With so many discount airlines, how do you choose which one to fly for your leisure or business trip? Be sure to check each airline’s website for cheap airfare deals during your initial flight search.
Discount Airlines
AirTran Airways| www.airtran.com
Phone: (800) 247-8726
Hub: Atlanta
Where to find discount flights: The major booking sites, aggregator sites
Booking Tip: Most flights route through the Atlanta hub; check for very affordable upgrades on the day of travel. Services many alternate airports; check the route map for a comprehensive list.
American Trans Air (ATA)| www.ata.com
Phone: (800) 435-9282
Hubs: Chicago (Midway), Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix (mini-hub)
Where to find discount flights: The major booking sites, aggregator sites, Southwest.com (for codeshare service)
Booking Tip: Through a codeshare partnership with Southwest, ATA now serves more than 60 cities.
Frontier Airlines| www.frontier.com
Phone: (800) 432-1359
Hub: Denver
Where to Find Them: The major booking sites, aggregator sites
Booking Tip: Almost everything routes through Denver; check the weather. Frontier offers a number of flights to Mexico’s most popular vacation destinations.
JetBlue Airways| www.jetblue.com
Phone: (800) 538-2583
Hubs: New York (JFK), Los Angeles/Long Beach
Where to find discount flights: JetBlue fares are now available on major booking sites and aggregator sites
Booking Tip: Rows 11 and back have more leg room on many planes in the fleet.
Silver Airways| www.gosilver.com
Phone: (800) 523-3273
Hubs: Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa
Where to find discount flights: Not bookable on their website; available on the major booking and aggregator sites through codeshares with United.com
Southwest Airlines| www.southwest.com
Phone: (800) 435-9792
Hub: None
Where to find discount flights: At Southwest.com and at ATA.com (its codeshare partner)
Booking Tip: Seats are not assigned, so check in as early as possible on the Southwest Web site before leaving for the airport. For a small fee, sites like BoardFirst.com will check you in as soon as the time window for your flight opens, even in the middle of the night.
Spirit Airlines| www.spirit.com
Phone: (800) 772-7117
Hubs: Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Detroit
Where to find discount flights: The major booking sites, aggregator sites
Booking Tip: Spirit flies from some unexpected airports — like Atlantic City, Providence and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International.
Sun Country Airlines| www.suncountry.com
Phone: (800) 359-6786
Hub: Minneapolis/St. Paul
Where to find discount flights: The major booking sites, aggregator sites
Booking Tip: Sun Country offers service to additional Mexico and Caribbean destinations in the winter and early spring.