Airline from Philly/ SNJ

[TyGuy]

I've always been a big US Airways flyer especially when I traveled a lot for work. Being in South Jersey they have dominated Philly airport for years. However, now that I've used up almost all of my frequent flier miles I'm starting to look around for other options and I'm looking for recommendations. I think the direct flight options include Airtran and Southwest out of Philly or Spirit out of Atlantic City. I know I can get connecting flights on most of the other players.

So, anyone with advice on who we should try for our next trip?

 

[JustineMarie]

I picked stay with USairways, but I really think that all of them are pretty decent. I would see which airline offers the cheapest fares for the time you are looking for and go from there

 

[Hasil72]

Hey! I'm about 5 minutes from you. Keep a lookout for crazy Spirit sales. I hadn't planned on traveling until the fall until I clicked on a banner from Spirit and ended up getting fares for 32 cents each way! With taxes it was $60 for 3 RT tickets! DS is on the autism spectrum (and DH can't make this trip) so I'm hoping the smaller airport will be less overwhelming.

Last big family trip, we flew SW out of BWI. It only took about an hour 15 minutes or so to get there and they had a small indoor play area for the kids. The parking shuttle was quick and efficient.

Good luck!

 

[helenk]

If you fly out of Phila, I would go with either Southwest or Airtran and they generally have the better fares. I prefer Southwest over Airtran though because I have found that Airtran makes alot of changes to their schedules and your flight times can change once you've booked. Whereas with Southwest, once they posted their schedule it does not change.

 

[plutospup]

Whichever has the lowest fare. If you're not looking for frequent flier miles, or a loyalty program pick whichever airline has the lowest fare.
US still dominates Philly, and offers the most choices. Of course they couldn't get me to Milwaukee this week for a meeting, but they had no problem getting my luggage there .

 

[drew64]

Go to Newark and take Continental. Better airline and airport.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Whichever has the lowest fare. If you're not looking for frequent flier miles, or a loyalty program pick whichever airline has the lowest fare.
US still dominates Philly, and offers the most choices. Of course they couldn't get me to Milwaukee this week for a meeting, but they had no problem getting my luggage there .

Fares are what makes my choice . . . and NS instead of connecting. All things being equal, I avoid USAir.

All too frequently USAir separates me from my luggage - if I check any. They always get me there.

Skip Newark! For a long flight and a better fare, I'll drive to BWI.

 

[tmatthews]

we have used airtran quite a few times out of philly but are riding spirit for the first time in march! We'll see!

 

[carolina_yankee]

I voted Southwest. We've tried US Airways, Airtran and Southwest for trips to Orlando out of PHL. Southwest wins hands down. At first, Airtran was fine, but they rarely have a non-stop at the time of day we want. It's an hour from Trenton, so early morning flgihts don't work, and we don't like to get in late and waste a day.

US Airways and Southwest have good schedules and are non-stop, but the kicker for me is baggage claim on the return. Every time, Southwest is spitting out luggage about the time I make it to the airport. Every time, if my luggage gets there, US Airways makes me wait 45 minutes. I've nothing against the airline in general, but out of PHilly - the last 3 times I've flown them, if my luggage got to my destination, I didn't. If I got home, my luggage didn't.

Southwest usually beats US airways on sale fares, but US can be cheaper on regular fares.

I've thought about Spirit and AC, but the schedule doesn't work for us and it would be a 90 minute drive. Perhaps worth it since the airport is smaller and parking is cheaper, but the schedule still doesn't work.

Continental is great, but Newark isn't as useful for Central and Southern Jersey. (And I don't think they have direct to Orlando for decent fares, either.)

Dirk

 

[PatMcDuck]

With Southwest, you can re-book if the fare goes lower with NO penalty. And if you end up with credits, they can be used by anyone, even pooled onto one ticket. Also good if you need to cancel a trip.

They are the only one that does this, that I know of. I would always get these stupid little $15/20 credits, in each of my family's 6 names, from other arilines. Usually they would expire, unused. And that was the amount left from a price decrease less the (other airlines) charge of $40-70 for the priveledge of re-booking at a lower fare.

That said, I will always go for the lower fare. Spirit is great. I would fly any that were listed, I just lean towards SW for the flexibilty.

 

[wdwscout]

We are right in-between Philly & AC. It's 45 minutes to either airport.
We prefer to use AC and Spirit to get to MCO whenever we can.
They have burned us on 2 occasions with changes in schedules (usually mid-week flights are affected), but they really do have great last minute sales if you can do a surprise trip.

We just booked Spirit for Sept 08. It was just about $250 each RT for the "Big Front Seat" section- much more roomy than coach. Coach fares were running around $200RT.

We find Philly to be THE most depressing airport anywhere. Their employees are sullen, slow and couldn't care less about helping anyone. No smiles, nothing. Geesh...

We have to use Philly when flying anywhere else, so we are there often enough. Just not for Orlando.

AC's airport is small and easy to get around. Parking is MUCH cheaper. And being on the grounds of the FAA- I just feeler safer there.

 

[tjmw2727]

I voted SWA for a few reasons,
good prices (often great prices)
non stop flights to my frequent destinations, Denver, Manchester NH and Orlando.
On time record, my flights are rarely late and the last 3 have been early
no changes once you book, others change schedules and seating changes.
No change fees, this is a big plus for our family.

TJ

 

[dddisrunner]

I voted Spirit. We love early am flights and Spirit always has one at 6:30am. Getting to the airport is incredibly simple and the parking rate is ridiculously cheap compared to Philly.

 

[pixiechick]

I voted other because "cheapest" wasn't an option. We price it out with all of the airlines. Lately, Southwest has been the clear winner. Spirit has had some good prices lately but their times don't usually work for us.

At least you were able to use your FF miles with US up, I've got a bunch that I will probably never get used. With the higher mile "prices" and limited options, I can never find a flight.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I voted SWA!
We used to use USAirways and still have lots of FF miles with them but the last 2 times we used them, about 3-4 yrs ago, our luggage did not arrive with us. This is beyond annoying when leaving FL on a cruise! It's not like they could just deliver it to our hotel later!

Since then we flown SWA about 8 RTs and love everything about them:

1. Very reasonable fares, if not downright cheap ($39 in Sept and were getting $49 later this month!)

2. Their schedule rarely changes. Though they don't allow you to book 11 mos. in advance, once they release their schedule, it's done and only weather has caused us delays. no bs excuses.

3. Never any change/cancellation fees. You can change your mind 6 times and not cost a dime.

4. If you find your price has dropped, you can rebook it and pocket the credit for which you have 1 yr from original booking date to use. This is so nice, we've actually saved enough credits to book another trip!

5. By the time you walk to baggage claim, bags are actually coming out!
Hey USAir, come take some notes!

6. Sounds corny but their employees are really nice and seem happy in their job. We've played Disney trivia at the gate once. They crack jokes during takeoff like, "whoever has a blue Honda, you left your lights on!"
It's not that funeral mood like USAirways.

7. People sometimes knock the 'no seating assignments' but we find it's fine. We have 2 young children and have always been able to sit together. Even when we had assigned seats on USAirways, every time they changed the flight time or # we'd lose our seats and I'd have to call to have them re-assigned. This would sometimes happen 2 or 3 times per flight. ugh!

8. They have plenty of non-stop flights from Philly. Why drive all the way to Newark? I've looked up Spirit many times but they can't seem to beat SW prices and I don't believe you can get a credit when the price drops but not sure on that.