Tommy767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6195 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 3133 times:
Well, from a worldly perspective CO probably gets the best reviews. They still have pillows and blankets on planes, serves meals, and have a new fleet. Something that most other US airlines have been cutting back on for the past few years now.
However, American and Southwest also have very consistent products. So thats also a huge plus.
Tommy in EWR/LAX
"Folks that's the news and I'm outta here!" -- Dennis Miller
Scintx From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 270 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 3073 times:
I rate CO as one and for LCC I give it to WN. I fly most weeks since 1998 and these two I'm very happy with. I will say that UA has made a major turn around and pleased with them. As has been the case I fly AA just to keep my FF miles and no comment. DL use to be a top notch carrier and not real happy and hope things get better. NW is cool and fly them often but get the feeling they cut it to the minimum but their people are top notch.
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All things being equal, and they certainly seem to be for many coach passengers on domestic US flights, most folks would probably prefer a newer plane to an older plane.
Quoting Burnsie28 (Reply 3): Yes southwest has a consistent product, dry peanuts and a mini-cup of soda with no can. Even NW gives you the freakin can.
"Mini-cup?" It sure looks like the same size cup everyone else uses. "Dry peanuts?" Well, I'm sure glad they're not moist or soggy. I've flown most domestic carriers and I don't get bent out of shape over a half can vs. a full can. If I want the full can I'll ask for it and get it on any carrier I fly. When I've flown NW the cabin was so empty that I'm not one bit surprised they just handed over the whole can. Outside of NW's fortress hubs, they don't seem to be very popular in my view. If their only claim to fame is an extra half can of soda then I can see why.
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JetBlueAUS From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 1145 posts, RR: 8 Reply 7, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2992 times:
I'd say CO. I live about 45 miles away from IAH, but usually when we fly from IAH we're on UA. (Something that I am less than happy about.) From the times I have flown CO though, they have been very friendly, professional, and I enjoy their service.
Quoting Scintx (Reply 5): NW is cool and fly them often but get the feeling they cut it to the minimum but their people are top notch.
I've never flown Northwest and it sounds like you guys fly them quite often. However, I've only heard okay reviews on Northwest. On our next trip, NW has fares that are lower than both CO and UA and we're wondering if we should fly NW. Would you recommend it? How is their overall service?
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Ejmmsu From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1692 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2984 times:
Quoting SATX (Reply 6): When I've flown NW the cabin was so empty that I'm not one bit surprised they just handed over the whole can. Outside of NW's fortress hubs, they don't seem to be very popular in my view. If their only claim to fame is an extra half can of soda then I can see why.
NW is consistently near the top in load factors. I also don't understand this claim... NW is a hub and spoke carrier, so the vast majority of their flights have one of their "fortress hubs" on one end.
"If the facts do not conform to the theory, they will have to be disposed of"
Ejmmsu From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1692 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2967 times:
Quoting JetBlueAUS (Reply 7): NW has fares that are lower than both CO and UA and we're wondering if we should fly NW. Would you recommend it? How is their overall service?
NW has very nice hubs.. and they are pretty good at getting you there on time. These days, coach is coach... if paying an extra $50 to fly B6 so you can get blue potato chips and a little Television... then pay more.
However, NW is not significantly better/worse than any other legacy when it comes to in flight service. You'll get a beverage.. a full can.. and a snack box for $3. They will get you there on time (relative to the rest of the industry), and will take care of you on the ground. You'll also connect in a nice, easy to use, hub that has fewer delays when compared to ORD, ATL, NYC etc.
I would not hesitate to try NW, espescially since you've never experienced them. I have flown every legacy carrier more than once, and I've honestly only had a bad experience on UA. These days, coach is coach... it comes down to who gets you there on time, and who takes care of you on the ground.
"If the facts do not conform to the theory, they will have to be disposed of"
ERJ170 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 6635 posts, RR: 19 Reply 11, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2940 times:
Quoting Ejmmsu (Reply 10): I would not hesitate to try NW, espescially since you've never experienced them. I have flown every legacy carrier more than once, and I've honestly only had a bad experience on UA.
I 2nd that motion. I recently flew NW DCA-DTW-YUL-DTW-DCA.. and I got to say, they did one heck of a job. The DC9 was nicer than some airlines aircraft, well maintained, and not as loud & throbbing as some Airbus I have flown in. They offered the full beverage, and they got me to all my locations without falling out the sky. I was thoroughly pleased! And DTW was a hella nice facility. Even though it took me 7 days to taxi from the terminal to the runway in DTW, it was still an overall good experience.. I give it 2 thumbs up.
