Yesterday me and my sister were talking about places that we have been to and our airport/flight experiences. This got me thinking... What are your best and worse airlines and airports and why????

Whenever my sister flys to the US or even the Caribbean, she flys with VIRGIN and swears by it. She says that the service that you get from the time you check in and land is quality.

Ive flown to the U.S. on: BA, AA, NWA, and US Airways. My favourite airline to do my Trans-Atlantic flight is US Airways! I love it because im a tall, large woman... it gives me plenty of leg room and seat width to feel totally comfortable. Also the on-flight entertainment is awesome!! Truly keeps me occupied. The cabin crew are real friendly too.
My worse airline is My Travel, which is a charter flight company. I flew with that airline to Jamaica with the kids. They are so child unfriendly!! :( I would never fly with them again. Its like sardines in a can on the flight. :( The on-flight entertainment wasnt too bad, but their customer service stinks!!
I love London Gatwick airport, and aint too partial with Hartfield, Atlanta!!

How about all of you?

Worst- American West. There's a reason why they're so cheap.
Best- Alaska. Usually always on time. Attendants usually very pleasant.
I've also heard that Virgin is a step above the rest.

Best: I used to like TWA when it existed. Through my job I've been flying through an outfit called NetJets lately, though, which is super, super nice, and they fly out of Santa Monica instead of LAX, which is all the difference!

Worst: I flew Southwest to Vegas once. Once. Ungh.

But I highly recommend flying yourself if you can do it. Might take a little longer but it's a blast!

Virgin is the best. I'm a travel agent and America West sucks! They couldn't give me a free ticket. I wouldn't take it.

My sister always flies Virgin from London.
I stay in the US and always use Jet Blue. (But I don't care about anything except getting there.LOL)

Seems i need to check out Virgin!! Richard Branson is from my country, so i should be supporting him i guess!! ;)

i think the best was Jet Blue (because of the tv's in the headrest). the worst has to be US Air. they're never on time -- ever!

Ive gotta agree... US Airways are sometimes late, but to me they make up for it with their service. I reckon i need to check out this 'Jet Blue' airline. :) US Airways have the TV in the headrest also, but its only really for long haul flights i guess.

I always use America West to go see my honee and have never had any problems.

in Travel Magazine (or maybe Travel and Leisure, or wherever it was listed):

Jet Blue and some ther smaller one was tops. I can attest for Jet Blue, I liked my experience.

I have TRIED to fly Song twice, I have missed BOTH flights and had to pay hefty somes BOTH times.

I do not like Continental.

I love Orlando and O'Hare (I can still get the original McDonaldland cookies here) airports, I do not like LaGuardia, Kennedy or Hartsfield airports

My favorite airlines are Jetblue and Southwest. I love them for the way they treat their customers, their prices, and the convience of rebooking flights. My least favorites are Delta, Song, and Continental.

I dont like Delta or Continental either. They have a direct flight from London to Atlanta, with Delta, but i'd rather take an indirect flight than to travel on that airline!! :(

I was really disappointed with Delta's Song on my most recent flight to Vegas. They advertised as a "Pillowless Airline!" I don't think that's something to be proud of :blah: The least they can do is provide their passengers with a cheap pillow on a 5+ hour flight!!!!!!

My Best & Worst is actually the same airline - Delta. They are based here in Atlanta so they pretty much rule the airways here. I love their skymiles program, the service is usually great except for that one time my bags went to Bahamas and I didn't!!!

LOL Nuro's!! :) I know that it wasnt funny at the time, but its the way that you shared the story!! ;) Was you heading to the Bahamas? Where was you heading to?

Even though i fly into Atlanta, ive never flownb with Delta. Ive heard some bad things about it, so i have avoided it, even though their flights are sometimes cheaper than the airlines that i fly with.
When we fly to Atlanta for the Easter, Im flying with US Airways, but my friend and her kids are flying with Delta. There is a direct flight from London to Atlanta/

I work for a major airline and I can tell you that there good experieces and bad experiences on all of them!

