Help choose an airline.

[FleshLight]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: sfgtwsac

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: sfgtwsac
Forget LAX. It's a nightmare. Take JetBlue from IAD to LGB (Long Beach). Long Beach airport is small and efficient, and its only a little south of LAX. Trust me on this one, I grew up in LA and have lived in the Washington area since 1988. I've flown countless times into LAX, but recently switched to Long Beach. I won't go back to LAX unless I absolutely have to for scheduling or fare reasons.

BTW, JetBlue on your dates is $256.90.

Just a couple of notes on the flights you've selected:

America West -- if you care about your checked bags, do not take them -- especially with a connection.
American -- The 737-800 is a good plane, and I would choose the non-stop.
Continental -- too convoluted a route -- skip it.
UA -- United is over priced on that route. Check their Dulles fares. They run a lot more IAD-LAX flights.
Southwest -- the fare will probably come down, its just that your dates are a ways off.

Finally, everything you want to know about the planes, airlines, flights, etc. has probably been asked and answered at FlyerTalk.

Good luck.

EDIT: Fixed spelling

Awesome link. Will definitely look into Long Beach, it might be a better option since it's a little bit closer to my ultimate destination. Even more ideal would be Torrance Municipal, but I don't think anyone flies airliners into there.

Yeah, FlyerTalk is a great resource.

Torrance Municipal is obviously a no go.

One other factor to consider, if you have to rent a car, the car rental facility is literally across a small street from the terminal at LGB.

Nobody in the right mind would rent a car to an 18 year old. I'll be driving an F-250 (gas, since apparently you can't register a diesel in CA). I'm going to be spending more money on gas than I am on the flights.

Have your parents sign liability for you.

 

[AStar617]

Originally posted by: Legendary

Originally posted by: K1052

American Airlines. IAD/LAX. Nonstop. $288 roudn trip. B737-800.

Nonstop is really the way to go, when possible.

Seconded.

Thirded. With this addition nugget of wisdom attached: if possible, stay away from the turboprop commuter jets at least for your first few flights till you confirm you aren't prone to midair panic attacks. They don't put you on one of those rolling tunnel things right into the fuselage like bigger airliners--they drop you on to the tarmac and hustle you right up to the plane's steps. Not cool for a first-timer's lasting impressions IMHO. :thumbsdown:

 

[RaDragon]

I try to stay away from "busy" airlines, so I'd go with the "America West Airlines. BWI/LAX. Stop in Phoenix (PHX). Stay on plane. $229 round trip. " option.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: AStar617

Originally posted by: Legendary

Originally posted by: K1052

American Airlines. IAD/LAX. Nonstop. $288 roudn trip. B737-800.

Nonstop is really the way to go, when possible.

Seconded.

Thirded. With this addition nugget of wisdom attached: if possible, stay away from the turboprop commuter jets at least for your first few flights till you confirm you aren't prone to midair panic attacks. They don't put you on one of those rolling tunnel things right into the fuselage like bigger airliners--they drop you on to the tarmac and hustle you right up to the plane's steps. Not cool for a first-timer's lasting impressions IMHO. :thumbsdown:

I've got flight time on stuff a lot smaller than those. I was once in a Cessna behind a C-130 waiting for the runway. That's about as upsetting as you can get - when they revved that thing back up, we slid backward until my buddy got the idea that he should throttle up to hold position. He'll never follow one that closely again. My issue with commuter planes is that in this case they're relatively long flights in sub-optimal conditions.

 

[skim milk]

you can carry your laptops on board but make sure it is not hard to take out of the bag

they are going to make you take it out of the bag to inspect it, it's a policy at LAX. Not sure the baltimore/DC airport

 

[jjones]

I'd go for the America West flight.

 

[Dunbar]

Jetblue is definitely the best option for a trans-con flight with DirecTV in every seat. But it depends on where you are going to be in LA. Long Beach can be quite a haul from LA if you're driving in rush hour. American isn't bad just be sure to reserve an aisle seat (the middle seat on a 738 is torture on long flights.) I'd definitely do non-stop unless you want a break.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: Dunbar
Jetblue is definitely the best option for a trans-con flight with DirecTV in every seat. But it depends on where you are going to be in LA. Long Beach can be quite a haul from LA if you're driving in rush hour. American isn't bad just be sure to reserve an aisle seat (the middle seat on a 738 is torture on long flights.) I'd definitely do non-stop unless you want a break.

JetBlue doesn't do Los Angeles, apparently. My first stop in LA is Hawthorne to pick up my F-250. I'll be with some locals, and they've managed to cut down most of my routes to less than half an hour. From there I'll be headed for Palos Verdes. The distances between my points of business (and pleasure, and hanging out) are all what I'd consider short - but I'm told that to get from any of these places to another, I should expect to be driving for about an hour. If that's true, I can't even begin to imagine the traffic issues over there.

 

[EyeMWing]

Just noticed Long Beach on JetBlue's website.

IAD/LGB non-stop. $256.90 round trip.

Unless anyone has a really convincing argument against, that's what I'm doing.

 

[EyeMWing]

Bump for evening crew.

 

[JoeKing]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Just noticed Long Beach on JetBlue's website.

IAD/LGB non-stop. $256.90 round trip.

Unless anyone has a really convincing argument against, that's what I'm doing.

good choice. I fly jet blue whenever I can.

And here's a little site to help you choose your seat when you're checking in.

 

[sfgtwsac]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Bump for evening crew.

Did you go with JetBlue?

 

[jai6638]

whatever you do, dont go for United coz United Airlines really sucks!

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Mill
If Jetblue is an option you'd be a fool not to fly them.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: