Best air price is w/ 2 different carriers...is this OK or a problem?

[Rock'n Robin]

My NWA flights I have been looking at have gone up $30 each for the times we want. I can pay $200 and get to WDW late and leave before noon, or $230 to leave at 6:40 AM and leave Orlando at 7PM--but that's $150 for my whole family.
I'm getting a much better price with one stop each way (this is from DTW to MCO). True we don't get to Orlando until noon, but we don't leave Orlando until 7PM. The only weird thing is the outbound flight is USAir, and the return flight is Delta.
Is this common? Has anyone ever booked a flight like this and had problems with it? The upside is Delta is magical express--I think--so on the way back we could check our stuff.
BTW the Southwest prices are $986 total--but no hotel check of bags on the way home. SWA is $886 out of Cleveland, but the times are not that great.
Robin M.

 

[snowbunny]

You shouldn't have any problems at all, I've done this many times. At first, I thought you meant your different legs were on different airlines on the same day, which can be a challenge if you are checking bags or have a short connection and have to get between terminals. But one airline down and another back? Piece of cake.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Thanks! I've never even thought about it. I thought one way travelers got the once over from security! But if this is cheaper, so be it!
I have a room rate sitting at AAA but I'm just hedging on airfare. I want to go ahead and book the room--so I may just start looking at one-way flights.
Robin M.

 

[snowwite]

My NWA flights I have been looking at have gone up $30 each for the times we want. I can pay $200 and get to WDW late and leave before noon, or $230 to leave at 6:40 AM and leave Orlando at 7PM--but that's $150 for my whole family.
I'm getting a much better price with one stop each way (this is from DTW to MCO). True we don't get to Orlando until noon, but we don't leave Orlando until 7PM. The only weird thing is the outbound flight is USAir, and the return flight is Delta.
Is this common? Has anyone ever booked a flight like this and had problems with it? The upside is Delta is magical express--I think--so on the way back we could check our stuff.
BTW the Southwest prices are $986 total--but no hotel check of bags on the way home. SWA is $886 out of Cleveland, but the times are not that great.
Robin M.

We have never had SW change times by more than a few mins but Delta routinely changes by 6-12 hours and has cancelled and put us on another flight with kids and us separated or no longer havig assisgned seats. US Air lost our luggage and American left us stranded. United cancelled flight,SONG changed times multiple times. Basically its a crpshoot. You just dont know what you are going to end up with.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I think that's true with any airline. Last year after I booked my NWA flights (same times) I got an EMail 2 DAYS later that the departing flight was canceled and they rebooked us at 4PM. I called and they ended up putting us on a 6PM flight--only an hour earlier than the original 7PM. But I have wondered what the heck, why that first flight was cancelled so soon. I have traveled Delta, USAir (in 2000), transmeridian (now defunct), NWA. I had one lost bag on a Delta flight from MCO-Dayton in 2002 or 03 (don't remember) but it was at my home one day later.
The upshot is I can book my original desired NWA flights if I push my trip back from the 7th of August (leaving the 11th) to the 9th (leaving the 13th).
OR I can book Southwest for $986 total and worry about seats, etc. (I am a big worrier when it comes to air travel).
OR I can pay $30 more per person (total $1150 instead of $1000) and leave the original day.
OR I can book this USAir/Delta hybrid and pay $905, from expedia.
Lots to consider!
Robin M.