Flying

[Squirrel]

I hate Southwest. That is all

[TheLeviathan]

 

I hate Southwest. That is all

 

Really?  Relative to the rest of em...I find them by far the most tolerable.

[Squirrel]

I don’t like flying to begin with for a number of reasons, but I hate the open seating. While getting a boarding number and lining up to board in a civilized queue makes the process seem smoother, I like knowing I have an exact seat ... aisle close to the front ... and can board with my group or later or last.

[Vanimal46]

I don’t like flying to begin with for a number of reasons, but I hate the open seating. While getting a boarding number and lining up to board in a civilized queue makes the process seem smoother, I like knowing I have an exact seat ... aisle close to the front ... and can board with my group or later or last.

The open seating has backfired on me in the past because I am that guy that wants to be the last person boarding an airplane.

 

My favorite airlines, ranked:

 

Southwest

Delta

American

United

 

Getting hit by a bus

 

Frontier

 

Never fly Frontier unless the flight is less than an hour.

[TheLeviathan]

Spirit was even worse than Frontier for us.  But yeah, that's pretty much my rankings too.

 

They're all terrible.  We need a "complain about terrible customer service" thread.  Because I would like to argue how Comcast is good and Centurylink may be the most evil organization this side of the Republican party.

[Squirrel]

The open seating has backfired on me in the past because I am that guy that wants to be the last person boarding an airplane.

My favorite airlines, ranked:

Southwest

Delta

American

United

Getting hit by a bus

Frontier

Never fly Frontier unless the flight is less than an hour.

I’ve heard mixed reviews on Frontier, but I’m wary of flying either them or Spirit ... Spirit is a definite no. And haven’t ever tried Allegient as they don’t fly into Chicago and just aren’t convenient.

 

But I fly American a LOT. And have been since when I lived in Canada. They were the best way in, out and around. The only thing about American that makes me grumble is when you can use and how much air miles are but I have never had a bad experience with dealing with them or with a flight ... and that’s 20 years of service. I rarely take Delta because they aren’t non-stop out of Chicago to anywhere I travel, except the occasional flight I take to MSP. United was always a mixed bag for me but I rarely end up flying with them anymore as they are usually the most expensive. Southwest isn’t always the least expensive anymore, either. And I’ve taken neither Virgin America or Jet Blue. What other carriers are out there?

 

I haven’t flown internationally for a while now, but JAL was great last I used them. KLM was always good. Had very good service on LOT, too. Lufthansa would be my low end. I’m pretty sure I’ve flown Swiss Air, too, but don’t recall anything about them. Anyone used SAS or Icelandic Air?

[Vanimal46]

My work booked a flight for me to Charlotte on Frontier and knowing what I know now I would have paid the difference to use any other airline. They had plastic bucket seats with maybe 1/2 inch of cushion on it. Most uncomfortable 2.5 hr flight I've been on.

[Mike Sixel]

We're on Southwest in a couple weeks, I'll try to remember to let you know how exciting it was.....

[ashbury]

I don’t like flying to begin with for a number of reasons, but I hate the open seating. While getting a boarding number and lining up to board in a civilized queue makes the process seem smoother, I like knowing I have an exact seat ... aisle close to the front ... and can board with my group or later or last.

The seats you want are the seats everyone wants^*. To get them on American, you generally have to pay first class or business class, or else book early and pay probably higher than if you waited, or else get lucky. Southwest offers the option of paying extra for boarding early in the coveted A-group. I think it all comes out about the same.

 

^{* _{OK, half want window, half want aisle, everyone wants front of the plane.}}

[glunn]

 

 Anyone used SAS or Icelandic Air?

We flew SAS from LAX to Stockholm in June and SAS business class was the best I have ever experienced. Everything was excellent -- the lounge, the seats, the food and the service. I would gladly fly SAS anywhere. 

[LaBombo]

 

I haven’t flown internationally for a while now, but JAL was great last I used them. KLM was always good. Had very good service on LOT, too. Lufthansa would be my low end. I’m pretty sure I’ve flown Swiss Air, too, but don’t recall anything about them. Anyone used SAS or Icelandic Air?

 

JAL is a solid airline though wound very tight about security on my last flight with them. But their tail logo looks like the red thingy on Luke Skywalker's helmet, so maybe call it a wash.

 

KLM is a Delta partner that provided excellent service on my recent flights with them.

 

Lufthansa is fine if you're not the sort who's prone to their name causing you irrational fears that your flight to Amsterdam will make a slight detour en route for a simulated bombing run over London or Coventry.

