You can purchase one or two types of wine or beer on the flights, and a limited variety of non-alcoholic beverages are free.

Actually, I wasn't paying close attention so I'm not 100% it was beer or other "spirits" in addition to the wine, but I do know a few alcoholic beverages were available to buy.

I've actually heard great things. Only thing I don't like is that you can't book through the discount sites, but right now their fares are so cheap as it is. I also am a fan of Dulles. DCA would be better, but Dulles is way better than BWI as a hub.

I am glad to hear that Dulles beats BWI. I am a huge Southwest fan but the haul from BWI to Bethesda to see my family 3-4 times a year is really tiring.

seaside - My DH says that Independence *blows* Southwest away. He hates flying Southwest for business, but sometimes they are the only choice. He would fly Ind. again in a heartbeat. The Dulles thing is just a bonus.

<font color=#990033>~gnr~</font>

Great, gnr! I can't wait to try them out next week. I'll let you all know what I thought.

I flew Independence from Nashville to Dulles for Labor Day weekend and was overall pleased. The flights leaving and going to Nashville were both delayed by about 1/2 an hour with no explanation, though I don't think Hurricane Frances was the cause since the flights were coming from NYC.

There was just one flight attendant per flight because the plane is relatively small. Handing out drinks and beverages seemed to take a long time -- not as efficient as on other flights. The safety instructions are pre-recorded by celebrities - we had Mia Hamm, and James Carville and Mary Matalin. Cute idea but the recording is so bad that you really can't hear them over the noise of the plane.

The overhead and under seat storage will not take anything more than a small duffel or flat hanging bag. Fortunately, they allow plane-side check in of your luggage which I did. That way you know that it is coming with you.

I usually fly Southwest and was looking at a $230.00 ticket at the time I was booking a flight, which was about 3 weeks before my departure date. Independence charged $180.00. Also, for people who usually fly into DC via BWI, Dulles is so much closer -- I'd say about a 15-20 minute trip from Georgetown/Bethesda area. Only drawback (and this is not the airline's fault) is that security check at Dulles is atrocious!

I would fly them again - at least to DC because of the distance of Dulles -- and will certainly check them out when looking at rates. Let's hope that they don't increase their fares too much.

seaside1, both flights were late and it was still a positive experience? That service was slow and the plane was uncomfortable is probably because it was a regional jet.

United has nonstop flights (regional jet) from Nashville to Dulles for $156.70 roundtrip, tax inc., same price as Independence Air. For $220, you can fly USAir nonstop into Washington National (DCA) which is closer to D.C. than Dulles (and there is a Metro stop at National).

Good friend just flew them from DC and back, noted that for regional jets, they're reasonably comfortable, and new. Also noted that they seem to build in a margin of extra flying time (as others do) so that if they leave on time, they almost always arrive early, and if they leave late, they may still be on time.

Also, I thought I read in the Journal that they have plans in the works to buy some bigger jets. I haven't flown them yet, but I plan to.

mrwunrfl - Flights in and out of Dulles are notoriously late, doesn't matter what the airline is.

seaside - I missed the great Ind. sale and now I'm flying Southwest to Nashville. The prices on United weren't that low for the weekend I wanted. So off to BWI I go. :'(

<font color=#990033>~gnr~</font>

I do understand what it is like flying in/out of Dulles.

If the first time I flew an airline I found that the service was slow, the airplane was cramped and noisy and both flights were late (with no explanation) then I would not consider it to a very positive experience. Maybe it's just me.

I'm flying them to DC in October from Albany, NY as the tix were only $101 pp. I was excited at first about there 2 for 1 tix sale going on now but I'm completely disenchanted with them as it is a rip off! Last week I was checking flights to Chicago which were $180 pp. Tried this week with the 2 for 1 and the price for two is $370! That means the tix were $185 a piece! I was expecting the price to be less, not more. Kind of makes me down on them now.

Low Fare airlines don't mean they have fares that are lower than the others <b>all the time</b>. For those who book 14-days ahead on roundtrip travel, it's almost certain you can find a fare that's similar or even lower than the Low Fare on the other carriers.

However, if you don't have 14-day in advance, of if you need to fly one-way or open-jaw, then the difference can be huge. Your DC-Chicago fare may still be around $200 on Independence, but it may be $400-500 on the other carriers then.

I understand about the lower fares. What I don't like; however, is the posting of a &quot;sale&quot; that in reality costs more than the previous price - and the trip is a month away!

That is sort of the reason I'm now flying Southwest. When I originally checked IndAir, the flights were $54 each way. I didn't buy them because I was waiting for confirmation of a few other things. Then when I was ready, the flights were $99 (still on sale). I thought it was because all the lower priced seats had sold out, but this week they have a new sale, and the $54 tickets are back so I don't know what happened. I thought about switching the flight to them but I like the Southwest times better.

Now, Southwest - I went to their site on Monday - final day of IndAir sale since the IndAir flights were now $99. Their lowest fare column was $54. But Tuesdays are the day that they put their internet specials on, so I waited. Big mistake. They <u>upped</u> the lowest price to $69. It only affected me one way because the lower priced fares were all sold out on the return. I ended up paying the next highest fare since the flight times were better. But if I could have gotten the original fare, I wouldn't have done this.

So that's my low price airline story.

~gnr~

I got a junk mail offer of a $25 discount from independence air some time ago. On the outside, it asks &quot;What will it be like having a big low-fare hub at Dulles?&quot;. Open it and a little gizmo makes jet airplane noises and it says &quot;Like this, 300 times a day&quot;. Might be the first junk mail that I got that has sound effects.

Am flying United from Dulles to LAX and return nonstop this weekend for $203. Will have Economy Plus seats (maybe upgrade to Business class on the outbound 777 flight) and earn 12855 miles, 4576 EQMs, and two more segments toward the round-the world ticket (or the two segments are half of a regional roundtrip). For me, that's what it is like having a low fare hub at Dulles.

I just got a call from a friend who is at Dulles airport and who just returned on an independence air flight from Norfolk. One of the wheels on the landing gear wouldn't go down and they circled for an &quot;hour&quot; until they were finally able to land ok. No more flyi for her.

Forgive me, mrwunrfl, but you seem to have a grudge -- working very hard to persuade everyone that Independence is out of the question, and without firsthand experience. Have to wonder why so adamant, so early in their existence?

I guess it does seem like I have a grudge. As a matter of fact, I think it is a positive thing that they are at Dulles because it has generated a lot of competition and bargains at an airport that is 18 miles away from where I live. My point is that you don't have to go out to BWI for a low fare and you don't have to fly the low cost carriers to get a low fare and fly out of Dulles.