The past year I've moved much more towards United for travel, away from Delta and American. With a busy fall and winter schedule ahead, it made sense to pull the trigger (on top of some other reasons stated in my other thread - lounge, 4x on United, same 2x on travel and other dining, 2 x free checked bags, Premier Access, and so on). Everyone I've talked to seems very happy with it - other forum members, also a relative who upgraded his Explorer within the last year.
Since I just passed my 1-year anniversary, the tricky thing was making sure I didn't lose benefits. No one really had a clear answer on this, including and especially customer service. I saw my pair of 5,000 mile certificates for award travel listed in my MileagePlus account, so that seemed good. Annual fee charged October 1. But my $125 United purchase credit didn't appear until a year after the LAST time I got it, not the account anniversary.
With all of the right boxes above checked, I called customer service on Friday and asked for a product change. She read off a few terms and conditions (namely same account, credit line, and so on - ineligible for sign-up bonus). No credit check, no pending approval, no absurd minimums for a Visa Infinite, no BS. It took 10 x minutes. When I logged into Chase online that next day, the card name and graphic had already changed to United Club! 
They also refunded the annual fee, unsure when Club will get charged. Even with my current physical Quest card, it earns full benefits of the Club until it arrives in the mail.
This sort of service is what helps keep my loyalty - I know, so many people don't care these days and just fly LCCs for rock-bottom fares. I'll take a layover in Chicago (I can wait in the lounge now!) with free Economy Plus upgrades, over an expensive Delta direct flight any day of the week.
As for what's next? I don't know yet. My dream of passing brutal American Express palace guards, armed with pikes and flamethrowers remains just that (waving hundred-dollar bills at them doesn't seem to work) - hmmm, speaking of Delta or even a Platinum card. If nothing else - it would feel like going to a high school class reunion as a successful corporate guy, seeing all of the once-popular kids, valedictorians, stellar athletes, and bullies working hourly jobs as grocery baggers or fast-food cashiers to pay off college degrees.
@SKBirdmind wrote:The past year I've moved much more towards United for travel, away from Delta and American. With a busy fall and winter schedule ahead, it made sense to pull the trigger (on top of some other reasons stated in my other thread - lounge, 4x on United, same 2x on travel and other dining, 2 x free checked bags, Premier Access, and so on). Everyone I've talked to seems very happy with it - other forum members, also a relative who upgraded his Explorer within the last year.
Since I just passed my 1-year anniversary, the tricky thing was making sure I didn't lose benefits. No one really had a clear answer on this, including and especially customer service. I saw my pair of 5,000 mile certificates for award travel listed in my MileagePlus account, so that seemed good. Annual fee charged October 1. But my $125 United purchase credit didn't appear until a year after the LAST time I got it, not the account anniversary.
With all of the right boxes above checked, I called customer service on Friday and asked for a product change. She read off a few terms and conditions (namely same account, credit line, and so on - ineligible for sign-up bonus). No credit check, no pending approval, no absurd minimums for a Visa Infinite, no BS. It took 10 x minutes. When I logged into Chase online that next day, the card name and graphic had already changed to United Club!
This sort of service is what helps keep my loyalty - I know, so many people don't care these days and just fly LCCs for rock-bottom fares. I'll take a layover in Chicago (I can wait in the lounge now!) with free Economy Plus upgrades, over an expensive Delta direct flight any day of the week.
As for what's next? I don't know yet. My dream of passing brutal American Express palace guards, armed with pikes and flamethrowers remains just that (waving hundred-dollar bills at them doesn't seem to work) - hmmm, speaking of Delta or even a Platinum card. If nothing else - it would feel like going to a high school class reunion as a successful corporate guy, seeing all of the once-popular kids, valedictorians, stellar athletes, and bullies working hourly jobs as grocery baggers or fast-food cashiers to pay off college degrees.
I used to be this loyal to United before they cancelled my flight at the last minute, made me pay to book on a different airline (lied about that too) and then essentially stole my previous prepaid airfare by issuing a "Flight Credit with a 'Use by date'" that i don't need rather than a refund.
I sure wish I could make business agreements and then reneg on them with no recourse for the other party.
If i seem a little angry it's because I am.