Actual experience airtran through southwest

[tyzzle]

 

[luv2go2disney]

Ok I am stressing about this now. We always fly SW and pay for EBCI and this time our outbound flight is operated by AT. I had no idea that there were this many problems with AT. My kids will freak out if they aren't close to me , especially my 6yo. Is there any way to pay to get assigned seats? I was prepared to pay for the EBCI anyway. This is crazy that they would separate families like that! Too bad the prices just took an enormous jump over the last couple of days or I would be changing this.

 

[maxiesmom]

I had no idea that there were this many problems with AT. My kids will freak out if they aren't close to me , especially my 6yo. Is there any way to pay to get assigned seats? I was prepared to pay for the EBCI anyway. This is crazy that they would separate families like that!

I'm afraid there is no way for you to pay for seat assignments. If you would have booked through the AirTran site you could have paid for seats, but you would have also had to pay for your checked bags.

They do tell you before you purchase the tickets what policies are in affect for your flights, depending on which airline is running each flight. The Southwest site states: "AirTran has assigned seating. Advance seat assignments are not available. Customers who purchase an AirTran segment on Southwest channels will be assigned a seat at the time of check in." As I said, this is all listed before you finalize your ticket purchase.

 

[DVCisME]

By all means please correct me if I am wrong, but I thought it was highly unlikely for an airline to separate children under 9? I thought that was considered an unaccompanied minor?

Would it just be more likely that a family would be separated as opposed to children and adults?

 

[maxiesmom]

By all means please correct me if I am wrong, but I thought it was highly unlikely for an airline to separate children under 9? I thought that was considered an unaccompanied minor?

Would it just be more likely that a family would be separated as opposed to children and adults?

They are only considered unaccompanied if an adult is not on the aircraft with them. They can still be seated apart.

 

[SeiterClan]

So anyone know if you can link confirmation #'s together so that when you check in at the 24 hr mark you will more likely get seated together?

My DH & I booked a flight through SW but have a plane change for the last part of our flight that is run by AT. I used RR points so therefore we have separate conf. #'s & to make things worse we only have 50 mins to catch that flight IF all runs smoothly meaning we probably won't have time or even much of a chance of switching our seats at the airport/gate.
:/

I know I can call but just wondered if anyone had experience with this and if I should call SW or AT?

TIA!!!

 

[jennbunn]

Me,dh,and ds 10 are flying out tomorrow on AirTran that I booked through southwest. I checked us in at the 24 hour mark and we are seated next to each other. was a little nervous as on the seat map it just showed a bunch a single random free seats. Will let you all know how it goes tomorrow.

 

[kmermaid]

jennbunn - just curious are they in the rear of the plane. I see on my july flight on airtran that the rear rows are blocked off so you can't choose a seat there.

 

[lesliekatya]

Jus checked in right at the 24 hour mark. We have one whole row for the five of us. (The very last row). Oh well at least we're together.

 

[Echo queen]

Jus checked in right at the 24 hour mark. We have one whole row for the five of us. (The very last row). Oh well at least we're together.

We had the last row on a SW flight before and I really didn't like it. The seats did not recline.:sad2

Seeing as your heading in, it will get lost in all the fun your going to have. have a great trip.

 

[jennyjinx3]

We had an Airtran flight on Monday home from MCO, there was a mom and daughter behind us. When another woman walked up she said to them that one of them was in her seat. The mom said "Oh there was a switch now you are sitting over there so I can sit with my daughter". She did not ask, and was quite pushy about it.

The other woman said "No that is not ok, I am claustrophobic and cannot sit by the window". I thought it was going to get heated, as the mom kept insisting that she was not going to give up sitting with her daughter.

But another couple rearranged their seating to allow for the woman to sit on the aisle, which helped solve the problem. But come on, if you really need to switch to be beside your child, please be kind about it and actually ASK the person!!!

 

[shyjade]

We had the last row on a SW flight before and I really didn't like it. The seats did not recline.:sad2

Be happy your seat didn't recline. The last time we flew AirTran my seat was broke and wouldn't stay in the upright position for take-off. For all the hounding the flight attendants do about making sure your seat is in the upright position for take-off & landing, they could've cared less when I pointed out that my seat was broken. In fact, they apparently already knew that but definately didn't care.


