AA or Southwest?

[mickeyd78]

Looking to purchase flights LAX to MCO for the WDW marathon weekend in Jan. Normally Virgin America is my first choice of carrier, but their fares are currently $811!!!

I'm considering either a direct flight on AA for $210 (4:45 duration) or a flight with one stop, no plane change on Southwest for $215 (6:15 duration). Southwest has the advantage of free checked bags, but I like direct flights - less chance of delay or something going wrong, in my mind anyway.

I have never flown Southwest before, so I am a bit reluctant. I must admit the no pre allocated seating kind freaks me out. For those who have flown both, which would you choose and why?

 

[MEK]

I would not be concerned about SWA's boarding. If you print out your boarding pass exactly 24 hours ahead of time you will probably end up in the B group and possibly the late A group. Everyone boards quickly and efficiently and faster than with assigned seats. I fly SWA out of Philadelphia and Baltimore all the time. Love them. But I am fortunate enough to always be able to book direct flights.

One caveat with SWA. Should you book and your flight drop in price, you can rebook for the lower price and the difference goes into a travel credit fund that you must use up from the original date of booking. I book my flights in two different legs. I usually book the out bound flight first, wait for it to drop in price, then take the travel credit and book my return flight.

I don't fly AA unless I'm heading out west so I really can't compare. There is a lot to be said for a direct flight, but also a lot to be said for free bags.

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

The SWA flight you are looking at is a direct flight. The AA flight is a non stop flight.

 

[DebbieB]

Looking to purchase flights LAX to MCO for the WDW marathon weekend in Jan. Normally Virgin America is my first choice of carrier, but their fares are currently $811!!!

I'm considering either a direct flight on AA for $210 (4:45 duration) or a flight with one stop, no plane change on Southwest for $215 (6:15 duration). Southwest has the advantage of free checked bags, but I like direct flights - less chance of delay or something going wrong, in my mind anyway.

I have never flown Southwest before, so I am a bit reluctant. I must admit the no pre allocated seating kind freaks me out. For those who have flown both, which would you choose and why?

Assuming the AA flight is non-stop (direct means a stop but no change in plane), I would go for that. Paying for bags is worth not having to stop and having pre-assigned seats.

 

[chasgoose]

One perk, however, of being on a WN flight that has one stop is that you can stay on the plane and switch seats before the people from the second city board. If the stop is at an airport a short flight from LAX (like PHX or LAS) then you can get your pick of seats no matter what your boarding number is for the majority of the flight.

 

[FrugalFashionista]

Southwest all the way. AA always seems to have issues everytime I fly or someone I know flies. Never had an issue with southwest and love that bags are free!

 

[ChristmasElf]

Looking to purchase flights LAX to MCO for the WDW marathon weekend in Jan. Normally Virgin America is my first choice of carrier, but their fares are currently $811!!!

I'm considering either a direct flight on AA for $210 (4:45 duration) or a flight with one stop, no plane change on Southwest for $215 (6:15 duration). Southwest has the advantage of free checked bags, but I like direct flights - less chance of delay or something going wrong, in my mind anyway.

I have never flown Southwest before, so I am a bit reluctant. I must admit the no pre allocated seating kind freaks me out. For those who have flown both, which would you choose and why?

AA all the way! If you are only going for the weekend, why not just take a carryon bag and not worry about full sized luggage? It's a LOT easier and you won't have to wait forever at the baggage area for your luggage.
Plus, 4 hours in the air vs 6+ is a lot better too!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The non-stop flight on AA, no question about it.

 

[mikehn]

non stop flight every time. I dont care what airline. Well, maybe except for asiana

 

[mickeynut1]

Looking to purchase flights LAX to MCO for the WDW marathon weekend in Jan. Normally Virgin America is my first choice of carrier, but their fares are currently $811!!!

I'm considering either a direct flight on AA for $210 (4:45 duration) or a flight with one stop, no plane change on Southwest for $215 (6:15 duration). Southwest has the advantage of free checked bags, but I like direct flights - less chance of delay or something going wrong, in my mind anyway.

I have never flown Southwest before, so I am a bit reluctant. I must admit the no pre allocated seating kind freaks me out. For those who have flown both, which would you choose and why?

I would go with the non stop flight on AA and pay for bags. The extra for the bags would be worth it, IMO, to avoid a longer flight with a stop over on SWA.

 

[mickeyd78]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

I ended up booking with AA, as I caught a price drop - down to $184 non stop LAX to MCO. Even paying for the bag, this works out cheaper than SW. The other deciding factor was that the SW flight left at 7am, while AA left at 8:30am - so a little more time in bed. And SW had a stop, so less travel time on AA and we get to MCO a bit earlier.

But I hope to travel SW some day to experience their service.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

I ended up booking with AA, as I caught a price drop - down to $184 non stop LAX to MCO. Even paying for the bag, this works out cheaper than SW. The other deciding factor was that the SW flight left at 7am, while AA left at 8:30am - so a little more time in bed. And SW had a stop, so less travel time on AA and we get to MCO a bit earlier.

But I hope to travel SW some day to experience their service.

There is no comparing a legacy carrier like American Airlines to a budget carrier like Southwest. As for experiencing SW service, there isn't much. You get on, grab a seat and hope you like who you are sitting next to for the length of the flight.

 

[helenk]

There is no comparing a legacy carrier like American Airlines to a budget carrier like Southwest. As for experiencing SW service, there isn't much. You get on, grab a seat and hope you like who you are sitting next to for the length of the flight.

Not to be smart but even if you are travelling on a legacy carrier you may not know the person sitting next to you during your flight. Unless you are taking all 3 seats, the people sitting to you are strangers whether you pick your sits ahead of time or not.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Not to be smart but even if you are travelling on a legacy carrier you may not know the person sitting next to you during your flight. Unless you are taking all 3 seats, the people sitting to you are strangers whether you pick your sits ahead of time or not.

True. But I rarely fly alone and since I like the window and DH likes the aisle, I usually know the person in B!

And no one does first class better than American