Really a Difference Among U.S. Airlines?
Aug 25, 2005 | 8:00 am
#1
Original Poster
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Location: New York, NY
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Really a Difference Among U.S. Airlines?
Every airline thanks you for choosing them at the conclusion of the flight. My question is do you really think there is a difference among u.s. carriers?
I choose airlines based on price, timing of flights, whether I'm a member of their frequent flier club. I can't honestly say I think I get better service on a particular carrier. How about you?
I choose airlines based on price, timing of flights, whether I'm a member of their frequent flier club. I can't honestly say I think I get better service on a particular carrier. How about you?
Aug 25, 2005 | 9:16 am
#3
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There is a difference.
For me the flight isn't about just the time I'm in the plane, how good an airline is starts at check-in, and finishes when I've claimed my luggage.
The thing I've found is, the US majors usually excel in one or two area, but IME never all of them. For that I fly BA
For me the flight isn't about just the time I'm in the plane, how good an airline is starts at check-in, and finishes when I've claimed my luggage.
The thing I've found is, the US majors usually excel in one or two area, but IME never all of them. For that I fly BA
Aug 25, 2005 | 11:06 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2004
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I think that if you travel a lot, sooner or later you will get good/bad service on any of them. In my opinion, they are pretty much the same. Too bad we can't get some of the European carriers over here!
Aug 25, 2005 | 11:09 am
#6
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I don't think one is far superior to the others. Some definitely have some competitve advantages over the others.
United has E+ in coach, p.s. service SFO/LAX-JFK, and Channel 9.
AA has the best award redemption of the majors and international F to Hawaii.
CO/DL/NW/US have space available upgrades for all elite levels--highest first.
There are pros & cons to each program.
United has E+ in coach, p.s. service SFO/LAX-JFK, and Channel 9.
AA has the best award redemption of the majors and international F to Hawaii.
CO/DL/NW/US have space available upgrades for all elite levels--highest first.
There are pros & cons to each program.
Aug 25, 2005 | 12:53 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
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As a non-elite the is zero difference in coach service for all the majors, it's such a miniscule difference--except for Jetblue or Song--their products come close to some airline's F experience (NW and US come to mind).
As an elite member there's a minor difference as you might get a UA E+ seat, which by teh way has the saem pitch and smaller width of a Jetblue seat behind row 12....so go figure.
I do agree that airline travel is now as commoditized as ever.
As an elite member there's a minor difference as you might get a UA E+ seat, which by teh way has the saem pitch and smaller width of a Jetblue seat behind row 12....so go figure.
I do agree that airline travel is now as commoditized as ever.
Aug 25, 2005 | 1:06 pm
#8
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Originally Posted by Bruiser
I think that if you travel a lot, sooner or later you will get good/bad service on any of them. In my opinion, they are pretty much the same. Too bad we can't get some of the European carriers over here!
I have flown 5 times on European airlines. Once on BA, 3 times Lufthansa and once on Austrian Air. Two times Lufthansa lost my baggage en route to Frankfurt. The 1 BA flight was delayed about 2 hrs into London - not weather related. As far as service goes, nothing spectacular, they fed me, gave me a drink or two, showed me a movie and that's it. The food on average is better I'll give them that.
Aug 25, 2005 | 1:10 pm
#9
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Originally Posted by spike74
Every airline thanks you for choosing them at the conclusion of the flight. My question is do you really think there is a difference among u.s. carriers?
I choose airlines based on price, timing of flights, whether I'm a member of their frequent flier club. I can't honestly say I think I get better service on a particular carrier. How about you?
I choose airlines based on price, timing of flights, whether I'm a member of their frequent flier club. I can't honestly say I think I get better service on a particular carrier. How about you?
Aug 25, 2005 | 1:41 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2004
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Originally Posted by Rejuvenated
My experiences with AS & WN have been far superior than what I have encountered with UA, AA, or CO. <snip> but the bottom line is that they have ground personel as well as young upbeat FA that care for your needs and work their tails off and those are the thing that really matters most to me.
However, to answer the OP's question, I don't think there is any one carrier that is consistently better than the others. On balance, when one considers the plusses and minuses of each, it's a wash. It's up to each individual to chose the airline(s) that best serves his/her needs.
Aug 25, 2005 | 3:38 pm
#11
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Originally Posted by Rejuvenated
Sure WN doesn't have the extra amenities and extra catering provided by UA, AA, or CO, but the bottom line is that they have ground personel as well as young upbeat FA that care for your needs and work their tails off and those are the thing that really matters most to me.
Aug 25, 2005 | 3:53 pm
#12
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Their boardings based on groups (A, B, C) forms massive lines at the gate. But it is not any worse or any better than the massive lines I've encountered for UA, AA, or CO. But the patience and attitude of WN's staff in handling the massive lines is one aspect leads me to fly WN and avoid flying UA, AA, or CO whenever possible.
Aug 25, 2005 | 4:29 pm
#13
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Originally Posted by Rejuvenated
Their boardings based on groups (A, B, C) forms massive lines at the gate. But it is not any worse or any better than the massive lines I've encountered for UA, AA, or CO.
On WN, even if I checkin online, I have to queue up very early (to attempt) to get my preferred seating. Sure, I can be the last of Group A to board and generally find adequate seating, but I still have to deal with the pushing and shoving Bs and Cs. On AA, I can sit in the AC until boarding, secure in the knowledge that my preferred seat awaits me. Even if I have to elbow my way past a few Group 2s-6s to get to the front of the line, it is IMHO, not even close to the horror that constitutes WN boarding.
Originally Posted by Rejuvenated
But the patience and attitude of WN's staff in handling the massive lines is one aspect leads me to fly WN and avoid flying UA, AA, or CO whenever possible.
Last edited by oklAAhoma; Aug 25, 2005 at 4:31 pm Reason: clarity
Aug 25, 2005 | 4:57 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2003
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Originally Posted by spike74
Every airline thanks you for choosing them at the conclusion of the flight.