learned my lesson with this outfit last year:
* waited too late to get a decent advance/cheap tkt to HNL, so thought i'd try ATA(HA!)
* on outbound, got to hear the speil about anything you touch, you just bought, cuz nuttin's free on this plane.
* return, camped out at the airport cuz of 'delay'. Turns out a mechanical of some sort, ATA's flying in a plane from INDIANAPOLIS, so no way that plane's getting there quickly.
* conveniently, flight is scheduled out with a delay of 3:56 minutes, so'z to keep it under the magical four hour delay.
* got into my LAX hotel room at 2:00am LAX time, -not- a happy camper.
First/last time I mess with that outfit, i'll either buy further ahead next time or just suck it up and pay more for a last minute fare.
Stuff happens! I had this much trouble getting from SEA-SAT on Delta, but didn't refuse to fly ever again with Delta.
That being said, I overheard a mechanic talking to an FA on 12/31 about that DC-10. Apparently, they were working on it on 12/31. He called that plane a "dog". It must have a LOT of mechanical issues. Doesn't sound like a safe aircraft.
I've flown ATA to Hawaii twice on a 757-200. Never had any problems. The interior of the plane was spotless. The cabin crew was VERY professional and courteous.