AA vs. UA
 

Thinking about changing from AA to UA. I cannot quite remember the reason I chose AA than UA. But somehow I ended up flying with AA's partners most of the times. Just cannot stand AA's service, and they don't have many transocean flights. However their non-airline partners such as telecome and credit card do provide excellent services.
Ocassionally I fly with UA. The last transatlantic flight was really pleasant. And they do have more flights out of California.
Would like to know your experience with both airlines. Thanks

I've used both airlines for flights within the US and I think they pretty much come out even as far as service goes. My home airport is San Jose, and I've never had a problem getting flights with either airline. With UA, if I have a connection it is usually in Denver. With AA it's usually in DFW or Chicago. Denver airport is a good one to fly through because it seems to have fewer weather delays than Chicago and connections seem to be simpler - connecting gates closer together, lots of moving walkways. In Chicago it seems like my connecting gates are always REALLY far apart.

You should use the airline that offers the most convenient flight times and connection for you. If you live in California, UA has more flights on the West Coast, particularly to Asia. Unless SJC is your preferred airport, UA will have the most flights for you.

2fly....Do you either Gold or Platinum status with AA? If so,UA does have an elite status match program.Certainly worth a consideration.Once matched, you'll have to "show them the money" so to speak.Best of Luck!

Disturbing rumors about UA's health suggest you maybe ought to wait a bit to see how things shake out toward the end of the year. Anyone else agree?

I have all my miles with AA and for various reasons would have preferred UA, but our airport (RDU) is not well served by UA, so we were more or less stuck. If you lack miles on UA, moreover, you have to reach premier status before they'll seat you forward of the wing -- another big drawback.

As others already posted, pick the airline that best suits your purpose destination wise, but......

to say AA does not have too many transoceanic flights.....

Europe

LHR - from JFK, BOS, ORD, LAX, MIA
LGW - from RDU, DFW
MAN - from ORD, MIA
GLA - from ORD
CDG - from JFK, ORD, DFW
MAD - from MIA
FSO - from ? can't remember
FRA - from ORD ?I think and also from DFW
BRU - from ORD
ZRH - from ? can't remember right now

LHR is their home base in London, multiple flights from each city

Asia, I will admit, weak presence now as NRT is the only destination, although many flights from across the US, but they did apply and were approved for PVG and HKG sometime early next year.

AA owns South America, which I admit is not transoceanic, but distance wise it's about the same as Europe.

Europe, Asia they have tons of codeshares with their partners, which will earn you the same mileage and status as if you were flying AA.

So, your argument about AA not flying transoceanic is a weak one.

AAFrequentFlyer, you really deserve the name. What a report! Or do you work for AA? :-)
What I actually meant was non-stop flights out of LAX. Sorry about the confusion.

No, I don't work for <font color="red">A</font><font color="blue">A</font> as many here know :-D. All my flying, which is over 100K miles a year is with AA, so I got to know AA pretty good over the last few years. There are times when I'm talking to the wonderful agents at the Executive Platinum(top tier) desk and I have to remind them of some rules and regulations.

I don't expect everybody to love AA as they do have problems, and sometimes I forget that I only do get to talk to the best agents, I do get preferential treatment and maybe that clouds my opinion, but I really do believe that AA is a good airline. It's a tough time for just about all the airlines and AA is trying as hard as they can. Do they mess up??? Sure, they do. That goes for all the other airlines as well.
I did over 60 segments on AA last year and 2 were so bad I wrote a complaint letter, but to judge the company on these 2 incidents would be ridiculous. The other 60 or so segments were very professional at worst and wonderful at best. It's a huge corporation and there will be some bad apples, it happens to all of us on a daily basis with other huge corporations. Think &quot;phone companies&quot;! Now there is something to complain about. Most of us want to get around the world for pennies yet we expect to be treated like the few that were able to afford to travel 50 years ago. They paid for the first class treatment. That's why there were so few of them. Today, just about everybody could go to just about anyplace on this earth.
Anyway, my advice still stands. If you are not having a good time with AA and some other airline is offering the same or even better routes for about the same money, go with it. If you fly frequently then you will find that one day UA or CO or DL will have their bad days.
My point is, if you fly couple of times a year go with the best price and routing, but if you fly frequently, choose one airline but don't expect that they won't have some bad days. Even the so called best in the world &quot;Cathay Pacific and flying in first class&quot;, showed me that they mess up.

Been there, done that!

While I too am an AA FF in the elite program and now life-time gold, I wish they had more flights out of DFW so I could switch to UA.

I have had to fly UA about 10 times in the last 3 weeks and I was stunned at the care - so much better than AA. This included gate agents, workers directing you to a line, flight attendants, etc. Maybe it has to do with their bankruptcy and knowing it really is on the line for them compared to AA's 'can't happen to us mode.'

I don't work for AA or UA - I work for the telephone company that AAFrequent Flyer disses...

I fly both AA and UA. (each 2 or 3 times a year - I am no platium gold elite master whatever ) I live in chicago so both airlines are HUB airlines.

I usually fly coach AA has more legroom in all of coach. UA has more room in coach on the first 1/3 or so of the cabin.

UA flight attendants are very nice - I have always been trated well by them

AA flight attendents arent so nice. The international ones are horrible. Last year we fly ORD to CDG then FCO to ORD and all they did was complain about budget cutbacks - I don't really care, why would they complain to me. I could not have full can of pop either. The plane was also pretty dirty

Anyway - I like UA better, but I fly AA also. I think both airlines need to upgrade their planes. I Wouldn't worry about UA's health - they will be fine, but it may take some more management changes - its way to big to go under and the FAA is unlikey to approve a merger(they already tried with US Air). They need to work on pricing as little better. Lately AA seems to have better pricing

On UA you can ear miles on US airways also

You should also review the discussion threads on the AA and UA boards at flyertalk.com (lots of postings from very frequent flyers).