For the primary 12 months ever, I earned top-tier elite status with not one, however two airways — American Airways and United Airways — due to a standing match. For readers new to airline elite standing, a “match” means you employ your standing from one loyalty program to match into an equal degree of standing in one other program.
I’ve flown with American for years. You could possibly say I used to be born to be an AA loyalist, since lots of my members of the family labored for the airline after their earlier employer, TWA, was acquired by American. My husband and I’ve flown everywhere in the world with AA, and lots of pleased recollections embrace the corporate. I’ve additionally very a lot loved my AAdvantage Executive Platinum status over the previous few years.
Nevertheless, in early 2025, I puzzled if it nonetheless made sense. I made a decision to suppose critically about what’s most necessary to me on the subject of standing and if American AAdvantage continues to be the perfect choice.
Since 2025 was a banner journey 12 months for me, I made a decision to “check out” each airways to see which standing was the higher match for me.
Here is the place I landed with that train and why I made a decision to pursue a standing match to United Premier 1K.
About United’s standing match
I utilized for United’s status match on Might 26, 2025. I used my American Airways Govt Platinum standing to match into United’s Premier 1K degree the identical day.
Here is what I needed to do subsequent:
Fly an “activating” flight operated by United or United Categorical inside the subsequent 90 days (or I may retroactively request {that a} flight inside the previous 30 days depend). As soon as the activation flight was accomplished, United granted elite standing for 120 days.
Since my activating flight was on Might 17, my trial standing interval prolonged from Might 17 to Sept. 13, 2025. Throughout that point, I needed to do the next:
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- Full 20 Premier qualifying flights (PQFs) on United or United Categorical flights
- Earn 7,500 Premier qualifying factors (PQPs) on United or United Categorical flights
I am going to admit that I did not plan my flights in essentially the most advantageous manner. I had beforehand booked a couple of worldwide journeys on American Airways. It was an excessive amount of of a trouble to cancel these and rebook on United, so I as a substitute targeted on paid first-class home flights to accrue the wanted PQFs and PQPs. I accomplished the match with 19 days to spare.
If I needed to do it once more, I’d have rebooked these worldwide journeys, as I believe it will have made the problem a lot simpler in comparison with the home journey I needed to full.
Associated studying: United Premier status: What it is and how to earn it
My standards for choosing the right airline loyalty program
As I reviewed what makes me really feel like a valued flyer, I spotted my favourite perks are:
- Complimentary upgrades
- Early boarding teams
- Additional redeemable miles earned from flights
- Free extra-legroom seats at reserving
- Devoted service desk consideration
- Conferred airline alliance standing
Your listing could look very totally different, and that is high-quality — all of us have totally different journey preferences.
Complimentary upgrades
I waffled on whether or not or to not embrace complimentary space-available upgrades on my standards listing. Truthfully, that is as a result of there are such a lot of American Govt Platinum flyers — particularly flying from the airports I most often go to — that I shifted my conduct to simply shopping for first-class seats or buying an improve from financial system to make sure that expertise after I need it.
I puzzled if vacationers on United had been doing the identical factor. I fly out of Jacksonville usually, so final 12 months I appeared for gates with United flights and famous what number of World Companies and Premier 1K members preboarded the airline’s flights. There gave the impression to be far fewer than the EPs over at American. I began to suppose, “Possibly I have to see if complimentary upgrades are a bit simpler to get with United from this non-hub airport?” In that case, that may save me some cash.
In July 2025, I visited Montreal throughout my United standing match. Of the 4 legs, I used to be upgraded on three of them, whereas my journey companion was upgraded on two of them. That appeared very promising, so I assumed my hunch about United upgrades may be right in my situation.
Winner: United Airways
Associated studying: How to get upgraded on American Airlines
Early boarding group
Previously 20 years, I’ve checked baggage three or 4 instances. In my eyes, carry-on is the way in which to go. Due to that, having a precedence boarding group to snag coveted overhead house is vital.
Within the outdated days, being in Group 1 for boarding with American meant one thing. Nevertheless, today, at the very least from my dwelling base of Jacksonville Worldwide Airport (JAX), everybody appears to be in Group 1. That mentioned, I normally purchase first- or business-class seats or pay to improve on American, so I really find yourself in boarding Group FC, proper earlier than Group 1. But it surely would not make sense to e-book a premium cabin for each flight, particularly quick ones — so for these, I am again to the lengthy Group 1 line.
