Allegiant Air - "From America's favorite (sic) small cities to world-class destinations", whatever that means, given that this is a fairly localised airline for Las Vegas and the West side of the USA. They also specialise in routes from the Florida holiday resorts to East Coast places that even RyanAir would have trouble finding clients for. Flying since 1997 with mainly MD80's (two engines at the back).
Air Tran - Operates scheduled services from (mainly) Atlanta. Large company with 87 Boeing 717-200's and 41 Boeing 737's. Operates about 700 scheduled flights a day to 71 destinations mainly on the Eastern side of the USA. So, you may have not heard of them but they are no one horse outfit and really quite good. Usually on time and helpful staff.
Jet Blue - From New York, Boston and Washington to mainly East Coast destinations. Also fly to Oakland and Long beach (San Francisco and (almost) San Diego to you and me). Mainly Airbuses (200-odd at the last count!) with leather seats, satellite radio and surprisingly good legroom but naff Dunkin' Donuts food, mind. Specially for overweight Yanks (hence the legroom).
MidWest Airlines - Main bases are Kansas City and Milwaukee both of which are, er, midwest America. From here, they radiate out to the four corners of the USA, ie Seattle, LAX, SFO, Dallas, Atlanta and the main East Coast cities. Useful little airline using mainly MD80's. Flights include chocolate chip cookies - Why do US airlines encourage their clients to get even fatter? Nonetheless, slick service and stylish.
Ted - Miserable, chronic spin off from a miserable, chronic airline, specifically, United. If you have to fly with this bunch, I feel very sorry for you. Timetables? They don't know the meaning of the word. The one thing that is guaranteed is that the flight take off time is the one time that it will be guaranteed not to take off. Staff - clueless morons as would befit such a hopeless bunch of ...... Pick someone else.
SouthWest Airlines - 500 aircraft, 96.3 million passengers, 63 cities. Great airline, enthusiastic staff and go (usually) where you want, when you want. Pity that they do not interline with other airlines. Some pretty naff, typically New World, aircraft names. I mean, "Slam Dunk One"!?! Under two hours you get peanuts; over two hours, a sandwich. So, Americans will need to take the odd, er, chocolate chip cookie with them. Soft drinks are free, beer, wine and spirits, 4 bucks a pop.
Spirit Airlines - Former Detroit based charter airline which made a name for itself chuntering around the caribbean from Fort Lauderdale. Routes also include CCS, Lima and central America. Ultra low cost, which means you have to pay for everything, food, checking in bags, having a pilot at the front of the plane.... Useful in a limited sort of a way.
USA 3000 - Essentially a charter (holiday) airline but also operates sceduled services from North-East and Mid-West America to the Dominican Republic, Mexico (Cancun) and Florida. Meals cost 5 bucks a throw (credit cards only) - quite good they are, too! Jolly little airline, but limited use and does have the "charter" feel about it.
Suncountry Airlines - Very much local use. Based at Minneapolis and fly mainly to SFO, LAX, SAN, DFW, CUN, WAS, MCO, (Orlando!) and a few others. Seasonal routes include the caribbean and Mexico. The American equivalent of the UK's Benidorm. Have a first class cabin with free food and drink. Friendly enough and try hard.
I have included many direct links to low cost airline websites; if your are not sure who flies where - then use the "wegolow" search screen below to find out which budget airlines fly from which UK and many European airports. You will be booking directly on the wegolo system.
Budget Airlines USA
