United or US Airways? - FlyerTalk Forums (2024)

dspringer28

Join Date: Oct 2003

Posts: 1,845

Hi, I am a big delta flyer and have a couple trips coming up on *A (most on US Air and UAL and all in paid F). To prepare I tried to get comped to UA and a while after I sent my letter to them, I thought UA was not going to do it, so I faxed my stuff to US. However, the day after I faxed to US, I logged on to united.com and low and behold, I was a premier. About a week later US put me up to Gold. So my question is, should I credit to US or UA? My reasoning is for UA: more chance of long term survival, more flights to AUS. US Airways: I am *A gold, 100% mile bonus vs. 25% on UAL, but the situation does not look very good over their and I do not want to loose all these miles.

Thanks so much for your insight!

Delta3MM

Join Date: Feb 2003

Location: N Charleston South Carolina

Programs: UA PM (by 2MM), DL GM (by 3.5MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat

Posts: 1,655

I think you should look at which carrier (metal) you will travel on more, because you will not get recprical upgrades, even with status. Don't worry about code shares; you might buy flights on one airline and fly the other - just concentrate on the one you fly.

Just my 2 cents.

Billy

dspringer28

Join Date: Oct 2003

Posts: 1,845

That's exactly what I was just thinking about. I will be on UA metal more often over time, and UA is kind of what I'm leaning towards. Thanks for the input.

coplatua1k

Join Date: Dec 2002

Location: CLE,OH

Programs: UA 1K 3MM, AA Plat, F9 Elite, the later two thanks to Jeff $, HHdia, Mgold, WynDia, Choicepl, IHGDia

Posts: 1,405

dspringer28

Join Date: Oct 2003

Posts: 1,845

UNITED959

Join Date: Sep 2000

Location: Chicago, IL

Posts: 20,405

I think the technical answer is "no"--but there's no hurt involved in bringing your gold card with you to see what you can pull off. The concierges tend to examine the boarding pass more than your card.

UNITED959

Join Date: Sep 2000

Location: Chicago, IL

Posts: 20,405

Peter M

Join Date: Jun 2002

Location: South Florida

Programs: All the best ones.

Posts: 1,415

I switch between *A *G cards all the time to circumvent lounge access rules around the world. Do it with confidence! If the lounge dragons smell fear...... then they get difficult!!!

UnitedSkies

Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: MileagePlus Premier Gold

Posts: 11,522

Even a semi-long trip ... recently experienced CLT-SXM (4 hour flight) in first was only a BEARABLE experience. Not ACCEPTABLE, just BEARABLE. I can't imagine anyone actually paying for that! Plastic glasses, really bad meals (Lean Cuisine actually tastes better). Service wasn't bad though, but otherwise the physical product was all around bad.

pb9997

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: GRU

Programs: *A Gold, OW Sapphire, SPG Gold, HH Diamond, Accor Plat

Posts: 3,367

YES

Reasoning: You are a US *A Gold passenger travelling on an international itinerary with a *A carrier. At the gateway you're to receive two drink chits. To gain entry you should have your US *A Gold card AND an international BP on a *A carrier.

Other: The FF programme you're crediting that flight to is no one's concern and has nothing to do with Lounge access.

WayMaker

Join Date: Mar 2000

Location: UA 1K 3MM, UA 1P/1K since mid '80s; CO Bronze/Silver since mid 80's, Austin, Texas

Posts: 1,279

I think you'll be glad you built up status on United, even though it looks like we are stuck with a lot of CRJs at AUS for awhile. With steady showings of full and profitable flights I'm hoping that mainline service by UA at AUS can be restored. Not sure if it's a vain hope, but it's a better hope than the survival of US.

Regarding the use of your US Star Gold card, I don't think you'll have too much trouble until you show up at an RCC where they are asking people to swipe their RCC card or their boarding pass through a reader for access. It's a new system which has been discussed on some recent threads. Could be in a testing mode and doesn't become widespread. But if you run into one, swipe your card boldly, but be prepared to be ousted. Rules are usually interpreted by RCC matrons and wardens with prejudice against the passenger. I think they conceive of their jobs as bouncers intead of hosts and hostesses.

Edited to affirm Peter M's advice:
"Do it with confidence! If the lounge dragons smell fear...... then they get difficult!!!"
Very true.

Last edited by WayMaker; May 23, 2004 at 1:16 pm