SWA, JetBlue or Delta out of BDL

[Tink316]

We've only ever flown Delta out of BDL to MCO...

We need non-stop flights only since DS has Down syndrome and it's a whole lot easier to be able to board a plane just once...

Have never flown SWA or JetBlue - wondering if folks have done those and do you like them -- are they better than Delta?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks!
T

 

[Candlelady]

We have only ever flown SW since Delta got rid of Song with the TV's and NS flights. We will be trying out Jet Blue at the end of October and really looking forward to not having to check in and freak out over the boarding number. I'm very anal about those things. I have a need to know where I will be sitting.

SW has many more flights to choose from than JB. I had to take an earlier flight home than I wanted on JB. But JB has TV's and Sirius radio so that's a plus in my book. Both have pros and cons.

Good luck with your decision. Either would be a good choice.

 

[DebbieB]

When are you going? Someone posted on another thread that Delta eliminated non-stops for their January trip.

 

[TiggerDeb]

We are flying from Bradley on Thursday to WDW on Delta. We like Delta because of the early morning non-stop flight. We have flown SWA but was not crazy about the boarding process and the fact we did not flight non-stop. There may not be television or movies to watch, and paying for baggage, but we just like Delta better.

 

[PCFriar80]

When are you going? Someone posted on another thread that Delta eliminated non-stops for their January trip.

Yeah, that was me. Check availability for Delta Nonstops later this year and in January.

 

[Anal Annie]

We've only ever flown Delta out of BDL to MCO...

We need non-stop flights only since DS has Down syndrome and it's a whole lot easier to be able to board a plane just once...

Have never flown SWA or JetBlue - wondering if folks have done those and do you like them -- are they better than Delta?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks!
T

We USED to fly Delta to FL but it's been years ago now - ever since they eliminated their direct non-stop flights from DC. So we've flown Air Tran, Jet Blue and Southwest for the past several years. I will book whoever has the best deal. Sometimes that means 1 airline down & another one on the way home. As long as it's in / out of the same airport and non-stop I'm good.

I think SW has improved a little over what they were like a few years ago. Boarding is a little more organized & not quite the same cattle call it used to be. But it still bugs me that you can't select an assigned seat. You still have to get an 'A' boarding number to get on the plane first & select a seat. They now have this advanced check-in thing that they charge an extra $10 pp for - so you get a priorty check-in at like 36 hours rather than having to be sure to check in exactly at 24 hours. I always hated that you had to check in at 24 hours no matter what you were doing in order to get a good boarding number. But for $10 I think you should GET AN ASSIGNED SEAT but you don't. It is nice that you get a free checked bag tho. So just know if you book SW they work a little differently. You're best bet if you want to all sit together is to pay the extra $10 pp to get the advanced check-in. A lot of times a SW plane will be coming in from another destination so when you board it already has passengers ON it. So even having an 'A' boarding group number doesn't mean you'll have free pick of seats.

We have probably used Air Tran the most. They now charge for checked bags which is annoying so you have to figure that in on top of the ticket price unless you can fly in carry-ons only. You CAN pay extra to get an assigned seat (how much extra depends on the seat you select - I think it ranges from $6 to $20 per seat). The biggest concern with Air Tran is that they OFTEN change their schedules. So you book a flight based on price and TIME and then they change it. They don't always TELL you right away either so you have to monitor their schedule frequently. If they change it to something you don't like you CAN call them & ask for a different flight. And if you've paid extra for a seat that doesn't always automatically transfer to the new flight so you have to watch that too. I have had flights booked where they changed them several times and I had to call and re-select seats etc. more than once.

Jet Blue is nice. They have leather seats with TV monitors in the seatbacks. They allow 1 checked bag for free AND you can get a free seat assignment when you book. They're not always as cheap as AT & SW tho and for us they fly out of our 2nd choice airport so we have used them least of all. I DID just book them tho for spring break as their price was good and I liked that I got a seat assignment & 1 checked bag pp. We've become used to flying in carry-ons only because of baggage fees but it's nice to know we can check a bag if we want to.

Any of these "budget" airlines are fine and once you're on the plane you won't know any different from being on Delta.

 

[Tink316]

Thanks everyone!

Yes, price will definitely be a factor since we'd rather spend our $$ at WDW and not on flights ... We are going at the end of November/beginning of December and Delta still has direct flights then. And, we definitely need assigned seating in advance because of my son...want to be sure that he sits with at least one of us.

We'll likely end up with Delta or SW...as JetBlue flights right now are at $100 more per ticket. IMO, probably not worth it for the TV and leather seats. If it were a longer flight, maybe. And we always bring our laptop with us so DS can watch his preferred videos anyway.

Thanks again! You've all been a great help...

