10 Best Budget Airlines

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Best Budget Airlines

JetBlue Overall rating: 1
Virgin America Overall rating: 2
Southwest Overall rating: 3
AirTran Overall rating: 4
WestJet Overall rating: 5
Frontier Overall rating: 6
USA3000 Overall rating: 7
SunCountry Overall rating: 8
Spirit Overall rating: 9
Allegiant Air Overall rating: 10

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Of the budget airlines, I have flown only on Jet Blue and Southwest. I like them both but would definitely rank Jet Blue higher.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

We useta fly SW frequently, back in the 80's, so they've been around and doing well a long time.

Where we are now we fly Allegiant to FL, and they have done well every time. Kinda like a cattle-call, feedlot-style, but they get you there and on time.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

There was a local story on the news about how Sun Country has been charging families to sit together ($8.00 I think) for the seating arrangements. Seems strange that they would put young children next to strangers for the sake of the dollar rather than next to the family who would be better equiped to take care of them. Sun Country is not high on my fly list.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

There was a local story on the news about how Sun Country has been charging families to sit together ($8.00 I think) for the seating arrangements. Seems strange that they would put young children next to strangers for the sake of the dollar rather than next to the family who would be better equiped to take care of them. Sun Country is not high on my fly list.

Allegiant charges for seat selection. We opt out, watch the masses herd into their assigned seats, give them plenty of time for the normal fiddle-farting around at the front of the plane, then we board. We wait until the last second to go aboard . . . and we get there at the same as time as everyone else.

That is the conundrum of Allegiant's assigned seating, that people choose the seats up front and then Allegiant lets them board first, blocking and delaying boarding.

We wind up at the back normally, and sometime they have a rear stairway. We can get on and off fast in those cases.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

We have direct flights to Orlando and Clearwater/St. Pete from Springfield, 50 miles away, and beginning 12/19 we will have direct flights to Orlando from Branson.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Love, love, love Virgin America! Wi-fi in the air is great. The entertainment and drink/food ordering system is the cat's pajamas and the non-stops for NY to LAX can't be beat.

AirTran I liked better when they flew out of SWF but still a decent option for Florida destinations for me.

I had for years tried to fly Jet Blue but always found I could beat their fares or the flight times were atrocious.

[Dori Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dori]

Southwest is our very favourite, followed by JetBlue and AirTran.

Dori

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

These are the three that I use most frequently.....JetBlue Overall rating: 1
Virgin America Overall rating: 2 Southwest Overall rating: 3

I agree with Lawren that Virgin America is the best one out there.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

We will be flying to New York next August from Southern California so I will definitely consider Virgin. Do you know if they fly only out of LAX? We can use any of the airports except for Burbank. Last year we flew Jet Blue from San Diego to New York as that flight had the best schedule and price compared to the other airlines and airports.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

We will be flying to New York next August from Southern California so I will definitely consider Virgin. Do you know if they fly only out of LAX? We can use any of the airports except for Burbank. Last year we flew Jet Blue from San Diego to New York as that flight had the best schedule and price compared to the other airlines and airports.

JFK/LAX is the route I've used them for a couple of times. Great departure/arrival times. Wi-fi is $12, which is ~$2/hour and I don't lose an entire work day.

I am waiting for them to release the summer flights as I will be in the SFO area in July and plan to fly them again. They are anything but a budget airline. They just happen to have very competitive fares.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

JFK/LAX is the route I've used them for a couple of times. Great departure/arrival times. Wi-fi is $12, which is ~$2/hour and I don't lose an entire work day.

I am waiting for them to release the summer flights as I will be in the SFO area in July and plan to fly them again. They are anything but a budget airline. They just happen to have very competitive fares.

I have no interest in Wi-fi as I never take my laptop with me. The 3 things that are of interest to me are: schedule, price, and comfort. Jet Blue was excellent in all 3 categories.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I have no interest in Wi-fi as I never take my laptop with me.

Since RCI doesn't have squat any more, so there's no need for me to be looking two years out while I'm on vacation, maybe I'll leave mine at home, too.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Where we are now we fly Allegiant to FL, and they have done well every time. Kinda like a cattle-call, feedlot-style, but they get you there and on time.

It was just announced today that Allegiant is going to have some flights into MCO, not just Sanford.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

It was just announced today that Allegiant is going to have some flights into MCO, not just Sanford.

I just got an email announcing it (that was quick) . . . as low as $70 per leg, total, including taxes and fees. Then you add seating, booking fee, luggage, trip insurance . . .