HP best from SNA?
Dec 19, 2002 | 9:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Orange County (SNA) CA, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,789
HP best from SNA?
Hi folks - A couple of other FT posters have suggested that HP may be my best bet so I would appreciate any feedback. I'm DL platinum but with the changes being made to the program have no incentive to re-qualify. I'm based in SNA(Orange County, CA) typically qualify for elite status on miles rather than segments, make one or two trips to Edinburgh - Scotland, otherwise fly domestic, mainly to the South East (Fl - Palm Beach, GA - Atlanta, SC - Florence, TN - Nashville etc) North East (NY, PA, DE mainly) Mid West (Chicago mainly, but also IA, MO & KS) and West (TX, AZ, NV, NM etc) and very little in CA. Anyone know enough about HP to tell me if it might be right for this travel pattern? I've already approached AA & NW for a comp but not sure which program is better for upgrades etc. (really the only benefit that matters to me)
Dec 19, 2002 | 2:22 pm
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Programs: AAdvantage EXP/1mm/Admirals,United Silver+Club (life),Marriott Titanium,Hilton & Accor Gold
Posts: 5,064
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Vaze:
Hi folks - A couple of other FT posters have suggested that HP may be my best bet so I would appreciate any feedback. I'm DL platinum but with the changes being made to the program have no incentive to re-qualify. I'm based in SNA(Orange County, CA) typically qualify for elite status on miles rather than segments, make one or two trips to Edinburgh - Scotland, otherwise fly domestic, mainly to the South East (Fl - Palm Beach, GA - Atlanta, SC - Florence, TN - Nashville etc) North East (NY, PA, DE mainly) Mid West (Chicago mainly, but also IA, MO & KS) and West (TX, AZ, NV, NM etc) and very little in CA. Anyone know enough about HP to tell me if it might be right for this travel pattern? I've already approached AA & NW for a comp but not sure which program is better for upgrades etc. (really the only benefit that matters to me) </font>
Hi folks - A couple of other FT posters have suggested that HP may be my best bet so I would appreciate any feedback. I'm DL platinum but with the changes being made to the program have no incentive to re-qualify. I'm based in SNA(Orange County, CA) typically qualify for elite status on miles rather than segments, make one or two trips to Edinburgh - Scotland, otherwise fly domestic, mainly to the South East (Fl - Palm Beach, GA - Atlanta, SC - Florence, TN - Nashville etc) North East (NY, PA, DE mainly) Mid West (Chicago mainly, but also IA, MO & KS) and West (TX, AZ, NV, NM etc) and very little in CA. Anyone know enough about HP to tell me if it might be right for this travel pattern? I've already approached AA & NW for a comp but not sure which program is better for upgrades etc. (really the only benefit that matters to me) </font>
AA is great for international mileage upgrades. However, with only one or two roundtrips a year, this shouldn't be a big deal. Northwest and America West are clearly the best for domestic upgrades. Domestic upgrades are complimentary, unlimited, and automatic. They will happen almost all the time on NW & HP. As for AA, you'll need to purchase a lot of stickers to cover all of your upgrades.
Dec 19, 2002 | 3:22 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Orange County (SNA) CA, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,789
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TransWorldOne:
How many miles per year do you fly</font>
How many miles per year do you fly</font>
Dec 19, 2002 | 6:30 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Hinterlands, CA
Posts: 365
If you book online, your 80 segments (20 roundtrips @4segments per trip -- or more?) would get you 60,000 miles just from the 3K online booking bonus (of course, assuming that the 3K is extended -- very likely since I doubt HP would give such competitive advantage to WN -- people will flee in droves). And after a few months, your status would almost always get you upgraded. My (carried-over-due-to-9-11-and-now-about-to-expire) Gold Status ALWAYS got me an upgrade flying out of hub PHX -- where Elite Status is common. The only thing to be wary about is the always-expanding pain of HP Express. Mesa Air took over several daily flights between SAN and PHX -- which is why I reduced HP and went WN. I won't do RJ's. If having an upgrade is important, you may want to check to see if they are doing RJ's to SNA.
[This message has been edited by RobertTheTraveler (edited 12-19-2002).]
[This message has been edited by RobertTheTraveler (edited 12-19-2002).]
Dec 19, 2002 | 9:21 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: PHX/SFO/LAX
Programs: AA-EXP (1.7MM), BA-Slvr, HH-Diamond
Posts: 7,784
IMHO, I would have to say HP/BA for your european travel. It would be more convenient for you go (LAX or SFO)-LHR than NW's DTW-LHR. Plus you miles can be credited to your HP accnt.
Dec 19, 2002 | 10:07 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,748
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ByrdluvsAWACO:
...It would be more convenient for you go (LAX or SFO)-LHR than NW's DTW-LHR... </font>
...It would be more convenient for you go (LAX or SFO)-LHR than NW's DTW-LHR... </font>
[This message has been edited by IndustrialPatent (edited 12-19-2002).]
Dec 19, 2002 | 10:30 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,232
I frequent SNA, and I would think NW/CO is the way to go also. HPs program is good like CO/NWs, but RJs are starting to fly into SNA from PHX, and those stink! CO is no prize either with RJs, but for the routes you mentioned, only a small amount would be RJs. NW most likely not unless it is just an RJ city you are flying into.
If you don't mind RJs, then it won't matter which way you go I guess. But IMO, go NW/CO.
If you don't mind RJs, then it won't matter which way you go I guess. But IMO, go NW/CO.
Dec 20, 2002 | 10:49 am
#8
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Valley of the Sun, AZ, USA
Programs: AA Plat, HHonors (working back up)
Posts: 512
If you get an RJ on AWA operated by 'Freedom Air', and not Mesa, it will have a 6 seat 1st class section.
Also, upgrades are very hard to come by going to Newark for some reason. I did that commute for 19 months and sat in the back about 20% of the time as a PLAT. They're easy to get just about anywhere else though (as a PLAT anyway).
Also, upgrades are very hard to come by going to Newark for some reason. I did that commute for 19 months and sat in the back about 20% of the time as a PLAT. They're easy to get just about anywhere else though (as a PLAT anyway).
Dec 20, 2002 | 4:30 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: PHX/SFO/LAX
Programs: AA-EXP (1.7MM), BA-Slvr, HH-Diamond
Posts: 7,784
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
But since Vaze travels to EDI and preferably from SNA, it's probably more convienent to fly SNA-MSP/DTW-AMS-EDI
</font>
But since Vaze travels to EDI and preferably from SNA, it's probably more convienent to fly SNA-MSP/DTW-AMS-EDI
</font>
I do however, agree that the LAX-AMS-EDI is just as convenient if not a teeny bit longer.
------------------
God Bless America West and British Airways
HP - Platinum/970k miles
BA - Dirt/Soon to be Gold
NW - Dirt/Soon to be Plat
UA - Dirt/19k miles
AA - Dirt/Only using to get BA Tier points/miles.
Dec 20, 2002 | 8:36 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,232
When I stay in Orange County, I am the far south end of the county, only about 5 minutes from the San Diego County line border. SNA is about 25-30 min away whereas LAX is about 75-90 min away, no traffic.
I would say NW/CO is still the way to go.
I would say NW/CO is still the way to go.
Dec 23, 2002 | 4:02 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Orange County (SNA) CA, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,789
Thanks for all your feedback guys, based on all the info - it seems like AA is my best bet so I guess I'll be frequenting the AA forum now. Thanks once again for taking the time to help 