 

Icelandic... have you ever taken one of those bar hopping shuttle buses for a bachelorette party or sporting event? It's kind of like that, but without the option to ask the driver to pull over and let you out.

[USAFChief]

I fly Southwest whenever possible. Easily the best airline choice IMO.

 

Check in electronically exactly 24 hrs before departure time. You’ll be in late A group or early B, and you’ll get a good seat.

 

No charge for luggage, friendly staff.

[Vanimal46]

I read in USA Today today that airlines were getting ripped for charging extra on "preferred" seats over the holidays. When I flew on American I had to pay $32 more for an aisle seat in row 17. No additional leg room or anything like that. I just prefer aisle seats.

 

Hopefully this extra charge doesn't become a trend in the future.

[TheLeviathan]

Hopefully this extra charge doesn't become a trend in the future.

That's so naive it's adorable.

[Vanimal46]

 

This should be 100%. If it's not a red-eye flight keep your seat upright.

[USAFChief]

This should be 100%. If it's not a red-eye flight keep your seat upright.

Consider me in the 59 percent who don’t care what you think.

 

My seat is going back, and staying back.

[Vanimal46]

Consider me in the 59 percent who don’t care what you think.

 

My seat is going back, and staying back.

If I was sitting behind you get used to my knee driving into the back of your seat

[ashbury]

Consider me in the 59 percent who don’t care what you think.

 

My seat is going back, and staying back.

I usually leave my seat upright, at least until the jerk sitting in front of me reclines his and I need the space.

 

(BTW the article which leads off "the past couple of weeks have seen a spate of confrontations among air travelers over reclining seats" is from 2014.)

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Consider me in the 59 percent who don’t care what you think.

My seat is going back, and staying back.

Seat, meet sock

[Squirrel]

Seat, meet sock

And speaking of socks on an airplane, someone sitting in my vicinity took off their shoes. Another reason I hate being enclosed in this metal tube hurtling through the night sky with my nearest and dearest friends for 3+ hrs.

 

I hope that’s not you, Hosken...

[USAFChief]

 

And speaking of socks on an airplane, someone sitting in my vicinity took off their shoes. Another reason I hate being enclosed in this metal tube hurtling through the night sky with my nearest and dearest friends for 3+ hrs.

I hope that’s not you, Hosken...

[Mike Sixel]

I hope I get to fly this weekend.....

[Squirrel]

I hope I get to fly this weekend.....

Like an eagle, to the sea?

[ashbury]

Like an eagle, to the sea?

Oh, I forgot to mention. Did you see in the news about an emergency landing at O'Hare, on a United flight from San Francisco, the other day? My daughter was a passenger. Fortunately the loss of hydraulics in the landing gear was worked around, and the plane landed without damage to anyone or anything - except damage to psychic well-being of course.

[biggentleben]

 

Oh, I forgot to mention. Did you see in the news about an emergency landing at O'Hare, on a United flight from San Francisco, the other day? My daughter was a passenger. Fortunately the loss of hydraulics in the landing gear was worked around, and the plane landed without damage to anyone or anything - except damage to psychic well-being of course.

 

So who will now run those 1-900 lines with a Jamaican accent?!

[AlwaysinModeration]

Very solid thread, with a very solid group of contributors, even though I clicked on it expecting something completely different. None of you seem to have actually flown (as I have not, although I have aspirations.)

 

For me, Korean Air is the best.

[ashbury]

None of you seem to have actually flown (as I have not, although I have aspirations.)

Au contraire. A friend took me up in his single-engine craft, and let me operate from the co-pilot's seat for a while. It was similar to this slick looking model:

 

Just during level flight. Not during take-off or landing. LOL

 

I also boast extensive experience with MS Flight Simulator.

[Vanimal46]

Waiting for my connection flight right now... When we landed, a few people behind our row gave us the sob story that their connecting flight is leaving REALLY soon and if they could cut.

 

They're on the same connecting flight I'm on...

 

This isn't 'Nam, Smokey. There are rules!

[Squirrel]

You think that’s bad, I saw a couple, middle aged, grab a wheel chair and with one in the chair, go up to the ticket counter to ask for pre-boarding. When I got on the flight, noticed they were sitting in first class. Not sure the need for pre-boarding. Then saw them walk off the plane and walk to baggage claim, stand and wait for their luggage ... completely unassisted and sans wheelchair. People like that have a special place in Hell reserved for them.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Anyone used SAS or Icelandic Air?

Flew Icelandic a couple of times to Europe. Highly recommend, though ALWAYS stopping in Reykjavik is kind of a nuisance but hardly a deal-breaker from Minnesota.