Is one airline better than another?

[GeekDrew]

I need to catch a round trip flight from CMH to ORD on labor day weekend (weekend meeting). Of course there are multiple airlines servicing that route. With a flight so short, I would think that any airline would do, but I was surprised at some unsolicited advice from friends that say otherwise.

Is there any particular airline I should avoid? I usually fly SWA everywhere, but they don't service ORD.

Also, my legal name will be changing between now and then. How much of a problem will that be? Should I just wait until after it is changed, to buy my ticket? Same thing goes for a hotel and rental car. If I wait... it'll probably be two weeks away from departure, or less, before I'm able to make my reservations. Anyone have a random guess as to the likelihood of all of the hotels in the Glenview area being filled to capacity on that weekend, if I make reservations two weeks prior? I suppose I should think about that more than anything. I could always drive out, if I have to, but I still need a place to stay.

Ah, to make mountains out of molehills...

 

[jagec]

People say bad things about Northworst...
And good things about Southwest.
Continental has the youngest fleet, IIRC, FWIW.

But just do what everyone else does and get whatever's cheapest.

 

[Sukhoi]

Man why not just drive? It's what, 4 hours? Once you factor in getting to the airport, the 2 hour lead time, the flight time, and the time to get the rental car you're going to be over 4 hours. Besides Indiana speed limit (on I-70 and I-74 at least) is 70 MPH now. I presume I-65 would be the same.

 

[OulOat]

United has the biggest presence in ORD, but I'm an AA guy so I don't fly them. I would go with whatever is the cheapest since the airline and airplanes don't really matter for these short hops. You can fly SWA to MDW if you are willing to spend 2x the time driving.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Man why not just drive? It's what, 4 hours? Once you factor in getting to the airport, the 2 hour lead time, the flight time, and the time to get the rental car you're going to be over 4 hours. Besides Indiana speed limit (on I-70 and I-74 at least) is 70 MPH now. I presume I-65 would be the same.

I've driven between Columbus and Chicago several times... depending on what part of the city I'm going to, and what time I'm getting there, it takes 6.5 - 8 hours to get there. Driving that far makes me tired... sitting in an airport, and then on a plane, doesn't.

Originally posted by: OulOat
United has the biggest presence in ORD, but I'm an AA guy so I don't fly them. I would go with whatever is the cheapest since the airline and airplanes don't really matter for these short hops. You can fly SWA to MDW if you are willing to spend 2x the time driving.

I kinda want to go to O'Hare, just because I've never been there before. I've been to Midway a couple of times.

I suppose I took an incorrect direction when I was writing my OP... I'm not as concerned about the airline as I am the name change situation, with regards to my airfare, car, hotel, etc. Nobody has any experience with that?

 

[Mill]

If you ID (Driver's license, passport, etc) is changed to your new name, then you will have to have your tickets in your new name. If it will be changing two weeks before, then either hold off or don't get new ID.

 

[tm37]

Are you getting married?

WHy the name change

If you bring all of your documents you should not have any issue

 

[LookingGlass]

Which ever airline you decide, talk to them when making the reservations, since you have reservations yourself about the name change thing. Call them and ask.

I've had great service with AA, and I have flown a lot, I perfer them over anybody else.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Man why not just drive? It's what, 4 hours? Once you factor in getting to the airport, the 2 hour lead time, the flight time, and the time to get the rental car you're going to be over 4 hours. Besides Indiana speed limit (on I-70 and I-74 at least) is 70 MPH now. I presume I-65 would be the same.

It's probably a 6 hour drive, assuming traffic around Indianapolis is light. Three hours from Columbus to Indianapolis, another three to Chicago (IIRC?).

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: tm37
Are you getting married?

WHy the name change

If you bring all of your documents you should not have any issue

Personal reasons not related to marriage.

I will have a court order for name change with me at all times for a while, regardless of my travel plans. I suspect that would work, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I'll probably go with whoever is cheapest, but I might just wait until after my name is changed to buy tickets. It'll be more expensive, if there are any seats left at all, but I can always drive if I have to.

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
It's probably a 6 hour drive, assuming traffic around Indianapolis is light. Three hours from Columbus to Indianapolis, another three to Chicago (IIRC?).

Columbus to Indy usually takes about 3 hours, IIRC, but for some reason, I was thinking more like 4-5 hours from Indy to Chicago, depending on the time & how much traffic I get into.

