Favorite Airlines

[Tommy_B]

We are starting to plan our Oct 2012 trip to DLR and we are from Vancouver, BC but we are going to fly out of Seattle (half the price for flights). There are some great deals but I am wondering are some airlines preferred over others? Are there certain ones to avoid? This is the list I am looking at:

American Airlines
Virgin America
Delta
UNITED
US Airways
Continental
Alaska Airlines

I avoid United, US Air and Continental.

I like Virgin and Alaska.

I fly American and Delta a lot and they have good days and bad days.

I fly Southwest on short haul routes like OC to Vegas, PHX or SFO.

 

[SeattleRedBear]

If memory serves me correct, Alaska (actually Horizon) is pulling it's SEA/LGB flights so if you really want to fly into LGB out of Seattle, then I'd recommend JetBlue. Personally, I prefer to fly into SNA...flights are a little more expensive, but the rental cars are SOOOO much cheaper and if all you're doing is DLR, the Disneyland express gets you to the resort affordably.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

We always prefer Southwest because it flies into SNA (John Wayne). That is a modern, sleek, easy to navigate airport that is closest to Disneyland (closer than Long Beach, and MUCH closer than LAX). There are plenty of cabs and van-cabs lined up waiting to take you to Disneyland at a fixed rate from SNA.

Next choice is Jet Blue, but it flies into Long Beach. This is an airport that looks like grandma's basement on a good day. It is all portables and out door walk ways. They don't even have gateways to the plaine--you have to go outside and walk up or down a movable stairwell. The checked luggage is slow to come out (not that I blame the poor people that work there!), and the car rental place (also located in a trailer/portable) is frustratingly slow.

We only take Jet Blue into Long Beach if it is remarkably cheaper than Southwest into SNA.

 

[lcasa]

I used to like Jet Blue until I had to fly from Long Beach to Chicago and the flight was cancelled - all the gate agents disappeared for 30 min or so and then came back with NO ideas on what to do with everyone ( only 1 other flight that day and booked). They suggested I fly from Long Beach to NEW YORK and HOPE to get a standby from New York to Chicago!
Then they wouldn't refund my money - gave me credit. Then I tried to use the credit and my mother in law passed away the day I was to fly - they charged me a very large change fee.

I've spoken to others that were stranded by Jet Blue as well.

So my advice is pick an airline with a LOT of flights in or around the area you're traveling to. If Jet Blue flew from LA or SNA I could have gone there when the Long Beach flight was cancelled. So I stick with the majors now.

 

[DizMe]

I used to like Jet Blue until I had to fly from Long Beach to Chicago and the flight was cancelled - all the gate agents disappeared for 30 min or so and then came back with NO ideas on what to do with everyone ( only 1 other flight that day and booked). They suggested I fly from Long Beach to NEW YORK and HOPE to get a standby from New York to Chicago!
Then they wouldn't refund my money - gave me credit. Then I tried to use the credit and my mother in law passed away the day I was to fly - they charged me a very large change fee.

I've spoken to others that were stranded by Jet Blue as well.

So my advice is pick an airline with a LOT of flights in or around the area you're traveling to. If Jet Blue flew from LA or SNA I could have gone there when the Long Beach flight was cancelled. So I stick with the majors now.

Very similar experience to lcasa. I flew jet blue for the first time last Aug, Sacramento - Long Beach. The trip down was very nice and I loved the plane. HOWEVER...my flight back was cancelled. No notification, no reason given, and the only way I found out was when I tried to check in online and got a message telling me I couldn't check in and to go to the airline counter at the airport. I called instead and learned about the cancellation. Since there were only 2 flight to Sacramento each day from LGB, and I was on the second, I was out of luck for getting home. They couldn't even guarantee I'd get home the next day. They don't rebook you on another airline. They simply offered me the next flight they could fit me on or a refund for the return portion of my flight. Since I'd gotten a good sale fare, that didn't come close to covering the cost to rebook on SW.

So...I will never again use JetBlue. Their customer service was awful. I love Southwest, though, and they offer so many flights a day that it's a much more secure airline. I love their policies that allow you to make changes with no charge and will credit you if the price drops.

I also MUCH prefer SNA to LGB. It's a lot cheaper to get to DLR from SNA, too. It only costs $7 each way on SuperShuttle.

 

[bekkiz]

Southwest does not offer non-stops from SEA to Southern CA, which is the main reason we don't fly them there unless it's a crazy sale. We usually pick Alaska into SNA.

 

[cari12]

Thanks for all the responses. Now how do you know when to book and what a great price is? I see flights BLI to SNA return for around $240 pp including taxes with Alaska. These are non-refundable so do we take these or can we do much better for our October trip?

