United or USAirways more stable?

[guyincognito]

I've been a loyal Delta frequent flyer for years (Platinum/Gold medallion) but they've made changes to their program which screw me so I'm switching airlines. (I now only get half credit for my miles.)

My two viable options are United and USAirways for the travel I do on business. I can fly both airlines and choose which account I want miles credited to, so which one is the safest bet? Are both going to pull out of their respective nosedives? Is one safer than the other?

Thanks

 

[flydog]

thats like asking whats safer swimming with piranhas or alligators

 

[guyincognito]

Well, I'd love to be able to ask "Should I choose Southwest or JetBlue" but I don't get to choose where my company sends me. So I'm stuck with United or USAirways and trying to choose the lesser of two evils.

So which is it, gators or piranha?

 

[acarpe3448]

Seems like you are choosing two of the most unpredictable airlines out there at this moment. Today US Air is working as hard as possible to steal the pensions from their pilots. I think you would be fooling yourself if you did not believe that they would go after their customers Frequent Flier Programs to save a few bucks. In any case, sorry about your experience at Delta, I guess whats important right now is "PLEASE" KEEP FLYING! On whatever airline you choose. God Bless!

 

[Beantown]

U.S Airways is in much better shape that UAL at this point. I would go with them if I were you. -Bean

 

[LearLove]

First let me say that I work for a US Airways Wholly Owned company but my following respnose is completely unbiased. Just based on industry info and my own observations. I am in no way plugging U.

As for your ? first it really dosent matter mostly besause of the new code share between U and UAL. With this you can use mile on either end.

As for U, Mr. Seagull has no plans to cut any part of the FF program here now or in the future from what he has said and shown in his plans. If anything U has enhanced it to attract or keep customers. (with exception of the whole cockroach thing, which btw has been solved to the benefit of the U FF)

Now I am not a member of these programs but have many friends who are and most (most are in the NY city and Philly area) use U and say its the best out there and yes they don't mind the Dash.

Looking foward - U was the first to start restructering and has taken a very diciplined path to recovery with a solid biz plan to match the changing industry. Believe me my pay check reflects it.

Lastly - I cant back this up but this is what this guy told me. I was nonreving in first class just before thanksgiving 02' from burlington Vt to Philly. The guy next to me told me how he came from the delta program to U because his firm moved from the cincy north KY area to Newtown PA outside of Philly. At the time his people were like the 5 highest in delta miles and U gave them some transfer deal. Again it was a few months ago so I don't remember the details and this guy could have been sh1tin me but maybe you can get som kind of mile transfer deal so you can keep some of your delta miles.

Hope this helps, again this is no plug for U

 

[greg20]

The guy next to me told me how he came from the delta program to U because his firm moved from the cincy north KY area to Newtown PA outside of Philly. At the time his people were like the 5 highest in delta miles and U gave them some transfer deal.

This is done all the time. Airlines comp people FF "status" based on their "status" at other carriers, to get business. Primarily done with high-yield business travel folks. Many people take their participation in FF programs very seriously. If you want to see what they (our customers) have to say, take a look at the forums at www.flyertalk.com. Granted, FT is not representative of all occasional & frequent flyers, and there's a lot of complaining and misinformation, but it's interesting nonetheless.