Tell us your preferred airline and why... all in one place

[miss missy]

There are too many thread to find what I need. I need to know what airlines do what... like some do not have pre assigned seats and such. Can you all share what each airline does well and doesn't do well.

All I know is I started flying with Song and loved it. Good prices, asigned seats, TV's, close by airport and lots of non stop flights. Now they are gone and Delta seems high in price.

So I see Jetblue from same airport, but what are they like? I see great times for them. do they cancel and change a lot of flights?? These are for May.

I see SouthWest from a different airport, could do that, but what are they about?

Please share!!

 

[bavaria]

well, my opinion is somewhat pointless as I am a VERY frequent traveller mostly for business - I am away from home most years 300 days each year.

Favourite american airline - United

• Economy plus seating for elites (available at cost to non-elites)
• blocked middle seat next to Elites unless plane is full
• buy on board $4 box with many choices, including my favourite hummus and pita chips
• double miles for higher level elite members on every flight
• 'fair' upgrades ie using miles or certs, not based on non tangible factors like on other airlines
• routes served
• Star alliance partners
• service commitment; follow up on issues when they do occur is commendable
• ability to select and change seats on United.com
  • ample frequent flyer awards available; often book last minute trips to popular destinations
• fares on united.com are often lower on codeshares than on codeshare's site

Favourte intl airline - Lufthansa

• for C/business class or F/first class only!
• reasonable amount of star alliance miles required
• ample frequent flyer seats available
• lie flat beds
• showers in SEN and HON lounges

 

[bavaria]

you'll notice that I didn't comment on video, etc. I don't care about having movies in the seat back or at my command.

the most important to me is the seat. United has a great Economy Plus seat with extra pitch; I hate their business seat as many United frequent flyers have a dent in the back of our necks from the seat back. I HATE the Air Canada seat - feels like cardboard.

The Lufthansa lie flat bed is amazing, when it works. But sadly it doesn't always 'lie flat'......

 

[TDC Nala]

Southwest almost never cancels or changes flights in my experience (except for weather and equipment problems). But they have the infamous unassigned seating. Basically, the earlier you check in, the earlier you are allowed to get on the plane and choose your seat. If you have a group traveling, and you are in the last group to board a full plane, you may end up having to sit apart.

BUT. You are permitted to cancel and reschedule flights without penalty. If you pay for a rescheduling, it will be for any difference in fare between the flight you canceled and the flight you are changing to...no cancellation or change fees.

I have a video Ipod so I am not going to comment on inflight entertainment either.

I want Bavaria's job. I keep trying to figure out ways to be away from home.

 

[bavaria]

I want Bavaria's job. I keep trying to figure out ways to be away from home.

Trust me, having to be in Paris for 6 weeks for work is really really tough

 

[bradk]

what i've written on JB in a recent thread

* unlimited snacks / soft drinks
* free direct satellite tv (some aircraft have xm in addition)
* low change fee (as mentioned)
* incredible customer service (missed a flight while i was in the airport and they gave me a seat on the next flight, no questions asked... changed a flight one time on me by moving it 10 minutes back and kept calling me until i acknowledged it)
* easy credit when fares drop

i guess the leather seats are a plus, the legroom.. some even love the dunkin donuts coffee (i don't drink coffee).. and it doesn't hurt that they've won the Conde Nast readers poll as #1 airline for 4 out of 5 years, come out on top in JD Power & Associates surveys, and with the Airline Quality Rating Report compiled by the University of Nebraska and Wichita State University, Jet Blue has been rated the #1 airline (including legacy airlines) 3 years in a row based purely on statistics.

now it's true JB is smaller than a lot of airlines, so their numbers may be smaller as well, but pound for pound, they've proven themselves and if I say they're available to you, do it. heck, they don't fly to LAX so I will even fly into LGB just to fly them (although for 6 hours, the tv is nice).

 

[miss missy]

Ok thanks! Makes me feel better about trying Jetblue!!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

SWA cheapest ,
Easiest to make any changes at any time,
Most direct flight,
did I mention Cheapest.
only 1 flight change in all the years I have used them ( except for weather,Maint issues once)

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Don't be afraid to try JetBlue. I do have a comment about the southwest non-penalty issue for changing flights. If you happen to arrive at the airport early, Southwest will not allow you to go standby on an earlier flight without the passenger upgrading his or her fare to the full, unrestricted price (unless that's what you bought originally) and that full fare is NEVER cheap. Most other carriers allow you to go standby on the same day for little ($25) or no fee.

 

[goofy4tink]

Song used to be my airline of choice.....no, I didn't like the many time/flight changes, but otherwise loved 'em. But, with them gone, my airline of choice is JetBlue. In fact, I would have to say that I love them now. The fact that they just don't change flight stuff very often is a big plus for me. If a fare goes down, I can just call them and have a credit applied to my account. Since I fly to MCO at least twice a year, it's terrific to have a credit.

I enjoy the seatback TV screens. It saves on the amount of 'electronics' we have to carry. And it gives me a choice of what I want to be watching.
The crew is wonderful. And the seating is very good. My dh, at 6'4" likes a bit more leg room and has found JB to be better than most.

