Fying One Way on Different Airlines

[DJT]

If we fly to Orlando on one airline and return on a different airline, are we going to be subject to extra scrutiny? My sister and I are thinking about flying down on AirTran because the time of the flight down is better and then flying back on NWA. I think the NWA plane is a small one (D9S) from what I understand and I don't like that. I am not a good flyer and I don't want to fly in a small plane but NWA uses DME back to the airport from the resort and it's cheaper to fly NWA RT or to fly AirTran down and NWA back. It costs more to fly AirTran RT.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I flew on AA down and Delta Song back about a year ago, and had no problems.

 

[goodferry]

In December 05 we flew down Air Tran and back US Air, no problems

 

[Suzyq9241]

My dh and I flew down on SW and back on Airtran....

No problems at all....

 

[DebbieB]

A DC-9 is a full size jet, it's not a regional. My guess is about 100 to 120 seats, depending on which model. Stay away from a CRJ, which is a 50 seat regional jet and is very cramped.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

We flew SW to and Delta home last month and noone blinked.

I hate to fly too and thought I would have a heart attack on the small planes.

We flew home from Atlanta a couple weeks ago on a Canadair Jet, something like 14 rows of 4 or something. So small, we had to walk downstairs onto the tarmac and then climb a ramp into it. It was a REALLY smooth ride even though it was pretty windy when we landed. I am starting to prefer the little ones.

 

[dudspizza]

People have indicated you "may" get extra security, but your mileage may vary. I booked some friend to MCO on Airtran and home on Sun Country and they didn't get any extra security.

As for the smaller jets, I wouldn't worry about it at all. I personally like the smaller jets. They fly smooth and you are never far from the bathroom. I have had much bumpier rides on 737's that the CRJ or ERJ jets I have been on. The only difference is you get up in the air really quick with the smaller jets....

Duds

 

[DJT]

Yikes - get up in the air quicker. The bigger ones get me up in the air quick enough. I don't like the take offs or the landings. . . or the flying either. I just have to keep focused and remember where I'm heading.

The flight back is on an airbus. I think that's a larger plane.

Thanks everyone for your information and comments. They are appreciated!

 

[keishashadow]

I have no problem doing so; however DH & DS (who share the same name) nearly ALWAYs get selected for personal treatment . While I'm left to struggle with all the luggage after it's been x-ray'd. Assume their name is on watch list.

IMO, i'd pay the extra $ for larger plane; smoother ride.

 

[Disneyolic]

I have no idea about the extra security but we are flying on 2 different airlines come this June vacation. The price and times just were not fitting using any single airline. Therefore, we booked USAir down and JetBlue coming home.

I think the trend is veering toward booking one-way flights to meet consumer needs. I never used to see the one-way prices individually whenever we looked online. Now, that is how they are almost always displayed.

I was nervous about booking the 2 different airlines at first but, as you did, posted a thread here and a lot of people reassured me that they have done so in the past and everything went just fine.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I think the NWA plane is a small one (D9S) from what I understand and I don't like that. I am not a good flyer and I don't want to fly in a small plane

A Northwest Airlines D9S (McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30) and an AirTran Boeing 717 are essentially the same size. In fact, they are two versions of the same plane. (Boeing and McDonnell Douglas merged in 1996.)

The Boeing 717 is less than 5 feet longer than a DC-9-30. The cabin has the same diameter.

The big difference is that the Boeing 717 is a much newer aircraft, with much newer technology. Your DC-9-30 could be nearly 40 years old, while your Boeing 717 is likely to be from the 21st Century.

 

[DJT]

Horace, thanks for that information.
How about the planes that Southwest uses? What do you know about those?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Horace, thanks for that information.
How about the planes that Southwest uses? What do you know about those?

Southwest uses Boeing 737-300 and Boeing 737-700 aircraft. These two models are quite similar from a passenger perspective.

The overall size of these Boeing 737 models is somewhat greater than a DC-9-30 or a Boeing 717 -- but not enough for the 737 to feel noticeably larger.

The DC-9-30, Boeing 717, Boeing 737-300, and Boeing 737-700 aircraft are not small aircraft. They're not huge twin-aisle jumbo-jets like the Boeing 747 or 777, but I wouldn't call them small either. The DC9-30 and 717 are longer but narrower than the 737-300 and 737-700. In economy, the DC-9 and 717 have 2+3 (or 3+2 depending on the airline) seating. The 737-300 and 737-700 have 3+3 seating. These aircraft all have two jet engines; the engines are at the back of the DC9-30 and 717, and under each wing of the 737-300 and 737-700.

In comparison, the Regional Jets (such as the CRJ-700) are much smaller and feel much smaller.

 

[DJT]

Good information. Thank you!

How about the age of the Southwest aircraft?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Good information. Thank you!

How about the age of the Southwest aircraft?

From Average Fleet Age for Selected U.S. Carriers (Last Update April 2006):

AirTran -- Average Age: 3.7 years / Fleet Size: 108 aircraft
Northwest -- Average Age: 10.8 years / Fleet Size: 266 aircraft
Southwest -- Average Age: 9.4 years / Fleet Size: 445 aircraft

Of courses, averages are just averages.

AirTran has a genuinely young fleet. In addition to Boeing 717, AirTran also has new Boeing 737-700 aircraft (primarily for AirTran's longer routes).

In the case of Northwest, their DC-9-30 fleet has a much older average age than the rest of their fleet.

Southwest has aircraft ranging in age from early 737-300 models to brand new 737-700 models. Southwest has retired all of their 737-200 aircraft. I was on a Southwest roundtrip a couple of weeks ago. One aircraft was older and one looked brand new -- but both were very clean inside, with leather seats.

Properly maintained aircraft can fly for many decades. The primary reason for retiring older aircraft is because newer aircraft can be operated more efficiently, with lower fuel costs and maintenance costs per passenger-mile. But new aircraft cost a bundle upfront, so the airlines have to perform a balancing act between operating costs and aircraft purchase/lease costs.