Hello all,

Planning a trip PHL-ANC and YVR-PHL next summer in F or B/C+.

My question for this discussion/input is: between DL via msp or AA/AS via SEA, which carrier offers the better service?

I also am thinking that doing a r/t PHL-SEA-PHL or PHL-MSP-PHL with open jaws to and from ANC/YVR respectively may work, but I worry about getting luggage land side and getting to the next flights or is it possible to check through??

Or, if there is another routing we need to consider, I Am all ears. Prefer no red-eyes and we live just north of PHL which make it easy and quick to get home. Unless there are significant savings which can be applied to transportation back home from/to airport.

Your input can be anecdotal or real... I realize everyone's perception of service is different.

We do not travel that often, so to garner others who do thoughts is the goal. It has been years since landing/transiting SEA or MSP and thinking having to go through TSA may not be worth it or not?

Thank you very much for your time and input.

bo1953

I have never been through SEA, so I cannot comment on the airport experience there. MSP is a large airport, it can be hectic getting around there but they generally have decent places to eat and its a DL hub (so plenty of skyclub lounge access if that is your thing). I have not really had any issues with long security lines there or TSA being prickley, but you never really know when and where that will strike. I never check luggage so I am not even sure what the rule would be for that ( I think you can check it through on a domestic leg...I know you cant on international).

As for the service, my experience having flown plenty of DL and AA domestic in F and Y alike is, it is really dependent on the crew and the size of the plane as to what level of service you will experience. And really, it is mostly the crew. If you get a good attentive crew it can be good on either airline, and on any size plane. if you get a sour worn down one it will be miserable and you will wonder why you paid for F. Its total luck of the draw there.

As for the plane size, I do not know if there is lie flat on offer from MSP to ANC, I kind of doubt it (other than transcon I dont think either DL or AA uses lie flat for domestics). That might be something to look into. I would check what planes are being used on those routes at a minimum. Other than that....absent frequent flyer status I really dont see much of a difference between the 2 carriers. Maybe other members have a different view who fly that particular route? Safe travels.

connecting in SEA is generally not a significant issue, although there's a good chance that the connection will involve the train between the North Satellite (AS) and the C/D gates (AS/AA)

during summer cruise ship season, particularly Fri/Sat/Sun mornings, the TSA lines are atrocious ... I'd strongly recommend against an open-jaw that involves an overnight in SEA, though if you decide to go that route I'd suggest that AA's late-morning nonstop to PHL might be a better option than the ~0800 on either AA or AS (although you may be contending with a lot of pax on international departures around noon)

I take a fair number of Sun night redeyes, and I've seldom seen long lines for those departures

Guessing that PHL-MSP-ANC is going to be your optimal routing outbound. Maybe check UA or AA via ORD as well.

I'm not a DL guy myself, but in the absence of elite status and solely picking based on the routing, I'd probably go MSP. I haven't connected there a ton, but when I have I've found it to be a pleasant airport with capable airline staff (NW/DL of course).

Coming back, you might look at AC via YYZ/YUL. Or DL back through MSP... If you truly have no status at all, there might be a Westjet option that would be better than anything else. (I'm pretty sure they'd sell the route...just don't know the duration and connecting city.)

Myriad comparative threads on DL vs AA in both fora
Try searching "Delta vs American" or similar
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...ta+vs+American