Flying AA vs. SW....

[hannah_03]

I'm almost ready to book flights with AA since SW rates are ridiculous for my dates. My only real question is how reliable are flight times with AA?

ETA: Oh and if I book (2) seats, they will be assigned together, right?

TIA

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I see that SWA round ticket price is $380 and AA is $360 plus baggage fee's of $25 for the first bag so that would be $50 round trip.
. I would go with SWA because they don't charge baggage fees, if the price of your flights drop you can rebook your flight and get a refund in the form of a travel vouchure, and the is no change fee charge.

 

[WicketsMom]

Check the baggage costs on AA and calculate that into your total price when you are comparing. Southwest does not charge for bags and does not pre-assign seats. On the other airlines, you select your seats online when you book and can get two together if there are still some available.

Southwest is very reliable for on-time in my experience. Had a bad experience with AA last October when they cancelled the return portion of our trip from Cozumel and we had to shell out for an additional day in the hotel to get back. But, we are flying them again next month!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would fly AA over SWA any day.

I book (2) seats, they will be assigned together, right?

On AA, you can chose your own seat location.

 

[Jestocost]

AA and all of the legacy carriers will make schedule changes on about a quarterly basis that could affect previously scheduled flights. These could be changing departure times by a few minutes one way or another, changing equipment, or making more substantial changes that have a material impact on your travel plans. The farther out you book your flights the greater the chance that you will get hit with one or more changes. It's impossible to predict how likely it is, however.

If the change is significant, AA should allow you to rebook on a different flight--assuming there is a better option for you, which is not always the case--or to cancel without penalty. If you want decide you want to make changes, however, there will be a $150 per ticket change fee and you will have to pay the difference if the flights you change to are higher priced (or you will get a credit if it more than $150 less than your original fare, which is not likely). Note also that AA will charge $25 for the first checked bag.

AA will give you assigned seats and should put two passengers on the same reservation together if there are two seat together that aren't restricted to frequent fliers or subject to additional charges. If they change flights or equipment, however, they may or may not be able to keep those seats together. You can go online to check seat assignments and choose different seats if any are available that are preferable to the ones that are assigned.

SWA does not usually make changes to flight times or cancel flights once their schedule is out and they only have one kind of equipment. They don't assign seats, however. They also don't charge for changes (other than any difference in fares) and they allow two checked bags for free.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Me too... (no comments from the peanut gallery!)

I would fly AA over SWA any day.

 

[hannah_03]

I see that SWA round ticket price is $380 and AA is $360 plus baggage fee's of $25 for the first bag so that would be $50 round trip.
. I would go with SWA because they don't charge baggage fees, if the price of your flights drop you can rebook your flight and get a refund in the form of a travel vouchure, and the is no change fee charge.

The flights are $763 out of OKC on SWA and even higher from Dallas cuz the cheaper flights are gone already.

The flights are $472 out of DFW on AA plus $60 parking, $50 luggage fees (only need to check 1 bag) and around $30 gas r/t.

So I'll save $150 going with AA.

I have only flown SWA in the past but their rates are not so good right now

 

[MAH4546]

Here's one (of many) reasons I never fly Southwest (as it happens to be, I only fly AA): if your flight is cancelled for whatever reason, such as bad weather or mechanical, Southwest will not rebook you on another airline. American Airlines will.

 

[happiestgrl]

Are you set on your 10/10 departure date? AA has a flight on Tuesday, 10/11 for $77.

What are your concerns about flying AA vs. Southwest? Maybe we can help.

 

[happiestgrl]

If nothing else, you should feel good about supporting your fellow Okies. AA is the largest private employer in the state of OK!

 

[hannah_03]

If nothing else, you should feel good about supporting your fellow Okies. AA is the largest private employer in the state of OK!

Ha! Yeah my husband builds aircraft parts here in OK for AA and Delta

 

[hannah_03]

Are you set on your 10/10 departure date? AA has a flight on Tuesday, 10/11 for $77.

What are your concerns about flying AA vs. Southwest? Maybe we can help.

I'm actually leaving on 10/15. I can't leave earlier since Fall break is that next week My birthday is 10/11 though. That would be cool

My main concern is I've never had a SWA flight canceled before and didn't know if AA was known for that or not. I don't want to be stranded in FL LOL.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Really.. the prices quoted in my post were looked up yesterday and are much cheaper than what you have written. Or are the prices you have quoted for both of you? Better double check those prices. I know SWA is running a sale that ends today so better have another look.

The flights are $763 out of OKC on SWA and even higher from Dallas cuz the cheaper flights are gone already.

The flights are $472 out of DFW on AA plus $60 parking, $50 luggage fees (only need to check 1 bag) and around $30 gas r/t.

