New Direct Flight Serves Myrtle Beach-New York Route
Add another nonstop route between Myrtle Beach and New York's LaGuardia Airport. US Airways just announced this week its new direct, daily flights to serve these airports, joining Spirit as the second major carrier now doing so. A third carrier, Myrtle Beach Direct Air, launches its own nonstop service to that market (Newark) on March 7, three days after the US Airways flight begins service.
Let SeatGuru.com Help You Plan
As you plan your next roundtrip flight to or from the Grand Strand, there's a very helpful resource you should use in tandem with your airline's Web site: SeatGuru.com. SeatGuru bills itself as "the ultimate source for airplane seating," providing not only detailed information for each seat on an aircraft chart, but also up-front details on in-flight amenities and seat dimensions (including pitch, width, and number of seats in that class aboard the aircraft).
This online tool can be very effective for business travelers. Using the Myrtle Beach-La Guardia route as an example, a quick review of SeatGuru will reveal the pros and cons of flying nonstop on US Airways' regional jet or Spirit's Airbus fleet (each offers time-saving nonstop service, but few in-flight amenities), versus US Airways' connecting service (both their 737 and Airbus fleets offer more in-flight amenities, but only their Airbuses feature power ports for laptops).
It's also helpful for larger passengers. Using the same route and carrier criteria as the last example, SeatGuru shows that while US Airways' Airbuses are roomier (32" pitch/18" width per coach seat) than their 737s or regional jets, Spirit's Airbus coach seats actually vary in pitch (31-33") and are narrower in width (17"). Those individuals needing/desiring the extra room offered in first-class seating can find the same information. You do need to contact your airline directly, though, for information on seat belt extenders.
One area of consideration where I found SeatGuru lacking is in important information for families traveling with infants or toddlers - specifically, information that spells out exactly which types of aircraft offer diaper changing tables. For that information, you need to contact the airline directly. The site does show, however, that some Myrtle Beach carriers offering connecting service for long-haul flights (Northwest, United) make bassinets available for select international travel, while others (Continental) even offer them for select transcontinental flights. Your best bet is to check directly with the airline for final confirmation for your route.
SeatGuru also lacks information on available handicap seating; again, in this instance they recommend contacting your carrier directly. Their "Frequently Asked Questions" page, though, is a fairly thorough resource that addresses numerous other items of consideration (e.g., accessing the site from a Blackberry/PDA, traveling with pets, definitions/clarifications for SeatGuru's most frequently used terms).
Seat Guru won’t make much of a difference when choosing MB-NY flights, but I’d consider it for booking cross-country flights that go from here through Charlotte or Atlanta.
Avoid Myrtle Beach Direct Air like the plaque. If you run into any problems management will not follow through with what they promise you and you will not be given any written documents for you to hold them accountable.
Don’t fly Myrtle Beach Direct Air it’s not worth the hassle.