Hi again,

I am going to the Southwest from California in October and was thinking of using America West airlines, but my aunt says their reputation for bad service/cancelled flights is terrible. Has anyone had a good or bad experience with them? The only other airline that is possible is United, but there is over $200 difference in the fares. Help!

Laura

IMHO, the flight is too short for the airline to matter much. Yes, I, too hate America West, but for a $200 difference... well, let's just say, I am a whore to price.

United will not be any better than America West as you will be on Shuttle By United which is just as icky.

Another option is Southwest Airlines which I actually think is the best choice for this quick trip. Their staff seems happy to be working there and their prices are competetive. If you can handle to cattle call (which Shuttle By Unites uses as well), this might be your best bet.

Thanks Sharon,

I haven't seen Southwest airlines as an option - I'll try that - thanks!

Laura

They have their own reservation system (to save money) so you need to go directly to their own site http://www.iflyswa.com/

Sharon,

Thanks for the info but I just tried Southwest - they are the same price as United!

Laura

Be aware that Southwest does not assign seating ahead of time, you must stand in line at the gate (for an hour or more for a good seat) to get a boarding pass. On a short flight seating may be not big deal, but some of us are picky about where we sit! I've flown America West lots of times, and had no problems. Alaska is my fav, United my least fav, but we all have different experiences!

I cannot say enough bad things about America West. I'd gladly pay the $200 (I always try to fly as cheap as possible)difference if that was my only other option.

I fly America West frequently and don't think it's any worse than USAir, Northwest and TWA (is that a compliment or a criticism?).
For more than $50 I wouldn't change my resrvation.

I have flown America West, Northwest, US Air, Delta, Continental, United, and some others recently. The only missed connection because of failure to stay on time was by America West. I could have understood if weather had been a factor, or if the scheduling had been more sensible. We had the minimum allowable time to make the transfer from one terminal to the next. We were on the ground trying to get to the next gate, but it was too far and there was no allowances made for the fact that connecting passengers were being left hanging.
But it was a clear day in late April in both Salt Lake City (origin) and Phoenix (transfer point).
But my sample size is a little small.

Actually, it looks to me like competition and deregulation have just about beaten all airlines down to the same level of mediocrity. Years ago, Delta was my first choice. Today, I have not flown Delta except when I missed the flight in Phoenix and when I unwittingly booked an Air France flight that was actually a Delta operated flight. (It was miserable, too.)

I know that the standard today is to cram in as many seats as possible in tourist class. Unfortunately just about all airlines are doing this. Overseas flights have gotten ridiculous in cattle class.
The new Boeing 777 on the Atlanta - Paris route is so crammed that it is atrocious. I will fly it again only if I am absolutely forced to.

According to US News & World Report, America West is one mechanical violation away from being shut down by the FAA. Try Southwest again on Tuesday - that's when they update their Internet special fares.

We fly from BWI to Phoenix every year to visit family. For the past 2 years we have used America West because of their prices (about $300 less than United) and many flight options (moreso than Southwest). Each year my in-laws tell us why we shouldn't fly them and each time, we've had relatively no problem. Our flights have left up to 20 minutes late but have usually arrived early (I know they schedule in some of that). The flight attendants have been good and no luggage has been lost or damaged. Maybe coming from BWI there is less congestion...I don't know. But for a family of 4, it's saved us over $1,000 and that makes a big difference.

Wrong, Wendy.
That's NOT what the article said.

The article (from December of last year) cited the FAA's frustration with AWA's failure to demonstrate a coherent and carefully supervised maintenance program, largely due to recent job cuts and management changes.
It did NOT state that there was a plan to shut the airline down, and there was 'one more strike and you're out' policy.

The FAA demanded that AWA come up with a new plan to demonstrate a committment to their maintenance program.
Since that plan was designed, there has been no other statement from the FAA.

Does this mean AWA is top notch in the industry with regard to safety, etc? No. In fact, if I had to bet, I'd guess that the struggling second tier airlines are probably the spottiest (USAirways, TWA (now AA), Northwest, etc).
But stick to the facts.
AWA has never had a major incident and never a fatality since it was formed in 1983. And Phoenix is usually rated one of the 5 safest airports in North America (largely due to the lack of foul weather).
And no, I don't work for AWA. And yes, the FAA is truly a mess and field inspectors are in many ways discouraged from making life difficult for the airlines.
But try to throw your stones more accurately.

