NEVER fly Delta.

[marni1971]

Hmmm... it`s not Deltas fault they had a birdstrike.

Getting a relacement aircraft at this time of year anywhere in the world is nigh on impossible. And that`d be quicker than swapping and testing a new engine, let alone engine parts.

Plus, it`s the time of year everyone wants to fly - rebooking would be very difficult (though not impossible; it`s something they should do their upmost to do, but they can only do so much. If seats arn`t available they can`t make them appear)

 

[mkt]

It would be nice to see them update into the new 737-900ER's. This would give Southwest a chance to expand into further markets and create more non-stops then ever.

It's rumored that they are adding their first international destinations in 2007. With their fleet though, they'd be limited to Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean Islands. Possibly more of Central America/Northern South America but that'd be pushing it. Those would have o depart from DAL/FLL.

Personally though, WN's lack of a first class and elite tier in their loyalty program are the main things that keep me from flying them. That, and the credit system... I like earning more based on the distance I fly and the rate code I pay.

 

[mkt]

When we flew on Delta in the early 1990's, I thought it was a good airline (I was just a kid, so maybe it wasn't and I just didn't know). I was in their program for little kids and I had a wings pin and such. We flew SWF-ATL-MCO in those days, but now Delta doesn't fly out of SWF anymore. We were using Southeast until they died randomly one day and everyone found out when they showed up to the airport in the morning (their planes are still sitting at Sanford), then we used Allegiant but now they're leaving SWF because we got JetBlue and AirTran. *sigh* We have no reason to ever fly Delta again, but it's really bad to hear all the negative things about them. And it's not only on every Disney message board, but on airline industry message boards as well. If we ever have to fly somewhere that SWF doesn't serve (like LAX or PHX [SWF has American to Chicago but it's a lot of money]), we'd fly Continental out of Newark.

So Maelstrom... I got into it with the TSA in MIA yesterday I posted it on FT, but the mods deleted it Albeit my PM box is filled with compliments.

 

[mkt]

Just think of the possibility's if they added a few 767's or 777's to their fleet. We could see Southwest become a major player in Trans-Atlantic flights. I don't know about others but as for myself I choose my flights based on the aircraft I will be flying on and then just hope that the planes don't change before the flight actually happens. I do prefer pretty much anything that has a "2 seat" side seating configuration if there aren't any first class seats available.

They won't. That's part of the reason they're so cheap. Stick with a single type of aircraft, the 737.

 

[isitingood]

as for Delta overall... I wouldn't fly them if they were the only option. If I had to drive to Tampa to get on a different airline, I'd do it.

Same for United. I hate them too.. lol. Just Delta slightly more.

AA and Continental all the way (and Jetblue for discounters!)

I agree I like Continental and I used to like America West until they became U.S Airways. As for United I don't have a problem with them, they have never charged me when I change my flight plans the last minute. Also I got 3 free round trip tickets from them when they overbooked my flight and I will be using those free tickets next june when I return again to WDW:wave:

 

[PirateJessica20]

Yes Jetblue is great, 89 dollars from Ft. Lauderdale to New York City & then 89 dollars back.

 

[TTATraveler]

All I can say is Delta is pure evil:fork::fork: and I have no intentions of ever flying them again. I have kept that promise for the last 6 or 7 years too.

I like Continental and JetBlue. Haven't flown with anyone else since Newark is my airport, and there is no reason to have a stop over with Continental flying directly to almost everywhere.

JetBlue has a great product, seats are more comfortable then Continental, more legroom, and of course Direct TV. Depending on where you are in NJ, it may be worth a trip to Newark in the future.

 

[TTATraveler]

Hmmm... it`s not Deltas fault they had a birdstrike.

Getting a relacement aircraft at this time of year anywhere in the world is nigh on impossible. And that`d be quicker than swapping and testing a new engine, let alone engine parts.

Plus, it`s the time of year everyone wants to fly - rebooking would be very difficult (though not impossible; it`s something they should do their upmost to do, but they can only do so much. If seats aren`t available they can`t make them appear)

AC is also a very small airport. Spirit flies out of there and I didn't realize Delta added flights. I assume they are Comair planes connecting to 1 of Delta's hubs. I am sure that is factoring into the problem as well, not dealing with a high demand route and Delta's mainline jets.

That being said, Delta still rots!