On the other hand, I too have flown UA 4 times in my 16 years of flying and have had nothing but bad experience. I have been put in the Rosa Parks section everytime I have flown, even though I was booked in the front of the plane. They offered no good service, no help, and loads of assitude.. but hopefully that has changed since they have exited BK.. I hope..
SATX From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 2840 posts, RR: 8 Reply 12, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2940 times:
Quoting Ejmmsu (Reply 8):
NW is consistently near the top in load factors. I also don't understand this claim... NW is a hub and spoke carrier, so the vast majority of their flights have one of their "fortress hubs" on one end.
I'll try to explain it a little better. It's true that I don't fly NW much, but when I did they were nearly empty out of SAT. My view of their popularity doesn't just come from the load factor or total pax though. Rather, it comes mainly from talking to folks who have strong views on who they fly and from reading posts on forums like this one. Of course my view is probably skewed a bit simply because I live in TX and we already have three "hometown" airlines (AA/WN/CO) with much closer hubs.
Open Season on Consumer Protections is Just Around the Corner...
JetBlueAUS From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 1145 posts, RR: 8 Reply 14, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2916 times:
Quoting Ejmmsu (Reply 10): These days, coach is coach... if paying an extra $50 to fly B6 so you can get blue potato chips and a little Television... then pay more.
I don't agree with you there, bud. When we went to New York back in March, B6 was much cheaper than CO. We can fly out of IAH or AUS, because we live smack dab inbetween Houston and Austin. JetBlue was $189.00 O/W while CO was 712.00 R/T and DL was $312 R/T. It depends which routes (if they have a lot of competition) you fly on a legacy carrier to get decent fares. If you're in a less-saturated market the legacies will try to get as much money out of you as they can. (Like UA IAH-DEN-ASE) Although, this thread isn't about fare wars.
Quoting Ejmmsu (Reply 10): However, NW is not significantly better/worse than any other legacy when it comes to in flight service. You'll get a beverage.. a full can.. and a snack box for $3. They will get you there on time (relative to the rest of the industry), and will take care of you on the ground. You'll also connect in a nice, easy to use, hub that has fewer delays when compared to ORD, ATL, NYC etc.
Yeah, I wouldn't mind giving NW a try. They sound like a decent airline. IFE doesn't mean a thing. If an airline with really good IFE had high fares, and then a carrier with little or no IFE had lower fares. I would take the carrier with little or no IFE. Can't wait to try NW.
Not all of us can be heroes, some of us can only stand on the sidewalk and clap as they go by.
N801NW From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 741 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2900 times:
Quoting SATX (Reply 12): It's true that I don't fly NW much, but when I did they were nearly empty out of SAT.
While not statistically valid, my four segments between DTW-SAT-DTW were at least 80% full if not higher. I originated the trips at MHT, where they are the only legacy carrier, save for possibly UA, that flies mostly mainline equipment.
Ejmmsu From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1692 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2884 times:
Quoting JetBlueAUS (Reply 14): I don't agree with you there, bud. When we went to New York back in March, B6 was much cheaper than CO. We can fly out of IAH or AUS, because we live smack dab inbetween Houston and Austin. JetBlue was $189.00 O/W while CO was 712.00 R/T and DL was $312 R/T.
Well, by all means.. pick the cheapest ticket.. espescially if they are that different. I only said that because it sounded like, in this case, NW was the cheapest. If you do indeed choose to buy a ticket with NW.. I would suggest trying to connect in DTW one way, and MEM the other... to get a good sampling of what NW offers.
"If the facts do not conform to the theory, they will have to be disposed of"
SATX From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 2840 posts, RR: 8 Reply 17, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2876 times:
Quoting N801NW (Reply 15): Quoting SATX (Reply 12):
It's true that I don't fly NW much, but when I did they were nearly empty out of SAT.
While not statistically valid, my four segments between DTW-SAT-DTW were at least 80% full if not higher. I originated the trips at MHT, where they are the only legacy carrier, save for possibly UA, that flies mostly mainline equipment.
I guess they're doing better then. My few flights on NW were mainline DC-9's with very light loads (below 50%). From what I've seen lately, UA is mainly RJ's in SAT while AA is still mainly MD-80's and CO is the only airline with anything larger than a 737/MD-80 on their scheduled services.
Open Season on Consumer Protections is Just Around the Corner...
Tommy767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6195 posts, RR: 9 Reply 18, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2834 times:
Quoting Burnsie28 (Reply 3): Only because they own the catering company, or they would be right there with everyone else.
Is this true? I'm not doubting you but its just interesting.
