Frequent-flyers pls help! Continental, Delta or United to Switzerland

That is another plus, indeed. I used to do a lot of business in Atlanta and travelled there in all seasons. Their annual snowfall was something like 2-3 inches…it never stuck around for long. It shouldn’t be a concern for the flyer. On the other hand, we might get that much snow here in an hour + blizzard winds + below zero. DC and NY area = real winter, too. Real winter = potential for delays and cancellations. It’s coming!

You might want to check the schedules for the airlines you mentioned and see which one works best for you - shorter conx time, connection city, nonstop etc. I would vote Delta anytime but that's just me.

Simple may be a relative term, but I would probably opt for Delta from MCO, all other things being equal (such as fares). Connections are via Hartsfield in Atlanta on the same carrier there and back. Total trip time is around 12-13 hours to ZRH. United will probably route you through DC, and their connections might make your total trip time more like 14 hours plus. Continental will route you through Newark, and they’ll probably use some code share flights. I’ve flown all 3… they’re all acceptable in my opinion, but Delta wins this time (single carrier, more connections, and shorter travel time).

Thanks Nadine and Michael. I am traveling in Jan and ATL(Delta) rarely gets snow, another plus!

And even if they don't get snow, ATL gets rain. I've been delayed through there I don't know how many times by "bad weather".

Bob, if you go through Atlanta, Delta has a code share with Air France, which I have flown to Zuerich from here. So maybe you could piece your flight together that way.

Bob....have you checked flights out of GNV?

Delta flies non-stop from Atlanta to Zurich. (DL66)...why go all the way to MCO when you can fly from GNV to ATL?

Go Gators!!!

I used to think Delta was the top carrier of all the major US Airlines...until making a couple of recent trips with them. If you go through Atlanta just go ahead and pencil a delay into your schedule. I've dealt with unhappy Delta flight attendants too much lately, and I'm tired of being talked to like a dog. Most recent trip was Fresno to Knoxville and part of the trip was codeshare with another airline. The part of the trip with the codeshare airline was just fine and the desk agents were nice and as accomodating as they could possibly be. I wanted to get home on an earlier flight if possible...codeshare no problem...Delta - NO WAY! Must pay $50 for the gate agent to press the button on the keyboard to move me to a flight an hour earlier. The codeshare partner let me fly earlier with no problem and no charge.

And then there was the encounter with Continental desk agents in Newark who told me to shut up. Our flight was delayed because of another Continental plane being stuck in our gate and preventing us from deplaning...missed my connection which was the last connection to Knoxville that night. Went to the gate agent with lots of other people from my flight. I was actually given a hotel room for my inconvenience but the passenger next to me was denied a room. I told him the agents gave me a room and that's when the agent told me to shut up and not tell anybody else about my hotel room.

So No, I don't think Delta is any better than Continental or United...or any other domestic big name carrier.

Heavy rain and storms can affect flights anywhere, but I’ve only been delayed twice at ATL because of thunderstorms out of dozens of flights in and out of that airfield. Once, we were in a holding pattern for 45 minutes, and the second had me stuck at the gate for about an hour prior to departing. Considering it’s one of the busiest facilities in the world, that’s surprisingly good. Tim’s post gives me a headache just reading through it…flying these days just plain stinks.

I have been lucky not to have had problems when I travel, and I have been lucky not to encounter any weather delays.I agree with Michael - Tim's post gave me a headache, but unfortunately air travel really stinks regardless of which airline you use these days. None is really better than the other. I just usually pick the one with the best fare and connection city and time and hope for the best. Though last year I took AA via JFK which delayed in SFO so when I got to JFK I had to reroute to London and then Zurich. It took some hours off my vacation time but AA was very accommodating. Its always hit or miss.

Bob,
Any options where the layover airport is in Europe?

Given the choice, if I have to take a non-direct flight, I always choose to transfer in Europe. If for some reason you miss your connection, you usually can get on a later flight the same day. However, if you miss your connection at a U.S. airport, you often have to wait until the next day. I have missed my connecting flight in Europe several times (although not recently) and each time, I have always been put on the next flight arriving just a few hours late.

I fly United most of the time ... not because I think they are any better than the others but because they have a hub where I live. I consider it a good flight if we arrive on time and my luggage shows up on the same flight. In the last 5 years or so, I have not had any problem on my trans-atlantic flights.

If I may put in my two cents; Delta is great, it is Northwest that, well makes it "Northworst." I am not happy that Delta is now not making any distinction in its scheduling between them and NWA; NWA is by far an inferior airline, just look at the strikes and the unions. Plus look at DTW. We are going to Paris in Summer 2010 and flying Delta Comair [another issue with Delta] to NYC, then Air France A380 to CDG and Air France A340 to DTW, then NWA to CMH. While I have not had issues with Comair in the flight, the issue is always at the airport with Comair as in Comair is ALWAYS late! It never ceases to amaze me that Comair is always late, and then you have NWA’s Pinnacle who’s service is not great either. But if you get a, what I call it, Delta Delta flight, usually with Delta flight numbers 1 to about 3000 or 4000, then you are good. Now, I am biased in using Delta cause I got a lot of skymiles, but I am starting to think that I should cash it in and say so long to Delta cause their service is getting worse. Delta is NOT what is used to be!

Sorry for the rant!

Thank you all a thousand times!!
I have chosen Delta MCO-ATL-ZRH for my 27 Year old son and I. Where should I take him after skiing on his first time to Europe?

Bob, go in fab and style: St. Moritz, SW