Best US airline to fly domestic on a ZED ticket holder

Well, this is a question that can be interesting to many of us here I suppose, notably those from overseas that connect on US airlines domestically to fly to their final destination in the USA.

For me, it doesn't really matter whether I use UA, AA, CO, US, DL to reach my destination as their schedules are all fairly similar through their respective hubs, but I was just wondering which is the 'best' to use as a ZED traveller?

I know some airlines in the US charge extra for quite a few things, whereas others don't, so, which airline should be top of the list? And which bottom, if I don't want to be paying for my luggage, my ear phone, my soft drink and what else on the second leg?

Thanks!

I don't think most US airlines charge for nonrev luggage even on zeds. DL offers non alcohol drinks gratis; some flts don't offer entertainment. BYO earphones...lots of mainline flts have pay wifi.

I think aazed said that part of the ZED agreement includes 2 checked bags. I know that UA allows NRSA 2 bags, and they don't specify OAL stuff at all.

That said, I've flown a lot of UA flights lately, and can boil it down to this:
Gate agents usually give economy plus to nonrevs (I can only think of a few times where I did not get that). When I went through Skywest training, nonrev karma was taught when we were told how to clear standbys.
Mainline flights often have headphones in the seatback pocket, but don't count on it.
Wifi is only available (I think for a fee) on the Premium Service routes between LAX or SFO to/from JFK
Soft drinks are free in all seats (I think US Airways is the only airline that tried to charge for it, but they backed down when nobody else went along with that)
All mainline flights have shared video, but not too many Y seats have personal screens (I think the international 777s might, haven't been on one yet... you can always check seatguru for that stuff)
I had the tapas snack pack on a mainline UA flight, and it honestly wasn't half-bad! Lots of little things, good for a decent cold dinner.
No biscoff cookies :( (or any other free snacks)

US does, or did at least, charge OAL nonrev baggage fees. That's the only one I know of. Other than that I think flight frequency and lowest zed cost would be the determining factor for me. Do you have specific routes in mind or just curious?

US is the only airline I'm aware of that charges 1st & 2nd checked bag fees to staff.

Note that in the month of February, gogo is allowing free access to Facebook.

YX charges also......
Are they still around as a stand alone airline?

I'de stick with Delta, United, or American..... Jet Blue could also be good.

Personally If I were you I would choose the airline whose hubs were most conducive to my travel plans.. i.e. shortest flights

Safe Travels

Thanks for all the replies, as I have to admit I didn't know what to expect on the domestic leg, being a non-rev pax.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dc333

I think flight frequency and lowest zed cost would be the determining factor for me. Do you have specific routes in mind or just curious?

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The specific route we have in mind is this one:

BRU - XXX - MCO on March 27th,

with XXX being either EWR (CO), IAD (UA), JFK (AA), ATL (DL) or PHL (US).

The STAR alliance carriers have my preference due to the fact we get ZL on them, but other than that, they are pretty much all on a par from a schedule point of view: all once daily departures ex BRU at around 10AM, with an arrival at MCO around 4PM or so (or later, if I can't get on the first available connecting flight).

It's probably way too far out still, but anybody out here that would be willing to check loads on any of the above mentioned routes when we get near the date of departure?

Thanks!

I can check again closer to your departure date, but for now UA is looking good on all IAD-MCO flights and so-so on the ORD-MCO ones (they do get better towards the end of the day)

Indeed, I hadn't thought of ORD yet, but that gives us 2 more options (UA and AA), although it's somewhat of a backtrack, so I'd rather route through one of the east coast hubs: probably IAD (UA) or EWR (CO). I may contact you closer to the date to check again for me, if you'd be so kind.

BTW, I've checked it, and UA's 767s and 777s as used on international services all have private televisions screens in Y class according to seatguru.

About the fee for checked bags on US Airways: is that applicable only for the domestic flight then, or also on the intercontinental leg?
And do they have a special rate for nonrevs? (probably not, but one can always hope, right? :) )
How come they charge nonrevs, when the ZED agreement apparently says they shouldn't?
Anyway, thanks for the info: since we'll be having 2 bags, I'll try to avoid them!

A quick check I would recommend ATL at Delta has 12 flights a day. You would think something would be open with 12 flts a day. Also, do you have Air Trans options? They have 8 flts a day from ATL. Other airports seem to have 4-5 flt a day (IAH, ORD, JFK, DEN-using other airlines, not just delta).But have loads checked a day or two before you head out and decide then. I would have to fly all the way to IAD to fly back or MCO. ATL, ORD, JFK, EWR would save some time not backtracking.Tony