Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

Which do you think is better?

We are going to florida in a couple of weeks and have the option to fly with either airline but from diffrent airports. We are all the way out east so obviously Islip is easier for us to get to but we have had problems before flying back into islip where we had to spend the night in baltimore due to heavy fog in islip.

Is Jet blue that much better than southwest or is it much of a muchness and we should go with the more convenient airport?

BTW I have never flown Jet blue so no experiences there.

Thanks

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

I usually find southwest to have better fares, plus I am also way out east so I prefer Islip becuase it's an hour closer!! Plus it's not big so no rushing all over the place. Never had any issues flying in/out of it.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

If Islip is closer then do Southwest. You are less likely to have delays then if you fly out of JFK.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

I could go either way. The positive with Jet Blue - you get to pick your own seat when buying the ticket and you can watch TV all the way to FL. But JFK has delya all the time, but they normally take off except in cases of snow/ice storms.

Southwest at Islip is more convenient, but you have to remember to check in 24 hours ahead of time to ensure you get group A to get good seats.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

I would choose based on price and convenience.

You run the risk of weather delays whatever airport you fly out of/airline you fly.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

Jet Blue all the way.

I flew Southwest out of Islip and will never do it again. Long story short, I was flying back from Ft Meyers, the plane was delayed 2 1/2 hours and finally they tell us to board. An hour and a half into the flight, they tell us they are turning the plane around and heading back to FL because of fog conditions in LI .
Now I am not complaining because my safety is #1, but when we got back to FL at 1:00am, they did NOTHING!!! Ft. Meyers was basically a ghost town, people were in panic and they were no help.

At the end of the day, I had to call my brother to pick me up at the airport and booked Jet Blue at 3:00am for the first flight out the next day. Southwest gave me my $$ back after fighting with 4 different people.

Message edited 4/8/2009 2:23:44 PM.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

I have never flown Southwest but I am familiar with their ticketing practices from coworkers. I don't like that I don't know my seat until check in...

I do however fly JetBlue all the time out of JFK. Lately their fares have been better then any I have seen. Just got my mom a RT ticket for less then $100 on a weekend Out of all the times i have flown JetBlue, I have been delayed once & that was bc of snow/ice. For the most part, you are on time. In terms of JFK, their new terminal is so nice & easy to manuever through. I think the comfort of their seats are like no other & like others said, having Direct TV & satellite Radio at the seat is just a delight!

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

I would do Jet Blue. I live in Bay Shore and when we travel, its always out of JFK and with the flights being early in the AM, we very rarely hit any traffic so it doesnt take long at all to get there. I juts like Jet Blue all around.......your own TVs at your seats, you get a seat assignment before hand where as Southwest you dont know where your sitting until you get there. There is no guarantee that you'll be sitting with the people you are traveling with either.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

We fly to Florida a few times a year. We used to go Jet Blue out of JFK, but once we did Southwest out of Islip, we never went back. Its so much more pleasant that JFK. The only thing that bothers me about Soutwest is you dont get assigned seats, but we get there pretty early so its not really a problem.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

Southwest out of Islip.

I would pay a premium to not have to deal with the hassles of JFK or LGA. Islip is like a serene airport oasis.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

I am probably one of the biggest JetBlue fans out there, but I am also huge on convenience. I wouldn't worry about fog at all. It can happen at JFK anyday. Go with what is most convenient for you. Southwest is a great airline so go with them especially since they are closest to you.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

Really, it depends on how far you're going.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

Airline Preference: Jet Blue

Airport Preference: Islip

So, that's a tough one! LOL! I like that Islip is so close and very quiet, laid back, etc. It is quite stress-free.

Then again, I don't mind JFK all that much -- we took the train last time to get there which was really easy. Once there, we did the automatic check-in at the kiosk. However, I'm not 'all the way out East'. We are in Northport so it doesn't take us too long from the Deer Park train station to get into Jamaica and then to JFK.

As for airline, I love Jet Blue -- so much more leg room, the seats are more comfortable, they have individual TV's, etc. Most of the time, however, I go with Southwest because they are cheaper. Just the other day, though, we booked a trip to Vegas and Jet Blue was much less money than Southwest which surprised me. So, we are taking that. Bottom line, go with what is easier for you and cheaper.

HTH!

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

ive flown both. I live 15 min away from islip airport and 10 min away from lirr. If we fly jetblue we always take the lirr and the airtrain - so convientant.

There are a couple of reasons that ill fly jetblue. #1 big one - non stop flight. If southwest has a connecting flight we go directly to jetblue - the price couldnt even sway me! #2 much more comfy

However, if southwest has a direct flight then we will definitley fly out of islip bc its convientant.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

I got married in FL last year and took many trips down there for the planning. I like Jetblue airline better, but I also like Islip's less hectic airport. Jetblue's new wing at JFK is really nice, but so crowded...flying out of Islip was a nice relief. I guess it also depends on where you live....

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

Southwest out of Islip!!

It's just so much more convenient. I never had a problem with a flight being cancelled or delayed flying back into there -- it must have really just been bad weather for you.

I know Jet Blue has the tv's and all, but it such a short flight. It would be worth the sacrifice to me to leave a few minutes from my house than having to drive to Kennedy.

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

we love to fly out for islip rather drive the hour to jfk I would say Islip is the best bet ( we never had any problems getting bavk)

Re: Jet Blue out of NY or Southwest from Islip

Just flew out of McArthur for the first time last week. We were headed to FL also. It was so easy-- we were in and out, no delays. On previous trips, I never even considered going to any other airport aside from JFK or LaGuardia (as a last resort). So glad we flew out of Islip this time-- we took Southwest-- no frills (no tv, pick your own seating) but if you're going to FL, it's a 2.5 flight-- a magazine and nap will do just fine!