Quoting SATX (Reply 6): You used American and consistent in the same sentence? Are we talking about the same airline here?
No but understand that they're both consistent in different ways. I should have explained myself because i just got my head chewed off. American is consistent for a legacy carrier, IE: The seats are the same from aircraft to aircraft, the standard snack box is offered, IFE/video programming, Cleanliness of A/C, Terminal drab etc. American offers a very stable and consistent product from plane to plane. Whereas southwest is consistent in the way of an LCC, IE: all 737s, no seat numbers, seat patterns, On-Time Status etc.
Quoting SATX (Reply 6): I feel like I could just go on and on here. The only thing consistent about American Airlines is the inconsistency.
And I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one. I have flown over 15,000 miles on AA this year and thus far I have found very few inconsistent events. Here is one example: New seat covers on 757s. Between LAX-EWR and BOS-LAX on all of my 4 flights there were new seat covers installed. That is consistency of maintenance. Compare that to 2004 when there was hardly any.
full can becomes half a can becomes pay for a can becomes free half a can
Asia destination 1 becomes Asia destination 2 becomes no destination
DFW becomes DAL becomes DFW becomes DAL
Your talking about different cutbacks overtime. What I think the question was asking is if you were to fly on a few segments of one legacy carrier in the present, which would be the most consistent. This is not consistency as of TODAY. So paying for food on board is second nature nowadays. And AA started service recently to India from O'Hare so what are you talking about no destinations to Asia?
Quoting Burnsie28 (Reply 3): Most carriers still have blankets, the pillows are gone, hardly anyone used them.
I don't know about you man, but after 4 hours my back gets sore as hell and I need additional support. Especially on those CO 737s. Those new seats are as hard as rocks.
Well speaking for just the average traveler, who doesn't like a new plane? As for me, I'm not dying to fly on an NW DC-9.
Quoting Burnsie28 (Reply 3): 1. Southwest isn't a legacy carrier.
Yeah, but they're big enough to include into this discussion.
Quoting Burnsie28 (Reply 3): 2. Yes southwest has a consistent product, dry peanuts and a mini-cup of soda with no can. Even NW gives you the freakin can.
And its not a freakin' long way to the back of the plane to ask a F/A for another cuz of Dr. Pepper either Plus you can stretch you're legs!
Tommy in EWR/LAX.
[Edited 2006-06-03 04:45:34]
"Folks that's the news and I'm outta here!" -- Dennis Miller
KingAir200 From United States of America, joined May 2006, 1587 posts, RR: 2 Reply 20, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2785 times:
Quoting Tommy767 (Reply 18): for me, I'm not dying to fly on an NW DC-9.
Why not? There is nothing wrong with them. Might be one of the last times you get to do that.
I personally like NW, the price is always right, and I've flown exclusively on them or Airlink for the last 8 years. Maybe it's just that I don't know any different.
Cory6188 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2686 posts, RR: 6 Reply 21, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2753 times:
Quoting Burnsie28 (Reply 3): Only because they own the catering company, or they would be right there with everyone else.
Your argument doesn't make any sense. Yeah, if they didn't own a catering company, they'd be right there with everyone else. However, they do own their own catering company (Chelsea Catering), so your point is moot.
Right - I actually prefer the planes that are old, worn out, and dirty inside. Older is much better in this case. Forget about those modern CO planes with near-perfect condition interiors and IFE. I'll take an AA MD-80 any day over that...
Tommy767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6195 posts, RR: 9 Reply 22, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2743 times:
Quoting KingAir200 (Reply 20): Why not? There is nothing wrong with them. Might be one of the last times you get to do that.
I respect that. I'm really not a fan of the NW seats on the 9ers. NW does take good care of those birds but still I'm for the arguement of a new plane.
Tommy in EWR/LAX.
"Folks that's the news and I'm outta here!" -- Dennis Miller
Quoting Tommy767 (Reply 18): American offers a very stable and consistent product from plane to plane.
I feel I can say with some authority that they are not very consistent at all.
Quoting Tommy767 (Reply 18): I have flown over 15,000 miles on AA this year and thus far I have found very few inconsistent events. Here is one example: New seat covers on 757s. Between LAX-EWR and BOS-LAX on all of my 4 flights there were new seat covers installed. That is consistency of maintenance. Compare that to 2004 when there was hardly any.
I've been flying AA on and off for over two decades and added 60,000 miles to my AAdvantage account in the last 18 months before I finally gave up on them in 2004.
Quoting Tommy767 (Reply 18): Your talking about different cutbacks overtime. What I think the question was asking is if you were to fly on a few segments of one legacy carrier in the present, which would be the most consistent. This is not consistency as of TODAY.
