Which Airline?

[Red_Rider]

All,

I'm planning our trip for next year and it has been awhile since I've flown. Flying out of Boston I have the choice of Delta, JetBlue, Airtran or Southwest that have direct flights to Orlando. I'm looking for opinions on who is the best to fly with. All of the fares are within 10-20 of each other. My wife and I will be traveling with two small children (1yo and 4yo). I'm leaning towards JetBlue but any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!!!

 

[KevGuy]

I'd go with JetBlue if all else is even. I've never had a bad flight with them, and the tv's really make the time pass super fast to Florida especially if your getting a direct flight. Airtran is also pretty good but a notch below JB in my opinion, plus they tend to change flights way too often sometimes even changing your direct to a stopover flight. I don't know about Delta, but I am using them in April for our next trip to Disney as we got direct flights for free using a bunch of points I had built up. But again JB is my airline of choice out of Logan whenever I can get a direct flight and the price is pretty much even with all the others, plus their new frequent flyer program that started this week seems to be pretty good. Good luck!!!

 

[CPT Tripss]

Have you considered the cost of checking your luggage in making the cost comparison? SWA does not charge (up to rwo bags per paying pax), Delta and AirTran do, don't know about JB? That could add substantially to your overall cost.

 

[cranbiz]

I don't believe that SW has direct flights to MCO from BOS, When I looked a couple of weeks ago, all flights went to either MDW or BWI and then to MCO. SW has direct flights from Manchester or Providence.

 

[scard192]

I would recommend JetBlue non stop from BOS. You can choose seats for your family (free unless you want the seats with more legroom) when you purchase your tickets so you wouldn't have to worry about sitting together as you might with the SW boarding. JetBlue allows one free checked bag per ticketed passenger. JetBlue has free TV's on the seat in front of you that might help to entertain the kids. If the fares go down you can call JetBlue and they will credit your TrueBlue account towards a future flight. My family's tickets went down twice after we purchased and I have $190 in my account.

I love JetBlue!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Cranbiz is correct - Southwest does not fly nonstop from Boston to anywhere except Baltimore and Chicago. By the way, there IS a difference between 'direct' and 'nonstop'.

But, go with JetBlue. The attitude is better, the service is better, they have free entertainment (televisions in the seatbacks), the seats are more comfortable, and they don't charge for the first piece of checked luggage.

 

[goofy4tink]

From Boston, I try to fly Jetblue. I love flying with them. You get that first checked bag free, they have non-stops flights. They have those nifty tv's for each seat, and there is plenty of legroom, with extra legroom at an addtl cost if you really need it.
I will fly Delta if I absolutely have to but I prefer not to...way too cramped for me, and you pay for each bag.
If I fly SW, it's out of TF Green in Providence. They do have some non-stop flights, and parking is cheaper. But, Boston is closer to me...about 40 mins, with TF Green being an hour.

 

[Red_Rider]

Wow, it seems like the overwhelming consensus is that JetBlue is the way to go. I was leaning that way but I wanted to ask the experts!! When/If the flight goes down and I get a credit to my account, is there an expiration on the refund, i.e. it has to be used up within 1 year? Thanks everyone for the great help!!!

 

[scard192]

Wow, it seems like the overwhelming consensus is that JetBlue is the way to go. I was leaning that way but I wanted to ask the experts!! When/If the flight goes down and I get a credit to my account, is there an expiration on the refund, i.e. it has to be used up within 1 year? Thanks everyone for the great help!!!

The credited funds must be used within 1 year.

JetBlue does charge $2 for headphones for the entertainment system. My daughter and son in law used their ipod/mp2 player headphones with no problem.

 

[GrammyJudy]

SW does fly nonstop from Manchester, NH but I too would recommend Jet Blue They are always on time!

 

[gigicnm]

I prefer JetBlue out of Logan too. More legroom and easier boarding with small children. Plus the first bag is free. That being said- for our trip in May JB was more than $400 more than Delta and AirTran. Delta has the better flight times, so we're going to try them. I keep delaying booking our flight hoping JB will drop their prices.

 

[wdhinn89]

The credited funds must be used within 1 year.

JetBlue does charge $2 for headphones for the entertainment system. My daughter and son in law used their ipod/mp2 player headphones with no problem.

I think you only have to book within 1 year, not fly within 1 year.