Relocating to Denver, best airline for a (very) tall guy flying to SMF and CHI?
I'm relocating to the Denver area, which airline should I concentrate my business with?
First of all, I am 6'8" so I'm pretty into airlines where I can pre-reserve my exit row based on elite status.
Current status is AS MVPG, DL GM (soft landing from PM, gave up on them a while ago), and UA 3P.
As I see it my choices are:
UA:
Pros: E+ is better than a standard coach seat.
Nonstop Flights to SMF and CHI
Lots of service in DEN and lots of international partners to use miles.
Cons: E+ is still tight for me
Most of my recent experiences with UA have been pretty bad. I think they have the worst service both on the ground and in the air of the legacy carriers.
Can't get exit row til 1P, which I think will be hard to maintain living in the middle of the country.
F9
Pros: Usually cheaper than UA
Nonstop Flights to SMF and CHI
Can achieve elite status with only 15k miles and then pre-reserve exit rows.
Cons: No partners, bad mileage redemption possibilities.
WN
Pros: Cheapest of all.
No bag fees.
Nonstop Flights to SMF and CHI
Reusable tickets.
Cons: I have never flown WN and I am afraid of unassigned seating and fear I will rarely get an exit row. Apparently very tall people can pre-board, but pre-boarders are not allowed to sit in the exit row.
No international award redemptions (no partners)
DL travel but AS Earning
Pro: Until I lose my DL status I can pre-reserve exit row.
AS Elite should be able to reserve exit rows on DL within one year and request comp upgrades.
Could maintain AS elite status and terrific Mileage Plan redemption partners.
Cons: No nonstop flights to either SMF or CHI (and lots of Regional Jets, yuck)
AS is only carrier that can take me to gateway for international partner awards (AS Mileage Plan) and not much AS service from DEN.
So, what do you guys think? What is my best bet?
Last edited by spgaston; Aug 27, 2009 at 6:45 pm