I fly US Air for a multitude of reasons:
1. They fly out of my local airport FAY.
2. See Number 1.
3. See Number 1 again.

Actually, I can choose ASA (Delta Connection) or US Airways. Or I can choose to drive 1 1/2 hours to RDU but the parking and traffic there makes me cringe. I'd rather be at ORD than RDU any day.

My main reason I choose US Airways time and time again is their cheaper fares than DL. I enjoy the jet service and the awesome customer service they give at a smaller airport like FAY. It also doesn't hurt that FAY is only 5 minutes from my house.

[This message has been edited by JetTroop (edited 11-06-2000).]

I chose Delta when I began flying MAN-ATL. I was offered three choices by the travel agent at the time: Delta, American or Continental.

No real reason why I plumped for Delta at the time, although for obvious reasons it turned out to be the more sensible option and since my flying habits went on to include CLT, SAT, MCO and TPA, I think I made the right choice at the time.

Having said that, I am considering changing my allegiance. Delta have not been the biggest discounters lately and I'm having more trouble than ever in getting SkyMiles cedited to my account.
US Airways are offering cheaper flights to my chosen destinations now, via PHL, so maybe after I've taken my next reward flight I should think again about my carrier.

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Mark

[This message has been edited by MarkB (edited 11-05-2000).]

Northwest only because it is the only airline that serves the aiport here. (PIB)

Southwest:
1. I need to get there on time.
2. I need to get there for less than $1200 roundtrip.
3. I need to rack up the free flights quickly.
4. I change my plans often and don't want to pay any fees to do so.

United:
1. When Southwest doesn't have a nonstop to fit my schedule.

[This message has been edited by Tino (edited 11-06-2000).]

I prefer CO, NW, and HP out of Denver. Two reasons, I cannot stand the UA attitude, and after the switch, I am entirely happy with CO and their partners (yes, even America West!) I get upgraded maybe twice as much being a Elite Silver on CO-HP-NW as I did as Prem or PremEx on UA, and I don't have to buy any certificates!

Interestingly enough, in talking with several people at PHX last week, I am not alone in preferring HP out of DEN over UA, there were several of us who had come to the same conclusion.

But CO remains my favorite carrier trip in and trip out.

I fly *Alliance, mostly UA. Great FF program, nice bonuses, good network, and great treatment (including upgrades) of top-tier flyers.


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Gaucho100K

I fly oneworld.AA for South America and BA/Iberia for Europe.Top tier elite on each.Fly US Air just enough to be gold and to drop down my Amex membership rewards

I fly LH because they have always treated me well. Being top level on M&M is just a bonus, as far as I am concerned.

They can fly me everywhere I want to go, anywhere I need to go, and some places I never want to see.

[This message has been edited by eMailman (edited 11-08-2000).]

I fly Delta whenever possible. Business requires me to fly frequently between New York and Washington, and the Delta Shuttle is the best choice for that. Having a guaranteed foundation of enough Delta Shuttle flights to be Gold every year, it's a no-brainer to continue flying on Delta to Platinum status.

Bruce

After reading this, I put some thought as to why I fly the airline I do, and why I have flown the airlines that I have in the past. It all comes down to 2 things for me; Work and Where I am.

2 years ago, I was flying to clients in DFW and SAT from EWR and AA was my sole carrier. It also got me everywhere else I needed to go.

After I moved to the Philadelphia area, I began to realize how much of a great airline US was due to its' presence. I had a direct flight to nearly anywhere I wanted to go, which was very nice. I became a premier and truly enojoy/ed their benefits.

Currrently, with my new company, UA is the preferred carrier. Plain and Simple. So, the past 2 months have seen me fly UA

AA is my company's prefered airline, luckily I am in CO's country, I choose CO because I like CO's safe non-stop services to most of the cities from IAH. I missed all my connections at DFW when I fly AA, so I try to avoid AA. no chance to fly other airlines because of course IAH is CO's hub.

Al

I live in near MCI, a non-hub where I can choose from any of the majors.

UA: I do a lot of Chicago/Denver travel, leaving UA as the only choice with frequent nonstops to both cities. My experience with them hasn't been too bad - even the summer from hell didn't affect many of my flights because I fly mostly earlier in the day. It seems like EVERYONE is Elite, though.

US: I fly US for all other travel whenever possible. I got started on them flying MCI-DCA, and found that I rarely waited in long lines on either end (coach, non-elite) and found that I was rarely on hold when I called their customer service line. These two things alone are more important to me than almost anything else. I switched a lot of travel to US, achieved elite status, and found better-than-average upgrade opportunities - partially due to a smaller number of Gold Preferred travelers with which to compete for upgrades (compared to UA PE or AA Plat). Also, US tends to kick in courtesy upgrades from time to time - even on transatlantics. Final bonus: mid-tier elite earns two systemwides on US; zero on AA or UA.

I live in a suburb that abuts DFW property line. Less than two (2) miles from my home to the property line. 12-15 minutes from my backdoor to terminal-A ticket counters. Thus DFW, rather than Love Field (DAL) is my airport.

Now, why do I only travel on AA? Because when I first started back in the late 70's AA was just simply closer to the house. Then in early 80's AA came up with the first, and to this day, the BEST Frequent Flyer program. But it is also the fact that AA out of DFW can get me to more than 90% of my continental destinations NON-STOP. DL can't so that for me. This true for San Diego, Seattle, Boston , Miami and Harlingen. Non-stop is a very valuable consideration. Not to leave out that AA is the "hometown" carrier with reserved seats.

Southwest doesn't get my business since they put all pax (me included) off in HOU on my last flt. with them and said "you are on your own, you can standby to see if you can get on another SWA flight going to DAL! This was on a Friday about 5:PM. I had to buy a tkt on DL to get home that evening.

Interesting that some folks have said that they prefer one of the alliances rather than a specific airline. That is probably my attitude as well (oneworld for me). Yet the airlines' attitude on the value of the alliance seems to be mixed (the BA merger/alliance rumor of the week being most notable). How much market research do you all think the airlines have done on the value of *A, OW, or Skyteam?

Among many airlines, among many airports, from which I can choose for business and for leisure travel, I choose CO because their fares are usually competitive, their service is always gracious and accomodating, their aircraft are clean and comfortable, and their flights are most often reliable.

The ease and versatility of their OnePass frequent flier program is just icing on the cake (except for its international upgrade provision, which is the rotten cantaloupe in the corner stinking up the entire kitchen).