Airline frustration - questions

[TexaRican]

I have fluctuated between gold and platinum status on Continental/United for most of my career. Seems like they have really gone down hill the last couple of years though. Diminishing customer perks and general disinterest in customer service but enough with my rant. What I need to know is a good alternative for flying from Houston.

If I get over the idea of having to drive to Hobby, what are the pros and cons for Southwest? Looking for road warrior input ONLY here. Sorry, your vacation experience is irrelevant to this discussion.

My first trip for this year is to Denver and I can get there on SW for $500 less than United. If I'm going to jump, I'll go all-in so I build status on whatever airline quickly. Got to to have perks when you are flying 2 to 3 weeks a month.

[systemnt]

UBER!!


we had one of our lease partners Uber from Houston (spring actually) all the way to the ranch outside of freer,.... wouldn't tell us what he paid.

[myway]

I have traveled 3-4 days a week for the last 8 years and I strictly fly Southwest. IMO there customer service is great, they will typically bend over backwards to assist you in change of reservations and if you book anytime travel at no cost. A meeting runs long and you just jump on the next one. In regards to rewards get on online a read through it. I think it is one of the better ones and with them building the international terminal it should only get better. They also have there credit card that goes point for dollar on flights and certain hotels. I do not have one but that is really because I am lazy and earn a good amount of points on my own.

[Man]

Key word : United

[manwitaplan]

ALright road warrior to road warrior.

I am a southwest junkie and companion pass holder for the last 3 years.

PROS - With business select 1-15 board first, with Alist status and anytime fare i will 15 -25! With A list you blow right through security and if you check bags you have the priority bag drop. Also no fee for checked bags! No charge to change your flight.

CONS- Which IMO is a scam - If you buy a business select ticket and are promised 1- 15 boarding you are not guaranteed a decent seat. The issue is if you have a florida flight heading to denver with 25 to 30 people on board they will get all the best seats after the plane unloads in houston before you are able to board. I was told by a SW executive to call customer service and complain! I did and to my surprise they refunded me 150.00 dollars on a 500 dollar ticket. It happened more and more after the whole Lovefield changing their rules for SW.

I really like the fact that i can be at my gate in 44 minutes from the time i leave my house in Friendswood.

Good Luck!

[Stuck]

Like you I didn't want to fly out of hobby so mostly flew AA. Some flights are flawless some not so much. Have only flown SW a couple of times years ago so my input there is worthless.

[mmoses]

I completely agree that United's customer service has gone down hill since the merger.
The United Clubs are getting crazy busy.
I like to get to the airport early and down a few whiskey and cokes. I do not like waiting in line. So I wait till the priority lines is gone and then walk right on the plane.

I hate southwest. The mad dash to get a good seat is annoying. The nice part about southwest is the new central american travel but I havent made the switch yet.

[myway]

I completely agree that United's customer service has gone down hill since the merger.
The United Clubs are getting crazy busy.
I like to get to the airport early and down a few whiskey and cokes. I do not like waiting in line. So I wait till the priority lines is gone and then walk right on the plane.

I hate southwest. The mad dash to get a good seat is annoying. The nice part about southwest is the new central american travel but I havent made the switch yet.

I hear that a bunch or the cattle call comment. A extra 20$ will get you 1-15 in line and when you get A-list or eventually A-list preferred you will get 16-30 without any additional cost. If you are traveling enough the Companion pass alone is worth it to me.

[Raleigh]

Southwest is my go to airline

[Trust]

If you are switching and plan on any international travel look at AA. They even have a challenge if you switch to bump you to Plat pretty quickly. You can also negotiate the admiral's pass if you are willing to show them your miles total for the last year and qualify. You might even check to see if SW other airlines offer something similar.

I've been an Exec Plat member with them for 8 years as I traveled all over the world for work and can say status on that airline gets you some great perks. But I'm in DFW and AA having a hub and needing international flights helped determine who I chose.

I'd highly recommend getting a CC from what ever airline you use to use during your travels as it really helps build status on airlines and racks up the points in a major way. As I have not paid for a plane ticket or hotel for vacation in years.

[TexaRican]

Thanks for the input. I have the united club card and use the club a whole bunch. Only go international once or twice a year but I will say the int clubs are awesome. (heathrow especially). However the domestic clubs are getting packed and they are skimping more and more on the food and drinks.

Back when I joined well drinks were included and top shelf was a $3 premium. Heck, I'd down two or the Woodfords at $3 for a good 3 finger pour. Now they price all the liquor individually and good stuff like is extra $7 or so.

[swreeder70]

I've been a road warrior for 20+ years and think all the plans now days stink. For me, it is not about cost and customer service when booking, my company carries that burden and supplies us with a travel agency that deals with changes, moves, updates etc. Their customer service is excellent (American Express travel services).

As for carriers, it is about being treated good at the gate, getting overhead space and moving through the process quickly.

I've tried them all and been in all the "clubs". Currently I'm flying AA most of the time and have the highest level status. And nothing chaps my butt more then when they call for executive platinum members and half the plane has priority and tries to board. When you fly all the time it is disheartening that these carriers let the vacation warriors buy there way up to status to cut those of us off that earned it through time in the air.

Unfortunately I don't see any of this getting better and for me, I'm mostly stuck with AA for where I need to travel and they seem to have the best "perks" going right now.

BTW global entry / TSE pre is the only way to go. I never check bags and always show up 1 hour before departure to any airport or carrier.

[TexaRican]

And nothing chaps my butt more then when they call for executive platinum members and half the plane has priority and tries to board. When you fly all the time it is disheartening that these carriers let the vacation warriors buy there way up to status to cut those of us off that earned it through time in the air.

United has gotten crazy with this. Group 2 is supposed to be people with status and these days that takes up 3/4 of the plane. I fly to DC and NY a bunch and with 50K+ miles a year, I'm rarely even in the top 20 on the upgrade list. Last year for Continental before the merger I got upgraded about ever other flight.

[Muddy Bud]

I fly United out of Corpus to Houston. Been Platinum for years. But that's only cause of the short duration of that flight. I prefer to fly Delta from there. I fly to Paris, Heathrow or Amsterdam then from there to Africa on Air France which is a Delta subsidy also. There lounges in Europe and the UK are nice. But Africa bites just like everything else in thar hell hole.

I have been upgraded to business and sometimes First class numerous times at no extra charge with out even asking. They just send an email saying I have been upgraded or tell me at the gate. Plus bonus miles for using there credit cards. And if I do have to change seats on my own due too tight connections options for changing seats done on line are available 48 hrs prior to your flight and really easy.

[swreeder70]

United has gotten crazy with this. Group 2 is supposed to be people with status and these days that takes up 3/4 of the plane. I fly to DC and NY a bunch and with 50K+ miles a year, I'm rarely even in the top 20 on the upgrade list. Last year for Continental before the merger I got upgraded about ever other flight.

I think they all are getting that way. I used to be US Air, before the merger. Their customer service was horrible, but I would get upgraded to first class about every third flight and the status perks were decent. Status was maybe 20-30 people per flight, it was nice.

Since the merger with AA, on a recent trip through Dallas, at the boarding gate the attendants came on and announced that the entire flight had status! There was a mad dash for the line. I was second row behind first class and my carry-on ended up past the midpoint of the plane.

And since half the idiots that bought status don't fly, they have NO IDEA how to get on and off a plane in a timely fashion! At times I swear it is an IQ test for some people!

BTW, what does everyone do that you fly for work? I'm in the tech industry.