BTW, Southwest's check-in system isn't completely predicated on arriving at the airport early. If you check-in online early enough, you can get in the "A" line and that generally means you can get a decent seat, though that's where getting to the airport early actually comes into play.
Having been to Australia recently, I can guarantee you won't find the quality of service Qantas offers its customers. My wife and I were blown away by the quality compared to service in the U.S.
Personally I fly American Airlines. They offer lots of flights, prices aren't the lowest, but they are in line with the other major U.S. carriers. The have fare sales pretty consistently and they are a Qantas partner (so if you have a frequent flier account, you'll earn on American). They have "hubs" in Chicago, Dallas, and Miami (not sure if any other cities are as big for them) so you can get anywhere in the U.S. with either no connecting flights or at most one.
I have flown AA almost exclusively the last five years. But I have used United Airlines (they were once my carrier of choice) and they are on par with American. I dislike Delta after experiences flying with them in and out of Atlanta. US Airways I absolutely despise. I find their entire system to be poorly executed all the way down to how they implement their self-check-in kiosks. Southwest I have used once in the last ten years, so I can't comment. Otherwise I have no other recent U.S. domestic experience.
Generally when I'm searching for flights here and can't or won't be using American, I first use Orbitz.com to look at my options and then I'll go to the airline's website and book directly.
I would like to know the best domestic American airline. I plan to travel America in the new year and would like to know which is the best in terms of price and service.
I simply can't be bothered by commercial airlines, and will only travel in this:
As you are an Aussie and are 99.999% likely to fly into LAX or SFO, the best airline is not always the best airline for your needs. Depending on where you intended to fly will make your choices easier or harder.
Also you may run into issues where different airlines fly from different airports in the same region ie Qantas from Tullamarine, JetStar from Avalon.
I would strongly recommend you see a travel agent and look into the various options available, sometimes booking individual flights is cheaper, sometimes buying a travel pass where each flight leg is $x regardless of how short/long the flight is. My parents used a United travel pass which is also good on Air Canada in May to fly around the USA and up into Canada and back. The flight to Prince Edward Island was $600 per person return as a normal fare but $150 each way per person on the travel pass.
They flew Los Angeles - Denver - Toronto - Prince Edward Island - Toronto - drove down to Maine, flight over to Portland - San Francisco using the pass.
You might find the travel pass is the best for most of the trips and then for a side trip from one city you do a return flight with a different carrier as the cost is cheaper as a ticket by itself.
Define "decent seat." Unless you manage to be on the very front of the A-line, you still don't get one of the very scarce exit aisle seats, which are the only ones which differ from all the others. Most of the SWA flights I've been on lately have been virtually full, so it really didn't matter when I got in line.
My definition of "decent" is as near to the front of the plane as possible. I hate getting stuck in the back and having to wait half an hour for the people in front of me to deplane.
But in general, I do not have lofty expectations of SWA: they are truly the bus with wings. I don't think I've ever flown them for a flight lasting longer than 90 minutes, so it's no biggie to me.
I've always been weary of flying because of personal fears, then 9/11 came along and that did it for me. But if I had to fly (like absolutely had to) Jet Blue would do it for me, just because most of my friends and family have taken it with nothing but praises.
I've personally never understood why people have a fear of flying. Statistically, you have a much better chance of being killed in a car accident on the way to the airport than you do on the actual flight.
They're not really a US carrier but if you can as their flights in the US are limited take Air Canada. Best prices, wonderful service, and one of the best safety records around. I am lucky living in Minneapolis as the close proximity to Canada means a fair amount of these flights.
I've personally never understood why people have a fear of flying. Statistically, you have a much better chance of being killed in a car accident on the way to the airport than you do on the actual flight.
Well, I have a very vivid imagination. And there is so much room for error going 500 miles per hour at 35,000 feet (7 miles) in the sky. Another fear I have is the fact that I have no idea who the people around me are as there is no mental or background check before flying on an Airplane. The same is with a car and a license, but at least you're on the ground with plenty more options if something should go wrong. There is but so much you can do at 35,000 feet.