Poll : 09 April - 22 April 2014

Analysis

No surprise on the big winner for this poll, with Southwest bagging even more of the vote than the last time around (35 percent now, compared to 26 percent back in 2009, when US Airways was the runner up). What's more enlightening is your email feedback, however, some of which we're reproducing below:

• "Unless, miraculously, things have changed with Allegiant, I will NEVER fly them again. It was July and they refused to turn on the A/C until we were well on our way to our cruising altitude, despite everyone, including the flight attendant (singular!), we totally soaked in perspiration. They would not honor a seat request even for someone with phlebitis. And, even though they knew well ahead of time that they had NINE individuals in wheel chairs, they refused to start boarding until 25 minutes before the scheduled departure time. So, we were 40 minutes late lifting off. I've only flown Allegiant twice - on Harrah's/Caesar's dollar - so perhaps others have had better experiences. But I refuse to fly them."
  
  
• " I was a long-time Vegas visitor. I no longer travel there because the air rates are all too expensive. I used to travel Southwest several times a year, but their rates have doubled in recent years from Columbus, Ohio."
  
  
• "I watched a woman have a diabetic meltdown before boarding a Spirit Airlines flight about midnight 18 months ago. The boarding crew treated her as if they were the mean girls at high-school cheer-leader camp. I hope Spirit got their a**es sued. I also don't fit in their seats. I'm 6'2" and could not sit upright with my knees in front of me. Never again and I steer all my friends away from them."
  
  
• "We live in San Diego, it's a 5 1/2 hour drive including a stop for lunch. By the time you go to the airport an hour before the flight, do the security thing, maybe get delayed for wind or whatever else, it's much more practical to just get in the car and drive there."
  
  
• "We live in the Milwaukee area and the only non-stop service now is Southwest Airlines. The service is excellent, but they have been jacking up the return prices so that you are forced to take a 9:00am flight home. It means almost a whole day lost to travel."
  
  
• "Used to fly Allegiant. Absolutely refuse to use them anymore. They were always significantly late and now they nickel and dime you for every little thing. Pretty soon it will be $5 for toilet paper."
  
  
• "I can only use Delta because it is the only airline with jet service out of my local airport (Lansing, MI). There is Allegiant available, but it only flies at very inconvenient times. I used to use Air Tran, but they are too far away. I used Jet Blue to go to Vegas when I was in L.A. last fall, and wish it was available here, it was wonderful!"
  
  
• "Back in the day, out of Cleveland, Continental Airlines was top notch in prices and service. United took over, service turned to crap, raised fares, and ultimately sunk the ship and bolted Cleveland (although there are a few non-stop flights left)."
  
  
• "I purchased a ticket from Champaign, IL to Las Vegas (thru O'Hare) on 6/20/13 to cover my vacation 5/11/14-5/16/14. The airline is American. I paid $379.20. The same ticket today is $1109, despite jet fuel prices actually dropping the last year. I see lots of empty seats on those flights and anticpate a lot of them to be left on my departure date. I won't be making many more trips to Las Vegas on American. I guess mergers can be profitable!"