OT - Airlines, your favorite? | Page 2 | The Boneyard

OT - Airlines, your favorite?

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1Napleshuskie said:
The last time I flew Southwest I didn't get a seat assignment it was kind of like a free for all to get a seat when I boarded. Was that a one time thing or is that how it's done, I really didn't like that method
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that's how its done from what I'm reading, that's why the Early Bird pass is important... from what I'm understanding
 
DaddyChoc said:
that's how its done from what I'm reading, that's why the Early Bird pass is important... from what I'm understanding
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There are NO assigned seats on Southwest. First come, first to board. Except, for an additional fee, you can be placed toward the front of the line.
 
DogWarden said:
There are NO assigned seats on Southwest. First come, first to board. Except, for an additional fee, you can be placed toward the front of the line.
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It's not really that simple. You are assigned a number, based on the order in which you checked in. Right before boarding you line up in a well- marked queue line, and everyone boards in the sequence of their boarding numbers. Once you get in the plane then it' sit wherever you want.
 
I go to New Orleans 3-4 times a month, and I will only fly Southwest. They are almost always on time, often even early, which is the most important consideration to me. With their Business Select, for a few extra bucks I'm guaranteed A1-A15 seating, so I can get the extra bulkhead leg-room I need. That also means quick on/quick off. Boarding is not the chaos one person described; it's an orderly system, and I love the convenience of using my iphone rather than needing a printed ticket (not unique to SW, but super handy.)

I can't remember the last time I had a complaint with Southwest. They do a really good job. (And no, I don't work for them.)
 
Huskies Rule said:
I go to New Orleans 3-4 times a month, and I will only fly Southwest. They are almost always on time, often even early, which is the most important consideration to me. With their Business Select, for a few extra bucks I'm guaranteed A1-A15 seating, so I can get the extra bulkhead leg-room I need. That also means quick on/quick off. Boarding is not the chaos one person described; it's an orderly system, and I love the convenience of using my iphone rather than needing a printed ticket (not unique to SW, but super handy.)

I can't remember the last time I had a complaint with Southwest. They do a really good job. (And no, I don't work for them.)
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Regardless of whether or not individuals prefer their boarding drill, it really can't be argued that Southwest isn't the best RUN airline. They really have it figured out.
 
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j66kicker said:
It's not really that simple. You are assigned a number, based on the order in which you checked in. Right before boarding you line up in a well- marked queue line, and everyone boards in the sequence of their boarding numbers. Once you get in the plane then it' sit wherever you want.
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You are correct j66. But I believe the boarding number is assigned when the boarding passes are printed. You can print boarding passes starting 24 hours before the flight. The sooner you print the boarding pass, the better your boarding position will be.
 
and people that pay the extra fee gets a 12 hr on those who don't pay the extra fee Southwest
 
j66kicker said:
It is to me. Nowadays SW sells a some its seats as Business Select fares which come with front-of-the-line positioning, and a lot of other passengers are buying the $12 automatic check-in option. So even when you spend the $12 for automatic check-in, you still usually just get a high A or low B position. A B number guarantees you won't get a middle seat (1/3 are A, 1/3 are B, 1/3 are C, and 1/3 each are aisle, window and middle - doh). And a low B number usually means you can get an aisle since some people ahead of you will sit together. If you take your chances and try to check in at the earliest time 24 hours before your flight, a ton of positions are already taken by the Business Select and automatic check-in passengers, so you sometimes still just get a C position.
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took a Southwest flight from Hartford to Fort Lauderdale over the Memorial Day wknd (from Thursday til Tues), paid the early check-in fee (12.50 at the time, now its 15.00 each way). Going down I had A-25 and A-26... coming back to Hartford I had A-22 A-23, other family members of mine where in the B's and C's. Glad I paid the extra fee (just more seating options).
Boarding we lined up with no problems on a "full" plane. last person on plane could actually get a great seat if they're flying solo and dont mind sitting between people (my case both ways).
The sexy stewardess thing isnt true anymore... just a few guys in shorts and polo tees.