Here are a few tips to make your journey more pleasent.

I recommend arriving at least an hour and a half prior to flight time. If you're late, there is no more holding the plane. Those days are gone.

At

If you're traveling with small children or need a little extra time to board for whatever reason, being early will help.

Please, please put your name and cell phone number on ALL YOUR BAGS!! Even your carry on!!! I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!!

Hi Everyone,

I work for a major airline and I can tell you, people have had good and bad experiences on all of them! Someone, somewhere will be unhappy no matter what and I don't want that!!

We all want you to have a wonderful trip! I want you to come back and fly my carrier! However; airlines are getting very strict and are now enforcing many rules that have been on the books for a while.

Help me help you.

Here are some tips to make your journey more pleasant.

Newest federal government rule: as of January 1, 2006, you MUST have a passport to leave the country. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. The days of traveling with a birth certificate are gone. This means Canada and Mexico as well.

If you do not have your passport with you, you will NOT be allowed to board. All the arguing in the world isn't going to get you on the plane. I will get in huge trouble if I put you on that plane without the proper international documentation. They will turn you around and send you back home. This includes visas and other required paperwork for the particular country your traveling to. No passport=No boarding. No exceptions.

There's a 30 minute cut off when you're checking in. This has always been the rule, but now airlines are really enforcing it. My carrier won't even let me check you in for a flight if you get there less than 30 minutes prior to departure. The computer restricts me. All I can do at that point is try to get you on a different flight.

However; airlines are cutting flights and going to smaller aircraft. There have been many days when every flight out of my station was full. That means no available seats unless someone doesn't show up. This means you're stuck or there are no longer any connections to get you to your destination, again your stuck. There are some small cities where there is literly only one flight a day in and if you miss it you're stuck.

That's why I recommend arriving at least an hour and a half prior to flight time. Even at little airports. If you're late, there is no more holding the plane. Those days are gone.

Please arrive two hours for international flights even if your originator flight starts out domestically. Problems happen with international ticketing sometimes and there are times when it takes a good while to straighten out those issues. That's the whole purpose of the two hour rule.

If you're traveling with small children and are traveling with strollers, car seats, diaper bags or need a little extra time to board for whatever reason, being early will help.

On most carriers there is a two bag carry on rule. That means two. Two. A purse and a brief case, a purse and a small carry on under 40 pounds. A brief case and a small carry on under 40 pounds. TWO!! Yes there are exceptions to this rule but for the MAJORITY of travelers TWO is the limit. TWO!

There is now a 50 pound weight limit for your TWO allowable CHECKED bags whether you're going international or domestic. That means 50 pounds. 50. Not 51. It will cost you twenty five dollars if you go over the 50 pound limit for domestic travel. If you go over 70 pounds it will cost you $50.00. It is much more expensive to go over the limit if you're going international and the price varies by country. This is on all major carriers.

Luggage size. Do not bring a bag that is larger than 62 linear inches. That's Height x length x width. It will cost you $80.00 to bring that bag. We are now enforcing this rule. We now have measuring tapes at the ticket counter. If you have a really large bag, you have a tendency to pack it full. The 50 pound rule will apply to this bag as well. That one bag WILL cost you $105.00.

At larger airports, you will need PLENTY of time to get through security. Your federal government has laid off TSA agents. They do the best they can but some days take longer than others. If you miss your flight, there may not be another seat on the next plane to book you on and then you're stuck. Again, airlines are cutting more and more flights and downsizing to smaller aircraft and they fill up fast.

Be ready when you get close to the front of the security line. Have your coat and shoes off and in the bucket. Take your change and keys out of your pocket. Have your lap tops out and ready. When you haven't done these things in advance YOU HOLD EVERYONE ELSE UP. Your follow travelers will not be happy. Every one wants to have a smooth trip.

Please, please put your name and cell phone number on ALL YOUR BAGS!! Even your carry on!!! I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!! Just last night someone left a small carry on at our ticket counter. This passenger had medications. makeup, jewelery, important papers, the works.

