Recent experiences with the top 4 airlines

[EACarlson]

In the last 2 months I've flown each of the top four airlines (American, Delta, Southwest and United) at least once. All except Delta were trips to Florida.
I didn't realize just how much American and United treat customers on the plane as though they need to hard sell their credit cards at every opportunity. From the safety announcements to the notification to put your tray tables away, I got inundated with pleas to apply for the credit card, United even had an ad before the start of the safety briefing video that stopped what I was watching.
Don't count on Wi-Fi from any of them. Delta worked pretty well, but each of the other three had at least one big hiccup with their wi-fi. Either not following through on their claims or it just not working well.
Any notifications you get about a gate change, give it 5 minutes before you start heading to the new gate. Delta, United and American all changed my gate and within 5 minutes changed it again. United changed it 4 times in 12 minutes while I was sitting at ORD.
Checked bags with all 4, no issues with any of the 4, other than the variable pricing. American charged me $30, Delta and United both charge $35, or Delta would if I didn't hold one of their CCs.
I think American's boarding was the easiest to understand, yes there were a lot of groups, but I feel that made them manageable, you knew about how long you had and weren't trying to squeeze through 50 other people when MC1 was called for Delta or Group 4 for United.
American had a better snack and drink service than any of the others. They were the only one to actually give me the whole can of pop rather than half of it in a glass with a whole lot of ice. They also gave me all of the "snack" options without asking. Delta only had one snack option and United made me choose, both were willing to sell me something else.
Only had an issue with cleanliness on the plane with United. Sat down in my seat to find trash in the tray table and document holder.

 

[disneyseniors]

We always fly Delta and have never had a problem of any kind. Maybe we hit it on "good" days,but I don't think so. I do think all carriers are having some scheduling and cancellation difficulties right now, Delta included.
That is why we decided to drive to Florida this time and not fly. I have never flown with those other carriers.

 

[a1tinkfans]

How did u determine they were the Top 4? Was it based on revenue or customer service. Just curious.

 

[sam_gordon]

American had a better snack and drink service than any of the others. They were the only one to actually give me the whole can of pop rather than half of it in a glass with a whole lot of ice. They also gave me all of the "snack" options without asking. Delta only had one snack option and United made me choose, both were willing to sell me something else.

I flew American in November and Delta a number of times since then. On Delta, I had one flight that they gave me both snacks, another flight where I got two things of cookies (my choice). I do wonder if you asked to keep the can or for additional snacks.

I did get on one Delta flight and asked the FA at the boarding door if I could get some bottled water before heading to my seat. She asked me for my seat number (still don't know why) and gave me two of the little bottles.

 

[petrola]

I've heard so much about Southwest - although we've never actually flown them because they don't fly from our home airport to our destinations without stopping somewhere. Delta is our go to airline because my husband flies Delta exclusively for business travel and so he doesn't really care to fly another airline. We did use American to fly to Miami last year, and I've had better experiences, but very hard to judge one airline to another when you have status on one and not the other. Delta's wifi is usually pretty good.

my 8 year old prefers watching movies on the 'seat back' screen to his ipad - but in my experience most of the seat back screens are on Jet Blue? oh and Jet blue for the snack win over the Delta cookies..... lol

 

[lorimt]

I hate the American Airlines credit card sales pitch.

 

[sam_gordon]

my 8 year old prefers watching movies on the 'seat back' screen to his ipad - but in my experience most of the seat back screens are on Jet Blue? oh and Jet blue for the snack win over the Delta cookies..... lol

Delta seems to have a number of aircraft with the seat back screens. Those that do allow you to play games with people in other seats, in addition to watching TV/movies.

 

[rangerxenos]

I pretty much always fly Southwest as they're cheaper than the other airlines that go direct from CT to MCO. We try to use them for most of our trips, two checked bags free is a nice perk for us!

I've never had any issues at all.

 

[petrola]

Delta seems to have a number of aircraft with the seat back screens. Those that do allow you to play games with people in other seats, in addition to watching TV/movies.

yes this is true. We seem to get a lot of the older planes on the routes we fly though so there are times when they don't have them. American didn't have them either on our flight from Mia to LGA.

 

[EACarlson]

How did u determine they were the Top 4? Was it based on revenue or customer service. Just curious.

