Has anyone flown Air Tran?

[tinkfan4ever]

It's our first time using Air Tran. They have the best rates. Are they usually on time or delayed? any other problems with them. (air safety etc)
Thanks!!!

 

[safetymom]

I have not had any problems with Air Tran. I have flown them quite a few times.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We've flown Air Tran many times. In fact we're flying with them again a week from today. Never had any problems. As long as weather is not an issue (think Florida in July!) we're usually landed in MCO even earlier than planned. HTH.

 

[DebbieB]

The only problem I've had with them is schedule changes, the flights were fine.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I, too, have flown AirTran without problems. We have had schedule changes, but nothing too major. Flights have been ontime, friendly crew.

 

[NJDad18]

We used them for the first time on our December trip. No problems at all. The plan was smaller than the normal ones we fly on. We are normally on a plan that has 3 seats on each side of the isle, the Air Tran plane had 2 seats on one side and 3 seats on the other. We flew to MCO on Southwest and the only difference was the amount of leg room, Southwest had more. That would not prevent us from flying on Air Tran again. No problems with anything. The XM radio at every seat was nice. DW is 5'3" and I'm 5'6" so leg room is really not a big issue for either one of us.

 

[Melissa M]

I've flown with them once and have booked them for our next trip. I like that they had a "no-nonsense lets hurry up and leave" attitude. The plane left on time and arrived 10 minutes early on both our departing and returning trips.

 

[Quinny]

I haven't flown them yet and their rates were the best but they just changed my departure flight from Orlando from 6:30PM to 8AM!!!! They didnt even tell me! I called and they said that my original flight was cancelled and the latest non-stop was 12:30pm--still better than 8am-i was hoping to have a last full day but you get what you pay for!

 

[dallastxcpa]

I haven't flown them yet and their rates were the best but they just changed my departure flight from Orlando from 6:30PM to 8AM!!!! They didnt even tell me! I called and they said that my original flight was cancelled and the latest non-stop was 12:30pm--still better than 8am-i was hoping to have a last full day but you get what you pay for!

We have flown Airtran many times, but on our trip next week they also changed our schedule (we are A+ rewards members). The let me select any other flight I wanted so we are flying out next Wednesday instead of Thursday morning.

If you join the rewards program they will send you emails regularly for $25 off a one way flight.

 

[mrludwig]

I am a rewards member and have never recieved any $25 off a one way flight. What am I doing wrong???

They are famous in my area for changing their flight times. If a flight isn't full they will cancel it. I believe this is how they are able to offer the cheaper flights.

 

[MariDisney]

I love Air Tran. Not important in the grand scheme of things, but you can listen to XM radio with a earphones on the plane. That really makes the time "fly", no pun intended.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

can you check your bags at the resort with Airtran, or do you have to take them on the bus with you if your using Magical Express??

 

[Disneyjosh229]

I've flown with them once and have booked them for our next trip. I like that they had a "no-nonsense lets hurry up and leave" attitude. The plane left on time and arrived 10 minutes early on both our departing and returning trips.

We have an upcoming flight to Tampa (for a non-disney trip ) and Ive been looking on FlightAware, and they are flying 10-20 min faster then Northwest on the same route! As a matter of fact, one day they made it in 1 hr 59 mins. The quickest ive ever made it was 2hr 20 mins!!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

can you check your bags at the resort with Airtran, or do you have to take them on the bus with you if your using Magical Express??

Check the news blurbs on the DIS main page for "Airtran Resort Check In Pilot Program."

They are offering the Resort check in for airtran as a trial....not sure for how long and it is only at some resorts....I know FW was one of them.

All the info is on that page.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

we used them on our last wdw trip in 2006 and we were early getting into Orlando! Nothing beats getting to the mouse earlier than scheduled. We were also early coming back and the other connection we made was on time also. They make it a point to be on time, like someone else said, they have a very "non nonsense hurry up and go" attitude.

