Originally Posted by
wmweeza
I have only ever flown United but I'm looking to switch airlines. I always fly first domestically so can I get some suggestions for what airline has decent customer service and comfy seats? I usually fly short haul from SFO to SEA.
The only nonstops I'm aware of are Alaska, United and Virgin America. Southwest would be an option from OAK but no first class cabin.
AA doesn't have any routes north from SFO. Their service is strictly to their hubs (LAX, ORD, DFW, JFK, MIA) and you have the addition of US routes to PHX and the east coast, but nothing to the Northwest. They do partner with Alaska, though, and you could credit to AA. Alaska, in turn, partners with AA, Delta and British Airways, among others, and might be the most versatile program if you like mixing and matching carriers aside from SEA flights.
One thing I noticed is that you buy first class fares. As we're talking less than 700 miles one way, it's going to take a long time to build up significant miles at AA (if you credit Alaska there) for award tickets as you'll just bring in the actual flight miles plus the 50% first class bonus, so around 1,000 miles in each direction. At UA, where you would earn 5 miles per dollar spent without elite status, you may actually accrue more miles based on the cost of a ticket. Anything over roughly $400RT after taxes would give you more miles as a UA flyer when you don't factor in any type of elite status. Strictly from the point of redeemable miles, UA might be your best option with paid first class.
If you fly more than 25,000 miles a year and can accrue elite status, you'd bring in additional miles at AA (25% bonus) while UA would still be dollar based (you jump to 6 miles per dollar after you hit 25,000 miles).
Should note that Alaska flies to SEA from OAK where UA no longer flies from, should you consider OAK as an option to SFO. I don't have Alaska as my frequent flyer program as I credit their flights to AA, but hopefully someone familiar with Alaska's program can give you some more detail on it.
Another nonstop option is Virgin America. Don't know anything about their frequent flyer program and they do have a limited route network. Have you ever flown with them? In terms of seat comfort, I've heard some very favorable reviews about them from friends, but not a word about their frequent flyer program.