Preferred Airlines

[muppets3d]

I usually fly whatever's cheapest for the dates/times I want. From what I've seen the perks of loyalty to any particular airline aren't really worth the possible added cost and inconvenience of locking oneself in.

Honestly when we had our owner's locker still, we flew Frontier or Spirit just with a packpack. We had changes of clothes etc in our locker. All we needed to carry in our backpacks was seasonal stuff (July 4th shirt for example) and essentials like medications that you shouldn't keep in an owner's locker. I don't really need my airline to provide me a coke zero or bag of pretzels, and fundamentally that's all Delta offers over Frontier if you don't need the carry-on bag.

We drive most of the time now since we're preferring longer trips and so cancelled the owner's locker. If we go back to flying I imagine we'll get the owner's locker back and flying the budget carriers.

The fallout of Southwest's recent changes is yet to be determined but my guess is they're going to lose a lot of business to the lower cost airlines now since there's really not much differentiating them anymore.

 

[Girlstar30]

I used to say Id do SSR for Universal, but now with Epic Universe and the new accommodations I would for sure stay on site there.

I wish they offered the express passes for epic too waa waa. Were staying at portofino and im so excited never stayed at a Universal hotel, def going to be comparing it to riv

 

[Girlstar30]

I usually fly whatever's cheapest for the dates/times I want. From what I've seen the perks of loyalty to any particular airline aren't really worth the possible added cost and inconvenience of locking oneself in.

Honestly when we had our owner's locker still, we flew Frontier or Spirit just with a packpack. We had changes of clothes etc in our locker. All we needed to carry in our backpacks was seasonal stuff (July 4th shirt for example) and essentials like medications that you shouldn't keep in an owner's locker. I don't really need my airline to provide me a coke zero or bag of pretzels, and fundamentally that's all Delta offers over Frontier if you don't need the carry-on bag.

We drive most of the time now since we're preferring longer trips and so cancelled the owner's locker. If we go back to flying I imagine we'll get the owner's locker back and flying the budget carriers.

The fallout of Southwest's recent changes is yet to be determined but my guess is they're going to lose a lot of business to the lower cost airlines now since there's really not much differentiating them anymore.

I agree everything that made them good is gone and with all the connecting flights you have to do i am looking elsewhere

 

[Genie+]

I need to look into these airline credit cards now for sure, I try to avoid credit cards as I love to shop

Lol, that’s why they attach all these perks! Hoping to snag the high APR% on those extra purchases

I corrected my original post about the free checked luggage - you do need to purchase the tickets with the card to get free checked luggage.

 

[disney-inspired]

As a california native i just love the smaller airlines, Lgb being my favorite its so much faster

Very much agree but for me it's Burbank

 

[disney-inspired]

IThe new rules are a bit confusing, they count the one year change timeline from when you originally booked and not from when you actually change it which I wasnt too happy about either, one thing is for sure, I sure would not like to work for them right now!

Yes, I found out this change when I had to move my flight earlier this year. I had originally booked a Dec 2024 flight in June 2024. Well those travel plans changed so I had tentatively moved the ticket to June 2025. I went to try and move it to August 2025, for my upcoming wdw/USO trip, and it said the last date to use it would be 6/10/25 - exactly 1 year from when I booked it.

It worked out because my sister & her family moved out of state so I was flying w/ them to help them get settled.

 

[Girlstar30]

Yes, I found out this change when I had to move my flight earlier this year. I had originally booked a Dec 2024 flight in June 2024. Well those travel plans changed so I had tentatively moved the ticket to June 2025. I went to try and move it to August 2025, for my upcoming wdw/USO trip, and it said the last date to use it would be 6/10/25 - exactly 1 year from when I booked it.

It worked out because my sister & her family moved out of state so I was flying w/ them to help them get settled.

They should have more leniency for people that booked before the new policy imo, but they are staying firm on "we announced these new policies were coming well ahead"

The problem is on their announcement emails they didnt announce that the 1 year change would start from original flight date, one change on one leg would change bag policy for entire flight etc. They have really pissed off their loyal fan base

 

[juliebee]

We're in Oregon. Our preferred airline is Alaska. We made the change from Southwest about 7-8 years ago, primarily because Southwest was mostly only connecting flights, and with wife now needing a wheelchair, that became difficult. Alaska has the only non-stop flight from PDX-MCO of any airline. Great timing on that flight as well. For the past 4 years, Alaska has been cheaper than SWA. So pretty much a no-brainer. Why pay more to spend 10-12 hours traveling on SWA, when we can get there in <6 on Alaska?

Steve

Same. We are in Oregon too. Alaska is who we've use for the last several years. SWA prices are always more expensive and have a layover. Alaska also has several direct flights each day to SNA when we go to Disneyland. I have their credit card to avoid the baggage fees and get that companion pass.

 

[Fangorn]

Same. We are in Oregon too. Alaska is who we've use for the last several years. SWA prices are always more expensive and have a layover. Alaska also has several direct flights each day to SNA when we go to Disneyland. I have their credit card to avoid the baggage fees and get that companion pass.

Yep. Done the SNA thing as well. Have a son that lives in Burbank and we can usually find a nonstop to BUR that works for us (although BUR doesn't work well in general with the wheelchair, since the terminal is only a single level)

Steve

 

[KPeterso]

Anything to avoid LAX

I don't think LAX is too bad! I live right by SNA and I go up to LAX for my trips to fly direct to MCO. My preferred airline is Delta. I find fares cheaper with them than I ever did with Southwest (which had stops from both SNA or LAX to MCO). I got the Delta Preferred Gold AMEX (I think that is what it is called) and as long as I book the airfare for my party on that card, the first bags fly free for myself and up to 6 or 8 in my party). All the seatbacks always have tvs and that helps make the flight not seem so bad.