Top 4 based on number of passengers, revenue would be the same.

I flew American in November and Delta a number of times since then. On Delta, I had one flight that they gave me both snacks, another flight where I got two things of cookies (my choice). I do wonder if you asked to keep the can or for additional snacks.

I did get on one Delta flight and asked the FA at the boarding door if I could get some bottled water before heading to my seat. She asked me for my seat number (still don't know why) and gave me two of the little bottles.

I did not ask for anything specific. I was proactively given the full can on American and both of the snack options. I've had that happen before on Delta but did not on my most recent trips.

my 8 year old prefers watching movies on the 'seat back' screen to his ipad - but in my experience most of the seat back screens are on Jet Blue? oh and Jet blue for the snack win over the Delta cookies..... lol

I believe all of Delta's mainline planes have the seat back screens. All of them that I've been on in the last 10 years have. Only a few United planes have it and American I don't really know, this was my first time flying American and it did not.

 

[petrola]

Top 4 based on number of passengers, revenue would be the same.

I did not ask for anything specific. I was proactively given the full can on American and both of the snack options. I've had that happen before on Delta but did not on my most recent trips.

I believe all of Delta's mainline planes have the seat back screens. All of them that I've been on in the last 10 years have. Only a few United planes have it and American I don't really know, this was my first time flying American and it did not.

I'm not disagreeing with you. Delta is our favorite airline by far. We fly them more than any other airline. I only remember the times when there are no screens because it is pointed out to me by my son. And it's mainly RJ's. But overall Delta is the best for our needs.

 

[kylenne]

I've heard so much about Southwest - although we've never actually flown them because they don't fly from our home airport to our destinations without stopping somewhere. Delta is our go to airline because my husband flies Delta exclusively for business travel and so he doesn't really care to fly another airline. We did use American to fly to Miami last year, and I've had better experiences, but very hard to judge one airline to another when you have status on one and not the other. Delta's wifi is usually pretty good.

my 8 year old prefers watching movies on the 'seat back' screen to his ipad - but in my experience most of the seat back screens are on Jet Blue? oh and Jet blue for the snack win over the Delta cookies..... lol

JetBlue is my favorite US carrier, never had issues with wi-fi (and it's always been free), great IFE with the DirecTV. Always great service. They broke my heart when they got rid of the blue chips, though.

I do end up flying Delta a lot on regional Embraer jets on routes I can't fly B6 (mostly to YYZ and BWI), and I've had decent experiences with them. They're my legacy carrier of choice.

 

[Cheburashka]

I usually fly American and find them to be reliable. When American once cancelled our flights due to very severe weather, getting full refunds to my credit card was easy and quick regardless of having made prior changes to our flights. They misrouted our baggage once (out of maybe a dozen trips) and got it back to us the next day. Their customer service is professional and reasonable in my experience.

A couple of years ago JetBlue cancelled not only our flights but permanently stopped flying to our city in an itinerary change that took place only about a month before the trip, then refused to refund the money to my credit card (instead wanted to give us credits) because we'd changed that flight once in the past. I challenged that via my credit card company and won. Done with JetBlue.

I don't like open seating, so I will only fly Southwest if there's a bargain basement deal AND it's a nonstop leaving in the morning. I once had to deal with a several hour delay with them due to their technical issues (not the thing this winter), and I've had a few other negative customer service issues with them, but no serious horror stories. They misrouted our baggage once (out of about a dozen flights), but got our bags back to us promptly.

I've only flown United & Delta a few times, due to them not offering nonstops between my city and Orlando or Miami/Fort Lauderdale. No horror stories, but also nothing to write home about. Pretty typical for a domestic airline.

 

[nw6675]

There is also the issue of refunds. Delta took over 4 weeks to refund $4000 refundable tickets despite having in the faq and in their terms that it would be 2 days.

Southwest refunded one day after the cancelation. Same with AA.

 

[Cheburashka]

There is also the issue of refunds. Delta took over 4 weeks to refund $4000 refundable tickets despite having in the faq and in their terms that it would be 2 days.

Southwest refunded one day after the cancelation. Same with AA.

This. Companies' willingness/ability to provide refunds promptly and without a lot of hassle is important.