I have found America West to be as good or better than many of the other airlines. Save the bucks and fly America West.

Only booked once with AWA - from BWI-Vegas nonstop.

No sign or prospect of AWA plane at BWI - we ended up flying Northwest with stop at Detroit and consequent arrival at Vegas (with baggage damage) at about 3 a.m.

I have to admit AWA did manage our return trip OK but it's made us hesitate to try them again.

We've used Southwest frequently and have never had a problem. Also recently used United on a 3-leg each way flight to Alaska and they were great! Maybe we were lucky?

Hi - I've only flown w/ America West once but I won't do it again. They cancelled my flight without warning on a beautiful April day and were absolutely not a bit helpful in rescheduling. Very rude desk help in Phoenix as well.

I've flown four time with America West and I guess I'm one of the few who don't mind them. American Airlines had the worst flights I've ever been on.

I've tried America West, but have not had any problems w/them. I have had probs w/Southwest, such as major delays..plus their planes feeling like you're flying on a bus. Trust me, try it & you'll understand. But I am also a person who flys whoever will give me the cheapest flight...I don't really care who the carrier is. Have you tried Hotwire.com yet? It gives incredible deals. You don't find out who the carrier is until you purchase the tix, but I've saved soooo much w/them. Their site is a little slow & can (at times) be down, but w/the money you save, it's worth it. For example, I recently bought a tix to D.C. for $218 including tax from Orange County and the same flight (Continental) cost over $550 on the Continental website & Lowestfare.com. Maybe I've been lucky, but you may be too. Check it out. Good luck!

We just flew on America West over Memorial Day from Chicago O'Hare to Las Vegas (direct flight) and had no problems. In fact we were a little early going both ways. The service was good and the food wasn't bad either. Maybe we were lucky, but its nice to be on time for a change. Take it from someone who has bad luck when flying, 8 hour delay sitting at O'Hare on American, Stranded in Tampa 2 1/2 days on United last year and 6 hour delay in Las Vegas and Houston on Southwest. If anyone finds the perfect airline please post it.

I've been flying AW for years and have never had a problem. They are notorious for being late in and out of Newark/Phila/LGA, but the few times I've missed the Newark flight I needed to return home on they've put me up in a hotel, meal vouchers, upgrade on the outbound in the morning. (Once I missed it returning from London and once they cancelled the flight--the first wasn't their fault & they didn't have to compensate me, but they did. In the case of the cancelled flight, they also provided each of my family members with 2 coupons for upgrades to first that were good for a year). I prefer to fly them when I can because
1. They co-share with British Airways and I put my miles on the BA FF card
2. They are bonusing 3,000 FF miles on ANY flight now through 12/31

Last weekend I flew to Phila on their Express, which is owned by Mesa Airlines and seats 50. I was really apprehensive, but it IS a jet. It was a great, smooth ride both ways. 25 minutes late on the return, but arrived 15 minutes early--love how the airlines pad those times!

There was another thread on this sometime in past year as I recall, you could search maybe. Popular topic. My comments are that I've flown AW several times on 1-hr flights and thought they were fine, better than the other major airlines in my market (USAir which I hate, and United). Then, last Xmas they did outright cancel my flight due to maintenance, so I think they do have mechanical/maintenance problems in that planes are out of service a lot and they don't have enough. They did refund my money with no problem, thank goodness (I would not wait around for next flight 8 hrs later which "might" have had room, I just drove). If it's true your alternative is United Express, I would fly AW. United Express is the worst airline I've EVER flown on and they have had outright crashes (one in Columbus Ohio which is where I go to see family, I think that was in later 90s). They are the most incompetent shoddy service I've ever encountered and their flights are always 1-3 hours late taking off in my experience (for a 1 hr flight). I used to have to fly them DC-Columbus as there were few choices, but I never will again. That is really Atlantic Coast that flies United Express (at least on east coast), a terrible airline IMO.