Sure, I wish JB would open their dates sooner. But, although I tend to get impatient with the wait, I do like knowing that what I book is going to stay that way. Only one time have they made a change. My dh and dd were booked on a 4:45 flight to MCO, with a change at JFK. When they got to the airport, at 2:45, they found the flight had been canceled at the last minute. They had been put on a later flight, at 7:30! Well, their connection was at 6:30.....sure weren't going to make that, were they??!! So, the folks at the checkin counter called the gate. They were almost done boarding the 3:15 flight, so ran with my dh and dd, through security, to the gate, got them seated (together, to their surprise!!!) and closed the jetway as they were seated!!! They did have a fairly long wait at JFK, but since they were able to make the connection, they were happy. I think that was pretty good customer service!!

 

[hilaryjudsong]

Southwest, hands down. If your flight is available cheaper, you can get a Southwest credit, without any fees. Flights are always on time or early; the flight crew likes to have a good time. When I flew back from WDW in February, one attendant sang several kids songs with Southwest in it. Cute at first, got be a bit much.

The seats are very comfortable, you can choose where you sit. They always hand out wings pins to the children. The day before you leave, you can go to the Concierge and they will print your boarding pass for you.

 

[erikthewise]

I prefer Airtran, for reasons that may not apply to others.

They offer nonstop service to Orlando from our local airport, at great times (leave early, return late). That in itself is worth paying extra for. But we generally don't have to. We could fly nonstop on Delta, but we'd have to fly in Embraer's, which I don't like at all, and it's not really Delta anyway, it's "Freedom Airlines". Airtran always flies full-size aircraft, and they're relatively new -- few if any are over 10 years old.

Airtran does not assign seats at time of purchase. This is OK with me, as Delta used to "lose" our seat assignment every time the flight times were changed. Others have complained about Airtran's flight time changes but it's never been a problem for us. (Probably depends on the airport you fly out of.) On Airtran we can checkin 24 hours in advance and either choose our seats or adjust them if they've been preassigned. Actually I've never had a problem with preassigned seat selection.

Airtran allows relatively inexpensive upgrades to business class, which we've taken advantage of a couple times.

Southwest might be an option if they flew out of our airport, but as it is we have to drive 90 miles instead of 25 to fly Southwest. This means either leaving incredibly early or staying overnight near the airport. Just not worth the effort. I keep hearing about Southwest's low prices but they are always "unavailable" whenever I look.

 

[bntlyclg89]

My vote is for Midwest Airlines.

Their hubs are KC and Millwaukee. Normally, I get a rate for only a small amount over SWA. They have (on many flights) 2x2 seating, fresh baked chocolate-chip cookies and many direct flights from KC.

Additionally, their staff is wonderful. I can't comment about their frequent flier program but I fly them every chance I get.

 

[cbrfan]

I prefer Airtran, for reasons that may not apply to others.

They offer nonstop service to Orlando from our local airport, at great times (leave early, return late). That in itself is worth paying extra for. But we generally don't have to. We could fly nonstop on Delta, but we'd have to fly in Embraer's, which I don't like at all, and it's not really Delta anyway, it's "Freedom Airlines". Airtran always flies full-size aircraft, and they're relatively new -- few if any are over 10 years old.

Airtran does not assign seats at time of purchase. This is OK with me, as Delta used to "lose" our seat assignment every time the flight times were changed. Others have complained about Airtran's flight time changes but it's never been a problem for us. (Probably depends on the airport you fly out of.) On Airtran we can checkin 24 hours in advance and either choose our seats or adjust them if they've been preassigned. Actually I've never had a problem with preassigned seat selection.

Airtran allows relatively inexpensive upgrades to business class, which we've taken advantage of a couple times.

Southwest might be an option if they flew out of our airport, but as it is we have to drive 90 miles instead of 25 to fly Southwest. This means either leaving incredibly early or staying overnight near the airport. Just not worth the effort. I keep hearing about Southwest's low prices but they are always "unavailable" whenever I look.

What erikthewise said. With the addition of a great frequent flyer program. Very easy to earn free flights and/or upgrades by taking advantage of various programs to earn flight credits.

 

[TDC Nala]

I like Airtran. I will probably like Jetblue, I have a one way MCO-IAD in May. But I really like being able to cancel with no penalty on SWA. I used to go all the way to Baltimore back when their fares were really low, too. Sometimes I tend to overbook myself with trips.

 

[bradk]

you can cancel without penalty on JetBlue as well. i believe you have until one hour before flight time before losing anything. SWA is a bit more liberal than that mind you, but I think that's pretty good.

 

[TDC Nala]

you can cancel without penalty on JetBlue as well. i believe you have until one hour before flight time before losing anything. SWA is a bit more liberal than that mind you, but I think that's pretty good.

My JetBlue reservation says there is a $25 cancellation fee if you do it online, $30 if you cancel by phone. That's a pretty low cancellation fee as those things go. Same for flight changes.

 

[bab31]

My vote is for Midwest Airlines.

Their hubs are KC and Millwaukee. Normally, I get a rate for only a small amount over SWA. They have (on many flights) 2x2 seating, fresh baked chocolate-chip cookies and many direct flights from KC.

Additionally, their staff is wonderful. I can't comment about their frequent flier program but I fly them every chance I get.

this is my airline of choice as well for the same above reasons - also they will hold a connecting flight for a flight that is delayed. The reason is most of their business is business travelers- Their reputation relys on the businessman to get where he is going. I have always gotten great service from Midwest.

I use their miles program and love it. Most times I can get a flight. I love their dollars and award program as it doesnt chew up my miles all at once.

We flew Midwest to MCO in January and the only thing I did not like was is that they are not a participating airline with ME