Delta vs US AIRWAYS

[zoo2tycoon]

I am currently comparing flights to US Virgin Islands on both airlines.
Delta is $25 more than US AIRWAYS...so $100 for my family of 4.

I know both charge $25 for baggage fees.

Confusion is on the seat fees. I am having a hard time finding an exact cost for just basic aisle seats (tall boys need the aisle seats). Does anyone have insight on the cost? I found some site and it gave a range for US AIRWAYS of $15-$99 or something like that per seat per leg of flight so I'd need to factor that into cost. Same site seemed to indicate for basic seats Delta didn't charge??? Which I find hard to believe in this era of charging for everything.

I tried to call the airlines BUT understandably with the snow storm the wait was a long time and I gave up.

Does anyone who has flown recently have any ideas on cost.

Thanks!

 

[pigletto]

I believe you could do a practice booking and see the total before you commit to paying. You'd have to select seats before you submitted your credit card information. It would require filling out all the address and name parts but I have done it to see what the total price would be because I believe the seat fees change depending on the flight.

 

[LBIJim]

You can pre-select certain seats for free on both Delta and USAirways. If you want preferred seats, do as the PP suggested: do a fake booking online, filling out all your info and desired seats, then see what the cost is. You can always change your mind or close the website before committing to the total cost.

Jim

 

[DebbieB]

I am currently comparing flights to US Virgin Islands on both airlines.
Delta is $25 more than US AIRWAYS...so $100 for my family of 4.

I know both charge $25 for baggage fees.

Confusion is on the seat fees. I am having a hard time finding an exact cost for just basic aisle seats (tall boys need the aisle seats). Does anyone have insight on the cost? I found some site and it gave a range for US AIRWAYS of $15-$99 or something like that per seat per leg of flight so I'd need to factor that into cost. Same site seemed to indicate for basic seats Delta didn't charge??? Which I find hard to believe in this era of charging for everything.

I tried to call the airlines BUT understandably with the snow storm the wait was a long time and I gave up.

Does anyone who has flown recently have any ideas on cost.

Thanks!

I've flown both pretty often and prefer Delta, especially for long flights. US has no inflight entertainment, some Delta planes have the personal TV's, I look for flights that do. US as no free snacks, Delta usually gives a choice of peanuts, pretzels, cookies.

Delta has seats in the front of coach called economy comfort that they charge extra for. They have more legroom. The cost depends on the flight length. I bought one in September, it was $59 for Orange Co CA-Atlanta.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Is this new? We just flew US Airways in November and didn't pay a seat fee.
We did get drinks but not snacks.

On a Disney cruise, a comedian was joking that Delta stands for
Don't
Expect
Luggage
To
Arrive

 

[sam_gordon]

Delta definitely has seats you don't have to pay for. (marked as light grey on their seat maps). If you don't want to pay the luggage fee, you can get the American Express Delta Card. It entitles you to one free checked bag for each person in your party (up to 9 I believe), and automatically gets you Zone 2 boarding.

You do get snacks on Delta, the planes have various entertainment (some in seat video, some overhead video, some nothing). All the planes I've been on recently with Delta have had WiFi available (extra charge).

Delta does invariably end up "losing" a piece of our luggage, but they always deliver it to wherever we are staying. We always bring stuff for the first 24 hours in a carryon and "split pack" so everyone has some clothes in each piece of luggage.

 

[DebbieB]

Is this new? We just flew US Airways in November and didn't pay a seat fee.
We did get drinks but not snacks.

On a Disney cruise, a comedian was joking that Delta stands for
Don't
Expect
Luggage
To
Arrive

US has a fee to sit in "choice seats" in the front. Free seats are in the back.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Is this new? We just flew US Airways in November and didn't pay a seat fee.
We did get drinks but not snacks.

On a Disney cruise, a comedian was joking that Delta stands for
Don't
Expect
Luggage
To
Arrive

Did the comedian also point out that USAirways is also described as USScareways.

He appears to be recycling old, used jokes.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

Thanks for the info.

I did do the mock purchase as suggested. Saw that on US Airways no charge except for seats up front.

