glimmer2

I've never flown Frontier Airlines, but they have a better schedual for an upcoming flight that I need to take, than Southwest does. The fare is just about the same. Anyone have an opinion on which is better?
Thank you.

Andrew

Depends what you mean by "better schedule." I love Southwest for numerous reasons (for example, no change fees) and they would be my first preference over anyone else. But if Frontier had a much better schedule - say 2 or 3 hours more convenient, or the SW flight would require departing at 6AM - I'd do the Frontier flight in a minute. If it were only 30 minutes different or something I'd probably go with Southwest.

FainaAgain

I think I flown Frontier only once, and it was a pleasant trip, with softer seats compare to SW and individual TV screens (yes, domestic).

I would consider schedule first, then price - if not much difference, then everything else.

glimmer2

Frontier is about 10 bucks cheaper and we come home 3 hours earlier, which is a good thing. My only concern is that they fly into Denver, which can sometimes be a difficult airport, weather etc. While Southwest flys through Phoenix going out and Las Vegas coming back.
We're leaving the first weekend in Nov.

polaris

We fly on Frontier whenever possible. The crew while friendly, don't try to entertain. You get a seat assignment so none of that silliness trying to get seated. Planes clean and you get live TV (for free) and an added bonus...pictures of cool animals on tail.

rkkwan

Is the TV free? From their website, it seems like it's $5 per flight segment.

FainaAgain

RK, it was about 1/2 flight free, then they turned it off But the map with the location of the plane was all the way on for free.

fmpden

I am with Polaris. I think Frontier provides a slightly better level of service and you can reserve you seat in advance and don't have to put up with SW cattle call. Denver should be fine in November.

glimmer2

Thanks, if we leave on a Saturday instead of Friday Frontier is almost $200 less! I'm having a real hard time finding a good fare on SW lately...wonder why.

rkkwan

I wonder why people think Southwest is cheap. My experience is that on most routes, there's at least one other carrier offering the same or even lower prices.

glimmer2

SW has low fares if you can snag one of Internet Only or Promo fares, but more often than not those are gone for the flights I want.

Andrew

rkkwan: I wonder why people think Southwest is cheap. My experience is that on most routes, there's at least one other carrier offering the same or even lower prices.

Cheap? Hmm. Well, I'm flying PDX-PHL round trip in October on Southwest for about $160 round trip, including tax and fees. Wow, that must involve 2 plane changes and take forever, you say? No, both are almost perfect flights - direct with one stop in Chicago Midway, and neither leaves/arrives too early or too late. No connections to worry about either.

Yes this was a "Ding!" internet special but they had it just yesterday again for that same route, and I changed my flight due to a schedule change. No change fee. And I wonder again why people DON'T like Southwest?

rkkwan

Andrew - Let's try this again.

My point - SW is not always the cheapest.

Your point?

Andrew

You wondered why people think Southwest is cheap. I tried to clear that up for you. How many other airlines would let you fly from the west coast to the east coast for $160 round trip and change the days for free?

rkkwan

Andrew - Southwest is great. Did I question that? Apparently, their business model works and people love them. Why else are they the largest domestic carrier even though they don't fly to many major airports?

And yes, they often have great fares if you get them early. Also, their change policy is probably the best. They price tickets by each way, so one-way is often much cheaper than other airlines.

But all I am saying is that often they're not the cheapest. Southwest is HUGE. They set industry prices for most routes. Other airlines match or undercut by a few bucks.

That's my point.

As for your PDX-PHL flight, SW only has one "direct" one-stop flight a day each way with no change of plane. The otheres require a switch. And for many days in early October, that one-stop "direct" is sold out.

Anyways, the lowest fare I can find on Southwest PDX-PHL for all of October is $79 "Internet one-way" that comes up to $199.60 all-in.

Checking other search engines, I find some NW flights for $190 and DL for $199 on selective dates. Yes, with connection.

Anyways, I think my point stands. Southwest is often not the cheapest.

Andrew

Well, you've changed your "point" a few times. First you merely wondered why people think they are the cheapest. I helped explain that to you. I didn't say they are ALWAYS the cheapest - but you didn't say that originally. But, it's easy for people to get great fares like I got (on that great Chicago direct one-stop flight) if you book slightly ahead. I booked one leg of that flight two days ago (for $64 on their "Ding" special) so it's not like I had to book this months ago.

Northwest may have a flight for slightly cheaper than Southwest's price today but it's not a direct flight, and had I changed it I'd be paying a $100+ change fee.

dmlove

You two are arguing over nothing. Because you're both right. Southwest obviously has an excellent business model, they have great specials, they have a great change policy, and they're sometimes/but not always, cheaper. End of story!

rkkwan

I am still wondering why people think they're the cheapest. You explained a lot why they're great. And I totally agree. But my question wasn't answered. Why do people think they're cheap?

That's not my experience, and I just showed to you an example that if I want to book an October flight PDX-PHL, there can be cheaper alternatives to Southwest.

BTW, you brought up the point about changing flights. I agree, they're great. And I also point out the very nice thing about one-way fare.

Now, since Southwest has such great service (I'm totally serious, it's not a joke or sarcasm), maybe the question should be:

"Why don't people think Southwest should be more expensive"?

I think all your excellent points answer that question better.

Say I need to buy a ticket PDX-PHL today for travel in October, and I have no loyalty to any airline. Here are the choices:

Southwest - one-stop, same aircraft $199
Northwest - one connection $190

Which one will I choose? Well, personally, I'll pay $9 more and fly Southwest.

dmlove

Well, like anything else, people think they're cheap because people have been "marketed to" -- don't they now (or maybe no more, but in the past didn't they) market themselves as a "low-cost airlines")?

FainaAgain

"Which one will I choose? Well, personally, I'll pay $9 more and fly Southwest." - maybe.

I would also check if the schedule is convenient, one may land at 3 pm, another at 6 pm, sometimes it makes a difference. And where is the stopover, how's the weather there this time of the year.

And which aiports are involved. Flying out of SFO vs OAK using a shuttle is $20 difference for me.

Next vacation, flying Alaska to St Louis out of SFO non-stop, coming back Southwest through LAX, who cares if a delay, going home.