The most consistent US carrier in my view is WN. Of the legacy carriers only, it's probably CO.
Quoting Tommy767 (Reply 18): So paying for food on board is second nature nowadays.
Not on WN or CO.
Quoting Tommy767 (Reply 18): And AA started service recently to India from O'Hare so what are you talking about no destinations to Asia?
I keep hearing that they are dropping routes to Asia, like ORD/NGO and SJC/NRT for instance. India and China will probably pay off for AA, but if they don't AA just might drop them as quickly as they started them.
Quoting Tommy767 (Reply 18): Quoting Burnsie28 (Reply 3):
Only because they own the catering company, or they would be right there with everyone else.
Is this true? I'm not doubting you but its just interesting.
It's true that CO owns Chelsea Food Services, but so does LH own LSG Sky Chefs. Other airlines once owned their catering operations as well before spinning them off.
Open Season on Consumer Protections is Just Around the Corner...
SATX From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 2840 posts, RR: 8 Reply 24, posted (7 years 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2733 times:
Quoting Cory6188 (Reply 21): Quoting Burnsie28 (Reply 3):
Only because they own the catering company, or they would be right there with everyone else.
Your argument doesn't make any sense. Yeah, if they didn't own a catering company, they'd be right there with everyone else. However, they do own their own catering company (Chelsea Catering), so your point is moot.
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It's like people who say "WN would be taking a loss if it weren't for their fuel hedges". But they have the hedges and so they earn a profit. If they didn't have the hedges they might have raised their fares, so it's all just speculation anyway.
Open Season on Consumer Protections is Just Around the Corner...
25 Tommy767: Again i see your point but its consistentcy between aircraft in the fleet. A Super 80 might have not have IFE but the seat design, panneling, and sig
26 SATX: That's odd. I guess they just wired some of them and then left the screens off? You can when you're comparing AA to WN and CO, who tend to have a you
27 AAden: my opinion is AA they have treated me the best.
29 BoomBoom: I recently flew CO from SEA to ANC in a nice new 738. And get this, they served FREE food! Not only that--it was hot!! But wait, there's more--it tast
30 ANCFlyer: No question, no comparison . . . . No other US Legacy carrier can come close . . . Not AA with their Less Room Throughout Coach. Not NW with their NO
31 Skymileman: Yeah man! Delta all the way! DL, CO, and UA are the only legacies I'll fly anymore. I used to fly on NW sometimes, but the last four times I have, th
32 Ward86IND: Really? I'm 6'3'' and other than the Deisel 9s being a little cramped, I don't notice a real difference between then and other carriers. Their Airbus
33 ANCFlyer: A-Nets infamous quote malfunction strikes again . . . . I didn't say that Ward86IND . . . SkyMileMan did, in Reply #31. I do concur with his assessme
34 Ward86IND: Dammit!! Always happens to me! Wait, did it work...
35 N801NW: ANC: Is your complaint about NW cabin service about what (little?) is offered of how it's offered? My personal experience with them, ground and air, h
36 DesertAir: As I was reading the thread, and thinking about what everyone has said, it seems to me that "best" has a lot to do with the carriers' service to your
37 ANCFlyer: Yes . . . to both. I will however, compliment them on the way they take care of my daughter . . . she flies up here 2-3 times a year as a UM and with
38 ForeverUnited: United, of course. 1. Free audio on all flights, free video on flights over three hours. (And the movies are shown on United before they hit video. 2.
39 MSNtriathlete: I kind of have 2 favorite legacies, for 2 different criteria, and this agrees with a lot of what was said above: 1. CO for their modern fleet, cabin s
40 ANCFlyer: Bull. I fly UA - and I fly F - paid F, not upgraded . . . and the last three trips on UA my bags were properly marked (although I had to remind the a
41 BA787: My order goes 1. AA 2. NW 3 CO 4. US 5. DL 6. UA
42 AlexPorter: Of the legacy airlines I've flown: 1. DL (Terrific service and it was a domestic red-eye! Nice new interior as well) 2. CO (Friendly crew and a terrif
43 Burnsie28: Seems to be the same as everyone else 31-32", you would never make it Europe with a standard 28" so everyone complaining about US carriers leg room,
44 Boeinglover24: 1. CO 2. UA 3. AA 4. NW 5. DL 6. US (Had a very bad experience with HP)
45 Tommy767: I like how your loyal to them. I admit I have a soft spot for the AA Super 80s too. But in all honesty, what is up with those seats on those 9ers? To
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