warreng24

Ditto.

FriendlySkies

And I won't hesitate to join you!

SFO777

Not necessarily. Traveling regularly to the midwest and east coast from SFO, I've had no problem avoiding UA and maintaining both AA EXP and DL PM status.

fastair

Not that I want you to leave, but you could go to BOS and take the bus as well. I've done it. I believe Amtrak also "flies" that route 5x a day@$21 each way (lol as of 12/15/2001.)

tom911

Yes, but it tends to be done through corporate accounts or corporate travel agents. There was a post on the AA forum a few weeks back about some large international company with offices near SFO that matched 1Ks to EXP as part of their change from UA to AA. We just don't see posts, like we did in past years, about outright comps to anyone that calls in and asks for it. Those that are getting them have some type of corporate relationship with AA.

There's a couple of them that post on AA, and the more visible benefit seems to be more of the "meet and greet" when they're traveling, and that's sporadic. I've seen agents escort Concierge Key members on board 2-3 times in the last year, so they're not very visible if they are out there in great quantities. AA does not have Concierge Key check-in counters or Concierge Key early boarding. They board according to their elite status which may be as high as EXP.

UA_Flyer

I am interested! I do 350K a year, and can definitely give Oneworld a try and maintain status going forward.

RichardInSF

And to Asia, JAL is at least an option. To Europe, there is a problem using BA because of the no miles stricture, but that might well go away now.

asya999

Actually, I'm based out of SFO and I've had little trouble making EXP on AA (after making 1K on UA).

Well, to be honest I have to be a bit careful and plan, as I'm usually very close to 200K exactly, but frequently I have similar or better (cheaper) options on AA than UA to many places I fly. The only routes on which I had to go through LAX instead of non-stop is SFO-LHR and SFO-NRT, but I was happy to do it since my AA eVIPs on those routes cleared in advance 7/8 times this year.

One thing I didn't see anyone mention is AA may have old Mad Dogs, but Mad dogs have internet *and* power in Y! Actually all AA planes have some power in Y, the new 737-800s having regular plugs, even.

But should should all stay with UA - I don't want any more competition for upgrades! Also, I'll be pretty annoyed if AA matches you - I only got PLT match and I had to earn EXP the hard way. I think I have 8K to go this year to requalify, so I probably won't be joining you in asking for a match!

ande777emt

I'd think about it. If I transfer back to MKE, I'd find use in using OW over *. Currently I only fly AA/OW a handful of times internationally, just enough to maintain AA Gold. Ex-MSP though, UA has 12 flights a day w/F, AA only has 3.

Truth of the matter I end up using my CR-1's to upgrade on MSP-ORD and I've been with GS's in E+ on this route. Although it's a DL fortress, there's a fair amount of corporate traffic ex-MSP as many companies have found significant savings with *A and much better Int'l options using * instead of Scareteam.

tom911

We get miles on BA flights now, like SFO-LHR, and can even redeem there, though with a BA fuel surcharge.
Earning and redeeming AA miles / upgrading on BA/IB; BA fuel surcharges (Oct 1, 2010)

SFO777

Huh? AA has 8 daily MSP-ORD non-stops, all but one with First. And 6 MSP-DFW mainline non-stops, all with First.
As for MSP-ORD First, look at UA's equipment and count the front cabin seats... 7 of the 12 flights are 8 seat 319s or 6 seat E70s. The rest are 320s with only 12 seats.

FriendlySkies

Trust me, I don't want to leave UA has been a great airline, and I've loved being a 1K. If things don't change for the worse, then I'm sure I'll be sticking around. Right now, it's a waiting game

eightblack

I have to agree with mahasamatman. I'm SIN based, and while I feel for you US based elites, switching to AA is not an option for me, nor would I think it be contemplated by many other Asia based 1K's/GS etc

EK provides me with everything I need for travel to Australia and I only use UA for long-haul to the US, to HKG, to NRT and to ICN.

I have lifetime Gold status with QF, but I gave up flying them long-haul ages ago. Just not competitive price wise.

If UACO completely loses the plot with the new Mileage Plus (or whatever they are going to call it), I'll simply re-direct travel to EK, because time and cost wise, I can do just as well flying EK to the West/East coast via DXB, have the benefit of a fantastic IFE, great lounge network and a much higher probability of an op-up.

True, the earn ratio isn't as good with Skywards, but they win hands-down in just about every other area.

I'll qualify for 1K for 2011 next week and my natural instinct at this juncture is to "wait and see". SWU's are far more important to me than CR-1's.

nzpilot

Unsure what this thread proves. Sounds to me like several people would like to be 1K and EXP next yr. Why not if it costs nothing?

If E+ goes away, there will be a tidal wave of people moving away from UA & AA won't have to do matching. For me the jury remains out....

pareto

i'd think about making the move as well.

would have been out of the question before the TATL JV, but now...