Just curious about fellow mid-level managers, who travel on business in the old Economy Class.

Who's your favorite airline, given a choice? Who's your least-favored, and why?

Thanks.

Oldbear83 said:

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Just curious about fellow mid-level managers, who travel on business in the old Economy Class.

Who's your favorite airline, given a choice? Who's your least-favored, and why?

Thanks.

---

Pre-Covid , I used to fly Southwest 6-8 times per month with very few problems. I was a very loyal customer. They have not been close to the same post-Covid. The airline industry cluster f*** was just one of a handful of reasons I decided to go ahead and retire in late 2021.

Oldbear83 said:

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Just curious about fellow mid-level managers, who travel on business in the old Economy Class.

Who's your favorite airline, given a choice? Who's your least-favored, and why?

Thanks.

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I fly American. But I'm Dallas based. You have to pick one that gives you the best options out and back in.

American Dallas to Chicago/San Fran/LA/NY are all perfect.

You want status as fast as you can. Some of the flights are 60% group 2.

Talk your company into getting you club access whoever you use.

Mitch Blood Green said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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Just curious about fellow mid-level managers, who travel on business in the old Economy Class.

Who's your favorite airline, given a choice? Who's your least-favored, and why?

Thanks.

---

I fly American. But I'm Dallas based. You have to pick one that gives you the best options out and back in.

American Dallas to Chicago/San Fran/LA/NY are all perfect.

You want status as fast as you can. Some of the flights are 60% group 2.

Talk your company into getting you club access whoever you use.

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I used to enjoy just sitting with the little people.

Private

Ghostrider said:

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Private

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I used to enjoy just sitting with the little people.

I suddenly remember a story from years ago where you were stuffed in an overhead bin of a Houston Texans' charter. Don't remember many details.

Oldbear83 said:

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Just curious about fellow mid-level managers, who travel on business in the old Economy Class.

Who's your favorite airline, given a choice? Who's your least-favored, and why?

Thanks.

---

I fly Southwest if I can. Better employees make for a better experience. And you get free changes and can check luggage if you want to. Granted I haven't been caught in some of the more recent scheduling problems.

I try to avoid American. If you have to change anything with them, it tends to be very expensive. And my experience with the employees hasn't been very positive.

Ghostrider said:

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Private

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Southwest is the best. Easy to change flights, two free bags, friendlier employees. Location frequently dictates. DFW is American, Atlanta is Delta, Denver is United. Had to fly to Manhattan, KS on my last work trip which only American flies into. American employees tend to be difficult to work with if something goes wrong, which is frequent if flying in and out of Dallas… thank you weather…

Not really an answer to the question here, but thought this was interesting

Flew Southwest from Tampa to Austin yesterday. That's a little less than a 3 hour flight, but we arrived 30 minutes early. That's the earliest I've ever been on arrival--by a good bit. I was standing outside the terminal before we were supposed to arrive. Should have asked the pilot if he was going to get a speeding ticket.

It's great advices

Thanks everyone. For the record, for both of my last two trips I took United up and American back. For some reason no non-stop available coming back.

I did notice that if you change your seat the day before the flight, that is when you check in, the cost to change seats is a lot less than when you first buy your seat. This matters to me because my company pays for economy airfare but not seat changes.

RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

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Ghostrider said:

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Private

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I used to enjoy just sitting with the little people.

I suddenly remember a story from years ago where you were stuffed in an overhead bin of a Houston Texans' charter. Don't remember many details.

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well in the back with the other sponsors. Great memory.

Anyone tried JSX yet

We used to belong to an air charter group in Houston called Air Venturers in the very early 1960's.. The Venturers part was an accurate description.

It was on old Lockheed Constellation with fire flames blowing out all four piston engines during flights. Our first trip was suppose to be to the Kentucky Derby but was cancelled the morning of the flight. . They offerred us a consolation trip the following week to Las Vegas. That was truly an adventure.

