Southwest or American Airlines?

[Laura Kelly]

We NEVER fly and it's our first trip to DW, so this will be a big experience of firsts for our family.
When will Southwest post flights for 2016, and I've flown only Delta (no probs), what are your experiences with AA and SW as far as flights being on time, etc.
I want a nonstop flight, no layover or connecting headaches.
Myself, DH, DS (8) and DD (4)

 

[rwdavis2]

Once SW posts their flights you can get information on the on-time performance of each flight. Same for AA. You should go to each airline's website and they will have information if they have non stops to Orlando.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Anything can happen to delay a flight, so I wouldn't base flight choice on past performance unless a certain flight is chronically late.

You didn't mention your airport or flight dates, so I don't know if non-stop flights are available on either airline or if fares have already been released (they have been released for AA through about mid March 2016).

 

[DisneyinPA]

Southwest all the way! We don't fly on anyone else. As mentioned above try to get a nonstop flight if you can. They won't start to open up flights for 2016 until sometime this summer. We like Southwest because of no bag and change fees.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Personally, I would go with AA any day over Southwest. Keep in mind that if you have an airline branded credit card, you usually get a free checked bag with that, as well as other perks. Plus, with AA, none of this no assigned seat nonsense or paying extra for EBCI. Probably a better chance of a nonstop flight as well.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would go with whichever one offers the flights and costs that you find acceptable. Southwest's boarding is simple, and I just figure the cost for Early Bird Check In as part of the ticket cost. Just like I figure baggage costs on the other airlines into how much I am paying. If either airline offers a non-stop at a cost you are comfortable with, jump on it!

 

[Laura Kelly]

Sorry, would love to fly from Shreveport, La to Orl but there don't offer nonstop flights so will most likely go from Dallas FW or Dallas love field. Both offer non stop flights.
I had just heard bad things about AA and United, that they are notorious for canceling or having major delays.
SW has great reviews but I'm pretty nervous about being separated from the rest of the family. My kids would be a nervous wreck if they were separated

 

[DebbieB]

I am flying American from Pittsburgh to Dallas in early June. When I booked it last week, there were very few free seats together. Having seat assignments doesn't mean anything, they can change flights and separate you.

 

[rwdavis2]

Sorry, would love to fly from Shreveport, La to Orl but there don't offer nonstop flights so will most likely go from Dallas FW or Dallas love field. Both offer non stop flights.
I had just heard bad things about AA and United, that they are notorious for canceling or having major delays.
SW has great reviews but I'm pretty nervous about being separated from the rest of the family. My kids would be a nervous wreck if they were separated

If you pay for early boarding check in (EBCI) there is virtually no chance of that happening. As a PP said, you can still be separated even if you have assigned seats.

 

[MillauFr]

I have never had Alaska change our seats and separate our family. I would hesitate to fly Southwest due to their poor ontime performance and lack of seat assignments. As others have said they do get relatively high marks for customer service.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I am flying American from Pittsburgh to Dallas in early June. When I booked it last week, there were very few free seats together. Having seat assignments doesn't mean anything, they can change flights and separate you.

Seat maps change all the time. If you can't get seats together, keep checking. I guarantee you seats will open up for a flight two months from now.

I'm not sure what you mean by changing flights and separating you. Are you talking about an aircraft swap? If so, they try to keep people on the same PNR seated together. You do need to keep an eye on your flights in case this happens. If you are saying one of you may be placed on a different flight, that's not happening if you're on the same PNR.

 

[LoverDisney]

We are flying American. I like that I can pick seats and with two children I would rather that we sit together. Our seat assignments have never changed, so I'm not worried. Not concerned about paying for baggage either. Flying Southwest would give me too much anxiety with the whole boarding process even with EBCI.

 

[DebbieB]

Seat maps change all the time. If you can't get seats together, keep checking. I guarantee you seats will open up for a flight two months from now.

I'm not sure what you mean by changing flights and separating you. Are you talking about an aircraft swap? If so, they try to keep people on the same PNR seated together. You do need to keep an eye on your flights in case this happens. If you are saying one of you may be placed on a different flight, that's not happening if you're on the same PNR.

I'm talking about a case where a flight is canceled due to a schedule change and they move you to a different flight. Sometimes there are not seats together on the new flight. It doesn't happen often but it can. I was just saying it's not 100% when you have assigned seats.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

That is a very rare occurance. It would not be a concern for me.