So I'll save $150 going with AA.

I have only flown SWA in the past but their rates are not so good right now

 

[hannah_03]

Really.. the prices quoted in my post were looked up yesterday and are much cheaper than what you have written. Or are the prices you have quoted for both of you? Better double check those prices. I know SWA is running a sale that ends today so better have another look.

Those are total prices for both of us and looked up yesterday as well.

Here's the current info from today.

SWA from OKC is $169/pp each way = $770.40
SWA Dallas to MCO is $199/pp and SWA MCO to Dallas is $96 = $647.60

As I stated before I only need to check 1 bag so that is $50. Parking for 6 days is $60. And gas to drive to/from Dallas is around $30.

I don't want to drive to Dallas but I will to save $160

AA from Dallas to MCO is $107 each way = $470.80 + $140 = $610.80

AA vs. SWA (OKC) = $159.60 savings
AA vs. SWA (DAL) = $36.80 savings (not much but diff here LOL)

If my math is wrong please tell me how

 

[ford91exploder]

I'm actually leaving on 10/15. I can't leave earlier since Fall break is that next week My birthday is 10/11 though. That would be cool

My main concern is I've never had a SWA flight canceled before and didn't know if AA was known for that or not. I don't want to be stranded in FL LOL.

AA cancels flights at the drop of a hat and they don't treat people well once they have been cancelled., I fly for a living and usually take SWA because of its outstanding on-time performance and I dont get whacked for bags and if I need to change my flight i don't get charged $150 to make a change and I need to change flights OFTEN because customers need me to be there.

Last year I was flying to ATL for FIRST Robotics (I'm a mentor) AA cancelled flight because of WX, Said they could not accomodate me for 3 days unless I paid $900 additional fare for next available flight, Needless to say team did without me at the Nationals. (For this flight DL from BOS/MHT was outrageous and AA and DL are about equally bad service/policy wise) and after a full day week of travel did not want to drive the 3 hrs from BHM which was the nearest SWA airport.

I'd stick with SWA since it's your vacation I know it costs more but you WILL get there at the price paid.

 

[hannah_03]

AA cancels flights at the drop of a hat and they don't treat people well once they have been cancelled., I fly for a living and usually take SWA because of its outstanding on-time performance and I dont get whacked for bags and if I need to change my flight i don't get charged $150 to make a change and I need to change flights OFTEN because customers need me to be there.

Last year I was flying to ATL for FIRST Robotics (I'm a mentor) AA cancelled flight because of WX, Said they could not accomodate me for 3 days unless I paid $900 additional fare for next available flight, Needless to say team did without me at the Nationals. (For this flight DL from BOS/MHT was outrageous and AA and DL are about equally bad service/policy wise) and after a full day week of travel did not want to drive the 3 hrs from BHM which was the nearest SWA airport.

I'd stick with SWA since it's your vacation I know it costs more but you WILL get there at the price paid.

This is true.

I'm just trying to trim something somewhere since Disney isn't giving out any codes/discounts yet and I'm looking at a full price vacation for the first time

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

AA cancels flights at the drop of a hat

This simply isn't true. Checking the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for Jan-Mar 2011, AA canceled 4.80% of their flights. That's hardly canceling flights "at the drop of a hat."

For comparison, during the same time period, JetBlue canceled 5.24% of their flights, SWA canceled 2.43%, United 3.0%, and Delta 4.9%.

If you're going to make these types of statements, please provide facts to back them up.

http://www.bts.gov/xml/ontimesummar...marySelect.xml?tname=OntimeSummaryAirlineData

I'd stick with SWA since it's your vacation I know it costs more but you WILL get there at the price paid.

Except for the 2.43% of the time (Jan-Mar 2011), when SWA canceled their flights.

 

[jacdolfin]

I have flown multiple airlines. I have not flown SWA in a long time but I have used AA recently. As with any carrier you can have a bad experience. That being said when i traveld to MCO in 2009 with two kids and my flight was delayed bc of mechancial problems they fed us, gave us a voucher and tried to make us as comfy as could be. They rearranged flights for us bc of their delay that we could get home on the last flight out. Yes my car seat got soaked in the rain but customer service was great. They apologized and gave me enough miles for a free oneway trip to anywhere in the US I wanted. IF you have a problem talk to them. Most of the time if your calm they will help you in a good way

If its a cost issue I am not loyal to any one carrier. I go with whoever is cheapest at the time, but that is me. If it were me Id fly whoever was cheaper and save money for the vacation. Try this website www.airfarewatchdog.com

Just FYI there is a 20% off coupon with Jetblue right now if you fly between certain dates in Sept and Oct you might be able to check it out. Best of luck have a great trip