On walking through the casino on departure day we spotted the Captain at the tables sipping "drink". About four hours later he climbed into our Constellation still wearing the same Burmuda shorts minus the shot glass.

About two months later we signed up for a trip to San Juan but cancelled at the last minute. It was a good thing as the nose gear on the Connie wouldn't cooperate and collasped on landing.

We gave up our membership that day.

If you aren't going to be getting status, Southwest is fine. If you fly frequently enough to get any more than the baseline status, Delta is the way to go. But good luck flying Delta from an airport in Texas.

I fly American, but I live in a hub (CLT). They legitimately hate their customers, but they have a virtual monopoly on the airport.

Every bad flying experience I've had typically involves American… but I can't say I completely despise them after an employee broke al the rules for me once and booked me on every possible flight home. A day where flights were getting canceled left and right and I was booked on 7 flights having bought one ticket. Made it out on the over booked 7th flight.

RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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Just curious about fellow mid-level managers, who travel on business in the old Economy Class.

Who's your favorite airline, given a choice? Who's your least-favored, and why?

Thanks.

---

Pre-Covid , I used to fly Southwest 6-8 times per month with very few problems. I was a very loyal customer. They have not been close to the same post-Covid. The airline industry cluster f*** was just one of a handful of reasons I decided to go ahead and retire in late 2021.

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This has been my experience as well. Southwest was fantastic pre-Covid and has been a shell of themselves after. I have no issue flying southwest in the morning, but in my experience there have been several flights with severe delays or mechanical issues in the early to late afternoon. Forget about flying SW if there is a connection too…that's really rolling the dice.
Delta is the best big carrier in my experience. United is okay, they just nickel and dime you all day. Since I live in Houston it's either a choice of SW or United, unfortunately.

Has the traffic and parking congestion improved at either Bush or Hobby?

Aliceinbubbleland said:

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Has the traffic and parking congestion improved at either Bush or Hobby?

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Bush is still pretty bad with all of their construction going on with the terminal upgrades. Hobby isn't bad though. I usually have no problem parking in the EcoPark right next door and walking in.

For me, Singapore Airlines always feels solid in Economyseats aren't amazing, but the crew keeps things smooth. Had a long flight to Adelaide once, and their little touches made it way easier. Also, checking is Adelaide safe before heading out made the trip less stressful and let me enjoy some evening walks without worrying.

Oldbear83 said:

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Just curious about fellow mid-level managers, who travel on business in the old Economy Class.

Who's your favorite airline, given a choice? Who's your least-favored, and why?

Thanks.

---

Duplicate response. Interested in what Southwest people think about the changes now that they've gone private equity.

Mitch Henessey said:

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If you aren't going to be getting status, Southwest is fine. If you fly frequently enough to get any more than the baseline status, Delta is the way to go. But good luck flying Delta from an airport in Texas.

I fly American, but I live in a hub (CLT). They legitimately hate their customers, but they have a virtual monopoly on the airport.

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Delta has lots of good options out of Austin. I absolutely loathe American Airlines.

boykin_spaniel said:

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Southwest is the best. Easy to change flights, two free bags, friendlier employees. Location frequently dictates. DFW is American, Atlanta is Delta, Denver is United. Had to fly to Manhattan, KS on my last work trip which only American flies into. American employees tend to be difficult to work with if something goes wrong, which is frequent if flying in and out of Dallas… thank you weather…

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They went PE. All those things that made them special are gone.

Oldbear83 said:

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Thanks everyone. For the record, for both of my last two trips I took United up and American back. For some reason no non-stop available coming back.

I did notice that if you change your seat the day before the flight, that is when you check in, the cost to change seats is a lot less than when you first buy your seat. This matters to me because my company pays for economy airfare but not seat changes.

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Yep. How do you like traveling?

Mitch Blood Green said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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Just curious about fellow mid-level managers, who travel on business in the old Economy Class.

Who's your favorite airline, given a choice? Who's your least-favored, and why?

Thanks.