There was NO identification anywhere in or on that bag. I can only imagine her stress level when she realized that her bag was gone. That's not the way you want to start or end your trip. It's still sitting behind our counter waiting for someone to claim it. Sadness.

A simple name tag could have elevated the situation. Every airline has hundreds of name tags sitting on their ticket counter. Please use them.

Never, ever put your keys, medications, or valuables of any kind in your checked luggage. We move thousands of bags each day with you to your final destination. However; some bags just don't make it for whatever reason. There's nothing anyone can do at that moment if your luggage with your keys does not arrive and your stuck.

Arguing with your agent about these issues isn't going to get you on the plane any faster. I can't help it if another agent or airline "didn't do it that way". These are the rules and my company is paying me to enforce them. I'm not trying to be mean! I can't help it and can't change any of the fees or rules any more than the check out girl at the grocery store can change the price of the groceries you're buying.

The majority of my passengers problems are with the above issues. I'm telling you these things so you will avoid hassles. Sorry this is so long but I feel bad when people are caught off guard and I hope this helps! I want my PTO family to have a great trip!

Most of the time I hear... well I didn't know or no one told me. I have to charge you anyway. I DO want you to know so I'm telling you now. Please ask questions when you're booking your ticket so you'll be informed and have a good experience.

Happy flying!

P.S. the computer wents nuts when I was typing this and posted the half started post of mine above this one while I was typing for some reason and I didn't realize it until now.

Sorry!!!

I fly cheap... as long as I get there the service doesn't matter ;) I fly out of a smaller airport here in Michigan rather than Detroit simply because its closer and cheaper. I found that the flights are often cheaper as well. I use Air Tran and anytime I had a serious complaint with them, they sent me a $50 voucher for my next flight.

If I'm flying somewhere that AirTran doesn't cover then I try to use someone else cheap. :D

Thanks for that Tia! :thumbsup: Even though im a frequent flyer, there were a couplethings that you informed us about that i really didnt know! :eek: Thank you! :)

Items accepted as proof of citizenship/identity for U.S. citizens
A valid U.S. passport (not expired) - serves as both proof of citizenship and ID or,
A valid US driver's license (not expired). For ID only.
Original or certified Birth Certificate or a notarized photocopy of birth certificate along with a valid, government issued ID. (NO hospital birth certificates/records UNLESS it is a newborn less than 3 months old.) For citizenship only.
Military IDs are only good as government issued identification. They are NOT proof of citizenship.
Original certificate of Naturalization. No photocopies. Mexico will not accept them and the traveler may incur a fine upon returning to the U.S.Top (http://www.frontierairlines.com/mexico/#top)
Items not accepted as proof of citizenship/identity
No expired passports will be accepted.
Voter's registration cards are not accepted as proof of identity or citizenship.
No photocopies of passports.
No expired driver's licenses will be accepted.
No gaming, membership shopping cards or credit cards with photos on them are accepted. The only exception is if the traveler has gone to the motor vehicle department to renew their driver's license and were given a receipt with license to be mailed.
If married and the name on tickets, ID, passport do not match, must travel with original or certified copy of the marriage certificate.
If your name has changed, and the name on the tickets, ID, and/or passport does not match, you must travel with a copy of the court document stating such.OK, now I am freaking out! I did not know about the law change on the passports and I dont have one, however: I do have tickets to Mazatlan in a week! I cannot find on Frontiers website that we have to have passports! What do we do?

This I just copied from the US Department of State website. (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html)


New Requirements for Travelers



The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future.
This is a change from prior travel requirements and will affect all United States citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. This new requirement will also affect certain foreign nationals who currently are not required to present a passport to travel to the United States. Most Canadian citizens, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and to a lesser degree, Mexican citizens will be affected by the implementation of this requirement.

