The DESTINATION is the flex, not the transportation: My opinion on a few airlines.

So if you know me, my motto is "I do not care how I get there, as long as I arrive alive." I am far from a travel snob when it comes to how I am getting there, as long as it makes sense. Because of this, I have taken just about every mode of transportation possible. I will not go broke trying to get to a destination, That's stupid. I am trying to travel more than once a year.

Honestly, the pandemic has ruined the way these airlines operate. They all have issues. I do not care what anybody is telling you; they all have issues. But with any issue, you have to weigh the pros and cons and what they mean to you. So allow me to be your third favorite travel cousin and give my opinions on some of the major airlines that you may have servicing your local airports.

Delta

The holy grail of travel experiences But boy, are they expensive. But they are worth every penny. Customer service as of late has been lackluster. The good news is that Delta rarely goes wrong, but when they do, you're on your own or hope for a nice worker.Internationally, Delta will probably get you there, but it's expensive, like I said. If you have the option to fly on Delta, take it. TAKE IT.

American

The love/hate relationship I have with American Airlines is something I gripe about with my best friend. We have come to realize that if an airline is named after a country, service by that airline is horrible in that country. But living in Dallas, the vast majority of the flights I have caught in the past year were on American, which makes sense since Dallas is one of the southern hubs. Other airlines fly out of DFW, but this is American territory, and they know it. It is why they do what they want. Domestically, American airlines are more hit than miss. Delays, cancellations, oversold flights: My God, the issues are endless. But in my case, they have more flexibility and more nonstop evening flights, so I am able to catch a flight after work with ease. I have been able to cancel my flights through social media with American Airlines and get credit immediately. Overall, American is my go-to airline. It could be because of location, but Americans, as much as I love to hate them, have been working.

United

See, they were like a reliable distant cousin, but after my recent experience in Tampa, they are not. I have sworn off the United States domestically. In my experience, they are perpetually late, and customer service seems unequipped to answer questions that can be answered by the screen in front of them. They also do not have as many nonstop flights to places; I want to go domestically. Internationally, they are wonderful. They are the first airline that upgraded me to business. But domestically, I'm not a fan. I probably will not fly again if I can avoid it.

Southwest

Hit or miss for me. I love the ability to check two free bags, but since I do not check bags outside of the times where I relocate solely with my luggage on SW, having four free bags was useful back then. Dallas is also a SW hub, so I am occasionally able to catch a sale, but as of late, they have lost their minds with these ticket prices or the times do not work. Overall, they have a friendly staff, clean and reliable planes, and the planes are usually on time. I dislike the open seat policy, but I understand why some would like it.

Jet Blue

A sleeper airline They are my absolute favorites when they are available to fly. My only gripe is that they do not go everywhere, and the customer service is hot garbage. But if you do not have any issues that require customer service, you do not know. The snacks are good, the seats are comfortable, they have good shows, and the planes are nice. They are primarily based out of the N.E. portion of the country, so if you live in that area, you might be able to catch a deal.

Spirit/Frontier

So hear me out. These airlines are sloppy and as basic as they come, but... I haven't had any problems with them.Also, they make it clear: they are budget airlines. You pay for your seat, and that's all. I admit the bag policy is stupid, but at this point so many people have shared tips about baggage that if you do not know this, you do not want to know the policies. They are not my first resort, but I will pick them before United, unless it's overseas. I bring my water bottle to the airport or I get something to drink before I board. I am not hungry enough that I require sustenance anytime I catch a flight. So them not providing pretzels, peanuts, or cookies is not an issue to me. Knowing that I can go to the airport to get a ticket at the counter and save myself anywhere from $40 to $60 on a flight is something that works for me whenever I have time to stand in line. Like I said, I am not an airline snob, so I am not pretentious enough to care about the criticism these airlines face. I haven't been wronged by them, so if you ask me about them, I am going to say they are fine. They are not my first, second, or third resort, but if they are flying to the destination, the time works, and the price is right, I will be on that little yellow plane.

So while I am not solely stuck on an airline, for me and my life: American works the best. However, Delta is my favorite. Airline tickets are not getting any cheaper, and you do not need to spend rent on a flight. All I can say is "travel within your means." All airlines have issues, some are better equipped to handle the issues, but the issues still exist. My review is solely based on my experience with each airline, so I can not apologize for having an experience different than yours. Also remember that I fly with a carryon and a duffle, so I can't talk about lost baggage or the procedures involving that.

The DESTINATION is the flex, not the transportation. Don't let people who are at home watching you travel, make you feel bad about how you got there.