Thinking of switching
 

Hi Y'all,

I am about to start on a 8 week project in Chicago. I am currently a Platinum member on American and Gold on Continental. However, due to the fact that United has their hub in Chicago and the fact that they fly 777 and 767 from San Fran, I am thinking about flying United instead. I am going to request that they make me a Premier 1K member. Is this worth it?? What is the difference between Premier Executive and Premier 1k. I can still get direct flights on American to Chicago. What are the advantages and disadvantages between American and United. I actually prefer flying Contental because I pretty much get upgraded every flight I take with them. How often does United upgrade you (without upgrade stickers)? How hard is it to redeem mileage for United?? I actually really prefer flying United, but have not been on a project that let me fly United. So heres my chance to do it and earn an elite status. Is it worth it??

Sorry, neyoisles, but they don't give competitive 1K status to *anybody*.

The best you can hope for is PremEx (50,000), but they do have a program for this, I believe.

Write to the Premier program in Tucson, AZ.

Can you tell me what the difference between Premex and Prem 1k is then?

I have been both PE and 1K. Both of those levels qualify for a 100% mile bonus. The main differences are in upgrades - 1K members get a shot at upgrade 100 hours before the flight while PE members get a shot at upgrade 72 hours before the flight. Also 1K members receive additional complimentary one way upgrade coupons which PE members do not. 1K members also receive complimentary upgrades on shuttle flights. I have rarely been upgraded without an upgrade coupon (on non shuttle flights). You get 2K upgrades for every 10K flight miles, so if you just fly domestically you can expected to be upgraded without cost on roughly 20% of your flights as a PE member (one way upgrade certs will bump up this number if you are 1K).

Also 1K members have access to 1K lounges. Some people (Rudi) have found these very bare bones, but I like the fact that I can sit and use my laptop/phone.

Here in Denver, I find that the lines for check in on the 1K line are usually faster than the other premier lines.

As someone who has been flying the SFO-ORD-SFO sector every week for over a year, here's my $0.02 (Can I use that Matt??)

No 777/767 SF service SFO-ORD. Hopefully this will change. Only 747-200 at 1:40pm daily.

The 777 I used to fly at 3:45 pm on friday back to SFO has been replaced by a 747-100 cattle cowship. 450 people 42F+408Y seats(always packed) The 5pm 767 has also been replaced by something less desirable. As a 1K, I have written to UAL and they said that those are high demand flights and a 777 at 3:45pm, A-320 at 4pm and 767 at 5pm were not enough. Thus, they replaced it with a 747-100. The 777 now flies at 1:10pm daily. There is a 767 at 3:25pm but that goes through denver. As you can see, I have done my homework.

Anyways, between 1K & PE, 1K is definitely much more rewarding in terms of upgrades. I have been upgraded 99% of the time over the past year (many times double upgrades) As PE, they took my certs about 70% of the time. Now as a 1K, maybe only 35-40% of the time. But, UAL is definitely better than AA in my estimation.

vgrove, how do you manage to get double upgraded? I have never been double upgraded as a 1K, and I have almost always have had to give certificates on check in (> 95%).

I (1K) have never been double upgraded either (unless you call upgrade to "first" on a two-class-flight a double upgrade or you might call a one-class-upgrade for two persons a double upgrade?)

upgrades without certificates (or miles) happened twice in 98 on transatlantic flights, when the booked class (once business, once eco) was full and ALWAYS on shuttle.

On shuttle I always ask, at booking time, for the 100 hrs reconfirmable upgrade against vouchers - but at check-in (33%), or with hand-luggage at the gate (67%), they never asked for the voucher and used the 1K-upgrade-privilege without vouchers (officially this should be on a stand-by-base only - but I sure don't mind).

Once I was upgraded to first class after I had boarded in coach. Apparently they needed more weight on the plane up front and I was more than happy to oblige.

If weight is at stake - my poor potential upgrade-competitors will have a very poor argument against me ...

Luckily for me, they selected the upgrade candidate on basis of elite status and not on wieght.

Thanks for all your responses. I will attempt to get one of the elite statuses and see what they say.

As far as the aircraft that they fly to Chicago, it really doesnt matter to me since I will be flying the red eye anyway. I prefer to get most of my sundays in SF. Do you know what aircraft they fly from ORD to SFO?? Thats where I would like to get the upgrades the most.

neyoisles, you may want to try out the United connection software. I have the one on my PC and you can use it to list flights and get information about the aircraft type, meal information, and number of unassigned seats in the various classes. The one on the United web site is likely very similar. Both versions also give bonus miles for flights reserved through them, the United connection on the web gives more miles if your travel itinerary is less than four segments round trip.

All summer long it was possible to get upgraded without coupons or to get double upgraded on the SFO - ORD or ORD - SFO route if you booked the right flights. For example, UA had a Sunday 6:50 AM flight from SFO - ORD on the 777 and a 6:55 on a 737. More than 1/2 the time UA would cancel the 6:55 AM flight. Staring with 1K and moving down the list, UA would just put people in Connoisser to make room for the other plane. If you had put in for a upgrade and were confirmed, your upgrade would then be from Connoisseur to First because UA had already placed you in Connoisseur. This worked on the 777 return trip from ORD - SFO as well. This has not worked for me at all since they switched to the 747 and 1 fight only. As for flying at 6:50 A.M. Sundays, I just had to be on the ground in time to catch the 49ers on TV. Can't miss a game!

Regards.

AHA (and thank you).

and I learned that I should make my future 49-er visits even more (flight-) complicated, by sleeping the Saturday-night before the game in Chicago!

I wonder if Gisela (and/or others) still accompanies me next time ....