My question is if my reservation/confirmation number from SW for our AT flight is only a single number for the 2 of us, does that increase our chances of getting assigned seats next to each other at the 24-hour mark, vs. those who have multiple confirmation/reservation numbers?

 

[wgeo]

Be happy your seat didn't recline. The last time we flew AirTran my seat was broke and wouldn't stay in the upright position for take-off. For all the hounding the flight attendants do about making sure your seat is in the upright position for take-off & landing, they could've cared less when I pointed out that my seat was broken. In fact, they apparently already knew that but definately didn't care.


My question is if my reservation/confirmation number from SW for our AT flight is only a single number for the 2 of us, does that increase our chances of getting assigned seats next to each other at the 24-hour mark, vs. those who have multiple confirmation/reservation numbers?

My good friend just checked in for her flight tomorrow out of MKE. They had one confirmation number and are flying with 5 people - friend her 2 kids (ages 7 and 9) and 2 grandparents. My friend and the 2 grandparents were assigned a row of 3 together and the kids were in random spots elsewhere on the plane. So who knows how the computer assigns people. Friend is very happy though, b/c this will allow her to sit with her kids and the grandparents will take the random other seats.

 

[Sharon G]

Here is my experience. Booked a flight to Fort Lauderdale from Portland Maine 6 weeks ago and bought early check-in. Flight to Fort Lauderdale was completely southwest. Last night I checked in at the 24 hour mark for our return flight home. 1st leg is fort laud to bwi on AirTran, than bwi to Portland ME on southwest. Received a boarding pass for AirTran in row 12. An aisle seat and a middle. I'm happy with that. Got A 19 and 20 boarding pass for the SW leg. So all in all worked out fine for me!

 

[jayhawk74]

if you book through the AirTran site for the same flight you can choose your seat for an added fee- but if you book through Sw you can't choose and are assigned a seat at the 24 hr mark.

On the employee website SWA announced today that soon customers who book an AirTran flight via Southwest will be able to purchase seat assignments, and those customers that purchase SWA flights via AirTran will be able to purchase Upgraded Boarding. The big question is how soon is soon?

 

[helenk]

On the employee website SWA announced today that soon customers who book an AirTran flight via Southwest will be able to purchase seat assignments, and those customers that purchase SWA flights via AirTran will be able to purchase Upgraded Boarding. The big question is how soon is soon?

I wonder if once they make this change if those of us that booked an Air Tran flight will be able to go back and pick a seat?

 

[spidet1964]

Have to admit I'm confused by the changes a little myself. My SWA flight going out from STL is on Airtran. I have to say AT has always been bad about sitting families together. When I went to Disney in 2009 I flew them and I voluntarily switched seats so a man could sit with his 5 year old. I fly alone so it's no biggie for me. Only issue is my flight has already been changed once and I will not be happy if I get bumped.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have to say AT has always been bad about sitting families together. When I went to Disney in 2009 I flew them and I voluntarily switched seats so a man could sit with his 5 year old. I fly alone so it's no biggie for me.

Without having been with that man when he purchased his tickets abmnd had the opportunity to (pay to) preselect his seats, I can only guess that despite AirTran's website being clear on the reasons why someone would want to do that, he chose to rely on the kindness of strangers to save a few dollars.

 

[lylone]

I don't think AT is bad about sitting families together. We always pay extra to choose where we sit. If a family comes and tries to get us to move to accommodate them...then I am not moving until they give me the $$ I paid for the seat.
I guess those who have kids are entitled over the rest of us....

 

[frisbeego]

I've never flown AT before, but will this fall (booked through SW site).

I read this on SW's site before booking: "Customers who purchase an AirTran segment on Southwest channels will be assigned a seat at the time of check in."

Does that mean that when DS and I check in online we will be automatically given seat assignments with no choice in the matter? Or does it mean that DS and I can choose among the then-available seats?

I understand the risks involved and will go with the flow on travel day (and I'll be armed with smiles and bribes if we're seated apart). The only thing that would bug me is if there are 2 side-by-side seats available when I check in, but AT nonetheless gives up 2 seats apart from one another. Because we have 2 different reservation numbers (though the SW service agent told me that they were linked), I assume the likelihood of this happening increases.