UAL vs. DL - HELP!
 

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I am in the middle of deciding whether to switch from DL to UA's FF program for next year. While I have generally had good experiences with DL, I HATE their partners (read: AF) and need more partners in Asia. Now, I have read and re-read the info on both of them but wanted to make sure I am right on this one.

- MQM/EQM => Both DL and UA enables you to earn these on ALL alliance partner airlines right?

- Double regular miles => DL is 100% for Gold members for ALL alliance flights. UA is 100% for only UA, US, and some LH flights.

Am I right on this? And US mirros UA on this as well right ... except from 2006, Gold will earn only 50%?

Thanks,
A.

You can earn miles on all *A members, but deep discount fares will earn less. Possibly none at all. This thread has all the details and is available from the UA FAQ sticky, just FYI. :)

You are correct, 100% 1P/1K bonus is only for UA/UX/Ted/US and LH US-Germany flights. Detailed in the above thread too.

Now on the Delta side, ALL Skyteam flights earn double miles?

-A.

How would I know? Go do some research in the DL forum. :p

Now I feel like I am back to working for a large international organization and its bureaucracy ... I first posted this on Miles Buzz (since both DL/UAL involved), then UAL, and now DL ...

That is more or less true. I'm Platinum on DL, and earn qualifying miles on all AF, KLM, etc. flights, plus 100% bonus miles on all of these.

On certain classes (pretty much any discount domestic CO or NW ticket) I end up getting 50% qualifying miles, but still the 100% platinum medallion bonus.

I always look into switching to UA or AA due to the low quality of Delta's domestic first class and BusinessElite (I've actually never flown up front on UA or AA, so maybe this is my illusion).

Also, the half-EQM, 100K qualification for 1K, and the Crown Room being free (even beyond 2007 through Amex) make it hard for me to switch. Of course, if UA ever added enough routes and flexibility for me to move over my 30+ southwest segments per year, it would be an easy switch.

Despite how you feel, I think you missed my point. Like most others (I presume) in the UA forum, I don't know. There are a lot more people that would know in the DL forum.

= Haha - I was just joking. After your advice, I posted this on the DL forum as well.

-A.

= What do you mean by this?

-A.

I was Gold on Delta from 98 until 03 and finally came back over to UA and have been a 1K since... I CAN'T be happier with UA compared to Delta, service is better, upgrades were better, feel safer with UA over DL long term and MORE partners overall to try and redeem miles on especially with the addition of Swiss and SA.. if you are in a UA hub city even more the reason to switch

= 2 things. First, how are upgrades better? With UAL, I will get 4 500mile upgrades per 10,000 EQMs right? So just 2,000 miles of upgrades vs. unlimited?

Also, would you recommend US or UA? I cannot decide. I like US's F class upgrade policy - but UAL does have more chance of earning miles and as Gold, I will earn 100% extra vs. 50%. HELP ME decide please.

-A.

As a 1K on UA 8 CR1s and 6+ SWUs per year for confirmed-in-advance upgrades. If you're willing to roll the miles you earn back into upgrades, there are some flying patterns like "nothing but transcons" where, if you trade your SWUs for 2 or more CR1s each over on CC, you can get confirmed upgrades on almost all of your flights.

And you don't have to fly through ATL. :D

I have NO idea what your post meant. Am I hopeless?

-A.

Given I haven't flown DL in a while so I don't know about unlimited, but I did fly their first a year ago, seats were ripped, no food, poor service, THANK GOD I didn't pay for it.

I guessing you're in a city served by the former America West, in which case US might be a better choice for you.

You have to decide what is important to you:
1) Frequent flier account balance ie the 50% bonus vs the 100% bonus
2) Upgrades to First Class
3) Quality of the Product

US/UA are in the *A so you have that whole alliance for flights, DL alliance I found INCREDIBLY limited.

...but what if you're moving to ATL in 3 days like I am?! Airline/FF choice has been my biggest dilemma ever since deciding to leave the DC area. I lose sleep over thinking about air travel, and not about the endless packing I have left to do :p