I fly cross country from PDX at least four times a year and in most cases the only choices are AA, United or Delta. American has been the worst. Early December it took me 25 hrs to get home from Myrtle Beach.
I have been stranded twice in Charlotte and twice in Phoenix by American/US Air.
I fly to Vegas and SLC 6-7 times a year and enjoy Alaska Air each and every time. Then fly to Hawaii yearly on Alaska.
I'm lucky to have them close.