Air Tran from Buffalo... Yay or nay??

[My 2 princesses]

The 2 times we have visted The World, we flew out of Buffalo and via SWA as per all the recommendations on the Dis. I'm now liking the fares on AT more than the ones on SWA, only problem is, we are limited to the number of non-stops.

Have you flown by AT? Do they have the same perk like SWA where you can get a credit to use for future travel?

And if you have a crystal ball, do you see great rates for SWA, so I don't have to book on AT

 

[tone.def]

Just from my personal experience with Air Tran, I don't care if they have better rates than SW, I'll never give them a cent again. Why? I've booked non-stop flights with them only to be bumped to stop overs. I've booked stop over flights at 6:00 a.m. out of BUF only to be bumped to a later connection and have been sitting at Atlanta for 3+ hours instead of 1.5 or 2 and finding out at the airport at check in instead of via the email confirmation they're supposed to send you. Now that I have a child, I won't risk that hassle.

 

[MCFADDEN5]

We are thinking of flying from Buffalo also. Any more advice, tips?

 

[wendinator]

Just from my personal experience with Air Tran, I don't care if they have better rates than SW, I'll never give them a cent again. Why? I've booked non-stop flights with them only to be bumped to stop overs. I've booked stop over flights at 6:00 a.m. out of BUF only to be bumped to a later connection and have been sitting at Atlanta for 3+ hours instead of 1.5 or 2 and finding out at the airport at check in instead of via the email confirmation they're supposed to send you. Now that I have a child, I won't risk that hassle.

I wish I'd read this before I booked my first flights with them! I've got the BUF-ATL-MCO outbound and direct MCO-BUF return. I'll keep my fingers crossed and report back (in August).

 

[dopeyluvsgrumpy]

We've flown AT a few times out of Detroit and have never had a problem with them.

 

[DutchsMommy]

We've flown both AT and SWA and have never had a problem with either. We are flying AT this October again. It is true that AT does shuffle the flight times around more than SWA. I think our flight time has moved about 20 mins since I booked. We've never been moved from direct to stop-over, and I tell you I would be ticked!!! So, hopefully that does not happen this time!

 

[CanadianPaco]

We've flown AT from Detroit without any issues and will be flying with them again this August but out of Buffalo. Direct down and an Atlanta stop back. I wouldn't hestitate booking with them again!

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

DH is a FT with Airtran and flies with them a couple times per month. We usually fly with them and never had any problems.

My brother booked a stopover flight to MCO last summer from BUF and they switched him to the non-stop instead, so things happen for the good with them too.

You just have to make sure you pre-select your seats when you do the booking. (sometimes there is a charge) My advise is to not rely on seat selection when you arrive at the airport. I've flown them many times to MCO and ATL and never had a problem with schedule changes.

 

[Alderbrook]

Flown with them quite a few times & never a problem. Seems flying with them out of BUF doesn't cause many issues. They did change our flight time down last year, but it was only by 25 mins, no biggie. We're flying home with them this September & I would rather fly with them then SW as I don't like SW boarding policy.

 

[webworm]

We have flown nonstop with AirTran a few times out of Pittsburgh and Detroit with NO issues at all. They were great! I have flown SW and Spirit as well with no issues and whoever has the best deal is who I book with.

 

[My 2 princesses]

for your input. I booked SWA back from MCO as that flight is $109, which I am willing to pay though I still miss the $59/$69 flights from before. Air Tran has a sale which ends today, so I might bend a book them going out at $109.

Did I hear that you call collect credits from price drops on AT just like you can on SWA? Is that true?

 

[tdurcak]

I have flown Air Tran and also got bumped to a stop over. I usually try and book most of my clients on Southwest or Jet Blue. JetBlue doesn't offer as many non stop flights a day, but there prices are fantastic. Also you can look at flying out of the Rochester Airport, it is about an extra 45 minutes away. We are flying a family of 6 out Rochester for $1000 in October. It's worth the extra 45 minutes, we saved ourselves $700 US.

 

[minnie56]

I won't do Air Tran and though Jetblue prices are higher than Southwest, I do prefer them!