Discount Airlines – Deciding Which One is Truly the Best
AirTran Airways, with its hub in Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport, is specifically for Business Class Travelers. Their mission is to “provide the best flying experience to smart travelers.” Their Boeings are younger and equipped with personal radios, larger storage bins and more space. It’s vague when the company actually began flying, but from their Annual Report it looks like around 1999. At this point, they’ve surpassed budget steadily over the past five years, and now provides over 500 flights a day to 40 different destinations. This is all well and good, but what about their record? Are you going to have delays flying with AirTran? How discount is discount? According to the September 2005 Air Consumer Report (put out monthly by the Department of Transportation,) AirTran was reported only to have approximately 60% of its flights running on time. (All statistics come from a base of 40 reportable airports.)
They have specials running often, but a flight from Washington-Dulles Airport to Orlando runs on average about $165.00 round trip right now. Customer Service has been one of their strong-suits, and like many of the discount carriers, you need to get used to the pretzel and beverage service.
“Flying the I” is what most travelers say about flying Independence Air. The company’s history is based out of the Dulles Airport area in Washington, DC (they’re the “official airline of the Washington Redskins” after all!), and started as a partner to both United Airlines and Delta Airlines. After finally thinking enough is enough, when both United and Delta gave it lopsided contracts, the company (then Atlantic Coast Airlines) declared its Independence by forming a stand-alone airline in 2003. Independence Air flies distinct CRJ200s-50-passenger Bombardiers with leather seats-as well as a new fleet of Airbuses. FlyI is catching up, marketing-wise to their closest competition, Southwest Airlines, by flying all non-stop flights and now reach 30 destinations.
So, what is its record? Independence Air was reported to have approximately 65% of its flights running on time (September 2005 Air Consumer Report.) Strangely, when I put in the same flight dates as I did for the Washington-Dulles Airport to Orlando booking as I did for AirTran, I got one leg for $79 and another for $309âÂ?¦unless I wanted to fly after 6pm. So if I booked that way, the price would be comparable to AirTran. Customer Service during the flight has been known to be unsurpassed; in the airport, however, crews have “disappeared” when flights have been cancelled leaving angry passengers stranded.
Southwest Airlines has been likened to the Phoenix, that strange and mysterious bird. This obscure company rose from the ashes that was the airline industry post-9/11 to become the most stable and best marketed airline in the country. It is by far the oldest of the discount airlines, and the one after which these newer companies have tried to model themselves. Nearly 35 years old, with a vision of getting passengers where they want to go, cheaply and by having a lot of fun along the way, Southwest Airlines has accumulated a huge following. The pilots fly Boeing 737s and have a newer fleet now in service. The company has won a record five Annual Triple Crowns (the award for best baggage handling, on-time flight record and fewest customer complaints), the most recent being in 1996. How about now? The September 2005 Air Consumer Report shows Southwest with 75% of its flights moving on-time.
Passengers rave about the fun atmosphere both on the ground and on the plane (for example, flight attendants performing their version of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” on holiday flights), but are frustrated with the Section A, B and C seating system. Travelers today like assigned seating. With TSA workers holding things up in the security lines, once they make it to the gate, most folks want to sit, read a book and catch their breath, not wonder if they should queue up for the Southwest boarding cattle call. For prices, Southwest Airlines is unbeatable with their Internet Specials. Unfortunately, they don’t fly from Dulles to Orlando but they have a flight going out of Baltimore-Washington International Airport. If you can snatch the Internet Specials, you can get a round trip ticket for $95.00. If not, you are looking at the same $165.00 fare as the other two.
So what does this mean? Weighing everything-pros and cons-customer service, fare cost, service records-what is really the best discount airline to choose? They all seem pretty even, except for – Southwest. This company’s customer service is stellar, its on-time rate is very good and the prices and schedules are truly flexible. You can fly when and where you want to. You may have to get there a little earlier to make sure you can board first, but in the end, you’ll be glad you did.
