Conference netcad::holiday_travel

    
    I am planning on travelling to the US in October from London to Chicago
    and I have been quoted fares by American and United Airlines. The trip 
    continues from Chicago to Las Vegas and on to New Orleans and then on
    to New York and back to London.
    
    American  Airlines' fare is a little cheaper. What I would like to know
    is there much of a difference in standard between the 2 airlines?
    Would it be worth paying the extra to travel with United. I will
    be travelling on economy fare.
    
    Thanks in advance
    
    Des. 

    I find little difference between coach class on all of the US-based
    carriers, so I use whoever is cheapest that makes reasonable
    connections to wherever I am trying to go.  I prefer direct flights
    since I often have quite a bit of carry-on stuff to lug, so that might
    be one consideration.  Or maybe you belong to a frequent-flyer program
    at home that will credit mileage on some US-based airline to your
    account because they have an arrangement with the overseas-based
    airline, so you might prefer that.
    
    I try to avoid changing planes in certain US airports that I have had
    long delays in before (usually due to the weather).  I try to avoid
    O'Hare, and Denver during the snow season, for that reason.  If it is a
    whole lot cheaper to fly through one of them, I may do it anyhow,
    though, and just take my chances on getting stuck there.  I also try to
    avoid tiny "commuter" flights if there is an alternative, since they
    often are grounded by bad weather - which is another way I have ended
    up stuck overnight in O'Hare, which has lots of thunderstorms during
    the summer months.
    
    I switched my upcoming vacation from American to Delta, but not because
    I think Delta is any better.  At the time I had to pay for the tickets,
    it looked like American was going to be on strike (averted by
    government decree).  Years ago, I got stranded in California for
    several extra days by a strike against United.
    
    /Charlotte

    
    Thanks, Charlette, for the info.
    
    Is the American Airlines pilot dispute fully resolved? Is there a risk 
    of other Airlines going on strike this summer/autumn?  I will be
    travelling in October so hopefully there will no extreme weather
    conditions.
    
    Regards
    
    Des.

    THe AA strike hasn't been totally resolved, but I can't imagine that it
    would last in to Oct. even if they do strike in April. My preference
    would be to take American. I find the flight attendents on United to be
    quite surly, although as Charlotte mentioned, all the US airlines are
    poor compared to international airlines.
    
    Debbie
    

    My vote is United, all things considered. AA has been having lots
    of problems with equipment; meaning delays and cancelations.  I
    have more trust in United.  But, I fly Continental, so some folks
    think my opinion is void. :-)

    	I agree. I don't think I've ever flown on AA when there weren't
    long lines and large delays. United has always been consistently
    good..and their food is better!

    
    Thanks for all the replies. The difference between United and AA is
    about $80 (AA is cheaper) but as there is about 6 flights involved it
    probably would be wiser to fly United. The flight times are long in all
    cases so the possibility of delays will be a big factor in our decision. 
      
    Any other opinions/insight are gladly appreciated.
    
    Regards
    
     Des

Interesting how many different viewpoints there are...

I definetely prefer American over United.  United is usually rude to me
while American has bent over backwards to get me where I need to be when
I need to be there.  Also, United almost always routes me via Chicago O'hare
where I end up with major delays.   American routes me via Dallas/Fort Worth
most of the time where I can get away with layovers as short as 35 minutes
with no problem.  American has generally been early or on-time on flights that
I've been on while United has usually been late.

I was very happy when Digital shifted the airline agreements to American.


John - who's flying back east on American late next week 
Sacramento, California

Although I haven't flown with AA I would personally try to avoid United. In my
limited (4 flight) experience with them they are THE most overbooked airline I
have come across.

When I discussed my experiences with other travellers, it seems they are famous
for overbooking their flights.

On the other hand if you want to be bribed to take another flight then you could
make some money from choosing United.

Chris.

>On the other hand if you want to be bribed to take another flight then you could
>make some money from choosing United.

Absolutly.   I was once bumped three times on the same trip.  Once leaving 
Hartford/Springfiled on the first leg, twice on the connection out of Ohare
where they did put me up for the night.  When I finally got out of O'hare, they
had to bump me into first class ;^).  Could have been bumped again on my 
return out of Florida, but I had to get home and besides, I already had more
coupons than I could use in the next year.

I still prefer United.  I think its the theme song (Rhapsody in Blue?) ;^)

I usually fly United when I fly, basically because they fly where I want to
go and depart from where I want to leave (Manchester, NH).  I can recall
flying on American just once, but I don't have anything against them - they've
just rarely come up as a viable option.

I've never gotten bumped from a United flight (knock on wood), though once
my companion and I offered to give up our seats on an overbooked flight (left
maybe an hour later and each got $100 vouchers) - this was in Chicago, of
course. :-)

I'm basically satisfied with United, but can't give any opinion on American.

- Nina