Actual experience airtran through southwest

[sunlover13]

We were able to check in 24 hours before the flight and not a minute sooner. So yes, you won't be able to check in before 2pm on Friday.

Thanks!

 

[DisFans4]

We booked AT through SW because we preferred the time of day of the flights. We flew PHL to MCO. We checked in online at exactly 24 hours in advance. On our flight to MCO, we had 4 seats right in a row, we were delighted. Our 2 boys were 2 and 4 so we were concerned about sitting together.

We had a great time in Disney World. On our last day, we checked in online for our flights the next day at 2:45 in the afternoon, again exactly 24 hours in advance. We had 4 seats spread out all over the plane!!!

Even though we knew it was pretty hopeless until the next day (day of actual flight), we tried calling AT and SW to see if we could do anything. They both reassured us that it could be taken care of at the airport.

Day of flight-got to the airport early-AT person said there was NOTHING she could do until about 1 hour before our flight. She said the flight wasn't open in the computer and that there were not open seats that she could start making changes. We were stressed!

Finally, about an hour before our flight, they did manage to switch us and we had 4 seats in a row. However there was family after family with the same concerns. They got some of the, switched but eventually, they told other families they would have to wait until we were on the plane to see if someone would switch.

Once we were on the plane, the flight attendants were trying to switch people, but just couldn't get a single mom with 5 year old twins and another family with several children close enough. There were a few empty seats on the plane. My husband and I volunteered to sit 2 and 2 so that the Mom with the twins could be together. Our plane was 2 seats on one side of the aisle and 3 seats on the other side. There had been an extra seat next to my one son and me on the 3 side. We moved over to the 2 seat side in front of my husband and other son.

We finally flew home after that.

To be honest, I don't know if I could go through that stress again-it's not worth it!! I had a hard time enjoying my last evening in the Magic Kingdom because I kept worrying about our seats on the plane. We will just stick to regular SW flights next time until AT and SW resolve the computer glitches or until SW takes over AT completely!!!

 

[DisFans4]

One more thing, I saw on an earlier post where someone was saying "our flight doesn't look very full, so hopefully we'll be okay".

From our experience on the way and on the way back, both of our flights looked less than 1/3 full prior to our 24 hour check in point. After the 24 hour check in, in just a matter of a few hours, the plane was very full both times. We kept checking and checking and were very concerned as more and more seats filled in and we were hoping to get our seats switched.

I'm not trying to be a negative person. I am only sharing our experience to maybe help those considering booking AT through SW and wanting to sit together to really consider carefully if you really want to do that.

 

[jacks1023]

I just checked in for my flight tomorrow at 11:30. Checked in at EXACTLY 11:30 and they put me and my DH in the 3 row seat one window and one aisle, our 2year old DS behind us in the middle seat, and our 6 year old DD behind us in the opposite window seat. OK so not a huge deal, hopefully we'll get the person sitting between me and DH to switch with DS when we get to the gate with no drama, and DH will take DD's but still annoying. It seems to me they are just filling seats from front to back when you do online check-in taking nothing else into consideration. There are tons of open rows behind us according to the AirTran website! When I check in for the flight back I'll try to check AirTran website first, and check in when I see the next row having 4 seats together (or 3 and 1).

 

[maxiesmom]

I just checked in for my flight tomorrow at 11:30. Checked in at EXACTLY 11:30 and they put me and my DH in the 3 row seat one window and one aisle, our 2year old DS behind us in the middle seat, and our 6 year old DD behind us in the opposite window seat. OK so not a huge deal, hopefully we'll get the person sitting between me and DH to switch with DS when we get to the gate with no drama, and DH will take DD's but still annoying. It seems to me they are just filling seats from front to back when you do online check-in taking nothing else into consideration. There are tons of open rows behind us according to the AirTran website! When I check in for the flight back I'll try to check AirTran website first, and check in when I see the next row having 4 seats together (or 3 and 1).

Yep. If you needed assigned seats you needed to book an Air Tran flight thru the Air Tran web site. If you didn't then you are getting whatever seats they assign you, with no guarantees any of them will be next to each other.

Still, there is hope. Ask at the gate if they can do a bit of seat re-arranging for you. If not, you need to all board, take your assigned seats, and then ask nicely if somone will swap. Maybe offer to buy them a drink for being so nice as to help you out.

 

[brettb]

Yep. If you needed assigned seats you needed to book an Air Tran flight thru the Air Tran web site. If you didn't then you are getting whatever seats they assign you, with no guarantees any of them will be next to each other.

Still, there is hope. Ask at the gate if they can do a bit of seat re-arranging for you. If not, you need to all board, take your assigned seats, and then ask nicely if somone will swap. Maybe offer to buy them a drink for being so nice as to help you out.

On our flights, everybody who was intermingled with us were fellow Southwest bookers. They were all just as eager to switch seats as we were because they had gotten split up as well.

At the gate, before we boarded, there were no groups of empty seats to switch us to. It was easy and friendly on the plane. Most likely because none of us were asking AirTran passengers who had paid for their advance seat selections.

I'm not saying you shouldn't ask at the gate, just not to expect that to help. But also, don't stress at that point. We were 2 for 2 with working things out once on-board.

 

[smj2610]

I have read most of the replies and if I missed the answer to my question I am sorry, I booked Airtran thru southwest for our upcoming flight October 14 thru the 23. My question is on the return flight as I normally just book thru airtran and check in at the disney ticket counter at the resort with my luggage and get my boarding passes, but I am wondering how this works with this now I have a 10:45 am flight from MCO to IND non stop, I will only have my iphone with me so do I check in on it and go to the counter at the resort and get my boarding pass and can I check my luggage there or do I now need to take my luggage on the Magical express and check it when I get to the airport.

