughing up the cash for a seat in F, because I don't even think that you could get an E+ seat as a 1K on that flight!
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,459
I agree with Kacee above that it's quite difficult to focus exclusively on DL out of SFO. I've been moving some flights away from UA for reasons discussed elsewhere, but I generally only wind up on DL when I am willing to connect and/or when I am elsewhere in the country.
Generically, the only possible reason I could see for sticking with them is if you're certain you can hit Diamond and if it's sure that a status match DL to UA would then get you to 1K on UA (I don't have experience with that), all caveats for 1K value as noted by others above. Otherwise it seems you don't have anything to lose just matching now.
Do you have some regular travel patterns that you can use to game out possible itineraries? That could influence the calculus.
Generically, the only possible reason I could see for sticking with them is if you're certain you can hit Diamond and if it's sure that a status match DL to UA would then get you to 1K on UA (I don't have experience with that), all caveats for 1K value as noted by others above. Otherwise it seems you don't have anything to lose just matching now.
Do you have some regular travel patterns that you can use to game out possible itineraries? That could influence the calculus.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,014
I can't imagine being a very frequent flyer and not sticking mostly to the carrier/alliance at your airport that gets you the most places you need to get to with the best schedule, the least hassle, and the best chance of IRROPs recovery. The differences between the legacy carriers IMHO can't override convenience. I was a CO FF at IAH and had planned on switching to UA when moving back to Hawaii in 2012. I guess CO and UA got wind of my plans and made the transition easy by merging at exactly the right time
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Jul 26, 2021 at 8:48 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Bay Area - East Bay
Programs: UA 1k, AS 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 639
Before doing a status match, i would do some quick back-of-the-envelope math and make sure you would be able to requalify on UA after the status match. If you aren't flying many segments you would probably have to qualify with PQP alone, and for 1k that is $24k of spend in a non-pandemic year, so significantly higher than Diamond MQD in a non-pandemic year.
I would also consider Alaska, the partnership with AA fills some of the holes in their domestic network and I've had pretty uniformly excellent experiences with them out of SFO.
I would also consider Alaska, the partnership with AA fills some of the holes in their domestic network and I've had pretty uniformly excellent experiences with them out of SFO.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,034
Another factor to consider is your current lifetime mileage on UA, DL, and anyone else.
#15
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,318
If the majority of your flying is domestic and business-related, ditch DL and move to UA.
If international, leisure, and anything else, just buy the cheapest ticket in your preferred class and forego loyalty. Shop on price.
If international, leisure, and anything else, just buy the cheapest ticket in your preferred class and forego loyalty. Shop on price.