I currently fly 30 weeks a year on Northwest. I am nervous about the strike and would like to switch airlines, preferably on direct flights. Connecting through DTW and MSP is getting old. Any Suggestions???

There are lots of factors to consider.

Where do you travel? Is PHX your home base? Is that new, or has it been for a while? How long will you be there?

If you are going places served by CO and DL, maybe you want to continue accruing miles on NW? Would you prefer connecting in IAH, EWR, SLC, and ATL?

Obviously, HP -- soon to merge with US -- has a hub in PHX which might be convenient if "non-stop" (not "direct," which means single-stop with same flight number) fights are most important to you.

Then there are further issues, such as whether upgrades or free flights matter more to you, as each program is different. I'd take the time to read the FlyerTalk forums about HP (America West), CO (Continental), and DL (Delta).

There is no one right answer for everyone.

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

If you want direct you're going to be limited to America West, maybe some United, and SWA (if you consider thier service direct at all).

I would go with Continental and connect.

-Vincent

HP is currently very nice, but after the US merger who knows.

Yes, very often after a merger, the carrier isn't the glory they used to be.

We live near DTW and the strike's no longer in the news out here and from what I've seen of their on time performance, it's better now than before the strike.

In this day and age, direct flights through hubs don't buy you that much because it seems that quite often they involve equipment and gate changes.

As to changing planes at big airports, it doesn't get any easier than it is at DTW because the new terminal was designed with that in mind.

As to MSP, when NW was operating out of the old terminal MSP seemed pretty nice to us, that no longer is the case.

Also, if you're through these MSP and DTW hubs that much, I suggest joining their WC.

Bob H

Really depends on where you fly most. If it's around the midwest/west, then you want an airline with a hub that's close by.. DL's SLC hub, UA's DEN and SFO hubs might be convenient.. If you're flying mostly to the south, CO's IAH or DL's ATL hubs might be best. And if you're headed to the NE, AA/UA's ORD is pretty good, and the combined HP/US should have some great connections from PHX through PHL.