---

Duplicate response. Interested in what Southwest people think about the changes now that they've gone private equity.

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They didn't go PE, they just had a hedge fund group buy up 10% of their shares and get some seats on the board.

The jury is still out for me, though i'm concerned. I don't care about the unreserved seating, per se. I would not object to knowing my seat as soon as I reserve the flight. What I worry about, though, is getting charged a lot to have an aisle seat -- or something like that. Also, will I need to do something extra to get on the plane early enough to put my bag in the overhead bin. Those kinds of nickel and dime costs are annoying from other airlines. And now with SW charging for checked bags, more people will try to do carry ons.

The changes that concern me most are losing the ability to change flights (or even reschedule six months later) and possible devaluing of travel points.

I will say, though, that if they change the way they treat their employees -- and that means the employees start acting like those of other carriers -- I'll stop being a regular and it'll just be who is cheapest.

RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

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Ghostrider said:

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Private

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I used to enjoy just sitting with the little people.

I suddenly remember a story from years ago where you were stuffed in an overhead bin of a Houston Texans' charter. Don't remember many details.

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haha, good memory. I was definitely way back in the back.....next to the ****ter

Mitch Blood Green said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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Thanks everyone. For the record, for both of my last two trips I took United up and American back. For some reason no non-stop available coming back.

I did notice that if you change your seat the day before the flight, that is when you check in, the cost to change seats is a lot less than when you first buy your seat. This matters to me because my company pays for economy airfare but not seat changes.

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Yep. How do you like traveling?

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You actually might be the most disinformed person on this forum.

Harrison Bergeron said:

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Mitch Blood Green said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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Thanks everyone. For the record, for both of my last two trips I took United up and American back. For some reason no non-stop available coming back.

I did notice that if you change your seat the day before the flight, that is when you check in, the cost to change seats is a lot less than when you first buy your seat. This matters to me because my company pays for economy airfare but not seat changes.

---

Yep. How do you like traveling?

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You actually might be the most disinformed person on this forum.

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You have got to be Willis Jackson.

flew Arby's Air a few times in late 90's......

3 or 4 737s - DFW to ORD and to ATL - concept never really took off.

Did enjoy the 'Mile High Club' sammich tho.

- el KKM

D!

TechDawgMc said:

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Mitch Blood Green said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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Just curious about fellow mid-level managers, who travel on business in the old Economy Class.

Who's your favorite airline, given a choice? Who's your least-favored, and why?

Thanks.

---

Duplicate response. Interested in what Southwest people think about the changes now that they've gone private equity.

---

They didn't go PE, they just had a hedge fund group buy up 10% of their shares and get some seats on the board.

The jury is still out for me, though i'm concerned. I don't care about the unreserved seating, per se. I would not object to knowing my seat as soon as I reserve the flight. What I worry about, though, is getting charged a lot to have an aisle seat -- or something like that. Also, will I need to do something extra to get on the plane early enough to put my bag in the overhead bin. Those kinds of nickel and dime costs are annoying from other airlines. And now with SW charging for checked bags, more people will try to do carry ons.

The changes that concern me most are losing the ability to change flights (or even reschedule six months later) and possible devaluing of travel points.

I will say, though, that if they change the way they treat their employees -- and that means the employees start acting like those of other carriers -- I'll stop being a regular and it'll just be who is cheapest.

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They have for sure changed what made them beloved.
https://www.joedaly.net/features/the-locusts-have-landed-how-private-equity-is-gutting-southwest-airlines-and-why-you-should-be-afraid

Delta is the corporate jet for people who don't have access to the corporate jet.

American consistently has the worst product and performance of the big three.

Most of my transcontinental is done on American from either John Wayne to JFK, or LAX to JFK or Boston.
First and business are great on all routes.
I flew LAX to Atlanta not long ago to visit a friend who was ADing a show down there and the product not so great. First class wasn't any better on the aircraft AA used from LAX to Atlanta than the premium economy on my LAX to Bangkok flight on EVA earlier this year.