T

 

[airplanegod]

I would personally do Jetblue or Southwest. Delta it seems is much more expensive than those two. The pros with Jetblue are assigned seating, 1 free checked in bag per person, free ptv's, free XM radio, free snacks, and leather seats. I don't know too much about Southwest, but I am going on them in November from BDL-MCO. You'll be fine though on either Southwest or Jetblue I am sure.

 

[gmeh1]

Thanks everyone!

Yes, price will definitely be a factor since we'd rather spend our $$ at WDW and not on flights ... We are going at the end of November/beginning of December and Delta still has direct flights then. And, we definitely need assigned seating in advance because of my son...want to be sure that he sits with at least one of us.

We'll likely end up with Delta or SW...as JetBlue flights right now are at $100 more per ticket. IMO, probably not worth it for the TV and leather seats. If it were a longer flight, maybe. And we always bring our laptop with us so DS can watch his preferred videos anyway.

Thanks again! You've all been a great help...

T

Tink, you could actually board first because you son would need extra time to board. SW is excellent for those that need extra time. You are actually the first to board, assuming there are no wheelchair pax.

 

[DISNEYNY]

We love SW, if you can get a price that is good for you. As PP said you will be allowed to board first. Also , no bag fees.

 

[pat fan]

We have flown Delta, SW and this Oct. will be our first JB experience.

SW is great. No complaints at all. Delta, we have had a few issues with. JB was the cheapest out there for our Oct. trip, and they are straight flights, so it was a no-brainer. people have good things to say about them, so here's hoping it will be good!

 

[francie57]

We have flown Delta's non-stop morning flight to MCO and their last non-stop back from MCO for years. This past trip they were the cheapest and the best times. We even were offered an upgrade to first class when doing the on-line check in that came to $25 over what the baggage fees would be. We did it and loved the fact that our luggage was given priority stickers and were actually the first three bags off the plane in MCO. I have already started checking for pricing for next Aug. (still not at the 330 day mark) but so far the non-stop in the morning is there for next summer. Hopefully for all traveling this winter it will be back since it is usally their most popular flight. Each trip I usually check all three airlines to see who has the best times and price - so far Delta. Our flights three weeks ago were $179 rt on Delta and JetBlue and SW couldn't come close to that, even when we added the baggage fee. For us it usually comes down to the flight times and so far Delta has had the ones we like the best.

 

[jilliemom]

We fly out of BDL and have never even considering flying Delta since they did away with Delta Song. Were die hard SW fans until JB came to town and now we will use which ever is cheaper b/w SW and JB. Because you can book 1 way tickets, sometimes we'll book SW one way and JB the other. You can't go wrong with either airline!

Since Delta has baggage fees, won't even consider using them.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I just wanted to second what gmeh1 said about Southwest. Because your son has Down's all you need to do is go to the desk at the gate and request a blue preboarding sleeve. They always take those with wheelchairs on first and then the blue sleeve preboards. This way seating won't be a problem. I get them when I travel with my mom since she's totally deaf without a hearing aid and still has trouble hearing with one.

 

[Eponine1]

Delta did stop all their non-stop service from Bradley to Orlando.

Fly JetBlue or Southwest...better airlines and first bags are free (2nd too for Southwest!)

 

[PSL]

We've only ever flown Delta out of BDL to MCO...

We need non-stop flights only since DS has Down syndrome and it's a whole lot easier to be able to board a plane just once...

Have never flown SWA or JetBlue - wondering if folks have done those and do you like them -- are they better than Delta?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks!
T

Yes, Delta just eliminated all direct non-stop flights from BDL to MCO this past Saturday! I was watching the flight that I wanted to book for next April and now it's gone. Sent them off an email and this was their reply:

Thank you for your e-mail to Delta Air Lines regrading your future
travel from Hartford to Orlando.

We appreciate your comments about our recent schedule change. A variety
of factors impact our decisions regarding which markets we may best
serve, and with what level of frequency. The decision to withdraw our
service from Hartford was made only after extensive evaluation of
customer demand, along with detailed cost analysis. We continually
evaluate potential markets, including the possibility of reinstating
previously served markets, as changes in passenger demand occur. Your
feedback is critical to our Leadership team as we seek to maximize the
highest travel value for our customers.

We appreciate your support and trust your future flights will be
entirely satisfactory.

Please anyone who is concerned about this....send them an email with your feedback, if they get enough negatives maybe they will reinstate it at some point? We also flew Delta all the time for our Disney vacations, they had the best times for us both ways, now I have to book SW which I don't want to do because there is only one non-stop departing and it's really early! Coming back it's better but I hate not having a seat and the hassle of checking in at the 24hr. mark. JB is a little higher in price but I have no idea when they will release their schedule past 4/30, we need a return flight for 5/5 and it's not released yet. So upset with Delta right now!!!!