 

[row]

I've flown AA, SW, United, Alaska, etc. I've never really had a problem with any, and all are pretty much the same to me. As others have mentioned, assigned seats don't really mean anything as they can move you. I'd go with whichever is cheaper. Southwest doesn't have baggage fees and no assigned seating. If you check in early enough and get A boarding, I'm sure you'll be able to sit with your entire family. If for whatever reason you all can't find seats together, you can ask the flight attendant to make some arrangements for you.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I've flown AA, SW, United, Alaska, etc. I've never really had a problem with any, and all are pretty much the same to me. As others have mentioned, assigned seats don't really mean anything as they can move you. I'd go with whichever is cheaper. Southwest doesn't have baggage fees and no assigned seating. If you check in early enough and get A boarding, I'm sure you'll be able to sit with your entire family. If for whatever reason you all can't find seats together, you can ask the flight attendant to make some arrangements for you.

Think of how many frequent flyer miles you'd have now if you stayed with one airline/alliance!

Don't count of flight attendants helping you if you can't get seats together.

 

[disneyag]

I have flown a variety of airlines over the years and have found that they are ALL late at some point, they can ALL lose luggage at some point, they can ALL cancel a flight at some point. I am a member of UA and SWA FF programs, so I fly them the most. Sometimes we are on time, sometimes we aren't. The advantage of AA is choosing seats beforehand (in 40 years of flying, I have only TWICE been separated from my family and I got it worked out on board. If you are diligent with your reservations, it just doesn't happen that frequently.) The advantage of SWA is the 2 free bags.

If I were you, I would choose whatever airline was the cheapest/had the best connection to MCO from your home.

 

[brockash]

We NEVER fly and it's our first trip to DW, so this will be a big experience of firsts for our family.
When will Southwest post flights for 2016, and I've flown only Delta (no probs), what are your experiences with AA and SW as far as flights being on time, etc.
I want a nonstop flight, no layover or connecting headaches.
Myself, DH, DS (8) and DD (4)

In my experience SW generally has had more nonstop flights and has also generally been more on time than AA. You can also check your bags (up to 2 per person) for free on SW, so take that into consideration when looking at prices (AA charges $25 for first bag and I can't remember for the 2nd - again per person). Will you be taking a stroller? If so, AA has a weight limit for strollers and gate checking them. If the stroller I'd over the weight limit (a lot of regular single full size strollers are over) you'll have to check it under the plane (no fee, and with the ages of your kids it's probably not a big deal - for younger ones I like having a stroller through the airport.)

In my opinion the only downside to SW and is probably more intimidating if you haven't flown before is the no assigned seats. -This really isn't a big deal, we've flown them many many times and have never not gotten seats together. They also have options that allow you to board sooner than others for a fee (last I checked was $10/person).

 

[DebbieB]

I have flown a variety of airlines over the years and have found that they are ALL late at some point, they can ALL lose luggage at some point, they can ALL cancel a flight at some point. I am a member of UA and SWA FF programs, so I fly them the most. Sometimes we are on time, sometimes we aren't. The advantage of AA is choosing seats beforehand (in 40 years of flying, I have only TWICE been separated from my family and I got it worked out on board. If you are diligent with your reservations, it just doesn't happen that frequently.) The advantage of SWA is the 2 free bags.

If I were you, I would choose whatever airline was the cheapest/had the best connection to MCO from your home.

To me, the advantage is no change fee. American will slap you with $200 per ticket.

 

[jdb in AZ]

American is on my bad list at the moment. (Airlines take turns messing me up, but American is the latest.) When we flew out of Chicago O'Hare last summer they were in the middle of the merger with US Air. Does anyone here know if AA has tied up all the loose ends on that yet? Anyway, their own employees didn't even know which terminal to send us to. Yes, it was really that bad. Seems they were using one terminal for departures, and a different one for arrivals. Or some such nonsense. We were on our way home from Europe, and were already jet-lagged. AA's stupidity really didn't help matters at all.

On the (bad) advice from more than one AA employee, we caught the tram from one terminal to the next and back again, then finally figured it out ourselves. We did eventually find the right gate in time to catch our flight, but compared to that, SWA's unusual boarding procedures are a piece of cake. Especially once you've tried them. Supposedly studies have shown that SWA's boarding is actually more efficient than the normal way. Why be normal?