 

[daisax]

I can't get over the Value Jet connection -- was there a shift in the executive structure along with the name change? Because they cut too many corners once upon a time and ended up losing a plane because of it -- in Florida, no less.

If all they did was change the name, I wouldn't feel too secure with their "no-nonsense let's hurry up and leave" attitude.

 

[Cory's Gal]

We flew AirTran last year to The World, everything was on-time. This year our schedule only changed once and we were switched a layover flight to a non-stop!! That's always a welcomed change. In my experience it's not a particular airline flying faster that they get you there sooner, it all depends on the wind!! We made it to Orlando one year on Nothwest direct from Minneapolis in 2 hours and 15 minutes because of a great tailwind. That flight is usually about 3 hours! Don't we all wish we could get there sooner???

 

[keishashadow]

I am a rewards member and have never recieved any $25 off a one way flight. What am I doing wrong???

They are famous in my area for changing their flight times. If a flight isn't full they will cancel it. I believe this is how they are able to offer the cheaper flights.

Are you signed up to receive the email promos from them too, besides the rewards account? We got one before Xmas, CS told me it's only the 2nd he's seen in the last several years & they're usually only good for slow times of travel.

To OP, we've flown them for years, for a no-frills carrier; we get what we expect:

1) numerous flight changes (lost count on last trip somewhere around 8 times, i think.

2) flights (especially direct ones) are cancelled or rescheduled, for us up to 8 hours earlier.

Good news:

1) Customer service, especially reward dept, is top-notch (had a lost luggage issue, after they denied responsibility; it turned up a month later half-way across the company...they did the right thing & ate crow - HA!)

2) Rewards program is generous, esp. if you tie in a CC.

3) Planes are newer

Give them a whirl!

btw, we fly SW too if the schedule is better, just like to be able to pre-book seats as w/AT...good luck.

 

[VAgal76]

After slightly changing our plans this past October Delta's airfare went through the roof. Well Airtran was running a special at the same time. Some people I know flew with Airtran including business associates successfully and for a $900 difference PER PERSON I thought it was well worth a shot. They were late leaving the airport. There may have been weather issues. I was beginning to freak out a little. Our layover was only 40 minutes to begin with. The gate agent couldn't have been nicer and more down to earth. It helped having a beer while waiting. Here's what did it for me to be a customer whenever possible for now on - we were obviously going to miss our connecting flight. There were 4 or 5 others total on our flight in the same boat with us. They held the plane for us. Yes, held the plane. That really doesn't happen anymore. To top the cake, they held the plane even longer so our bags would make it on. Yep! I just casually was telling DH there was a later flight and our bags would make it on it. The gate agent just perks up and says your bags will make it on with you and will be there when we get there. I just looked at her all shocked. She grinned. I was very happy with their service. I don't know what caused the intial delay but we were only 20 minutes later than scheduled by the time they made up all their time on the 2nd leg as well. Yes, all our bags were at MCO like she said too. (I need my big cheesy grin already!)

Yes, I flew through ATL but I've never had an issue flying through that airport.

 

[Super 27]

I can't get over the Value Jet connection -- was there a shift in the executive structure along with the name change? Because they cut too many corners once upon a time and ended up losing a plane because of it -- in Florida, no less.

If all they did was change the name, I wouldn't feel too secure with their "no-nonsense let's hurry up and leave" attitude.

I would have no safety concerns whatsoever about flying on AirTran (or any other US based airline, for that matter). Their executive structure, as well as the industry as a whole, has undergone significant changes since their Florida crash (Valujet 592). At this point, Air Tran has one of the youngest fleets in the sky (brand new Boeing 717 and 737-next generation aircraft), and a safety record comaprable to any major carrier.

The bottom line is, that airlines do not fly in this country unless they're safe. Period. Scheduled commercial airlines are all required to meet the same requirements, whether it's Air Tran, United, Southwest, etc. They are all subject to extremely strict oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration, so "fly by night" operations (no pun intended) are not permitted to exist. While the system isn't perfect, the emphasis is always on safety, no matter what airline you're flying.