 

[brettb]

I have read most of the replies and if I missed the answer to my question I am sorry, I booked Airtran thru southwest for our upcoming flight October 14 thru the 23. My question is on the return flight as I normally just book thru airtran and check in at the disney ticket counter at the resort with my luggage and get my boarding passes, but I am wondering how this works with this now I have a 10:45 am flight from MCO to IND non stop, I will only have my iphone with me so do I check in on it and go to the counter at the resort and get my boarding pass and can I check my luggage there or do I now need to take my luggage on the Magical express and check it when I get to the airport.

You should check in on your phone (or a computer) 24 hours before your flight on the Southwest web site. You will be assigned seats at that time.

You can do Resort Airline Checkin. Tell that that your flight is operated by AirTran and that you booked through Southwest - there should be no baggge fees. You have to do this X hours before your flight (3? 4?) and they open at 5am. They will print boarding passes for you that will have the seats you were assigned when you checked in at the 24-hour mark.

 

[SamSam]

You should check in on your phone (or a computer) 24 hours before your flight on the Southwest web site. You will be assigned seats at that time.

You can do Resort Airline Checkin. Tell that that your flight is operated by AirTran and that you booked through Southwest - there should be no baggge fees. You have to do this X hours before your flight (3? 4?) and they open at 5am. They will print boarding passes for you that will have the seats you were assigned when you checked in at the 24-hour mark.

So there are no luggage fees on Airtran when you book through Southwest!?!
I've been a big Southwest fan but this merger is causing me to have doubts. I booked a trip through Southwest to D.C. that ended up being on Airtran but I couldn't pick seats!!! Then I realized (so I thought) that I would also have to pay luggage fees and that my Southwest drink coupons can't be used (not a big deal, but irritating since the two are supposedly merged).

If luggage fees are waived that would really be a help.

 

[ssei7802]

No luggage fees if you book through Southwest and fly Air Tran, we did that last month.

 

[smj2610]

thanks for your reply that was my one big concern was getting my boarding pass and checking my luggage at the resort

 

[SamSam]

No luggage fees is very helpful...thanks!

 

[conniehar90]

Thanks for this thread. Even though my kids are older (12 and 16) they still don't want to sit by strangers. I am definitely avoiding the SW operated by AirTran flights even though some are a bit cheaper.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

No luggage fees if you book through Southwest and fly Air Tran, we did that last month.

But you must know this and be prepared to let the agent know. They have tried to charge folks.

 

[DebbieB]

Even if you have assigned seats on another airline, it doesn't guarantee anything. I've had my seat changed many times either in advance or at the gate, especially on Delta.

 

[Ride Junkie]

You should check in on your phone (or a computer) 24 hours before your flight on the Southwest web site. You will be assigned seats at that time.

You can do Resort Airline Checkin. Tell that that your flight is operated by AirTran and that you booked through Southwest - there should be no baggge fees. You have to do this X hours before your flight (3? 4?) and they open at 5am. They will print boarding passes for you that will have the seats you were assigned when you checked in at the 24-hour mark.

Good, this is exactly the info I was looking for. Just wanted to make sure we should check in with the airline 24-hours in advance, then go to the resort airline check-in desk the following morning.

I am also hoping for the best with our Air Tran flight (booked via SW). I don't want my 4-year-old DD to end up sitting with strangers, especially since this is the first time she's flown. At least it's a short flight (Orlando to Atlanta).

 

[pixidust1976]

Just checked in at EXACTLY the 24 hour mark for a SW flight through Airtran and it gave me the following seats:

11 E, 12 F, 12 D and my youngest child got two dashes in the seat number. So I called and they told me that her seat would be 20 F. 8 rows away It is all one confirmation number and all four people on the same confirmation number... you would THINK they could try to group those four people together.

 

[heathere3]

Just checked in at EXACTLY the 24 hour mark for a SW flight through Airtran and it gave me the following seats:

11 E, 12 F, 12 D and my youngest child got two dashes in the seat number. So I called and they told me that her seat would be 20 F. 8 rows away It is all one confirmation number and all four people on the same confirmation number... you would THINK they could try to group those four people together.

I have no doubt they'll move you, and if they don't, I don't know anyone who wouldn't switch to let a parent sit with their little one. If for no other reason than (as my friend says) do *you* really want to have to entertain my 4 year old the whole flight?

 

[Gracie09]

I have no doubt they'll move you, and if they don't, I don't know anyone who wouldn't switch to let a parent sit with their little one. If for no other reason than (as my friend says) do *you* really want to have to entertain my 4 year old the whole flight?

Or you move an adult or older child in your party to the seat. Thereby inconveniencing no one but your family. This whole threatening to have the other people in the seats around you babysit your child is really old.

 

[lazer]

I don't think ppl are really threatening to have strangers "watch their kids".

My four year would gladly sit next to anyone, but pretty sure most strangers wouldn't want to sit next to a random kid.

And, some of us don't have the luxury of booking on AirTran. Oddly enough the flight we needed was only available on AT thru SW. I even called and they said sometimes it happens, rarely but it does. So, I couldn't pay for boarding/preferred seats/whatever they're called these days.

We will see what happens 24 hours before our flight! And when we get to the airport.