Which airline would you choose?

[DisKim]

If you were to choose between Spirit, Airtran or United, which one would you choose? The price is about the same for all three. Spirit is just slightly higher.

 

[purplevalentine]

If the price is relatively the same than I think I would choose United. I've never had the opportunity to fly Spirit yet. I've flown AirTran several times and are very happy with them. I only had one slight bad experience flying with them. On a return flight from Las Vegas we had to connect in Atlanta. Airtran always has a representative at the gate to help with flight connections. Well this representative gave us the wrong gate information. Almost missed our connection and they had to page us. She happened to be at our correct gate and denied that she gave us the wrong information. Upsetting but all in all I enjoy flying with them. As for United I've flown with them a couple of times. Very happy with their service. If I had to choose between the two I would go with United. They seem to have alittle bit more leg room and space than Airtran. That would be my only reason for flying with them as well as the price.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

If the price is the same, I'd choose the one that offered the most convenient travel schedule. I've flown United a lot and Spirit a little. United is usually pretty good and I've never had any serious problems with them. The couple of times I've flown Spirit have been good, but they are not always on time (but then no airline ever is anyway).

In Nov. we're flying Spirit to Orlando 'cause we got an exceptionally low fare several months ago. No one else could beat it. Spirit's fares do tend to bounce around a lot; if you are flexible, I'd keep an eye on them. They might end up beating United and Air Tran.

 

[DisKim]

If I fly Spirit, I won't get into MCO until 5:30 pm. I figure that by the time I get to the resort, it will be around 7pm and we will have missed out on a whole day. Both Airtran and United have good flight times.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Given that choice, I'd skip Spirit. Our Nov. flight arrives around 11 a.m. which is ok by us. 5:30 p.m. arrival is a wasted day (JMO).

Given a choice between Air Tran and United... I'd pick United. Sure they are still in bankruptcy, but they'll be flying for a long time to come.

 

[airplane]

I love Spirit b/c you can be in the parks by 11:30 (10:30 if you use ME)
0700 departure out of ACY
1730 departure out of MCO

Also, I am scared to book any major airline w/ all of the bankruptcy talks lately.

 

[momof2disprincesses]

I vote for AirTran. We fly them all the time from Milwaukee to Orlando. They often have non-stop flights and their prices are usually GREAT!

We have used them at least 6 times and only once had a "bad" experience. The plane had some mechanical issues. The reps at the airport were wonderful, explained everything to everyone, kept us informed and gave everyone meal vouchers. I even wrote an email about the long wait afterwards and all 4 of us were given $50 vouchers for our next flight (which turned out to be $49 flights, so we flew free one way the next time).

I also LOVE that you can choose your flight there and your flight back individually.

I have never flown United, so I can't compare.

Good luck choosing!

 

[DisKim]

Thanks for the info. I ended up booking United because I liked the flight times better.

 

[MICOL]

Aitran cancelled a flight on us in 2003 for no reason, we arrived at the airport 2 hours ahead and then they tell us the flight was cancelled. Never again. We had no way to go as it was a 6am flight and we had to leave at 3am to get to the airport.

 

[tclowe]

Airtran is horrible. We had assigned seating by calling the night before. We were 2 adults, 1- 5 year old child and 1- 17 month old infant. We bought 3 seats and obviously reserved 3 seats in a row. We get to Orlando airport 2 1/2 hours early to check-in and find out that they had given our seats away and reassigned us to 3 different rows and all in middle seats!!! This was a flight from Atlanta to San Francisco (about 5 1/2 hours).

The gate attendants at Orlando and Atlanta (our connecting flight) couldn't do anything and said wait until we get on the plane. Of course, once on the plane, no one near us wanted to switch because these were middle seats. A kind flight attendant had to strong arm a guy next to me to move so that my husband could sit next to me and help care for our younger daughter. Poor son was trapped between a football player and another guy. The football player and his teammates kept offering my son candy. I was a very unhappy mom on this trip!!!

 

[DisKim]

tclowe - That is my worst fear. You poor son! I can't believe he had to be separated from you for such a long flight. My DD is 9 and even she would be very upset about that. Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[momof2disprincesses]

Airtran is horrible. We had assigned seating by calling the night before. We were 2 adults, 1- 5 year old child and 1- 17 month old infant. We bought 3 seats and obviously reserved 3 seats in a row. We get to Orlando airport 2 1/2 hours early to check-in and find out that they had given our seats away and reassigned us to 3 different rows and all in middle seats!!! This was a flight from Atlanta to San Francisco (about 5 1/2 hours).

The gate attendants at Orlando and Atlanta (our connecting flight) couldn't do anything and said wait until we get on the plane. Of course, once on the plane, no one near us wanted to switch because these were middle seats. A kind flight attendant had to strong arm a guy next to me to move so that my husband could sit next to me and help care for our younger daughter. Poor son was trapped between a football player and another guy. The football player and his teammates kept offering my son candy. I was a very unhappy mom on this trip!!!

Wow! I am so sorry to hear that. Did you do your pre-boarding passes online where you get to pick your seats and then this still happened? That would infuriate me too. My kids are 9 and 13 and neither would want to sit independent of Mom or Dad!

Did you write and complain after? I certainly would have and I would expect you'd receive some compensation for your horrible experience.