 

[maelstrom]

So Maelstrom... I got into it with the TSA in MIA yesterday I posted it on FT, but the mods deleted it Albeit my PM box is filled with compliments.

PM me on here with what happened and why it was deleted.

 

[ilovepluto23]

Oh crap, I'm flying Delta in 11 days. Wonderful. I didn't know about this since this will be my first time flying. I'm surprised my best friend doesn't know about how horrible Delta is since she's been flying all her life!

 

[ilovepluto23]

You should be fine...those things do happen from time to time and as far as a bird flying into the engine; that is not really Delta's fault. As Marni said before this time of year it is kind of hard to have extra seats or even extra planes readily available for a back up.

Thanks, that eased my nerves a bit. I mean, yeah the bird hitting the engine is a pretty "freak" accident. I've had two changes to my itinerary already, but I booked my flight in May or June. I'm just nervous in general since it's my first flight ever...so this post really didn't help my nerves lol.

 

[mkt]

PM me on here with what happened and why it was deleted.

Long story short, TSA in MIA wouldn't let me fly with my scuba regulator, even though it's on the allowed list. The TSO didn't know what a regulator was, and albeit all my pleading and explaining wouldn't budge. The TSA SUP sided by her, and said they would have to confiscate that. At this point, I'm willing to miss my flight and rent a car and drive to MCO rather than lose a $1,000 regulator. When I told them this and attempted to walk over to my reg, another TSO grabbed me by the shoulders and I lost it. I demanded law enforcement presence immediately since I was just assaulted by a TSO.

Needless to say, I made it home with my scuba regulator intact I finally found a way to turn the tables - threaten legal action on the spot anytime a law is broken by a TSO.

 

[mkt]

Oh crap, I'm flying Delta in 11 days. Wonderful. I didn't know about this since this will be my first time flying. I'm surprised my best friend doesn't know about how horrible Delta is since she's been flying all her life!

Casual flyers wouldn't know. I fly over a million miles a year, I am very picky as to what airlines I fly. Hell, I try to avoid flights on MD80/83 aircraft because they're too cramped IMO, and won't fly United, Delta, US Airways (much), and Northwest strictly based on principle.

 

[SpongeScott]

Casual flyers wouldn't know. I fly over a million miles a year, I am very picky as to what airlines I fly. Hell, I try to avoid flights on MD80/83 aircraft because they're too cramped IMO, and won't fly United, Delta, US Airways (much), and Northwest strictly based on principle.

Rob, I gotta call you on this one.....a million miles a year? That's over 2700 miles a day. You skip one day of flying, and now you've got 5400+ miles to do. With other things you've posted (trips to WDW, work, etc.), this just doesn't add up.

 

[mkt]

Rob, I gotta call you on this one.....a million miles a year? That's over 2700 miles a day. You skip one day of flying, and now you've got 5400+ miles to do. With other things you've posted (trips to WDW, work, etc.), this just doesn't add up.

Ok... a million is an exaggeration for this year. I'm up to about 600k this year, but I have done more than a million in years past back when I was working for IHG. However it isn't 1 million flown miles, more like 300k miles + 100% status bonus + regular first class upgrades which also earn 100% bonus and various other promotional bonuses. Bear in mind though, that most airlines give a minimum of 500 miles per segment. If I fly SJU-STX round trip in a day (done that one about 9 times this year), while the actual distance is only 160 miles, that earns 1000 miles ear trip. And I also tend to do the most convoluted routing for the least money I can do to maximize the mileage. With bonuses and convoluted routing I've been able to do MCO-SFO, which is 4892 miles round trip and earn approx. 50,000 miles on that itinerary, by applying a status bonus + first class bonus + AA 25th anniversary promotional bonus + routing it MCO-MIA-RDU-DFW-ORD-SEA-SNA-SFO-SNA-SEA-ORD-DFW-RDU-MIA-MCO. Granted, it was a full day of flying each way, but A- my boss paid for it, and B- it was worth it. I flew across america and ended up wth enough miles for a free ticket to Europe. And this isn't counting the 2,300 miles I earned for staying in the right hotel and the 3,700 for renting the right car. Another one I did was TPA-SAT, but I routed it TPA-MIA-RDU-DFW-SAT-DFW-RDU-MIA-TPA, which with the aforementioned bonuses, brought a 2700 mile itinerary to an 11000 mile itinerary + 100 bonus miles for the rental car + 300 bonus for my hotel room. This one was half a day of flying for a 1 day training meeting in San Antonio, but well worth it

Right now I'm using my miles to go to Disneyland in February for free

I hope that clarifies the number.