 

[Tommy_B]

Thanks for all the responses. Now how do you know when to book and what a great price is? I see flights BLI to SNA return for around $240 pp including taxes with Alaska. These are non-refundable so do we take these or can we do much better for our October trip?

With gas prices threatening to spike due to uncertainty in the region, I'd grab them now. Bird in the hand.....

 

[NiceOneSimba]

We always try to fly into John Wayne (SNA) whenever possible, but I have found that often, the fares into LAX are more reasonable. Many of the "low cost" airlines only fly into LAX. Yes, it takes longer to get to DL. Yes, it's not that nice of an airport. But if you're going to use SuperShuttle or the Disneyland Express, I don't think it's that big of a deal. I know I'd be willing to spend an extra 30 minutes on a shuttle if it meant saving several hundred dollars.

As for airlines:

Virgin America often has sales out of Seattle for under $99 each way. (Sometimes as low as $59 each way!) You do have to fly into LAX, though, and you usually have to change planes. But the savings can be worth it. Our favorite!

We flew Allegiant from Bellingham into San Diego last February. It is cheap, but you literally have to pay for everything (including a pop/soda and selecting a seat). You might want to remember that when comparing fares.

Alaska also has a million options, and usually has some great sales. A solid choice.

We like Southwest, too, mostly because of the free checked bags. A slightly higher rate on Southwest almost always ends up being a better deal becuase of the baggage savings. You'll have to change planes, though.

Hope it helps!

 

[OFF TO WDW!]

I LOVE JetBlue, but being they are not on your list of options, what I can tell you is what airlines NOT to fly. A recent report came out about customer service and satisfaction and continental/Untited finished last ( or next to last). Plus that have only a 31 inch seat pitch, which means very tight leg room for most people.

 

[Davids-Coco]

Thanks for all the responses. Now how do you know when to book and what a great price is? I see flights BLI to SNA return for around $240 pp including taxes with Alaska. These are non-refundable so do we take these or can we do much better for our October trip?

Alaska will give you a credit if the price drops before your trip for your dates and flights. So I would buy it and if it drops, you are still set.

 

[c&m]

Thanks for all the responses. Now how do you know when to book and what a great price is? I see flights BLI to SNA return for around $240 pp including taxes with Alaska. These are non-refundable so do we take these or can we do much better for our October trip?

That sounds like a great deal, esp since you're flying out of BLI, not SEATAC, and you're flying into SNA, not LAX. Parking at BLI is about $9/day. At SEATAC, MasterPark garage charges about $13.99/day (with coupon). Also BLI is wayyyy closer than the drive to SEATAC. Wish I had a crystal ball, so I can tell you whether to buy now or wait it out , but if you're satisfied with paying $240, you should go for it. If you wait it out, you may not get the flight times you want or even worse, the price of fuel will go up.

We like Alaska Air. We have their Mileage Plan and have gotten 50% off our airfare by using our Mileage Plan points. I also have their MasterCard so collect points that way and also use the companion airfare perk.

We also like Jet Blue and Virgin - but rarely fly with them as we like to collect our points with Alaska Air.

We've also flown from SEATAC-LGB on Alaska Air. We managed one time to get $59 fares each way on this route. LGB is a fave of ours. It's a much smaller airport where you land, get your baggage, and collect your rental car, all within a 2 minute walk of each other. LGB is about a 25 min drive from Anaheim.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[cari12]

Alaska will give you a credit if the price drops before your trip for your dates and flights. So I would buy it and if it drops, you are still set.

Wow, this is good to know. Thanks! Do I have to keep an eye on things and ask for a credit or will they automatically credit us?

 

[c&m]

Wow, this is good to know. Thanks! Do I have to keep an eye on things and ask for a credit or will they automatically credit us?

You have to keep an eye out. Airfares fluctuate often. So you have to check often. Note that they don't give you back a cash refund. It's a voucher to be used within a certain time frame for your next flight on Alaska.

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Wow, this is good to know. Thanks! Do I have to keep an eye on things and ask for a credit or will they automatically credit us?

There is a service called LMOffice FlightTracker that does this type of price tracking for Alaska Airline flights. Works on a paypal donation system, but I've saved maybe a couple hundred dollars over the last five years or so. http://www.lmoffice.com/FlightTracker/

Because Alaska doesn't charge for rebooking the same ticket at a lower fare, it's definitely worth it to buy your fare ASAP and then get a credit if the fare is lowered.

 

[Judy from Boise]

My favorite is Horizon (the small plane option for Alaska) because of free beer and wine !

 

[PrincessSitka]

Alaska Airlines