Any Columbus FF here?
I'm currently flying Continental exclusively, but have been thinking about
changing airlines. What's everyone else doing, and what do you reccomend?

Honestly, it really depends on the routes you fly, unless all your travel is bankrolled by someone else.

I flew out of CMH for two years and was NW elite both years. It worked for me because I mostly did west-coast RTs for work and the DTW hub was the most convenient option.

My take was that CMH is a lucky place because its a short hop to a hub of most US majors (DTW, CVG, ORD, EWR/CLE), and plus DL has significant operations based in CMH itself. I've heard that in the days of the AmericaWest hub, it was even more competitive.

So anyway, it comes back to what your routes are, and what you really value.

Free upgrades ? CO or NW, DL maybe (no personal experience)
Better (?!) FF programs ? AA or UA

Edited to add:
If CO is treating you well and you're not constantly stuck on those regional jets, there's really nothing wrong with them!

Hey, is there anything to do between 11:45pm-5:45am in CMH? I'm doing an MR to CMH in October... I have 6 hours to kill late at night

I've lived in CMH for about (7) years and have flown NWA as my primary carrier. Because there is no dominant airline (market share) prices for flights starting/ending in CMH are very inexpensive.

As far as things to do, late at night, you might look into going to the
Easton Mall, but after 1:00 Am I don't know where you will go......

Good Luck!

RC

I was a Columbus FF until last year and loved it. Cheap fares, easy flights and hands down the best ground staff anywhere in the world--yes, I flew United!

Having moved from SoCal to CMH I just kept flying UA because of status and couldn't have been happier. The staff quickly began to recognize me, not sure if that is good or bad, and treatment was fantastic. For me UA was great because my travels were so erratic that almost anywhere I needed to go I was able to get there in one stop through ORD.

Towards the end of my stay there I started really flying to the southeast a lot and began to take USAir to get me there. With that said, if you are flying to places that CO serves easily than I wouldn't switch away from them-they are every bit as good as any other. However, if you are often flying to Denver or Atlanta or a hub city of another airline it might be worth looking into a switch. While I loved UA, and still did get MP miles, flying UA to where I was going in the Carolinas or Florida would have been difficult given their schedules and routes.

As for things to do between 12am and 6am--not much. Easton is a decent choice as it is close to the airport, but they close the bars at two or earlier given the day of the week. If it is a Th/Fr/Sa you can go downtown and have a good time until 230am or so. Jump a cab north a couple of miles to the OSU campus for a late night meal and head back to the airport when full. Just be advised that the terminals close for inbound passengers after the last flight leaves. No one is let in until the next morning (4am?). Once the last flight arrives in that terminal they also round everybody up and place them in the common, unsecure area, so don't plan on getting comfy in a quiet corner for the evening.

I've been flying out of CMH for the past 6 years and with family in AMS, NRT and YVR, NW has been my carrier of choice. Even as a lowly silver my upgrade percentage from/to either DTW or MSP has been near-perfect. DTW has become one of my favorite airports in North America for changing flights and the WorldClub is great.

Rocky

A better question... is there ANYTHING that's open 24/7 I can hang out at? Preferably a tasty eatery or good coffee house? Perhaps wireless internet

White Castle or Waffle House. That's about it.

I think TeeJay's is open 24/7. Try the location at Grandview and Riverside Drive (close to downtown, but the opposite direction from the airport).

Get the Haystack or the cornbread with the sausage links baked in. Mmmmm.....

PS> I lived in Cols through the 1990s.

1. Bettys - nice bar on N. High Street in the short north (700 block). Serves GOOD food until 2
2. Shisha - hookah bar on N. High Street in the 2300 block. No booze, but open on weekends until 4
3. Studio 35 movies (Indianola avenue, they do have a website) has some midnight screenings on weekends. Since its Oct, they might have a halloween special - possibly the Rocky Horror Picture Show. They serve beer and pizza that you can take in to the cinema.

Can't think of any others right now - will come back if I do!

Thank you for all the suggestions... I will probably end up hitting all the places suggested above ^

But especially White Castle... that's one thing they need to import into CA.

And if this new airline gets going:

http://www.smartertravel.com/advice/...ce.php?id=9297

your fares from CMH may be pushed down even more...

I believe CMH is White Castle HQ.

Allow me to briefly hijack this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=449135

Oh, I am so calling my MR a "WCR - White Castle Run" (IceTrojan goes to White Castle might infringe on a trademark or two...)