The Travel Thread

[jfish26]

Ugh.....What?!?!??

Literally the worst of the major airlines.

Man, couldn't disagree more. I could count bad experiences on one hand, and I fly a fair amount. My only significant issue is with the variety hour flight attendants you sometimes run into.

Only issue? What about (a) the herding of cattle boarding process and (b)the best seats go to those who board first issues.

Both of those are awful

I don't find the other airlines' nine-tier boarding processes to be materially less painful. And I'm not overly picky about my seat, if I'm alone I just want an aisle as close to the front as possible...which tends not to be difficult to get.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Ugh.....What?!?!??

Literally the worst of the major airlines.

Man, couldn't disagree more. I could count bad experiences on one hand, and I fly a fair amount. My only significant issue is with the variety hour flight attendants you sometimes run into.

Only issue? What about (a) the herding of cattle boarding process and (b)the best seats go to those who board first issues.

Both of those are awful

The boarding is god awful on SWA, but they make up for it cost-wise with the significant savings in bag and change fees, the potential of companion pass, the most intuitive system for flight changes, never having to take puddle jumpers from smaller airports, and the best domestic record for on-time arrivals.

Of course, there's no other option being based at MCI, and I am always A group, so the boarding process is not as bad.


And, as always, the 3 legacy carriers, SWA, Alaska, and any other US-based airline all blow hard compared to many international airlines.

[Cascadia]

Man, couldn't disagree more. I could count bad experiences on one hand, and I fly a fair amount. My only significant issue is with the variety hour flight attendants you sometimes run into.

Only issue? What about (a) the herding of cattle boarding process and (b)the best seats go to those who board first issues.

Both of those are awful

I don't find the other airlines' nine-tier boarding processes to be materially less painful. And I'm not overly picky about my seat, if I'm alone I just want an aisle as close to the front as possible...which tends not to be difficult to get.

Book your seat ahead of time and always board last. I usually ask the employee working the gate to give me a signal when I'm absolutely required to scan my boarding pass.

[Cascadia]

Man, couldn't disagree more. I could count bad experiences on one hand, and I fly a fair amount. My only significant issue is with the variety hour flight attendants you sometimes run into.

Only issue? What about (a) the herding of cattle boarding process and (b)the best seats go to those who board first issues.

Both of those are awful

The boarding is god awful on SWA, but they make up for it cost-wise with the significant savings in bag and change fees, the potential of companion pass, the most intuitive system for flight changes, never having to take puddle jumpers from smaller airports, and the best domestic record for on-time arrivals.

Of course, there's no other option being based at MCI, and I am always A group, so the boarding process is not as bad.


And, as always, the 3 legacy carriers, SWA, Alaska, and any other US-based airline all blow hard compared to many international airlines.

I fly Alaska 80% of the time and absolute love it. Like, zero complaints.

Delta is the preferred backup with United/American coming in 3rd/4th in no particular order.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Man, couldn't disagree more. I could count bad experiences on one hand, and I fly a fair amount. My only significant issue is with the variety hour flight attendants you sometimes run into.

Only issue? What about (a) the herding of cattle boarding process and (b)the best seats go to those who board first issues.

Both of those are awful

I don't find the other airlines' nine-tier boarding processes to be materially less painful. And I'm not overly picky about my seat, if I'm alone I just want an aisle as close to the front as possible...which tends not to be difficult to get.

I am premier on United, and even when upgraded to First Class, it can be a toss-up if I get adequately-sized overhead bin space. It's infuriating.

But, the more I travel on the legacies as of late, they kind of all start to feel the same including SWA, so things like waived fees, companion pass, and good website start to matter more.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Only issue? What about (a) the herding of cattle boarding process and (b)the best seats go to those who board first issues.

Both of those are awful

The boarding is god awful on SWA, but they make up for it cost-wise with the significant savings in bag and change fees, the potential of companion pass, the most intuitive system for flight changes, never having to take puddle jumpers from smaller airports, and the best domestic record for on-time arrivals.

Of course, there's no other option being based at MCI, and I am always A group, so the boarding process is not as bad.


And, as always, the 3 legacy carriers, SWA, Alaska, and any other US-based airline all blow hard compared to many international airlines.

I fly Alaska 80% of the time and absolute love it. Like, zero complaints.

Delta is the preferred backup with United/American coming in 3rd/4th in no particular order.

Is SEA your base? That all starts to make more sense, then.

One of the good things about being based at MCI is that, being in the middle of the country, I don't feel a need to be super loyal to a carrier, just whoever can get me there the quickest for in the same ballpark cost-wise.

Other than the shitshow airport, being based in DEN sounds like one of the best setups.

[japhy]

If you have the basics covered, then checking your bags is of no concern. I have never lost a bag or had an issue.

But I never risk losing the important stuff cuz you never know when you will have a first time disaster.

[Qusdahl]

And, as always, the 3 legacy carriers, SWA, Alaska, and any other US-based airline all blow hard compared to many international airlines.

How so?

[Cascadia]

The boarding is god awful on SWA, but they make up for it cost-wise with the significant savings in bag and change fees, the potential of companion pass, the most intuitive system for flight changes, never having to take puddle jumpers from smaller airports, and the best domestic record for on-time arrivals.

