Customer service FAIL...

Like those in the Cleveland area, we fly Continental out of Newark because Newark is one of their hubs and you can fly Continental pretty much anywhere you want to go without having to connect at another airport. Their rates are reasonable, the employees are always friendly, they are as reliable and as timely as can be while flying in and out of Newark and snacks and drinks are still free. I don't agree with having to charge such outrageous change fees and for second checked bags, but those are the worst things I can say about the airlines. And since we always fly the same airlines, we get enough miles to qualify for a free round-trip flight every couple of years, especially when we use our Continental Mastercards for big purchases.

I'm guessing that the reason Walt and Jeff fly CO is the same reason I usually fly NW. From a hub, you've usually got direct flights at several different times to choose from, and the cost is usually competitive even including baggage charges etc.

I price out all of my leisure trips eight ways from Sunday when I take them. Every single time, SW has been more expensive and less convenient, even including the nuisance fees that the other airlines charge.

I guess being originally from Chicago, I have a different perspective of SW as they pretty much run Midway airport and have alot of options at great prices.

On the other side of the spectrum, United's hub is at Ohare and I won't fly them at all.

If you're at a hub, yeah, you'll get the best pricing and quantity of direct flights every time, so that does make a difference. From CLE, you can go cheap to LAS, MCO, BWI, IAH and ORD. Then consider you get the perks for Elite Access for awhile, getting on first, and that's a bonus. Pretty soon you get free upgrades. It all adds up if you travel frequently. If you're the type of traveler that does one-off trips once a year, it probably doesn't matter.

Chitown said:
I also like the no-seat assignment. First come, first serve is fine by me.

Not having seat assignments would drive me crazy. That alone would be reason for me to avoid an airline. But Continental is first come, first serve. When I buy my ticket, I pick my seat (at no cost). Some seats are reserved for elite access, but it's usually a small number. And when you check-in online, any open seat is up for grabs. So you can trade-in your assigned seat for a better one.

I look at having no seat assignment this way.

Its the difference between getting inconveniently placed (without choice - as your seat and their seat is predetermined before you board) next to a 300lb person, or being able to walk by that seat and sitting next to hot super model... :)

Having a seat assignment means I can guarantee myself a single seat (1-aisle-2 config) on a regional jet or know that I won't be stuck in a middle seat.

Yes on a regional Jet. that has the 1-2 sure.. far from the only type of plane in the airline fleet.. Most planes are 2-3 or 3-3 or more though.. So that eliminates that guarantee of going solo..

I get an A ticket or even a B.. No middle seat for me, and I have been on southwest 8 times so far this year.. So.. Each lend to advantages and disadvantages..

I fly around 15 segments a year. I'd say 75% are on a regional jet.

Dude, you've got to start flying to more interesting places. ;)

I will when I get to pick the training schedule. :) Though, I will say I've been to a lot of neat places I wouldn't have otherwise considered visiting.

In response to Rollergator's initial problems, isn't it funny how difficult some businesses make it for you to give them money? If you are going to cut staff, the last ones who should be cut are the ones responsible for bringing in the $$$!

I have been partial to AirTran lately. Being that I can fly out of CAK to MCO for $170 round trip, and sit up front, directly behind first class with a huge amount of leg room it seems like a great deal to me.

If I'm flying out west, I usually take Continental out of CLE.

CLE to MCO has been around $120 lately on Continental.

Wow, I guess I should look into that.

My thing is, I'm 11 miles from CAK, 40 from CLE, and parking is cheaper at CAK so it might all work out in the end.

I'm the opposite. We were doing CAK for Ft. Myers (where Diana's dad lives, and where we got married), but by the time the wedding proper rolled around, Continental was finally doing competitive direct flights there too (killing USA 3000, I suspect). I have to hand it to Continental, they've done a nice job out of CLE scheduling flights to places I want to go.

janfrederick said:In response to Rollergator's initial problems, isn't it funny how difficult some businesses make it for you to give them money?

That's why I had to LMBO about the whole situation. Much like the whole "enthusiasts aren't the normal G" discussion we have so often, I recognized in this instance that I am the one customer in 1,000 who would persevere enough to actually register for this event DESPITE the best efforts of those at GAdv...so there's 999 potential customers who would probably just pass on the event and go elsewhere...maybe a ballgame at Yankee Stadium, maybe the Jersey Shore, or better than either of those options, Knoebels! :)

Speaking of airlines:

JetAmerica Ready To Launch with $9 flights

I was ready to question the similarities to Skybus, but as I read on the article did it for me. :)

If I may, I've had a different prospective of flying. I worked for about a year at the Machester Airport (MHT for you fequent flyers who headed to nothern New England on occasion), working at a newsstand.

The airport was seved by all the domestic carriers, except American. Most of the people I talked to who were doing domestic flights were VERY happy with SWA and woldn't think about flying anyone else. There were a few grumbles here & there, but most were happy. I've also had positive expierences working alongside the SWA crews. In fact, I was freinds with a few of them.

^Exactly, and that is for the most part, the overall feelings towards SWA. That is why they have an ousttanding customer satisfaction rate and why they are the only airline pulling a profit.

Read this.

Continental = Ouch.

Southwest = Not surprising.