Need help with flights

[Yvet]

Hi,

We have decided to take the TransAtlantic cruise from Galveston to Barcelona.
We did this in 2010 but then we left from Port Canaveral.

We are a week before the cruise in Orlando and we want to leave from Orlando to Houston on May 16th.
I checked airfare and because most of the carriers are not flying international some of them doesn't ring a bell at me.

I have looked and it looks like Southwest is our best deal, all flights i can find are in the $200 per person range.
But Southwest has the 2 free bags policy.

I also have seen Spirit airlines and there the flight would cost $108 per person but you have to pay (a lot) for bags $20 for the $9 fare club and then $20 for your carry-on $18 for the first checked bag and $25 for the seond checked bag (that would make $73 extra per person) so we would only save around $20 per person compared to Southwest.
Plus i have understood that Spirit isn't a great airline.....

Could you help me out with some advice and tips??

 

[AJKMOM]

We love Southwest Airlines! Haven't heard a lot good about Spirit Airlines, but that could just mean people only write a review when they want to complain.

 

[garneska]

I rode Spirit once. It was not horrible but I would not recommend them. It was just a bit odd and all the additional charges. I just felt very uncomfortable on the flight. I have not been on Southwest in a long time but if choosing between the two, I would go with Southwest. Just remember you want to check in at the 24 hour point so your boarding first. They later you check in the worse your boarding number.

 

[jcb]

you will be better off with Southwest as all major US carriers charge a fee for bags and, since I've seen the bags you carry.

Just go back and read the posts or podcasts Kevin and John have done on the quirks of traveling on Southwest. Boarding is different.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I used Southwest for the first time this past summer and absolutely love them! I honestly rather use them over any other airline right now. The boarding is different. If you go to their website, there's a short video explaining how it works. It's wonderful!

 

[wdwscout]

We used to fly Spirit all the time from Atlantic City to Orlando- loved them. Then they changed everything.
They started all the extra charges, they keeping changing the flight schedules- so that even if you think you have your times set- it probably won't be anything like that when the day to fly arrives.
Plus their cabins are now miserably uncomfortable. Even for a flight of just 2 hours- they are cramped, the seats do not recline and there is almost no padding on the seats, so it's like sitting on a bench.

We have been Southwest Airline fans for a few years now, but they are also starting to change their cabins as well. Putting extra rows in (so less leg room) and making the seats less padded. The new seat back pockets don't hold more than a magazine or 2.

However, given the choice of Spirit or Southwest- no question- choose Southwest!!
In fact, we still prefer Southwest over most airlines even with the changes.

It is also worth spending the extra $10/person for the automatic check-in they have. It gives you as low a boarding number as possible (dependent on how many other passengers have already signed up before you). and that way you do not have to worry about being at a computer EXACTLY 24 hours before flight time to check in and get a decent number.
They do not assign seats. You get a boarding number and everyone lines up in numerical order (very civilized!). First people on board get to choose their seats. So the earlier you are in line, the better.

 

[OKW Lover]

When looking at flights you may also want to be aware that Houston is served by two airports. The major one is Intercontinental (officially George Bush now) and its code is IAH. The secondary one, which is the one Southwest uses, is Hobby and its code is HOU.

We've never used Southwest or Spirit but I'd avoid Spirit based on their limited resources (planes, personnel) because if something goes wrong they will have a hard time recovering.

 

[Yvet]

Thanks for all the help.
It made it all very clear that we need to go with Southwest.

I'm aware of the 2 airports in Houston but thanks for the heads up!!!

The "problem" with boarding isn't a problem for us because of my visual impairment we are allowed to board first.

Again thanks for all the help!!!!

 

[Cherinva]

Yvet....I agree with everyone else on Southwest....It's the only airline for us now...they are on time (if not early) most of the time and the staff is friendly.....