And this from Travelocity, which is where we booked our trip. Sorry if I am loading up here, but now I am worried. I think we are ok, what do you all think?
http://www.travisas.com/travelocity/entry_requirements.asp?ARR=MX&Citizen=US&REZState=CO&REZ=US&x=31&y=11

United States Citizens: http://www.travisas.com/images/arrow.gifBusiness: A visa is not required but a passport is required if stay is less than 30 days. For more than 30 days, a visa is required. All applicants are required to appear in person to obtain a visa.http://www.travisas.com/images/arrow.gifTourist: No visa is required for tourists, but a passport or proof of U.S. Citizenship (original or certified copy of government issued birth certificate OR original or certified copy of naturalization certificate) along with a valid state issued photo ID are required. Beginning December 31, 2006 a passport will be required.http://www.travisas.com/images/arrow.gifTransit: No visa is required for transit, but a passport or proof of U.S. Citizenship (original or certified copy of government issued birth certificate OR original or certified copy of naturalization certificate) along with a valid state issued photo ID are required. Beginning December 31, 2006 a passport will be required.

http://www.travisas.com/images/arrow.gifTourist: No visa is required for tourists, but a passport or proof of U.S. Citizenship (original or certified copy of government issued birth certificate OR original or certified copy of naturalization certificate) along with a valid state issued photo ID are required. Beginning December 31, 2006 a passport will be required.

I dont work for an airline, nor am i even an American Citizen, but from reading the above quote, i interpretate it that you should be okay. I think that your best bet is to check with the airline or the Immigration Department as to whether you will definately be okay. You really dont want your vacation to come to a halt at the check-in desk!

Virgin, Jet Blue & American Airlines have never failed me. However Northwest can eat my new hat. As for airports, the New terminal in Detroit is really nice, Pittsburgh is awesome but Reagan National in DC NEEDS TO GO AWAY FOREVER. Good grief always a pain in my hind end when I get stuck there for one reason or another.

I used to work for Delta Airlines back in the day and well as much as they were nice to work for, their service I experienced a few times was lousy, I basically have stopped using them anymore. I use Northwest, Southwest, ATA, Comair, US Air, United, American Airlines like someone else said they all have good and bad flights, rude and pleasant attendents so I just go with the flow, UNTIL I reach a certain point then I do complain without a doubt.

I just came back from the pass port office and you don't need a passport until then end of this year. i used to fly from KY to CA once a week for like 3 years and I alwaysused Southwest or Continetial and United and the United Shuttle and I never had a problem. i could really care less what the airline, as long as I get there. I took my daughter on a Southwest flight and she loved it, they made boarding like a game of red light/green light for all the kids.

Tia, thank you so much for the tips. I know when we go to The Bahamas next year, that will really come in handy.

Living in the CVG area, I have little choice but to fly Delta. Even if it's a codeshare flight, it's Delta's metal. Domestically, I'd rather walk, but Delta's transcon BE product is decent.

**edited to correct bonehead spelling error**

In my area, I have very limited choices too - and the only place I ever go is to Houston to visit. Southwest has a direct 1 hour flight and the cheapest prices. Why pay more for a flight that goes from Mississippi to Atlanta for a 2 hour layover and then on to Houston - flying right over Mississippi and the city I left from - total flight time about 3 to 4 hours?? Service is alright - you don't get much on a 1 hr flight.

When I made the first leg of my flight, I flew Delta to New Jersey. I was on Alitalia from there to Rome and then Cairo. On the return It was Alitalia through Milan to Boston where I was on American. I will definately fly with Alitalia again, very smooth, usually a few minutes early, and pleasant attendants. The food was great and the movie was a new one.

FRONTIER AIRLINES

even though it's a smaller airline and only serves the US, mexico, and maybe canada (?can't remember right now), i love frontier. they are often cheap, the flight attendants are kind and employ a really nice sense of humor, and there's directv in every seat (or a movie), though it costs a little. :) just have to plug them because of my good experience. oh -- and their frequent flier program only requires 15,000 miles for a reward trip!