 

[Erika]

Ok... a million is an exaggeration for this year. I'm up to about 600k this year, but I have done more than a million in years past back when I was working for IHG. However it isn't 1 million flown miles, more like 300k miles + 100% status bonus + regular first class upgrades which also earn 100% bonus and various other promotional bonuses. Bear in mind though, that most airlines give a minimum of 500 miles per segment. If I fly SJU-STX round trip in a day (done that one about 9 times this year), while the actual distance is only 160 miles, that earns 1000 miles ear trip. And I also tend to do the most convoluted routing for the least money I can do to maximize the mileage. With bonuses and convoluted routing I've been able to do MCO-SFO, which is 4892 miles round trip and earn approx. 50,000 miles on that itinerary, by applying a status bonus + first class bonus + AA 25th anniversary promotional bonus + routing it MCO-MIA-RDU-DFW-ORD-SEA-SNA-SFO-SNA-SEA-ORD-DFW-RDU-MIA-MCO. Granted, it was a full day of flying each way, but A- my boss paid for it, and B- it was worth it. I flew across america and ended up wth enough miles for a free ticket to Europe. And this isn't counting the 2,300 miles I earned for staying in the right hotel and the 3,700 for renting the right car.

Right now I'm using my miles to go to Disneyland in February for free

I hope that clarifies the number.

Oy

I have a headache now :lol:

 

[mkt]

Oy

I have a headache now :lol:

I edited it to add a second example, but I'll break it down for you.

MCO-SFO, Orlando to San Francisco. United offers a nonstop, but I hate United, so they aren't an option.

American, who I'm loyal to can do it with one stop, or I can pay $20 more in airport taxes and milk the system for more miles.

So first thing tuesday morning, I'm taking the 6:15am Orlando-Miami nonstop (RIP, stupid route cancellations). 45 minutes after landing, I'm on the Miami-Raleigh/Durham nonstop. 60 minutes after landing, I'm on my way to Chicago via Dallas/Fort Worth. 90 minutes later and 1 stop for lunch I'm en route to Seattle. 45 minutes later, I'm in Orange County/John Wayne Airport, and 30 minutes later, I'm on a lil regional jet to San Francisco. I land at 11:30pmish Pacific Time. Approximate travel time, 17 hours, 15 minutes. More than 3 times the time a sensible person would spend on the United nonstop, which would undoubtedly have gotten you the whole way safely (seriously, ask a United flight attendant for a glass of water, and they will answer "We are here for your safety, not your comfort or convenience"), but nothing more.

The TPA-SAT routing wasn't as lengthy (departed at 730am, landed at 830pm Central Time), but still pointless to anyone except me and a few others

 

[mkt]

When in February? I will be in CA from February 2nd - 10th. We are flying into SFO on the 2nd for one night and will then be driving down to Anaheim with 2 side trips planned to San Diego & Las Vegas and then flying out of LAX on the 10th, so somewhere in the middle of the trip we will be spending a few days in Disneyland.

Feb 15-19. I'm going with 2 other people, we have 1 Club 33 meal scheduled. Lodging is up in the air right now. I am deciding if I want to burn more miles for a free hotel room, or stay for cheap in one of my companies hotels.

 

[Master Yoda]

Casual flyers wouldn't know. I fly over a million miles a year, I am very picky as to what airlines I fly. Hell, I try to avoid flights on MD80/83 aircraft because they're too cramped IMO, and won't fly United, Delta, US Airways (much), and Northwest strictly based on principle.

A buddy of mine in Dallas is a mileage runner as well. He works for one of the few companies in the country that make, install and maintain the systems for parking at airports, offices etc. His job put him in the air 4 or 5 times a month and because he new how to work the system (flights, credit cards, hotels, rental cars even groceries) he would rack up 1 to 2 million miles a year.

 

[mkt]

I'm actually interviewing for a job to be a travelling trainer for Micros systems. Job is based out of Phoenix, but the only requirement is to live near a major airport. Huzzah! MCO is a major airport!