Delta and Southwest? What are the differences?

[Peaseblossom36]

I’ve only flown once and don’t really remember it at all so I’m very stressed out about the flying portion of our trip. I know that Southwest has 2 free checked bags and no assigned seating but are there any other differences? We are flying out of MCI, so if anyone has any advice specific to that I would also really appreciate it.

Southwest isn’t selling flights for our dates yet (December) so I have no way to know the price differences. I honestly just want to know if there are any other differences I’ve missed.

 

[Darcy03231]

We used to fly Southwest a lot, but their flights from our local airport have changed a lot over the years. Now there's no more non-stops to places we want to go and their prices have gone way up. You do still get the two free checked bags, but no seat assignments.

Lately our airline of choice has been Delta. Lots of non-stop flights, prices have been better than Southwest and you get to pick your seats. I have the Delta credit card which gives me one free bag (along with three other traveling companions).

 

[Peaseblossom36]

We used to fly Southwest a lot, but their flights from our local airport have changed a lot over the years. Now there's no more non-stops to places we want to go and their prices have gone way up. You do still get the two free checked bags, but no seat assignments.

Lately our airline of choice has been Delta. Lots of non-stop flights, prices have been better than Southwest and you get to pick your seats. I have the Delta credit card which gives me one free bag (along with three other traveling companions).

I really was hoping for a nonstop since one of the only things I remember from flying is struggling to get to our next gate during a layover but Delta doesn’t have any and I’m guessing Southwest won’t either since it doesn’t look like they do many. I’m debating with myself if I should wait until Southwest releases dates for December or just book Delta now so I can get a flight time I want.

Do early morning flights tend to fill up quickly? I’m wanting to leave early so we can spend as much time actually on vacation as possible.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I know that Southwest has 2 free checked bags

You do still get the two free checked bags

Given Southwest's seeming overall price increases, it might be time to stop saying "two free bags" and change it to "two bags included" : D

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, yeah.

• Delta releases fares on a rolling 331 day basis; Southwest has a much shorter lead time.
• Delta has different cabin classes, and so a wide range of fares; Southwest has three fare categories but one cabin class.
• Delta's lowest fares are nonrefundable/nontransferable and there is a substantial service charge to make changes; Southwest's Wanna Get Away (lowesl) fare will let you cancel/rebook with no service charge.

 

[sam_gordon]

Overall, they're very similar. However, IMO, the key points...

1) Assigned seating* (Delta) vs. 1st come/1st served (SW). Your boarding spot in line for SW is determined by what time you check into your flight. You can pay an extra fee (each direction) for SW to automatically check you in 36 hours before your first flight (you can manually check in 24 hours before your first flight if you don't elect to pay the extra fee). *Delta also has a "basic economy" class that does NOT include seat selection, but is at a cheaper price.
2) You can check two bags on SW for $0 (included in your fee). Delta charges for each checked bag (~$35/bag each direction) unless you have the Delta AmEx card in which case you get a free checked bag for every member of your party.
3) SW has Dish(?) network available on many of their flights if your bring your own streaming device, Delta has their own streaming selection of movies and TV shows.

 

[Peaseblossom36]

Oh, yeah.

• Delta releases fares on a rolling 331 day basis; Southwest has a much shorter lead time.
• Delta has different cabin classes, and so a wide range of fares; Southwest has three fare categories but one cabin class.
• Delta's lowest fares are nonrefundable/nontransferable and there is a substantial service charge to make changes; Southwest's Wanna Get Away (lowesl) fare will let you cancel/rebook with no service charge.

Is there still that charge if they cancel or delay flights? That is one of my worries about flying in December, weather has been a nightmare for us this winter so I worry about next. Thank you!

 

[AngiTN]

Is there still that charge if they cancel or delay flights? That is one of my worries about flying in December, weather has been a nightmare for us this winter so I worry about next. Thank you!

No, if THEY do it, no charge. At least I've never been charged by the airline when we've been changed due to their changing a flight or their having to move our flight

 

[Rach3975]

Southwest isn’t selling flights for our dates yet (December) so I have no way to know the price differences. I honestly just want to know if there are any other differences I’ve missed.

It's true that you can't know for sure how the fares will compare until they're released, but you might be able to get an idea how they compare. Pick a few random dates that they're already selling for (same time of day and day of the week you want to fly) and compare the two. It won't tell you anything if the differences are all over the place, but you might notice some patterns.

 

[Mousemom234]

Right now, for a late September trip, Delta is WAY cheaper than SW. Over $300 cheaper. Surprised the heck outta me.
We've been taking Jet Blue, but that price was too good to pass up. We don't usually check a bag, but I did opt for the standard fare, not the Basic Economy. That's changable (for a hefty fee), and seat select at booking, not boarding. That's probably the main reason we stopped flying SW - cattle car boarding.

Set up a price watch with Kayak, or another similar site. They'll let you know if/when fares go down.

 

[Darcy03231]

Right now, for a late September trip, Delta is WAY cheaper than SW. Over $300 cheaper. Surprised the heck outta me.
We've been taking Jet Blue, but that price was too good to pass up. We don't usually check a bag, but I did opt for the standard fare, not the Basic Economy. That's changable (for a hefty fee), and seat select at booking, not boarding. That's probably the main reason we stopped flying SW - cattle car boarding.

Set up a price watch with Kayak, or another similar site. They'll let you know if/when fares go down.

