1. What's the best airline and why??

2. If you book online do you go to a travel site or the airline site?

3. Do you use a travel agent?

4. If you use a travel site do you book the hotel and rental car too? and if so...how does that work out for you??

I really like Southwest.

Book online through their site.

1. I like Delta, although I've heard folks complain. But somehow when I would get stranded when flying other airlines due to cancelled flights, it was always a Delta flight that got me to my destination. I think Delta refrained from charging for meals longer than other airlines (although they do charge now). I've usually found them very friendly. I often have enough miles to get medallion status, and they automatically put you on a list to be bumped to first class if possible. I didn't fly coach for almost a year.

I don't like Air Canada. Those folks are RUDE even if they ARE Canadian. Or maybe it's just on the East Coast - too close to Yankees.

I had a flight attendant practically go berserk on me just cus I didn't know if I heard her correctly, telling me to put my purse under the seat in front of me (it was tiny, a change purse really, smaller than the book I was holding - so I was confused whether the book was ok but not the purse?) so I just repeated, "My purse?" quietly, as I proceeded to do it... and she lost it! She said, very loudly and distinctly, "YES YOUR PURSE. WE CALL IT A PURSE HERE. THAT'S ENGLISH. IT'S A PURSE." :MrEEk:

We were en route to Montreal so maybe she thought I spoke French??? :RollieEyes:

I doubt it cus they are super-polite to Francophiles.

Thanks for letting me vent! I've been wanting to tell that story to someone for months!

2. I usually go to travelocity.com to search for the cheapest itinerary, then I go to www.delta.com to book it, sicne they give bonus airmiles for using their web site to book reservations.

3. No. See above.

4. A lot of time I don't need a hotel and car, but if I do, I add it on at the Delta web site, so I get the partner airmiles and maybe some promotional discount.

Okay now a really stupid question..and this will show that I haven't traveled in 20 years....what's with the mileage points?? how do you get started??

oh and because you typed out the website is why it made it a link....i think

Ah! mileage points... a.k.a. frequent flier miles...

When you figure out which airline you're gonna use most, sign up with them for a frequent flier program. They will have brochures/applications at all ticket counters and gates (looks sorta like a credit card application brochure), or you can do it online.

In fact, it doesn't have to be the airline you travel with most, you can join all of them if you like, it's free. But it's a definite incentive to do most of your flying with one airline, so the points add up faster.

When/if you get enough points, you can trade them in for a free ticket, or to upgrade to first-class, etc.

Also, most airlines have something like Delta's Medallion Program. If you fly x number of miles in one year, you achieve Silver Medallion status. If you fly y number of miles, you get Gold; then Platinum. The Medallion members get to check in in the First Class line, which is always shorter than the line the riffraff are in.

And there's various other perks too, like with Delta, if you have Medallion status you are automatically put on a list to be upgraded to First Class. If there are empty seats in First Class they are given to the Medallion members in the order of their metal (platinum, gold, silver). And the more precious your metal, the faster you earn more frequent flier miles.

And the nicer they treat you on the phone.

And, medallion members get a secret telephone help number to call.

And a secret decoder ring and handshake. Shhhhh, don't tell 'em I told you!

HA! Mum's the word!!

Okay that makes it a little clearer. So it really wouldn't be beneficial for me who will probably only fly once a decade or two... LOL!!!

Prolly not... but if that one trip is a doosie, say overseas or something, one trip can put you into medallion status. Then, the sky's the limit.

...get it? The sky's the limit???

AGE,

Where you going?

Dawn

LOL yeah yeah...I get it Jayne....

Flying into Memphis but actually staying 10 miles south of Memphis in Southaven, Mississippi.

MAYBE.....If I can get the nerve up....and probably not until Feb or March.

If you go to Memphis and if the gasoline crisis here in mid-TN is over, I'll drive down to meet you if you dare. :crosseyedcrazy:

That would be awesome! If I'm daring enough to put my butt in an airplane, I'm daring enough to meet you in Memphis!

Right now, I am having a money crisis so I do hope it's a few months from now.

Oh yeah!! It won't be until after the New Year...You've got plenty of time.

Airline?

I fly Pariah Airlines!

Got my own plane!

Come get me in Pa and dump me off in Ms then.....LOL!!!!

AGE, I like Southwest a lot. The people working there are super-nice. Once I had to fly when I was ill. I wasn't contagious, I was just having female trouble and needed to get back with my kids. Staying at the Albuquerque hospital alone wasn't an option. Southwest was fabulous. I got to pre-board, and they didn't yell if I need to use the head even when the fasten seatbelts sign was lit. The trick to Southwest is going on exactly 24 hours before your flight in order to get an A boarding pass. If you're an A, you'll get an aisle or window seat.

I also fly USAirways. The stewardesses, oops, flight attendents aren't as nice. Some can be short or even rude. I doubt very many of them see their job as "serving" the passenger. That said, you do have an assigned seat, which is important to some people.

DO get to the airport EARLY. They say 2 hours ahead of a domestic flight. Depending on how big the airport is, and if you know alternative routes if there's a traffic accident, I'd even say 2.5 hours early. Bring a book because having something to read while waiting in the security line is a great way to avoid frustration.