Originally Posted by TomBascom
On the other hand -- if US flies where you want to go and the price and schedule meet your needs then why not?
There is, of course, a risk that something bad will happen but if you use a CC you can get a refund and book it elsewhere. The best deals and the best schedules are available with a longer advance purchase window. There's plenty of time to rebook later if you need to but summer travel isn't likely to get cheaper or more conveinent as seats fill over the next couple of months...
Why NOT, you asked? How about the hassle of rebooking your summer flights at substantially higher fare than what you would have paid months ago (wasting your effort on early planning)? Not to mention the trouble of finding availability on dates of your choice as seats get filled. What about arriving at your summer vacation destination without your luggage for days (or forever) if you do end up there? Worse yet, how about the mad scramble on the day of your travel for alternate carriers to fly you to your destination because disgruntled US employees decide to take a few days off to teach US another painful lesson? To be fair with US, all carriers are subjected to "normal" delays or delays out of its control (ie: weather), so there is a risk with any carrier. However, the risk with US is substantially greater because of its few "bad apples." For the most part, the fare difference doesn't warrant the risk involved (I know this is different for everyone--some people would be willing to save $10 and hope for the best). As for convenience, I would rather take a connecting flight than get stranded. I am not trying to dissuade anyone from flying US. I have absolutely nothing to gain if US liquidates (I will lose a substantial amount of DM if it happens). I am just speaking in terms of a rational traveler whose main goal is to be able to travel to wherever I need to go when I need to in a timely fashion. Just my opinion.
LAX