warp9732000

I live in Chicago and I recently got a 100% traveling job. I am an equal distance from O'hare and Midway and therefore the 2 major airlines I have to choose from are Southwest and United. My question is, is it worth it for me to go through O'hare and achieve status with United over the next few months, or go through Midway with Southwest? Its easier to get in and out of Midway, but over the long term, would I benefit dealing with O'hare to get status?

silentnonrev2499

rack up United miles, use 'em on Star Alliance all over the world.Rack up Southwest miles, use 'em on.....ATA? Well, they fly out of Midway, I think!You can use UA miles for upgrades....Southwest has nothing to upgrade to.UA has Red Carpet Club....Southwest has??OTOH you will have to deal with United attitude....working folks aren't too happy about the dividend to shareholders, while they have taken double digit pay cuts. Unhappy service industry employees don't give the best service!

Lotus8620

I heard Southwest is cheaper to travel

DeborahJ

Go United!!! This is a no brainer. I travel a lot for work, so I will say this.....Air travel starts to wear on you and you wont want to put up with first come first serve seating (Southwest) or as I call it "cattle calling". You want an airline that is going to issue you a ticket with an assigned seat #. Also, as the person said above, you cant upgrade to anything dealing with Southwest.United is a reputable airline.....granted they've had their problems, but so have a lot of other airlines. Become a United Mileage Plus member, rack up those mileage points and reap the benefits of the upgrades.Southwest is cheaper (for a reason). You're traveling for work, so money shouldnt be the issue. You will be doing this all the time, you should be looking for an airline that will give you the least amount of stress.Go United and save yourself some trouble. I would use Continental as my backup airline. Sign up as a OnePass member with them. They fly out of both O'Hare and Midway even though its not their hub they have numerous flights all day through Chicago.Southwest would be my desperation last choice, but I doubt you would need to go there.You can always visit the airline websites to see specifically the advantages of selecting them as your preferred airline.Good Luck with your new job, happy travels and be safe! See you in the air!

KangoTraveler3514

In terms of mileage benefits, you can earn trips faster on Southwest. That, however, doesn't really apply here, as your job will presumably be paying for everything. Consequently, I'd deal with United. As a previous respondent noted, you'll be able to redeem your miles with any partner of the Star Alliance, which includes a hotels and rental car companies. In this way, you'll be able to "harness" your business travel for personal use . . . maybe a trip to Hawaii or the Caribbean during those long, cold Chicago winters.What's more, as a business traveler, comfort and convenience is key. When you're flying all the time, little touches like the ability to move to the front of the boarding line can make a HUGE difference in the quality of your life. You'll have this option with United after you've racked up a lot of miles; but Southwest will still feel like a flying cattle car.Congrats on your new job, and Happy Travels!Kango Traveler