I've been finding the same thing over the last couple of years - SW isn't the least expensive flight with the best times anymore. We're going to Tampa in August. SW was $194/pp on the way down and $244/pp on the way back with a stop in BWI. JetBlue was $98/pp each way and non-stop, plus we got to pick our seats. We're not checking bags so no charge there (although I have JB card that gives me 1 free bag/pp). Overall, I'm finding that Delta and JB and beating SW prices by a lot.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I've been finding the same thing over the last couple of years - SW isn't the least expensive flight with the best times anymore. We're going to Tampa in August. SW was $194/pp on the way down and $244/pp on the way back with a stop in BWI. JetBlue was $98/pp each way and non-stop, plus we got to pick our seats. We're not checking bags so no charge there (although I have JB card that gives me 1 free bag/pp). Overall, I'm finding that Delta and JB and beating SW prices by a lot.

Jet Blue isn't available in KCI (MCI) though. Delta is. SWA is #1 in passenger count though at KCI.

 

[reisdawg]

Just be careful with Delta and their lower priced fares. These don't come with bags or assigned seats and I have found that these 'extras' end up costing the same as other carriers.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I’ve only flown once and don’t really remember it at all so I’m very stressed out about the flying portion of our trip. I know that Southwest has 2 free checked bags and no assigned seating but are there any other differences? We are flying out of MCI, so if anyone has any advice specific to that I would also really appreciate it.

Southwest isn’t selling flights for our dates yet (December) so I have no way to know the price differences. I honestly just want to know if there are any other differences I’ve missed.

MCI/KCI is a breeze to fly out of (well that is until the new airport is built sometime in my lifetime lol).If you're being dropped off at the terminal by someone you just enter the doors and security is grouped by gates--so gate 41-45 for example has its own security to go through.

Southwest is the main airline for our airport but that doesn't mean they are always the cheapest. In terms of non-stop Southwest and Spirit are the only two airlines that go to Orlando non-stop. Allegiant goes to Sanford (Orlando). Take that into consideration with your plans. Stops aren't the end of the world but it is something that you'll want to consider with flying even if you do end up with Southwest and need to take a flight with stops.

When booking with Southwest they go by Boarding positions in terms of when you 'checked in' for your flight. If you purchase EBCI (Early Bird Check In) which costs $15-$25 Per Person Per Way you will be automatically assigned a Boarding position at 36 hours prior to your flight. You would still need to check in but your Boarding position is already assigned. If you did not purchase EBCI you would need to manually check in for your flight at 24hours (and I would recommend exactly 24 hours) prior to your flight time and your Boarding position will be assigned then.

If you're flying Southwest they Board based by group and in sequential order. For example if you have A30 you will see at the airport poles that have numbers listed. Using my example once A Boarding group has been called to line up you'll find the side of the pole that has A30 listed. The person with A29 will go in front of you and the person with A31 will go behind you. Southwest employs an open seating policy meaning aside from exit row restrictions you are free to sit whereever you want as soon as you board the plane.

Delta you would select your seats and I would caution against getting Basic Economy for the same reason the other poster mentioned as it comes with restrictions one of which is no seat selections. Delta boards based on Zones which are listed on your ticket. There is no specific order in which you line up when your Zone is called as at that point all that matters is you are boarding in the correct Zone.

Others have given good comparisons between the two as well. In terms of Terminals both Southwest and Delta are located in Terminal B.

 

[snappy]

My husband and I now both qualify for Southwest’s senior fares. The fares are not reduced but in the event you have to cancel, fares are refundable instead of given in the form of travel credits.

 

[Lilsia]

Southwest is more reliable and they rarely change flight times. I have been flying with them exclusively for over a decade and only 1 time did my flight time change before the flight. They emailed me the change and it was only within the hour that it changed.

 

[snappy]

Southwest is more reliable and they rarely change flight times. I have been flying with them exclusively for over a decade and only 1 time did my flight time change before the flight. They emailed me the change and it was only within the hour that it changed.

I agree. I started with southwest in the 80’s for many business was trips. It has been a reliable airline out of New Orleans all these years. The only other airline that I liked better over the years was Piedmont that we used to Charlotte in the 80’s and 90’s. It was taken over long ago but that was one airline with good service.

 

[sam_gordon]

Southwest is more reliable

Not necessarily...

The annual Airline Quality Rating always receives a lot of attention, and for good reason. The quantitative ratings are based on U.S. Department of Transportation statistics—and calculated to three significant figures, no less—to strictly measure the performance element of airline quality. Its most recent rankings for top U.S. airlines, from the top down, are Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Southwest, Virgin America (now Alaska), United, American, Frontier, and Spirit. Scores for American, Frontier, and Spirit are substantially lower than the other lines.

Source

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just be careful with Delta and their lower priced fares. These don't come with bags or assigned seats and I have found that these 'extras' end up costing the same as other carriers.

I think most people on most airlines expect to pay for luggage; the Basic Economy booking column is prefaced by advice to the effect of 'seat selection not available'.

Southwest is more reliable and they rarely change flight times. I have been flying with them exclusively for over a decade and only 1 time did my flight time change before the flight. They emailed me the change and it was only within the hour that it changed.

i dunno. While I was reading this thread, my local news reported Southwest had to cancel or delay 180+ flights just yesterday, for mechanical reasons.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

i dunno. While I was reading this thread, my local news reported Southwest had to cancel or delay 180+ flights just yesterday, for mechanical reasons.

Those aren't normal mechanical reasons though. From what's being reported it stems from issues regarding how much load and weight their planes took off with over time due to incorrect guidance from ground employees which led to issues there with wear and tear on the planes at a higher rate than normal.

It's not a good thing but I don't view it the same as other horror stories out there regarding planes. It is something though that SWA has said last year they adjusted their procedures to ensure it doesn't happen but now it's playing catch up if you will from the wear and tear the planes had and it's just being compounded by the normal allowance for plane maintenance.