Delta same no charge except for the seats with extra room.

Thinking we might do Delta even though a little more because I like the extra room on the 4 hour legs for ATL-STT and the return portion of that trip.

Realize all airlines can lose bags---but have a choice of a 1.5 hr layover in ALT or 2.5 hour layover in ALT.....thinking the 2.5 hour is the better choice (seems anytime we have layover we have issues of plane trouble so giving the extra time might be worth it---family will complain but too bad).

Have learned the packing half in one bag...half in the other and taking stuff for a day in carry-on is route to go.

I appreciate the information!

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for the info.

I did do the mock purchase as suggested. Saw that on US Airways no charge except for seats up front.

Delta same no charge except for the seats with extra room.

Thinking we might do Delta even though a little more because I like the extra room on the 4 hour legs for ATL-STT and the return portion of that trip.

Realize all airlines can lose bags---but have a choice of a 1.5 hr layover in ALT or 2.5 hour layover in ALT.....thinking the 2.5 hour is the better choice (seems anytime we have layover we have issues of plane trouble so giving the extra time might be worth it---family will complain but too bad).

Have learned the packing half in one bag...half in the other and taking stuff for a day in carry-on is route to go.

I appreciate the information!

1.5 is plenty in Atlanta, I connect through there all the time. The only time I had my bag delayed is when the first flight was late and they didn't get it to the second ontime, my connection was under an hour to start with. The bag was on the next flight. I was coming home, so I just waited an hour in the airport until the next flight came in. They offered to deliver it, but I just wanted to get it.

 

[scdak]

I fly every month and have for years, I have had 2 lost bags in all that time and neither were on Delta Any airline can lose luggage, damage luggage, have bad customer service but then again, any airline can perform well too. My theory is flying is a crapshoot on any given day but I have to get where I need to go so its a chance I have to take!

OP - the extra leg room on either of the airlines that you are considering is not a great deal of space by any stretch of the imagination, a little yes but not much. As someone else said, its based on the flight itself which is why you saw a price range. The fake booking info is a great idea to give you information on what your flights will cost.

One last thought - Delta cookies are GOOD

 

[DebbieB]

One thing nice about Delta is they have a luggage tracker on their website & phone app. You can type in your claim # and you'll know exactly where your bag is. I've used it while sitting on the plane waiting to leave, I can see that it was loaded and can rest easier. They have a hand held scanner that they use when the luggage is put on the belt.

 

[scdak]

One thing nice about Delta is they have a luggage tracker on their website & phone app. You can type in your claim # and you'll know exactly where your bag is. I've used it while sitting on the plane waiting to leave, I can see that it was loaded and can rest easier. They have a hand held scanner that they use when the luggage is put on the belt.

Thanks, I didn't know that info, might be a reason for me to get a smart phone a little sooner I am one of the few people around that doesn't have one, or that is what all the people I know try to tell me when they see me use my dinosaur flip phone, which works great and I love !!!!

 

[lillykat]

One thing nice about Delta is they have a luggage tracker on their website & phone app. You can type in your claim # and you'll know exactly where your bag is. I've used it while sitting on the plane waiting to leave, I can see that it was loaded and can rest easier. They have a hand held scanner that they use when the luggage is put on the belt.

I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. Great if you see your bags were loaded but might make for a stressful flight if you see they are going somewhere other than your plane/final destination. I would suspect there isn't much you could do at that point but wait until you land.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

One thing nice about Delta is they have a luggage tracker on their website & phone app. You can type in your claim # and you'll know exactly where your bag is. I've used it while sitting on the plane waiting to leave, I can see that it was loaded and can rest easier. They have a hand held scanner that they use when the luggage is put on the belt.

THANKS! Nice to know this!
Can see like others said where it can be a good and bad thing!

 

[ICan'tWait]

We've flown with Delta the last couple years for at least one leg. They have changed our seat assignments for each flight, sometimes just a couple hours before. Something about if they change planes the seat assignments don't switch over is what I was told. Anyway, as an fyi, you have to be pretty diligent with them if you want to keep a particular type of seat or sit with others. It could be that way with all airlines now, just thought I'd share my specific experience with Delta and seat assignments.

