Chicago area flight help, please

[mkymouse4ever]

We usually go ATA, but we are Planning March 1 to leave and the CEO said, "early next year 2005, we may be gone" So they could be gone by then. United has been in trouble since 9/11 That leaves American Airlines, UA & AA both out of O'hare.

Haven't flown anything but ATA for the last 10 years? & from midway.

Please give any info or help which would you pick? They all have the times we want, and are about the same price. Why pick one over the other, (we are in no freq flyer club's). We are south of both airports so that doesn't really matter, midway is smaller & just easier to manuever.

Thanks for any insight! MKY We even considered driving

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by mkymouse4ever
We usually go ATA, but we are Planning March 1 to leave and the CEO said, "early next year 2005, we may be gone" So they could be gone by then. United has been in trouble since 9/11 That leaves American Airlines, UA & AA both out of O'hare.

Where did ATA founder and CEO J. George Mikelsons say, "early next year 2005, we may be gone?"

It's true that ATA is having cash flow problems. ATA is struggling to reduce costs. They're negotiating new contracts and doing everything they can to avoid Chapter 11 reorganization (which would wipe out Mr. Mikelsons' substantial stake in the company).

UA is operating under Chapter 11, and AA narrowly avoided Chapter 11 a year or so ago. They're both good airlines. UA provides Chicago-to-Orlando service through their leisure airline, Ted. My first choice is AA, if you can fly on an MD80 (which has extra legroom in coach). If the AA flight is a 757, it really doesn't matter if you fly AA or Ted.

Keep in mind that you have another option -- Southwest Airlines out of Midway Airport. If you're concerned about airlines' financial problems, then Southwest is your best choice. They make money almost every year, even since 9/11.

UA and AA book flights up to 330 days in advance. Southwest only books flights a few months in advance. Also, Southwest flights never show up on the major airlines' Web sites.

 

[Wags]

Have you ever considered Spirit Air out of O'Hare? I know they have some really competitive $$ from time to time. Air Tran is also competitive. Both have web sites. In fact, I just received an e-mail this week for Spirit Air, R/T air from O'Hare to Orlando was about $110.00 (incl. all taxes and fees), but I don't remember the times, I don't think that was for March.


And there is always Milwaukee, but their fares usually are a bit more, and for you it probably doesn't make economic or logistical sense.

 

[PooohBear]

I would go with Southwest or Spirit! they always have great fares so i'm sure they'll be around and you wouldn't have to worry !

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by PooohBear
I would go with Southwest or Spirit! they always have great fares so i'm sure they'll be around and you wouldn't have to worry !

Spirit is privately owned, so their financial details are not available. But I haven't seen any articles questioning the financial viability of Spirit.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Mr. HH : Thank you for your insightful help! I woke to Channel 2 chicago news reporting that very statment by the head of ATA, one morning a few days after the large Suntimes ad appeared saying they were " not leaving" That is why, I was so confused.

Spirit airlines we thought of too, BUT they only have 2 flights a day and we would lose a whole wdw day flying with them.

Southwest is an option but basically I'm a planning freak, and can't stand "no seating".

Looks like UA

MKY

 

[Jasminesmommy]

You can always arrive the day before and not lose the day.