 

[Chuck S]

As a california native i just love the smaller airlines, Lgb being my favorite its so much faster

Yep, I grew up in Lynwood, LGB was always our favorite airport. Now that I live in Texas, there are only SAT and AUS available, and I'm closer to SAT...

 

[Memorymakerfor4]

We're sticking with Southwest for now. We're 2/3 of the way there for next year's A List and Companion Pass so free checked bags aren't an issue. Our local airport has direct flights too. I want to see how much these extra legroom seats are going to cost though. Because they reduced legroom in the rest of the seats we're pretty much forced into these as my husband's knees were already a tight fit.

If we leave it'll probably be for Delta as that's what my husband usually flies for work.

 

[MattB2G]

We fly Jetblue almost exclusively from BDL to MCO, they usually have the most direct flights and best times. But..... we did fly Southwest for our flight to MCO this April and it was a much better experience...... we actually left at the designated time we were supposed to for once.

 

[davidhr]

We fly Jetblue almost exclusively from BDL to MCO, they usually have the most direct flights and best times. But..... we did fly Southwest for our flight to MCO this April and it was a much better experience...... we actually left at the designated time we were supposed to for once.

BDL team!

My big complaint with southwest is their inconsistent schedule. Sometimes we get only one direct flight at an inconvenient time. I also like to fly a day early in the late afternoon or evening, and they rarely have flights after 5PM

 

[Smugpugmug]

I'm not loyal to any airline. I'll chose whichever airline has nonstop flights to my destination and have the best times that work for me. To Orlando, that's usually Southwest (there's also Spirit but I will never book a flight with them). Flying to LAX in September and only chose United because I had travel credit on my account. From personal experience, Southwest's customer service is better than United but who know how long that will be true with the new changes.

 

[MattB2G]

BDL team!

My big complaint with southwest is their inconsistent schedule. Sometimes we get only one direct flight at an inconvenient time. I also like to fly a day early in the late afternoon or evening, and they rarely have flights after 5PM

Unfortunately we have had a few bad experiences with Jetblue out of BDL in the afternoon with delays. One time we ended up not getting to MCO till midnight and were supposed to get in at 8:30pm. But over all since we have a ton of Jetblue points we use them the most, still haven't paid for a Jetblue flight since 2018 I think.

Love BDL, it is a great airport!

 

[nephykupo]

In the Dallas area so our options are SWA, Frontier, Spirit, and AA. I've only had bad experiences with Spirit. We already started getting AA cards. As of right now, SWA is what we always use for MCO but will keep an eye on AA. With companion pass and free luggage with the cc, SWA is still not a bad option.

 

[smjj]

Ours for years was SouthWest. Not any more for a few reasons. One is the baggage fee now. The big one for us is they cut back on the non-stops out of and back to Indy when we fly into MCO, a big deal for us(we hate layovers). They are now getting rid of open seating which is a good thing I think as it was badly abused anyway. We now shop around and for our upcoming flight into Fort Lauderdale next week for a DCL DVC Member's cruise even with having to pay for our bags it still beats SW and they have a non-stop that just fit our schedule. This is Allegiant and they had more non-stops. I have not checked on them for MCO but if they have a non-stop we will probably go with them again..smjj

 

[DonMacGregor]

Delta. All day, every day. Multiple non-stops to and from LAX, fantastic lounges, excellent customer service (Platinum Medallion member), clean planes, free bags for everyone with status, and plenty of ways to earn miles. Won't fly anyone else for business of pleasure unless I absolutely have to.

ETA: I live in SoCal (Orange County, and about 20 minutes from SNA), and I still prefer flying in and out of LAX for two big reasons: every single other carrier either has one flight a day at best (the Breezes and Frontiers of the world with 3" of leg room and those are seasonal), or you're faced with at least one layover. None of the majors has any kind of regular service into/out of SNA, ONT, or LGB. I'd rather spend an extra 45 minutes getting to and from LAX, versus taking 2 or 3 hours longer with the layover, plus the hassle of deplaning and re-boarding, getting from gate to gate, and all of the other crap that goes with a non-direct flight. Plus, 9 times out of 10, the return flight to the West Coast typically gets in after rush hour, and if I'm travelling with family, there is the carpool lane.

 

[Headless]

Like others We fly Alaska As We've live in the PNW right now. We did our first two trips with Southwest and at the time my wife's service dog went with us and they had the best policies for traveling with the service dog over everyone but the layovers are killer. With the dog no longer coming (she spends the time with family) we made the move to Alaska for the direct flight options. Plus we can red eye which is a game changer and the only way I will go while we still live out here.

Biggest bonus in my eyes, I ... knock on wood... have never had much of a wait at the Alaska desk. I've seen mornings where Delta's line is outside of there rope off area and I just walked up to the Alaska rep and gave my bag. while tucked in a corner it's not to bad of a walk to security and it's on the Mears side of the terminal.

I had one hiccup with Alaska, last year a storm here at Seatac caused all of these delays and cancellations and I got caught up in it and didn't move fast enough to secure an earlier flight (lesson learned there) so I had to fly home Delta which wasn't the end of the world and was a direct flight. Thankfully I was on a solo trip meeting family.