 

[Greysword]

Is this new? We just flew US Airways in November and didn't pay a seat fee.
We did get drinks but not snacks.

On a Disney cruise, a comedian was joking that Delta stands for
Don't
Expect
Luggage
To
Arrive

Well, this is old, as Delta has become one of the best airlines for not loosing luggage.

There are several surveys, but here is an AP story about it from Aug 2012:

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/...gs-Rate-of-lost-baggage-by-airline/57014594/1

ETA: A link to the 2012 Air Quality report is:

http://www.airlinequalityrating.com/reports/2012aqr.pdf

within the report for Delta, it says:

Delta Air Lines (DL) Their rate of mishandled baggage (2.66 in 2011 improved from 3.49 in 2010) was below the industry average of 3.35 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I just purchased my tickets this afternoon.

Did NOT have to pay for standard seats on US Airways---they were $60 less per person than Delta and much cheaper than everyone else so that is who we went with. Baggage fees on both airlines was the same and with no seat charge wasn't worth and extra $200+ to fly Delta.

Thanks for the info...wouldn't have known to do mock booking. That really helped!

 

[Greysword]

Hey Zoo, another point to consider may be airline status!

I'm not sure how often you fly or what your airline preference is (in total), but I wanted to throw out to you that you may be able to attain a bit of status with US Airways vs Delta (even though I'd prefer delta, myself).

First, US Airways is in the Star Alliance, which (for those who don't pay much attention), is a global consortium of airlines that share award booking, fare classes, interlined baggage, benefits, and other things. I mention this, since you can fly US Airways, but code the miles to other Star Alliance members (United airlines, for instance).

Within the Star Alliance is the Greek airline, Aegean Airlines, which has a fairly easy qualification standard for attaining elite status in the Star Alliance. If you acquire 4,000 Miles & Bonus points (their frequent flyer program) within 12 months, you will be awarded "Blue" status, which also confers Silver status on all Star Alliance airlines (US Airways and United, currently in the US). Aegean also provides a 1,000 bonus for just signing up for the free program, so only 3,000 miles required for Blue status.

http://en.aegeanair.com/milesandbonus/program-description/benefits/blue-card-privileges/

The benefits of *A Silver in general isn't much, as it allows Priority Wait Listing and Standby across the board; however, airlines can add benefits as they want.

US Airways:
1st checked bag fees waived
Silver Preferred members
Star Alliance Silver members

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/traveltools/baggage/baggagepolicies.html


United:
Premier AccessSM check-in: designated airport check-in lines
Premier Access security lane: exclusive security lanes
Premier Access priority boarding: among the first customers to board
Premier Access priority baggage handling: among the first bags to be delivered

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/products/premieraccess/default.aspx?camp=virtual_expert

Premier Access is available to the following customers:
MileagePlus Premier® members
United First®, United Global FirstSM, United Business® and United BusinessFirst®
Copa Airlines Clase Ejecutiva customers
Star AllianceTM Gold and Silver members
MileagePlus Club and Presidential Plus credit cardmembers

Check one bag at no charge:
Star AllianceTM Silver membership must be valid at time of check-in to qualify for waiver of the first standard checked bag service charge within specified size and weight limits.

https://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/travel/Pages/CheckedBaggage.aspx

It is also easy to keep with Aegean, as you only need to credit one air travel to Aegean within a 36 month period to keep the status current (once every three years).

In the end, flying US Airways and crediting to a Miles & Bonus account (while US Airways is still in the Star Alliance) may net Silver status within the alliance, granting free baggage on United and US, and even more on United! Benefits that can continue to help reduce flight costs every year and make you feel like an elite flyer.

Just wanted to add another variable into the mix

 

[pr surfer]

Choosing between Delta and US Airways is like choosing between Coke and Pepsi. Neither one is good for you, and you know that deep down you really want a Cream Soda (Jetblue) or a Rootbeer (Southwest), but you have to pick the lesser evil at the moment.

Basic strictly on the higher chance of receiving a newer in-flight product (IME), I'd go on Delta.