Boarding teams are necessary for one more motive. Most of the home routes I fly recurrently are on Embraer 175 plane, which function a 1-2 configuration in top notch. Which means the overhead on one aspect of the plane could be very shallow and would not match rollerboards and even my compact Samsonite underseater. If I am booked on an E175, I wish to be within the earliest boarding group potential to keep away from gate-checking my bag.
Lastly, I am 5’2″ and, relying on the plane and the peak of its overhead bins, it could actually take me a bit of additional effort to stow my rollaboard. I favor boarding when it isn’t but wall-to-wall with passengers, so I can take these further few seconds to handle my bag with out by accident whacking somebody who’s already seated or ready within the aisle.
For that motive, United Premier 1K is the plain winner over American Govt Platinum (from my gateway). With United, Premier 1Ks are invited to preboard the plane earlier than Group 1, however after these needing extra time, World Companies members, lively navy and households with babies.
Winner: United Airways
Associated studying: Carry-on vs. checked bags: Which is the better choice?
Earned redeemable miles
What can I say? I work for The Factors Man and love the redemption sport. Staying stocked up on redeemable miles means I can e-book extra award flights and take a look at new-to-me airways, plane and cabins utilizing the ability of airline alliances and companions.
At first look, it might look like a draw on this depend, since each American and United at the moment reward top-tier elite members with 11 redeemable miles per greenback spent (notice that United announced mileage earning rate changes starting on April 2, 2025). Nevertheless, in my expertise, I usually discover lower-priced award tickets on American Airways than on United, so AA has a slight lead right here.
Whereas I’ve observed that United provides me better-priced awards now I maintain the United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees) and the United℠ Explorer Card(see rates and fees), I nonetheless are likely to depend on Air Canada’s Aeroplan program when reserving Star Alliance flights.
Winner: American Airways
Free extra-legroom seats at reserving
Free extra-legroom seats at reserving can save some huge cash, particularly when touring with a companion. And, having suffered from a pulmonary embolism up to now, having further legroom to maneuver round is vital for my well being and security. I really like this perk, which is obtainable to each American EPs and United Premier 1Ks. Nevertheless, on the flights I’ve taken this 12 months, the extra-legroom seats on our United flights felt extra spacious and cozy than these on American.
Winner: United Airways
Devoted service desk
When issues go unsuitable on a journey day, you need quick entry to somebody who will help. Each airways supply devoted cellphone reps who reply promptly.
I linked by way of Frankfurt Airport (FRA) only one week after I began my United standing match. We traveled from Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport (CLT) to FRA on an American flight, and had been planning to hook up with a separate Austrian Airways flight I redeemed with United miles. As you may think about, we missed the connection — so I reached out to the Premier 1K service desk. To my delight, my name was answered inside one ring, and by the point I completed explaining my predicament, the agent had already discovered house on the following flight and was altering our itinerary. I actually appreciated having somebody assist us so rapidly.
That mentioned, I’ve additionally had terrific experiences with American Airways’ Govt Platinum desk.
Winner: Tie
Conferred airline alliance standing
I journey abroad often, so I go to a good variety of worldwide airports yearly. It is good having alliance standing, whether or not it is Oneworld, Star Alliance or SkyTeam. Standing with any of those airline alliances unlocks entry to some pretty lounges exterior the U.S.
American Govt Platinum standing grants me Oneworld Emerald standing, whereas United Premier 1K grants me Star Alliance Gold standing.
Winner: Tie
Backside line
This 12 months, United got here out on high for me, profitable within the complimentary upgrades, early boarding group and further legroom classes, although American nonetheless got here in first for me on the subject of essentially the most reasonably priced award tickets. The airways tied by way of their devoted service desks and conferred alliance standing.
I’ve loved some implausible United flights lately, together with its inaugural flight from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Adelaide Airport (ADL) in South Australia in December 2025. I additionally simply stepped off a terrific Polaris flight from Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) in Morocco (although I’ll by no means be a fan of the airline’s 767 J-style seating sample in enterprise class).
Nevertheless, I am going to have to intently monitor adjustments to every program for subsequent 12 months. Whereas United hasn’t modified Premier standing necessities in 2026, it did announce adjustments to upgrades and PlusPoints. And, extra importantly, United introduced the next award-mile incomes price for United-branded cardholders in addition to discounted award redemptions. As a United Premier 1K who holds United-branded bank cards, as of April 2, I’ll earn 16 miles per greenback spent on flights when paying with my United Quest℠ Card as a substitute of 11 miles per greenback spent. That issues to me. These new particulars make United extra interesting than American for me within the quick time period.
Whereas American has announced a few program tweaks of its personal, I am going to crunch some numbers to find out which program will get the lion’s share of my enterprise this 12 months.
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