My boss asked me to go to Rome in October for a conference. Um, ok.
I also am going to Australia at some point this year, as I was just hired on a grant there.
My biggest problem now becomes:
1) Do I stick with Delta? I was a Northwest loyalist until they switched to Delta last year. They have the most flights out of our tiny airport. I like MSP and DTW airports, which are usual hubs. I do not like Atlanta nor Cincinatti, which are additional new hubs for me with the switch. I only have about 15K miles with Delta right now, as we cash in free tickets fairly frequently. One international trip and I'm up to a free ticket with Delta and very close to upgraded status, which is very big.
2) Do I go with United? My boss flies United because they used to be the only carrier to get her to Australia easily from WI. However, they have very few flights out of Madison, and all go through O'hare, which is notorious for bad flight delays. My boss has massive status with them and is a member of their lounge club, so it's great to travel with her. If my ticket is booked with her, I'm also eligible for upgrades, which is important for long flights overseas. I'd be starting over, basically, with miles and status, though. So cons are starting over and fewer flights/O'hare issues. Pros are good chance of international upgrades and lounge use. Not to mention I've never been to Eurpose or Australia and it would be comforting to have my well-traveled boss by my side. Con to that is having to work more during flights.
Whomever I choose, I'll likely stick with for a long time. What to do, what to do. Any advice? What would blogland do?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
Do you already have status with Delta/NW?
United will do a status match if you're an elite with another airline and basically tell United that you're going to switch your loyalty. I think you have to send them your latest statement from your current carrier showing your status and they'll give you a freebie bump to premier status for a year.
*note* the above info is based on when I did it back in the day. I can't be 100% sure they still status match, but it's worth a shot. I might still have a pdf of the status match form from United.
Otherwise, you have to determine which alliance will serve the majority of your travel needs. You don't want to split, so you'd have to be willing to take all of your smaller trips through United if you switch to them for the big ones. That means seeing a LOT of O'Hare.
I like O'Hare but it's my airport so I'm never connecting through it. (Well, I have a few times when doing back-to-back trips but that doesn't really count.) I always feel bad for the people who are rushing to make their little-plane connections when getting in from some mainline destination.
The upside to more connections is more miles. Ch-ching!
United is a nice option because they fly their own metal to a lot of international destinations (including Australia.) That makes the benefits better, since you can use your status/upgrades on those long trips. (American, my carrier of choice, partners with Qantas for Australia so while I was able to use *some* perks of status like Qantas lounge access and preferred seat selection) I could not use upgrades on those long flights.
Upgrades on the long flights are highly desired. I've flown to Australia on both United and Qantas and lemme tell you, there isn't much room in coach. I called it crunch.
I say: Try United for a year. Take advantage of your bosses status and take advantage of the perks on the long trips and try for the status match bump for yourself. It's only a year. If you like it, great, you've got a good start and if you don't, NW/Delta will welcome you back, I'm sure. :)
I do have the status match document. It's just a fax cover letter that you send to them along with your most recent current statement from your airline.
I checked and United does still do status matching.
You had to know I'd be all over this subject.
Sadly, I'm a no-status, no-lounge membership, American Airlines dirt member again, not having flown for a while.
*sigh*
I was hoping you'd chime in, Fro. I lost my status this year with Delta/NW...missed it by one measly trip. I considered taking a trip just to keep it, but that seemed absurd...sort of.
Good to know about status matching, though. I had no idea!
I like your suggestion of trying United for the year. I suppose there is also the bonus of it being easy to grab the Van Galder bus to Madison if I get in to Chicago too late to get a flight back at night. That's harder with MSP, even. Plus, I found a good hallway between E and F in O'hare near the staff lounges. It's nearly devoid of people and a great place to sit on the floor and spread out. I try not to think of how dirty the floors are.
When did you lose your status? If it was recently, you might still be able to get United to bump you. (AA resets status on March 1, not sure what NW does.)
Total bummer to miss it by one flight. I did a mileage run to keep status once. Flew to Albuquerque, got off the plane and bought a jar of green chile sauce and some Albuquerque isotopes shirts, the got back on the same plane and went home. It was fun. :)
You might want to consider a red carpet club membership. The agents in the lounge can do some magical rebooking for you that the gate/ticket agents can't/won't. I was a loyal Admiral's Club member for years. Yes, the free soft drinks and clean potties are nice but the real advantage is the lounge agents. They are awesome and can be a huge asset in bad weather. Beyond huge.
I used to renew my membership with miles, because the fee is a little steep with cash.
Plus, International airline lounges are the best. Free food and booze. The Qantas lounge in Sydney had a soup bar. (And a bar-bar.)
And hey, where in Australia? I *heart* Australia and would go there right NOW if I could.
I lost mine earlier last year, so no hope, though clever of you to try and be sneaky. :-)
Boss is a Red Carpet Club member, so if I'm traveling with her, I can get into the lounges for free. I have seen the magic those passes earn, and I agree, it can be worth it. Oooh, there's also the bonus that boss never uses all her drink coupons she gets from United, so she could give them to me. :-) I wasn't aware the international lounges have free booze. Chaching!
LOL-I think you've mentioned the Albequerque story before. That makes me smile.
I'll be in Melbourne and staying with locals. Me thinks I'll like it.
Take me with you!!!!
Don't grow anymore, Breezy, and we'll stuff you into my big suitcase. You might need to start practicing complex yoga moves now, though.
How exciting that you are getting to go to those two places - and not on your dime!
I am at a point right now where I don't think I ever want to fly again. Too much terror in the sky for me.
Some people (looks at Kim & Fro) get to travel way too much and now I hate you for that.
jk
I would love to see Australia!
This blogland would like a job that allows distant travel... though it wouldn't work so well with the family! Have fun trips!
Post a Comment