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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LIH Prem: Lets not forget the AA expedite fees. </font> The worst part of the expedite fee is when a non-EXP buys a last minute very high fare ticket and still has to pay the expedite fee to get an upgrade. Consequently, if you buy a last minute H fare, you land up paying more for an upgrade than what you would pay for an equivalent fare at UA. |
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by imkeww: There Scion goes again... That user is almost as bad as avek00.</font> Can anyone be THAT bad? Wow! |
Um, let's not forget Iberia, shall we? Talk about yuck!
Perhaps the only solution to this argument is to have status on both airlines. I highly recommend it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Scion: I find your ratings dubious in various areas. In-Travel benefits Alliances - Only a "C" for AA? Did you even consider the quality of their respective partners? Except for SQ, there are no Star members that match the oneworld members in quality of service. [This message has been edited by Scion (edited 05-07-2003).]</font> |
Regarding routing to Japan, how could both UA and AA get an "A" when UA serves more cities and have more flights to Japan?
Are you also including the JL code-share for AA? |
A good summary...except I have to challenge domestic IFE on AA. A very unscientific estimate of mine says that probably 60% of AA's domestic flights are served with Super (or "Stupid") 80 aircraft...all of which have absolutely no IFE.
When I received a 60% in school...it was time to hide from Dad! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif |
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by venk: ...unless you are an EXP in which case the fees are not charged. Even when it is charged, the maximum expedite fee of $150 r/t saves substantially when you upgrade from the lowest fare. </font> But for the rest of us ... UA doesn't charge expedite fees for using miles for an upgrade within the 21-day window. Just something else to add to the table. And to add insult to injury, the fare wasn't all that cheap as it was booked inside the 14 day window. -David [This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited 05-08-2003).] |
Well I flew AA for the first time yesterday. Previously I have always flown United (1P) from AU->USA. However with the cheap fare via NRT AA was the way to go this time.
Impressions (NRT->ORD, AA Plat): MRTC: Didn't really concern me as I have not had problems getting exit row seats. Yesterday the plane was probably only half full. Inseat power in most of Y: A huge benefit for me, being able to watch DVDs/CDs all the way thru a trans Pacific flight is a big plus. Meals: Had an excellent braised chicken with rice for dinner. Service: Didn't seem as friendly as UA, there were lots of announcements about staying seated, not changing aisles, not congregating in the galleys/lav areas. Got me nervous the way they kept harping on about it. Shame they charge for proper drinks, but I will take inseat power over that anytime. Also the fact that UA now do not fly direct from ORD to ROC beyond about 5pm, meaning that to get there after that time requires a trip to the hellhole that is IAD, means that I will be putting more $$$ thru AA from now on. |
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PW1P: Well I flew AA for the first time yesterday. Previously I have always flown United (1P) from AU->USA. However with the cheap fare via NRT AA was the way to go this time.</font> |
OH, I forgot about those horrid Super-80s!
In fact, I was doing some AA.com stuff and the lady asked me to confirm my last AA flight...I mentioned one from early this year. When she reminded me that there was a more recent Super-80 flight STL-DCA I told her I was trying to repress that memory... UA's old 37s are no picnic, but at least one can close one's eyes and disapear into the magic of channel 9... |
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cferret: [B]Now that I am flying actively on both airlines after years of avoiding UA, here are my comments from an AA Plat/UA Prem Ex: For the travelling that I do up and down the West Coast and occasionally to Europe, SA, and Asia, AA used to be it for me. ......... (2) Clubs. In general, I think the Admiral's Clubs I have visited (SFO, SJC, SNA, SAN, DFW, CCS, MIA, LAX, ORD, JFK, FRA, NRT) have been very good and I like the computers (and showers) available. I've only sampled the RCC's in FRA, NRT and SFO and they feel very large but without the computer access. [B]</font> I'm kind of like cferret but balancing the other way. I am flying actively on both airlines after years of minimial AA travel (last year 180,000 miles UA, 20,000 miles AA). Not because I don't like UA, but because after you make 1K there's no incremental benefit in flying UA more. I also go up and down the West Coast, transcon, and occasionally to Europe and Asia. On average I find most of the services similar (allowing for variation in individual airline personnel), but I need more AA experience. I'm doing a combined UA/AA intinerary to Europe soon and will have a direct comparison. I'm a little surprised about the comments on RCC vs. AC, especially at SFO. Perhaps cferret hasn't been to the RCC in SFO lately, but they (both of them) are MUCH nicer than the AC there, with lots of business area. I must admit I haven't been in many ACs yet, but so far they haven't been particularly impressive Edited to correct my typing. [This message has been edited by Napa (edited 05-08-2003).] |
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ptpinit: I find myself in the (personally) rare position of having enough upcoming leisure flights to qualify for the lowest tier of elite on either UA or AA. Does anyone have comparisons or links to previous postings about UA 2P vs. AA Gold? Here's my situation in a nutshell: - fly primarily for leisure on the cheapest flight available that meets time criteria - most travel is to the Midwest (FWA) and East Coast (BWI/NYC/MIA/FLL etc) for friends and family - occasional trip up or down the West Coast to SFO or LAX - very occasional trip to BKK for family, upcoming honeymoon to NAS, so not a whole lot of international travel I'm really struggling with which carrier to go for lowest tier status on. UA has a redeye to ORD connecting to FWA that we like to use; AA used to have one to ORD as well but it got nixed. UA seems to have better network out of PDX than AA. Having flown both in the past 3 months, I find the AA MRTC to be a bonus, given my lack of status on UA (or reluctance to pay full Y to get E+). Any help or suggestions would be truly appreciated!</font> Overall, the upgrade system (i.e., point-to-point distance on UA vs. each segment calculated separately on AA), the lack of expedite award fee on UA, and the availability of E+ to 2P's make UA slightly more desirable for the lowest elite level pax who travels mostly domestically, IMO. The determining factor in your case might be the frequency of each airline on the routes you fly. Of course, UA flies a lot more up 'n' down the West Coast (AA's partner AS does too, but they don't have MRTC). The East Coast might also be better served, now that UA codeshares w/US. Not sure about that, though. Edited to add another plus about UA's program: no fee on date change for awards in coach (AA charges $100). OTOH, AA is overall better for int'l upgrades (can upgrade from any fare, unlike UA which requires more expensive H fares), but since you're only likely to travel to BKK, it wouldn't really apply to you (the closest AA could get you would be NRT). [This message has been edited by honu (edited 05-08-2003).] |
Trust me, between UA, ACA, US and its express carriers, there is nary a podunk city on the east coast NOT served by the UA-status-mile family...
This is an excellent choice if your destination involves an east coast airport with only one active runway!!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif [This message has been edited by kokonutz (edited 05-08-2003).] |
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by honu: At the 2P/Gold level, the major difference I've noticed is the lack of a special check-in line for 2P at Int'l locations (you have to be 1P to qualify for that). AA Golds can still use the Biz class line at most airports. [This message has been edited by honu (edited 05-08-2003).]</font> The sign gnerally says something like United Business/Premier/Star Alliance Gold. I assume what this means is that UA's star silver (2P) members can use the biz class line but if you belong to another star carrier's program you need to be at least gold. |
According to the United rules, you can check in at an International Business counter if you are 2P, and there is no dedicated Premier line. Unfortunately some of the check in agents don't know this http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
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At MEL, UA agents specifically forced 2P pax to line up with the general members. At least I saw it happen one year ago (luckily, at the time I was still 1P, so it didn't happen to me, but I noticed it as i knew I'd only requalify for 2P).
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