Is JetBlue for domestic travel in USA a good, safe airline?...What other airlines are good?

Question

We are coming from Australia for a holiday/vacation in July.

JetBlue has had a rough year (it made some quartly profit losses due to fuel prices going up etc) do you think it will still be around in July? What other airlines are good?

Do they all have built in TVs in Continental, American etc?
Does continental airlines overbook flights? We will have a relatively tight schedule (only coming for 4 weeks...kids school...we only have a 2 and a half week school holiday then...we have our long holidays in our summer at the end of the year (December and January).

What airlines (which are safe) would you recommend? How long do you usually have to be at the airport for domestic flights in USA?

We will be flying probably continental from Los Angeles to Houston and Houston to Chicago and maybe continental from Chicago to Cleveland. We were hoping to fly Jet Blue from Cleveland to Boston and Boston to New York and also New York to Washington DC and also possibly JetBlue from Washing

washington dc to Long Beach california (is that close to Los Angeles? Are long domestic flights good with Jet BLue? Do they often overbook? What airline would you recommend for our selected flights?

Answer 1

I took a JetBlue flight from Seattle to Boston last May. I had a wonderful experience. JetBlue maintains low domestic rates while providing excellent customer service. Passengers have their own entertainment system (TV with multiple channels and movie options) and provide good, hearty snacks. Last time I checked, all "red-eye" flights operated by JetBlue give passengers lotion samples, an eye mask, lip balm and other goodies. If you're looking for good deals, try www.kayak.com. The Web site searches a multitude of airlines to find good deals (I recently found a flight from Seattle to Denver for $84.)
To answer your question about Long Beach being close to L.A. - yes, it's not too far, but you'll need to rent a car to make the transport easy (using public transport may be more of a hassle than its worth). To be safe, arrive at the airport 2.5-3 hours before your departure time. If you get through security with lots of time left, you can peruse the shops or eat at a decent restaurant. I prefer JetBlue and Northwest Airlines to all the others (Alaska Airlines if you're traveling in the Northwest). You're pretty safe on any airline -- they are all regulated by the same laws.

Answer 2

JetBlue is probably the most friendly, consumer-minded airline in the country. Although they've struggled a little bit so far, they'll continue to grow as more and more people see what a pleasant experience flying can be. Most airlines have TVs where they will play a movie during a long flight, but none of them have the capabilities of JetBlue. JetBlue has a TV monitor for each passenger with individual controls where you can watch whatever program you want. I believe it's Dish Network or DirecTV, but regardless, you'll have your choice of dozens of channels to watch. The staff is extremely courteous and will do whatever it takes (within reason) to make sure that you have a great flight. As far as safety is concerned, JetBlue is just as safe as any of the other major US airlines, and they'll save you a bundle too compared to Delta, American, etc. Southwest may be a little cheaper, but you'll be cramped as they try to stuff as many seats in their planes as possible, and the staff isn't nearly as friendly. Not to mention, you probably won't even see a TV at all on a Southwest flight. Go JetBlue! I can't wait to fly with them again!

Answer 3

If JetBlue has the flights you want at the price you like then go for it. JetBlue may have had a loss but it's also one of the few airlines still growing and not settling from a large overhead like all other major airlines pre-9/11. However, in reality any major airline will be fine to book your flight on. I personally trust US Airways and Delta. Both will be around for many many years to come. You also want to defiantly show up at the airport an 1 to 1.5 hours before your flight for possible lines.

Answer 4

As others have said, all of the Airlines are safe.

JetBlue has had problems, but it's far from bankrupt, unlike other airlines.

ALL US airlines overbook. Make sure you arrive at the airport early.

Only a few airlines (including JetBlue) have built in TVs. Also, few provide meals, except on transcontinental flights.

Answer 5

Any local airline in-country is a pretty safe bet except for Horizon-Air.
We lost a perfectly good salesman on a flight from Seattle to Portland. His luggage came through fine, but he has never been see since... Beware...

Answer 6

I have traveled abroad many times, but I have never traveled on a domestic airlines.

Answer 7

All airlines are more or less safe and unsafe! At the end of the day, it depends on operational factors!