looking for a good airline to fly with. i am heading out to california for a week, maybe 2, decide when i get there how long i am staying for. anyway, i was looking for good airline prices, seen west jet and united are pretty well the same price, other airlines you fly with that you can suggest for giving a quality ride ?
airline suggestions
- Thread starter simon482
- Start date
Jet Blue if you are not flying direct from Toronto, and don't mind flying from Buffalo.
http://www.jetblue.com/
http://www.jetblue.com/
I fly United 90% of the time (full disclosure: 1k member) and I have a love hate relationship with them. However being that they hub in LA and San Fran, it's hard to beat them for direct. The gotcha about United, American and Delta is as a rule they overbook by 5%. If they actually sell every seat and then sell the "overflow" tickets, there's a high risk of getting bumped. So if you aren't at least a Premier member (25k miles/year or pay a few hundred for membership), your risk of getting bumped goes up.
I put up with United's shit because I get bumped to First Class fairly often and I don't want to build my status with another carrier. That and they dominate my local market and I can literally get anywhere from my home city.
I put up with United's shit because I get bumped to First Class fairly often and I don't want to build my status with another carrier. That and they dominate my local market and I can literally get anywhere from my home city.
The bigger issue in your situation, is that you want an open-ended return ticket. Different airlines will have SIGNIFICANTLY different change policies and fees. Westjet for example, allows you to change up to departure time for $50. Others won't allow you to change at all. Others will allow it, but you will pay a fee that might be as high as the original ticket price...
At the end of the day, it's one short flight from here to LA. All airlines will get you there, probably in a more or less timely fashion. Look on Expedia or someplace for best rates, but then review change policies on the airlines' websites and then book direct.
In the past year, I have flown on Westjet three times (love them), United, US Air and Delta each a couple of times, and once on American. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference between any of them, other than Westjet... If you are a regular flyer, it makes sense to investigate loyalty programmes (as Guy seems to have done). As for getting bumped, just be sure you check in with plenty of time, and you should be fine.
At the end of the day, it's one short flight from here to LA. All airlines will get you there, probably in a more or less timely fashion. Look on Expedia or someplace for best rates, but then review change policies on the airlines' websites and then book direct.
In the past year, I have flown on Westjet three times (love them), United, US Air and Delta each a couple of times, and once on American. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference between any of them, other than Westjet... If you are a regular flyer, it makes sense to investigate loyalty programmes (as Guy seems to have done). As for getting bumped, just be sure you check in with plenty of time, and you should be fine.
the plan right now is to fly into san fran airport on the 2nd (sunday) and stay till the 7th (friday) but she could change her mind and tell me i am not leaving yet and i stay for another week or 2. so i am going to need a hotel for while i am there as well. i am going to be building up some frequent flyer miles for a month or 2 till we get everything figured out and i drive back with her the last time i fly out. not overly concerned about the cost of changing return flights or anything like that either.
so for a regular flight, say once a month for a week, would you suggest west jet or does air canada even go out there and are they even worth flying with ? i have never been on a plane or considered it for traveling before, that is why i am asking.
so for a regular flight, say once a month for a week, would you suggest west jet or does air canada even go out there and are they even worth flying with ? i have never been on a plane or considered it for traveling before, that is why i am asking.
Jet Blue and Southwest out of Buffalo have the advantage that the tickets are only one way, so you have the change to just book out and they wait until you are there to book back.the plan right now is to fly into san fran airport on the 2nd (sunday) and stay till the 7th (friday) but she could change her mind and tell me i am not leaving yet and i stay for another week or 2.
sounds decent, wonder if flying out of buffalo would be cheaper than toronto.Jet Blue and Southwest out of Buffalo have the advantage that the tickets are only one way, so you have the change to just book out and they wait until you are there to book back.
what is a sunroof seat ?Southwest out buffalo is a very good option (if you do not mind a sunroof seat )
I find Delta to be very competively priced.If its not to inconvient for you ,it might be cheaper for you to fly out of Buffalo airport.Certainly has cheaper parking rates and is about 15 from Peace Bridge.Expect a connection if flying from Buffalo to Cali.
LOL,they have had problems recently with parts of the roof getting ripped off during flight.what is a sunroof seat ?
Southwest aside, it's generally cheaper to fly hub to hub than it is from a regional airport to a hub. Going to Buffalo, you're likely to have to hit ORD, LGA or IAD before headed to SFO and even then that will depend on the carrier. For Delta, as en example, you would likely have to go to Detroit or Atlanta first before heading off to San Fran and there's a strong possibility of a stop in Salt Lake. Since Air Canada and United code share, it should be (I haven't checked) cheaper to fly from Toronto to San Fran on a code share flight between those two. Southwest has a very unusual model however and it works for them so Buffalo certainly could be an option but would likely be a change or two.
As for checking in early, that really depends on the carrier. I rarely fly outside of United but if you aren't assigned a seat when you get your ticket (Southwest excluded since they don't assign seats), then the flight is one that is capable of being oversold. On most hub-hub connections, the plane will be full of elite members and thus a small portion of the non-elite will for sure get bumped or be at risk.
As for checking in early, that really depends on the carrier. I rarely fly outside of United but if you aren't assigned a seat when you get your ticket (Southwest excluded since they don't assign seats), then the flight is one that is capable of being oversold. On most hub-hub connections, the plane will be full of elite members and thus a small portion of the non-elite will for sure get bumped or be at risk.
First class is generally 4x to 5x more than an economy ticket but it depends on the airline. One some flights (united regional flights) first class is reserved for elite flyers. But no, if you book a first or business class ticket no airline will ever bump you. That's where they make a disturbing amount of money, especially on international flights.
I believe you will find that it is about $80 more each way to fly non-stop from Toronto than from Buffalo to New York to California. As mentioned above this is not taking into account fees.
Also, Simon two points:
Do you have an airline miles credit card? Many people use miles to upgrade from coach to business on long distance flights.
Do some checking you will probably find that it is significantly less expensive to fly on a weekday than on a weekend.
Also, Simon two points:
Do you have an airline miles credit card? Many people use miles to upgrade from coach to business on long distance flights.
Do some checking you will probably find that it is significantly less expensive to fly on a weekday than on a weekend.
In fairness to Simon on what one or was it two flights out of hundreds of thousands.LOL,they have had problems recently with parts of the roof getting ripped off during flight.
Not sure what year it was,but they also had a order to ground planes for not doing madatory inspections.Why do you think they are so cheap.In fairness to Simon on what one or was it two flights out of hundreds of thousands.
The only thing I would give SWA credit for is hedging the price of oil when it was around 40-50 $ a barrel.
But guess you have to look at it as ,what are the chances of something happening.
One of the reasons why I prefer JetBlue.Not sure what year it was,but they also had a order to ground planes for not doing madatory inspections.
i am not booking the flight or anything. i am just being told when it is leaving and what terminal to go to. i just wanted to give suggestions to her as to what would be the best company to go with.I believe you will find that it is about $80 more each way to fly non-stop from Toronto than from Buffalo to New York to California. As mentioned above this is not taking into account fees.
Also, Simon two points:
Do you have an airline miles credit card? Many people use miles to upgrade from coach to business on long distance flights.
Do some checking you will probably find that it is significantly less expensive to fly on a weekday than on a weekend.
