Within the next hour or two I will be making reservations from Newark to Albuquerque. I have usually fly Continental on other trips, but Continental's flight times and prices just aren't working out for this route on my dates. I'm finding the best schedule and prices with United and American, with connections in either Denver (on United) or Dallas (American). Does anyone strongly advise for or against either of those two airlines: United or American?

I like United because they let you listen to air traffic control. How about that for a reason!

Some UA DEN-ABQ flights are on regional jets, if that matter to you.

Otherwise, don't see a strong advantage of either.

I booked the flight on American. It took me most of the day yesterday to speak to a live person instead of a machine at United. This afternoon, even though there are serious rain-related flight delays affecting American and other airlines and probably generating a lot of phone inquiries, I got through to a human at American after just a few minutes talking to a machine. I let that be the "test" that made me decide on American. Even though I was planning to book online, I wanted to be sure that it's possible to reach a person at the airline, in case of last minute problems.

American's res agents all seem to be based in the US; when I have had to call UA, I get a call center in India. So I know which one I would choose, based on that alone!

If you took United you could have an layover in DEN of more than the legal 4 hours for only $60 more. Stay a day to ski, meet friends etc .

AA any day. I recently witnessed extreme rudeness from UA ground staff toward other passengers at SFO who were delayed for flights to JFK - simply asking for clarification regarding status of their flights. These were both at the "Customer Service" desk at SFO and at the NY-bound gates. Frankly, I was APPALLED at their attitudes and behavior. Cabin crew was great, however, in business class. I will avoid UA as much as I possibly can in the future. When you're stuck somewhere, they totally abandon you and ridicule you for being anxious.

I always fly AA to ABQ, and would consider no other.

... and this India call-center issue is getting old. American has, so far, kept its call center in the USA with real people who know how to speak English like an American.

I know it's after the fact, but all factors being equal, I'd have chosen UA, hands down. Why? AA:

- Flies a bunch of old, dirty MD80s -- one of the worst airplanes ever built. While NW flies even older planes (the DC-9 is just a short, older MD80), they at least bother to clean them once in a while.

- Its main hubs are ORD (bad weather in the winter and very delay-prone) and DFW (bad storms in the summer). The AA domestic terminal facilities in both are old and run-down & have all of the charm of a Greyhound station.

- Has THE NASTIEST FAs in the industry. They give new meaning to the word "surly." EVERY flight I have been on has been like this. They must include lessons from the Marquis De Sade in their FA training.

The only time I take AA is when I have to or when US is the only other option. I haven't taken UA much, but the last time I took them, they were professional & efficient, and the plane was clean.

It's just too bad CO wasn't an option for you . . . they far & away beat both AA & UA.

<i>Continental Airlines was named Best Airline based in North America for the fourth year running, just edging out American Airlines which was commended, and also Best Business/Executive Class for the fifth consecutive year.</i>

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070418/aqw089.html?.v=2

UA came in 4th.