Which airline is the best to fly with?

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eyes nothing like the sun

I work in a travel agency and am a frequent traveler, and I can honestly tell you there is little or no difference between airlines, but it all depends on where you are going and when.
American is reliable in terms of not cancelling flights a lot (which is useful if you're traveling in the middle of winter in a place where it snows a lot), but like all big corporations (and like United), their employees at the terminal are not always well-trained and will most likely not be willing to go very far out of their job description box to help you. The big airline plus is that they have direct flights almost anywhere (always infinitely more convenient if you're traveling with a kid, but I don't know how old your son is).
In terms of the staff aboard and in the airport terminal, it really depends on who's working that day. I could tell you ATA has really nice air hostesses, but you could always get a cranky woman who just got off a 12-hour flight, with bad shoes and an aching back.
I would say if the price is convenient and the route available, Continental is a good airline: big enough to have extensive routes, but small enough to be personable with their clients. Same with Southwest (and they have amazing fares most of the time).
Something like 85% of people never have an unpleasant experience at an airport, and you can do your part in that by purchasing your tickets in advance, making sure you have all your papers in order, arriving with time to spare, planning where and how you will go after you reach your destination, RECOMFIRMING YOU FLIGHT (airlines sometimes change departure times randomly, and there's always someone who didn't get the message on their machine), and checking the attitude way before the baggage (airports are sometimes more stressful for the employees than the travelers, and they are often sensible and irritable).
Ultimately, first timers do well when they pick an airline they've heard about and have some sort of indirect trust towards. Price is also important, because even if you never do get your peanuts and your luggage takes half an hour to appear, you'll feel much better about it if you've saved money. :-)

Tired Old Man

who ever you booked your flight with should have given you this info. if not ask them. just check with AAA they can help on all of the things you mentioned.

UT FAN

It depends on how old your son is. No matter how old your son is stay away from Delta. More than likely if you fly Delta you will spend a lo of time Delayed. NorthWest and SouthWest are really good about getting you where you need to be and doing it on time. SouthWest is odd if you have a smaller child because your tickets will not have a seat number and it is first come first seat.

apuleuis

Take Midwest if you can, the seats are bigger and you are served chocolate chip cookies! They do have a more limited area they fly.

No matter how cheap - avoid changing airlines, and keep number for flights to a minimum. If you can avoid large airports like Chicago and LaGuardia (new york) do so, since they have more delays and cancellations.

Bring lots of entertainment (for you and your son) to keep your mind off flying. A card game or something interactive is better than just reading.

notyou311

Jet Blue. It is the most comfortable. United is the worst.

kim101280

I tend to like continental, they have video games in the headrest for your child to play with and I like their service. I fly 4x a year and tend to pick them. I used to fly american but their service isnt what it used to be.

milanfan1

I don't see too much difference betwen the various airlines
I would go with the ones that have the simplest route (preferably direct to where you want to go) and are cheapest.

A handheld video game, an ipod or a couple of good magazines/books helps.

londonhawk

Jet Blue and Southwest are the best carriers as far as making any changes to you reservations. Jet blue assigns seats, southwest does not, it's first come first served.

The Legacy carriers, AA, NW, CO, DL, UA have most of the perks and the larger planes, and US Airways and America West have merged and fall in between.

When travelling, it's a matter of choice really. All carriers have about the same service, product, and ammenities but they have different policies like NW charges 15.00 for a pre-reserved seat assignment if you want one, and American usually charges for a box lunch, they dont have meal service anymore.

For your first flight, just check to see who has the best fare and go with that. The expeirience is pretty much the same.

As far as packing, do not pack any sharp items or liquid/gel items in you carry-on, if you do have these items, like hair gel or nail clippers, put that in your checked baggage.

Enjoy your flight :)

Jay G

Just to add my two cents worth. On southwest Airlines if you have a child 12 and under you will receive a pre boarding pass allowing you too board first...

shoe s

they all stink in some way

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