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Best domestic American airline.
- Thread starter furious
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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.
Thanks for all the great information. I will read others soon enough it is just Qantas court my eye.
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.
Continental all the way. If need be, Delta or Northwest. Stay away from US Airways. As an airline insider i HIGHLY recommend NOT booking with orbitz, expedia, etc. Sure, look for deals anywhere you like, but always book directly with the airline. Should anything go wrong (billing error, flight changes, cancellations, etc) you will deal directly with airline reps instead of 3rd party who, in my experience, ALWAYS drop the ball when it comes to their responsibilities.
On Monday I am going to see a travel agent. I am just trying to get as informed as possible. That is some great information though about the travel pass. I have never heard about them. I was looking at flying return to either Chicago or New York from San Francisco, Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
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.
Even on a full plane, it's hardly ever more than ten minutes. Of course I usually fly SWA out of Burbank, where they use stairs at the front and back of the airplane. That's a good tip for flying into Burbank, btw -- sit at the back and get off right away.
SWA is okay, but even they've become more customer-hostile in recent years. Just try to get yourself on an earlier flight without a full-fare ticket. They used to allow it. No longer. In fact, if you ask a ticket agent, they'd deny that they ever did allow it -- which is an annoying lie.
I've flew Frontier a few times when I was home from college, and really liked it. Now that they've got a new hub out here in Louisville, I may try it more often. Their planes tend be newer, as well.
On the other hand, I would try to avoid American if you can. They're cheapest for me a lot of times, but also tend to be delayed a lot more lately.
On the other hand, I would try to avoid American if you can. They're cheapest for me a lot of times, but also tend to be delayed a lot more lately.
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.
It mostly has to do with the fact that the scared person is not in control of the vehicle. I'm not scared to fly, but I do get somewhat nervous when riding in a car with somebody as opposed to driving it myself.
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.
Probably won't work in this particular situation, as Air Canada cannot legally transport a person between two points in the US.
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.
I normally fly American Airlines, since they have good connections from Costa Rica through Dallas and (worst-airport-in-the-US) Miami. I also have several hundred thousand FF miles on them, so I get all the perks. 
I, HOWEVER, think that Continental has superior service overall. And of the smaller airlines, I like Alaska - I take their Seattle->Miami overnight around once every two months, plus some other flights out of Seattle, and my experience has been great.
At the bottom I would place US Airways and Delta. My experiences with those two airlines have been dreadful. With US Airways, out of 7-8 flights in the past 3 years, the only time my bag arrived with me the plane was delayed for 6 hours in Charlotte!
I, HOWEVER, think that Continental has superior service overall. And of the smaller airlines, I like Alaska - I take their Seattle->Miami overnight around once every two months, plus some other flights out of Seattle, and my experience has been great.
At the bottom I would place US Airways and Delta. My experiences with those two airlines have been dreadful. With US Airways, out of 7-8 flights in the past 3 years, the only time my bag arrived with me the plane was delayed for 6 hours in Charlotte!
Ehhh....suit yourself. But no offense or anything, I just think it's really dumb to have a fear of flying when it's probably the safest way to travel.
It takes a ton of training to get a pilots license, and even more training and experience to become a commercial pilot. They'll hand out drivers licenses to anyone with a heartbeat and half a brain. I'll take a plane any day
Hey Fellow Aussie,
On previous occasions when I've been flying domestic in the states,
we had major problems with united!! lost baggage, canceled flights etc
We were once on the runway for 2hours! in Chicago.
This same trip we got pushed back to a later flight (to Vancouver via Denver)
which we never left because of weight restrictions (we got bumped).
The next day we where then told to get to Van we had to take a flight
via Chicago! then it was snowed in there, finally we get to Vancouver
and they had lost our bags and we didn't get them back until we got into Australia.
I've heard alot of horror stories about Delta... aswell as United.
Thou things might be great for you, Anyways i found Ted Airlines was quite good.
P.S If you are ever leaving or entering Canada use Air Canada! best service and alot more roomier.
Have fun!!
On previous occasions when I've been flying domestic in the states,
we had major problems with united!!
lost baggage, canceled flights etcWe were once on the runway for 2hours! in Chicago.
This same trip we got pushed back to a later flight (to Vancouver via Denver)
which we never left because of weight restrictions (we got bumped).
The next day we where then told to get to Van we had to take a flight
via Chicago! then it was snowed in there, finally we get to Vancouver
and they had lost our bags and we didn't get them back until we got into Australia.
I've heard alot of horror stories about Delta... aswell as United.
Thou things might be great for you, Anyways i found Ted Airlines was quite good.
P.S If you are ever leaving or entering Canada use Air Canada! best service and alot more roomier.
Have fun!!