Of course, there's no other option being based at MCI, and I am always A group, so the boarding process is not as bad.


And, as always, the 3 legacy carriers, SWA, Alaska, and any other US-based airline all blow hard compared to many international airlines.

I fly Alaska 80% of the time and absolute love it. Like, zero complaints.

Delta is the preferred backup with United/American coming in 3rd/4th in no particular order.

Is SEA your base? That all starts to make more sense, then.

One of the good things about being based at MCI is that, being in the middle of the country, I don't feel a need to be super loyal to a carrier, just whoever can get me there the quickest for in the same ballpark cost-wise.

Other than the shitshow airport, being based in DEN sounds like one of the best setups.

Alaska definitely more convenient since I’m PNW based.

Denver may be the best base in the US.

[CrimsonNBlue]

And, as always, the 3 legacy carriers, SWA, Alaska, and any other US-based airline all blow hard compared to many international airlines.

How so?

Comfort, amenities, service, food, equipment, efficiency, websites, loyalty programs, domestic pricing abroad, and hot flight attendants given the lack of employment discrimination laws.

[pdub]

[Qusdahl]

Denver airport blows.

It’s out in the middle of nowhere prairie dog fields east of the metro, even further away than the KC airport is from anything else.

You’ve got tens of thousands of travelers a day all going thru the same one security line. Last time I was there the line was backed up hundreds of yards and snaked all through the baggage claim and everywhere, so much so that no one even knew where it started.

Then, you gotta go wait for a train, and get railed underground to one of 3 terminals or whatever.

Then, the terminals themselves are so long you kinda wish you had another train to take you from one end to the other. But at least they have the magic carpet walkways, which is at least a good opportunity to show off yer moonwalking skills to the fellow travelers.

[Cascadia]

Denver airport blows.

It’s out in the middle of nowhere prairie dog fields east of the metro, even further away than the KC airport is from anything else.

You’ve got tens of thousands of travelers a day all going thru the same one security line. Last time I was there the line was backed up hundreds of yards and snaked all through the baggage claim and everywhere, so much so that no one even knew where it started.

Then, you gotta go wait for a train, and get railed underground to one of 3 terminals or whatever.

Then, the terminals themselves are so long you kinda wish you had another train to take you from one end to the other. But at least they have the magic carpet walkways, which is at least a good opportunity to show off yer moonwalking skills to the fellow travelers.

TSA pre check bro

[Qusdahl]

Maybe I should get that?

I don’t fly much either way.

Besides, wouldn’t be surprised if ol’ Qusdahl is already on a bunch of no-fly lists.

[CrimsonNBlue]

And if I were based in DEN, I'd probably even put the money up for CLEAR, because security does blow there and is one of the worst TSA pre-check experiences.

But, you just have to tell yourself that you're saving a ton of time by not having a layover and being able to choose almost any airline.

[Qusdahl]

And, as always, the 3 legacy carriers, SWA, Alaska, and any other US-based airline all blow hard compared to many international airlines.

How so?

Comfort, amenities, service, food, equipment, efficiency, websites, loyalty programs, domestic pricing abroad, and hot flight attendants given the lack of employment discrimination laws.

But this is Merica bro. No one cares about comfort or service or loyalty.

Won’t someone please think of all those poor shareholders?

[jfish26]

Man, couldn't disagree more. I could count bad experiences on one hand, and I fly a fair amount. My only significant issue is with the variety hour flight attendants you sometimes run into.

Only issue? What about (a) the herding of cattle boarding process and (b)the best seats go to those who board first issues.

Both of those are awful

The boarding is god awful on SWA, but they make up for it cost-wise with the significant savings in bag and change fees, the potential of companion pass, the most intuitive system for flight changes, never having to take puddle jumpers from smaller airports, and the best domestic record for on-time arrivals.

Of course, there's no other option being based at MCI, and I am always A group, so the boarding process is not as bad.


And, as always, the 3 legacy carriers, SWA, Alaska, and any other US-based airline all blow hard compared to many international airlines.

If within reach, from travel and/or spending, Companion Pass is an absolute hammer for loyalty purposes. For me anyway, the value there trumps nearly any other consideration.

[CrimsonNBlue]

I think my major airline rankings would be:

Middle East
Asia
Qantas
Europe
USA-Canada
Africa

[Qusdahl]

And if I were based in DEN, I'd probably even put the money up for CLEAR, because security does blow there and is one of the worst TSA pre-check experiences.

But, you just have to tell yourself that you're saving a ton of time by not having a layover and being able to choose almost any airline.

Yea, maybe if I flew more often.

I usually take an airport shuttle service whose policy is to get you there at least 2 hours before takeoff, in classic dad mode.

So I figure either I’m waiting for an hour in security line checking out yoga pants then an hour around the gate checking out yoga pants, or just waiting 2 hours by the gate checking out yoga pants, so what’s the real difference.

Also, one of the fun things about carrying fishing rods, I mean golf clubs, through in airport is you’re making friends with every other fisher folk in there. Sometimes it’s even fisher chicks in yoga pants. Win win.

[Qusdahl]

I think my major airline rankings would be:

Middle East
Asia
Qantas
Europe
USA-Canada
Africa

Middle East?

What’s that joke about, Whaddya call a Muslim dude flying an airplane?




…a pilot, you bigoted fuck.