Need advice fast! SW or Delta, need to decide today!

[chris7]

Our cheapest SW flight is 183 each way, so i would guess about $380 with fees for round trip. The big draw for SW was reliability and a non-stop flight. Well Today I see Delta has added a non-stop (Austin to orlando) and it's priced $350 total. The big question is will Delta change my flights before our trip????? we're going 12/17 -12/26. Delta seems like the way to go but not if they are going out of business or will change our flight times. Advice please, I have to book these today.

 

[Tammi67]

Actually, SW would be 402/RT. I asked the same thing a few days ago about Delta. See this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=887654

But luckily SW finally opened their fares for Dec. and I saved $140. I see your Fun Fares and such fares are not available, yet. If it were me, I would hold out and wait and see what SW does as December gets closer. $350/400 is an awful lot for airfare, but is that normal for flights from your city?

 

[chris7]

Yes, unfortunately that is normal. I've been watching fares for months and they average around 350. The only way to get it cheaper is if your can snag a $99 SW internet fare which either do not exist for Austin or sell out in 60 seconds. I feel nervous about just waiting to see what happens with SW specials in the future. So... the eternal question, buy now at the best price availiable or wait and see what happens?

 

[Tinkim]

I'm probably not a good person to ask because I am impatient when it comes to airfare. I bought tickets on Delta for Feb/Mar at $128 R/T pp because that was the cheapest airfare I had even seen. Two years ago I waited patiently for SW and when the sale fares came out most of the times were gone and I paid $230 R/T pp so SW is never a really great bargain for me because the sale fares sell out so quickly. I am not worried about Delta filing for bankruptcy. Last year I few with US Air and they had filed for bankruptcy at the time also. I guess what I am saying is if you see a price you can live with then book it. Gas prices are on the rise and I imagine airline ticket prices will be also. The flight we booked with Delta is now $426 R/T pp. I have been checking for my friend who is going with us and that is the price now. She couldn't afford the tickets at the time. SW will probably be the only hope for her.

 

[SB in KY]

I would book with Delta ASAP...they may chenge flight times a little on you...but if they change more than 60 minutes they will either let you rebook on any available flight at no charge or refund your $$ without penalty. But flying on your dates (VERY busy times, especially the return on 12/26...a nonstop would be a huge advantage. Also on Delta you can check your bags at the hotel for your return trip and get your boarding passes if you use DMEE...which will let you bypass the circus at the Delta counter the day after Xmas.

I have nothing against SW....fly them all the time...but if Delta is cheaper AND non-stop AND has DME hotel check in for the return it seems silly to go with SW.

Even if Delta files for Bankruptcy protection they will still be flying (US Air, United, NW, etc have all been in that boat at various times since 9/11 and all are still flying on schedule)

 

[CarolA]

I would not worry about DL going bankrupt, but they could easily change the flight times. There is generally a flight time adjustment in November. Normally, it's just a few minutes and I would think that is what you will see in November since they just did a major flight time adjustment.

I think this Austin flight is one of their new ones so the airfare you are getting is probably the "intro" sale.

 

[chris7]

Hi - I've been nosing around about Freedom Airlines which is the new Delta carrier for the non-stop flight from Austin to Orlando. They use smaller planes, 2 seats on 1 side, 1 seat on the other. The flights were just introduced this week. I can't get really good intro promo fares because travel for them has to be completed by Dec. 15. But $350 is still better than anything else I can get right now. I'm trying really hard to not make an impulse decision today. I've already changed my mind 10 times, back and forth. My big fear with delta would be that the new non stops don't sell well and they cancel them before our trip.

 

[Disney_1derland]

I'd take southwest over delta but that is because I don't like the way they have delta set up at MCO and for us southwest has always had better service.

 

[chris7]

This is our first trip so I'm not familiar with how Delta is set up at MCO. What don't you like about it?

 

[AngieInOH]

One thing to remember, the Delta price you see includes taxes and fees, basically everything. SW you have to click a few times to get the total price. I didn't realize that until I booked a flight w/ Delta. Another thing you might want to consider is with SW you can rebook and get a CR for the difference. I'm not sure you can do that with Delta.

 

[AngieInOH]

Where did you find anything on Freedom Air? I've looked and haven't found much of anything. I booked a flight through Delta and think they may be the carrier.

 

[chris7]

On the delta res. site there is an asteriks, or something similar, that says "this flight is serviced for Delta by a local carrier, click the flight number for more info". When I clicked the flight number it said the carrier is Freedom. I did a search for Delta non-stop austin orlando, and got a couple of articles about the new non-stop flights to orlando from 7 cities and that Freedom is the carrier.

 

[Disney_1derland]

This is our first trip so I'm not familiar with how Delta is set up at MCO. What don't you like about it?

When we landed at MCO we had to walk down the stairs and across the concrete then enter the building somewhere that resembled the land that time forgot. There were 8 of us on this trip including my dad in a wheelchair and it was a VERY long walk back to civilization.

My biggest problem with it is that we arrived and departed from the old style of gates where you actually go outside onto the concrete and then up and onto the plane. We try to never have to do that especially with someone in a wheelchair. That may not be a big deal for you.

With southwest we get off the plane and are not far at all from the tram to the main terminal. It was the same on departure, it was just much nicer and I didn't feel like I'd been stuffed into some overcrowded basement.

 

[chris7]

Just got back from picking up kids from school and the Delta price had gone up $20. I bought them. I just can't risk everything going sky high and not coming down.

 

[SB in KY]

It will be fine...I think a nonstop on your travel dates will be a big help. It will also be nice not to have to fight for seats on SW....I can only imagine what 12/26 boarding will look like on SW...plus you will be able to check your luggage at the hotel and get your boarding passes if you are using DME.

The small planes aren't bad...but you do have to use the "remote" gates at MCO (think Greyhound bus terminal)...not a biggie if everyone in your travel group is mobile.

I am willing to bet flight times won't change much in November for a new flght like this one.

 

[AngieInOH]

In these small planes is it better sitting in the front or back. My DH insisted on sitting in the back while I wanted to sit in the front. We're flying Delta on a small plane (3 seats across).