 

[murban135]

GeekDrew, you potentially have two issues, one with the airline and one with the TSA (the security screeners). I would contact airline reservations and see what they say. Make sure you get the name of the person you spoke to and if possible something in writing. I would also contact the TSA and make sure that I get something in writing from them. Here is their page with telephone and e-mail contacts:

TSA

As for airlines, I recommend United.

 

[Sukhoi]

I think it's more like 2.5 from Columbus to Indy. A general Mapquest search from Columbus to Chicago says 5.5 hours.

Personally, I avoid O'Hare like the plague. The airport itself isn't exciting, it's busy, it's really far to get anywhere, flights are ALWAYS delayed, and it just generally sucks.

 

[TwinkleToes77]

As long as you have a legal document showing your name change has ocurred it will be okay. My mother in law bought us plane tickets one year and she put it into my husbands last name. I havent changed mine to his.. I just had to bring my marriage certificate to fly... along with my original ID

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
I think it's more like 2.5 from Columbus to Indy. A general Mapquest search from Columbus to Chicago says 5.5 hours.

Eh, I don't live right in Columbus & I'm used to driving to both Glenview & Plainfield, north and south of Chicago. For this trip, I'd be driving from Lancaster, OH to Glenview, IL... DeLorme Street Atlas says that it is 402.12 & 7:22. I think that it was about 7:45 last time I drove that route...

Originally posted by: TwinkleToes77
As long as you have a legal document showing your name change has ocurred it will be okay. My mother in law bought us plane tickets one year and she put it into my husbands last name. I havent changed mine to his.. I just had to bring my marriage certificate to fly... along with my original ID

I've been told that by some people, and by others, they say to expect difficulty. I think I'll err on the side of caution, and wait until after my name change is complete to order my tickets... and if I don't want to for whatever reason (price, availability) at that time, I'll just drive.

Thanks, folks.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
I think it's more like 2.5 from Columbus to Indy. A general Mapquest search from Columbus to Chicago says 5.5 hours.

Eh, I don't live right in Columbus & I'm used to driving to both Glenview & Plainfield, north and south of Chicago. For this trip, I'd be driving from Lancaster, OH to Glenview, IL... DeLorme Street Atlas says that it is 402.12 & 7:22. I think that it was about 7:45 last time I drove that route...

Originally posted by: TwinkleToes77
As long as you have a legal document showing your name change has ocurred it will be okay. My mother in law bought us plane tickets one year and she put it into my husbands last name. I havent changed mine to his.. I just had to bring my marriage certificate to fly... along with my original ID

I've been told that by some people, and by others, they say to expect difficulty. I think I'll err on the side of caution, and wait until after my name change is complete to order my tickets... and if I don't want to for whatever reason (price, availability) at that time, I'll just drive.

Thanks, folks.

Ah, that's a bit farther. I don't mind driving so that's what I'd do, but I could see someone else flying for that distance.

 

[buck]

6.5 - 8

6-8 hours? WTF. Are you riding a bicycle?

I have driven from Cincinnati to Whiting IN (right next to chicago) 30+ times and the longest it has taken me is one time it took 6 hours because of the Indy 500.

4 1/2 hours is the average for me (mainly cause traffic in northern IN). What about 74 (i think its 74, never went from columbus to indy) then to 65?

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Ah, that's a bit farther. I don't mind driving so that's what I'd do, but I could see someone else flying for that distance.

I usually don't mind it either.

Originally posted by: buck

6.5 - 8

6-8 hours? WTF. Are you riding a bicycle?

I have driven from Cincinnati to Whiting IN (right next to chicago) 30+ times and the longest it has taken me is one time it took 6 hours because of the Indy 500.

4 1/2 hours is the average for me (mainly cause traffic in northern IN). What about 74 (i think its 74, never went from columbus to indy) then to 65?

As I said, I'm not right in Columbus, nor am I going to the East-most side of Chicago. South-East side of Columbus to North side of Chicago.

I usually take I-70 to I-465 to I-65 to I-90. And no, I'm far from riding a bicycle. My average speed is usually somewhere around 75-80 MPH, with one stop for fuel (usually in West Lafayette).

 

[habib89]

my favorite is United.. they just seem to treat their customers better.. my least favorite is southwest, cause.. well the opposite.. although i've taken a lot of SW flights for business trips.. jet blue is cool, cause you get your own t.v., but i don't think that's an option for you...

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: habib89
my favorite is United.. they just seem to treat their customers better.. my least favorite is southwest, cause.. well the opposite.. although i've taken a lot of SW flights for business trips.. jet blue is cool, cause you get your own t.v., but i don't think that's an option for you...

Option, perhaps. Going to happen? Absolutely not.