Snacks were "plane" cookies, pretzels and cheese nips... drinks were water, juice, soda and they offered "adult" beverages on the way back (7:30pm flight).

Non-stop flights both ways... had to hang around in the air both ways due to arriving earlier than our 3hr flight schedule.

No TV's in the headrest, but you could log onto TV using a "smart" device if you had one... also WiFi was available for about $8.00.

TSA lines were ok... no hassle.

Airports do not have enough waiting seats or "charging stations" for your mobile devices.

overall it was cool flying Southwest
 
Don't think I've flown anything but SWA for at least 4 years.
Never a complaint and I've never paid for the early checkin.
Just checkin online exactly 24 hrs in advance and expect high A or low B priority, which gets you an aisle or window.
Been fortunate to periodically snag TSA pre check, which is sweet. ❤️
 
I have such low expectations for ANY airline operator these days. Between the TSA experience and the ever-changing baggage/carry-on rules (read niggling extra charges), I only ask that they get me to my destination more-or-less on time. Given some advance warning, I'm usually able to get the best available fare.
I try to adopt a Zen-like kind of trance for the entire flight. Heck, when we flew to London recently, I swapped my aisle seat so I could sit in the middle next to my wife. (No dammit, I will NOT pay over $50. extra to select a seat ahead of time) .
As someone else mentioned: if I'm able time-wise, I'll drive to any client east of the Mississippi. Bonus, my wife is able to come along (and keep me out of trouble<G>).
 
Southwest. Two free checked bags. No charge for carry-on. Pick your seats. Good non-stop connections from MCO to BDL and PVD. Points with Southwest VISA card.
 
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uconn1999 said:
Don't think I've flown anything but SWA for at least 4 years.
Never a complaint and I've never paid for the early checkin.
Just checkin online exactly 24 hrs in advance and expect high A or low B priority, which gets you an aisle or window.
Been fortunate to periodically snag TSA pre check, which is sweet. ❤️
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how do you snag it once in a while... I thought it was a deal of $80.00 for the year or 5 yrs?

Early Bird check-in starts at 36hrs... you just cant see or print it til the 24hr mark
 
I must confess. If Southwest does not fly there, then neither do I. Will not pay for bags. I reside close to Hartford and Providence so it gives me a good selection of flights to choose from.
 
JimGunther said:
I have such low expectations for ANY airline operator these days. Between the TSA experience and the ever-changing baggage/carry-on rules (read niggling extra charges), I only ask that they get me to my destination more-or-less on time. Given some advance warning, I'm usually able to get the best available fare.
I try to adopt a Zen-like kind of trance for the entire flight. Heck, when we flew to London recently, I swapped my aisle seat so I could sit in the middle next to my wife. (No dammit, I will NOT pay over $50. extra to select a seat ahead of time) .
As someone else mentioned: if I'm able time-wise, I'll drive to any client east of the Mississippi. Bonus, my wife is able to come along (and keep me out of trouble<G>).
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I say if you paying 500-800 for a flight, 50.00 more for better comfort isnt a big deal
 
DaddyChoc said:
how do you snag it once in a while... I thought it was a deal of $80.00 for the year or 5 yrs?

Early Bird check-in starts at 36hrs... you just cant see or print it til the 24hr mark
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I have never signed up for precheck. But, more often than not, my boarding pass has "Pre" printed on it and they waive me to the precheck lane.
 
We also get TSA pre check on most flights. I wonder if it's because we're seniors?
 
j66kicker said:
I have never signed up for precheck. But, more often than not, my boarding pass has "Pre" printed on it and they waive me to the precheck lane.
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so you dont print from home, or the Kiosk on the side... to avoid the check-in lines? I checked at the 36hr mark, say my spot but wasnt near a printer so I waited til I got to the airport... went to a computer inputted my confirmation number and it print.
only waited at TSA which wasnt bad at 6am or so... got in the boarding line when the A's were called up.
for the extra 30.00 (15 each way) they do the check in for you 12hrs earlier than the rest.

