sulz152

which airline is better-northwest or southwest?

roy

Well, it depends... southwest isn't in major debt because they only have one type of airplane that they deal with and have to care for (the Boeing 737) so they only have to pay for one type of mechanic. There seating on the plane is "first come, first serve", so if you fly with them, be sure to get there early to get a good seat. I don't know much on Northwest though.

Traveler7843

Southwest has better on time and baggage records but it is a cattle car. Northwest is a decent airline but I would have to go with Southwest. Cheaper too!

ALOPILOT7481

Northwest serves small towns, Southwest does not... so if you want to fly from your hometown airport, Northwest is your best bet... Northwest is sometimes more expensive... Southwest will try to trick you into thinking that the tickets are really cheap when in reality, you are buying a one way ticket... anyway... Also, Southwest does not have first class if that interests you... Do your research and chose the one that best fits cost, desired departure airport, and desired destination airport...

Alexi

Comparing the two is like comparing countries. They are distinctly different and serve distinctly different purposes. As for their differences: LCC vs. Legacy - Southwest is a LCC carrier (characterized by serving larger cities only, and by using one aircraft type, not to mention no unions and only domestic flights). Northwest is a legacy carrier - many different types for many different markets. Many international routes. Business and First class present on most flights. Many many more amenities and part of an airline alliance. Southwest always attempts to keep costs low, Northwest worries about providing services to many airports/destinations.

HollyatTravelocity

As everyone above has said, they're totally different beasts. You're likely to find a cheaper price on Southwest because they're a no-frills budget airline. You'll find differences like no assigned seating (some people prefer this arrangement, though, so it's your call) and having to pay for drinks on board. They're both 3-star airlines (as ranked by Skytrax, the reining authority on these things), but it has to be said that Southwest generally seems to have a more favorable standing in the eyes of most passengers; they're seen as young and fun and friendly to a lot of people, while Northwest is definitely a part of the old guard. That said, Northwest flies to far more cities and destinations than Southwest, primarily because they have a far larger fleet and have been around longer. If you want to compare people's opinions on the two -- including on specific routes -- to help make your mind up, check out Skytrax's review section. It might give you some food for thought to read about the experiences of passengers on both carriers. Here are the reviews for Southwest: http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/sth_west.htmAnd here are the reviews for Northwest: http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/n_west.htmHope that helps with your decision! Have a safe flight, whichever airline you end up choosing. --Holly