Southwest vs. Jetblue

hbrc2125 · Aug 25, 2016

Looking at flights for my upcoming trip in January and I seem to have 2 options.
JetBlue: $300 more expensive (including checked bags), but nonstop
Southwest: Layover, but save $300
We usually fly JetBlue, but I've never seen the prices that high. I've heard nothing but good things about Southwest, is it worth the layover to save the money?
I should add that I usually avoid layovers because I'm afraid of lost baggage. Does southwest have a decent track record with that?

Thanks in advance!

goofy4tink · Aug 25, 2016

Shouldn't be an issue.

larissawbb · Aug 25, 2016

If you fly Southwest and the price of the fare drops you get a one year credit of the difference. JetBlue charges a $75 dollar fee. Southwest doesn't. $300 is a lot of Mickey bars.

hbrc2125 · Aug 25, 2016

larissawbb said:
If you fly Southwest and the price of the fare drops you get a one year credit of the difference.

That info may have sold me. I had no idea. Thanks so much!

rwdavis2 · Aug 25, 2016

How long is the layover?

wilkeliza · Aug 25, 2016

How long is the layover? I had to start switching to South West for some flights due to them having a better schedule and have had no issues. Just check the lay over and location. You don't want a short layover in Atlanta!

hbrc2125 · Aug 25, 2016

wilkeliza said:
How long is the layover? I had to start switching to South West for some flights due to them having a better schedule and have had no issues. Just check the lay over and location. You don't want a short layover in Atlanta!

Oh no

Both layovers would be in Atlanta, 40 min on the way there and 50 on the way back. Too short??

wilkeliza · Aug 25, 2016

hbrc2125 said:
Oh no
Both layovers would be in Atlanta, 40 min on the way there and 50 on the way back. Too short??

50 is doable. 40 is cutting a little close. Atlanta is a massive airport so you may have to walk or take a team to a different terminal.

hbrc2125 · Aug 25, 2016

wilkeliza said:
50 is doable. 40 is cutting a little close. Atlanta is a massive airport so you may have to walk or take a team to a different terminal.

According to the airport website, Southwest only operates out of one "concourse", which is C. So gates within one concourse should be close together, right?

jetdoctor · Aug 25, 2016

wilkeliza said:
50 is doable. 40 is cutting a little close. Atlanta is a massive airport so you may have to walk or take a team to a different terminal.

I believe that SWA is in C terminal only but not completely sure.

wilkeliza · Aug 25, 2016

hbrc2125 said:
According to the airport website, Southwest only operates out of one "concourse", which is C. So gates within one concourse should be close together, right?

Oh yeah that should be good. As long as it is in the same concourse you'd probably be okay as long as there aren't any issues with the first flight.

hbrc2125 · Aug 25, 2016

Thanks for your help everyone!
We are 2 adults with no children, so unless there are delays with the first plane, the connection most likely won't be a problem for us.
Now to decide the risk of leaving out of New England in January to make a connecting flight....

Huff · Aug 25, 2016

hbrc2125 said:
That info may have sold me. I had no idea. Thanks so much!

You have to notice the price drop and rebook at the lower rate in order to get the credit. That means checking often. Its quick and easy so not really an issue. SW generally updates rates every tuesday morning but now and then sales come out on other days.

RAD · Aug 25, 2016

I always feel lucky whe the non-stop flight gets me to my destination on time. When I have a layover I look at it as another chance for the airline to have a problem, weather issues, luggage missing the connection, all which I've had in the past. So IMHO is it worth $300 for the extra piece of mind of not worrying about it?

georgina · Aug 25, 2016

I have 2 SW flights coming up which have 45 min layovers in Atlanta. I bought EBCI (which I almost never do) just so I can sit in the front of the plane on the first leg and hopefully get off sooner that way to make it to my second flight. Probably won't have any checked bags to worry about. We have also had very good luck with SW holding flights for connecting passengers (no guarantees though!)

GaryDis · Aug 26, 2016

I avoid layovers at times of year that there's increased risk of weather delays - basically hurricane season and winter (since I live in Massachusetts). The rest of the year, it's ok.

Though I'll admit to being spoiled in my old age. There's a lot to be said for non-stop when traveling coast to coast.

Pooh2 · Aug 26, 2016

Another New Englander here who would pay the extra $300 for the direct flight as well as know my seat has already been reserved.

scrappinginontario · Aug 26, 2016

We fly Southwest multiple times each year and can count on one hand the number of times our plane has been delayed or late. Highly recommend them! They have also never lost any of our luggage even when we've had layovers.

Something else to consider is baggage fees. Southwest includes 2 pieces of checked baggage per person. The lower fare Jet Blue prices charge for each piece of baggage which adds to their costs.

I've found that due to Southwest's unique way of loading their planes that their gates are located close together. I feel even with 40 and 50 min layovers you will be just fine barring something unusual happening. Southwest is our go to airline and has been for years!!

sam_gordon · Aug 26, 2016

Questions I have...

1) Is the $300 difference total for both of you or for each ticket?
2) What's the departure time for each flight?
3) What's the arrival time for each flight?
4) Any in flight amenities (personal video screen, BYOD wifi?) on one and not the other?

All of those would factor into my decision between the two. I'd usually go cheaper (I RARELY have a direct flight), but I might be willing to pay more if the timing works better and there's better amenities.

wilkeliza · Aug 26, 2016

sam_gordon said:
Questions I have...

1) Is the $300 difference total for both of you or for each ticket?
2) What's the departure time for each flight?
3) What's the arrival time for each flight?
4) Any in flight amenities (personal video screen, BYOD wifi?) on one and not the other?

All of those would factor into my decision between the two. I'd usually go cheaper (I RARELY have a direct flight), but I might be willing to pay more if the timing works better and there's better amenities.

South West in-flight entertainment is free but you have to use your own device so it can be a pain. South West only has peanuts, pretzels, and sometimes Nabisco wafers. South West gives cups of free non-alcoholic beverages.
WiFi for anything other than their entertainment app is $8 per a person for a 24 hour period.

Jet Blue has in-flight entertainment that includes Dish TV. and Sirius Radio. IF your t.v. does not function they will move you or give you a 15 voucher to make up for that. Jet Blue has unlimited snacks and drinks. You can get multiple snack size bags of things ranging form Doritos to popchips to chocolate chip cookies. They give you the full can of your drink of choice and you can always ask for more.
WiFi is free on Jet Blue but you can pay for better connection if you need to work on the plane or anything like that.

Southwest vs. Jetblue

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