I'd pay the early bird fee every time I fly... just to avoid the lines and have to better choice of seat
 
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vtcwbuff said:
We also get TSA pre check on most flights. I wonder if it's because we're seniors?
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whats the benefit of the TSA pre-check... shorter line and private patdown?
 
Largefoot said:
I must confess. If Southwest does not fly there, then neither do I. Will not pay for bags. I reside close to Hartford and Providence so it gives me a good selection of flights to choose from.
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no fee... is a great perk
 
DaddyChoc said:
whats the benefit of the TSA pre-check... shorter line and private patdown?
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Don't have to take your shoes off, can leave most stuff in your pockets, laptop can stay in case through the scanner, shorter line usually
 
DaddyChoc said:
so you dont print from home, or the Kiosk on the side... to avoid the check-in lines? I checked at the 36hr mark, say my spot but wasnt near a printer so I waited til I got to the airport... went to a computer inputted my confirmation number and it print.
only waited at TSA which wasnt bad at 6am or so... got in the boarding line when the A's were called up.
for the extra 30.00 (15 each way) they do the check in for you 12hrs earlier than the rest.

I'd pay the early bird fee every time I fly... just to avoid the lines and have to better choice of seat
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"Print" was a figure of speech. I check in from home, or hotel - whatever. Nowadays they can just send your boarding pass to your phone and you don't have to print anything.
 
j66kicker said:
Don't have to take your shoes off, can leave most stuff in your pockets, laptop can stay in case through the scanner, shorter line usually
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ok... yeah they shoes are a pain in the a**

I guess its better but if you travel enough you get use to the routine
 
International: Singapore Air, especially if it involves Changi Airport. We're their service any better, it would likely be illegal ;-)
Lufthansa always dependable.
RIP Belgium's SABINA, which vet travelers would decode as "Such A Bad Experience, Never Again". Bad on every metric, managing to find bad food on their JFK:Brussels runs.

Domestic: JetBlue, after which it's a dartboard of mediocrity.

Best advice: smile & be courteous to them, and most will go out of their way to treat you well, especially if they've had a tough day -- that is, most every day.
 
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We're Southwest fans. However, we did have a pretty good experience flying Delta (and eventually Air France, its partner) from Phoenix to Tunis this year. The overseas flight had decent food and lots of it, as much in-seat entertainment as you could want, and friendly service. We flew coach and the seats were no more uncomfortable than those on any other airline. I know that is not saying much, but it is something.

As for airports, in Florida, Fort Lauderdale, which years ago was welcoming, is overly busy and under construction and dumpy. Miami is a mess. Orlando still offers a welcoming tourist experience. West Palm is smaller and better for it. Tampa was not bad when we flew out of there last year.

Here in Phoenix, Sky Harbor is good now that they have fixed what we thought was the slowest baggage claim service in the world. We do not like Houston/Bush at all. San Diego, with its single runway, is quirky, but I like it a lot. Do not like Boston Logan and over the years, the area around T.F. Green in Rhode Island has turned into a kind of slum. Toronto is a giant ark of a place, cold, impersonal, not fun. We hate Atlanta with a passion, both because we don't find it friendly and because it seems delay-ridden.
 
For domestic flights I rate Southwest best for value and convenience. My worst
experiences have been on American.

For international carriers you have to be aware that flights between New York
and that airlines hub are usually their showpiece flights. For example, Lufthansa
is excellent between New York and Frankfurt. Between Frankfurt and Moscow
(a flight which I've taken) is much less good (but still better than Aeroflot). I
can also recommend Turkish Airlines New York to Istanbul flight.
 
DaddyChoc said:
I say if you paying 500-800 for a flight, 50.00 more for better comfort isnt a big deal
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One of the few instances where NOT being a tall person has some advantage. I don't REQUIRE extra legroom. (Don't understand how big people put up with the experience). That and my Zen-Trance thing.
 
Southwest in the USA. Jet Blue isn't bad either, especially from Long Beach.

Qantas to Australia. They have an Oldies movie channel and although I tried to sleep(flight left LA at 11pm for Melbourne) I watched Casablanca about 4 times on the flight.
 
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