Airline status vs using other airlines for direct flights

Before COVID, I'd take the connection to retain status for the following year. Post COVID, I'll take whatever direct flight exists. Not worth the time or $$ to add a few extra hours each way every time you fly for the equivalent of one free checked bag.

Just my opinion, I'm sure it's worth it to others who have executive platinum or diamond status versus being a lowly gold/silver

I never chase status and just pick what works best for me considering two main factors...price and logistics/schedule. Lounge access, free baggage, priority boarding and even seating upgrades don't mean as much to me if I have to sacrifice other important factors.

I also do not travel for work so my time and money is more valuable because it's my time and money, not my works. Those who travel for their job and those who travel mainly for leisure are not really comparing apples to apples.

I'm assuming you're primarily domestic. The calculus changes pretty dramatically if you do international travel (not including short hops to Mexico/Central America.)

One thing you didn't mention is the ability to select your seat. I'm referring to the ability to select a seat period, not just "upgrading" into economy plus, etc. A good number of airlines won't let you select a seat before check in. If you're just spending 3 hours to get to LGA, may be you don't care. I do. I'm not flying in a middle seat, even domestically.

I can't tell where you're based out of, but you can also play with your departure point to get lower fares on the airline you have status with. I live in West Houston, so I can play with leaving out of Houston or Austin, for instance. Flying out of somewhere like College Station or Beaumont and routing through Houston on the same flight is even cheaper, but I'm not that desperate.

Now, living in Houston, it is nearly *always* cheaper if I fly American/Iberia/BA through Dallas, but again, I'm not that desperate.

Using ITA Matrix I can pretty much fly a Star Alliance airline anywhere I need to go for not much of a fare difference, but I'm date flexible, and you may not be.

Whatever is most convenient. Life is too short to chase status.

If I fly non-United, I use a card with 5x points on travel and call it good.

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Whatever is most convenient. Life is too short to chase status.

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I couldn't tell you how many times i have traveled with people who arrived hours later or had to leave hours earlier or had longe layovers because theyre loyal to one airline or the other for status purposes.

Those perks are nice when you HAVE to deal with less than ideal prices or schedules but when better options exist I don't understand the desire to pass on them for those perks.

Is being direct that really big a deal? I fly through ATL for everything mostly and it’s a breeze

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Is being direct that really big a deal? I fly through ATL for everything mostly and it’s a breeze

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3 hours direct is wayyyy better than going out of the way and adding a 1-3 hour layover.

Direct flights all the way. Status be damned

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1: Price
2: Departure / Arrival Time
3: Direct

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For me, #2 is primary. When you put into perspective how much money our wives (or ex-wives) have blown on utterly inane BS, spending an extra $90 to not have to leave Orlando at 0700, but to leave at 1015 is worth it.

I don't connect in the US when I have to go through immigration, either. I'm flying direct from FRA/NRT/IST to IAH, you can take a magic leap off a cliff if you think I'm connecting in EWR, ORD, or IAD coming back from Europe. F and No.

BTW, if you have a family, pay extra attention to my seat selection comment. On LH, I paid $65 each way to select a seat (IAH to FRA and FRA to IAH) after I lost Star Alliance Gold. LH decided not to fly the 747 on the way back, I got switched to UA, on a 767 to IAD from FRA. Well, those dummies forgot there is a UA 777 that leaves from FRA within 30-45 minutes of the LH flight that goes direct to Houston. To try to select a seat on the United flight (since I no longer have meaningful status) costs over $250 for a one way flight. If you're flying multiple people, that gets devastating pretty quickly.

Most airlines will match other airlines status even if just temporary. I have status with United but needed to fly Delta so I just asked if they would match and they did. So the rest of the year I have both. Hotels do this too.