Air Tran info wanted

[mom22belles]

We are flying out of Buffalo this summer . We are trying to decide between Southwest and Air Tran. We have flown on Southwest before and enjoyed our trip with them. Air Tran has a better arrival time for a non stop flight. Prices are about the same. we will be traavelling with 3 young children and a elderly person in a wheelchair so we really need info. on customer service and pre boarding. Any information would help us in making our choice.

Nancy

 

[wee-haggis]

We are flying out of Buffalo this summer . We are trying to decide between Southwest and Air Tran. We have flown on Southwest before and enjoyed our trip with them. Air Tran has a better arrival time for a non stop flight. Prices are about the same. we will be traavelling with 3 young children and a elderly person in a wheelchair so we really need info. on customer service and pre boarding. Any information would help us in making our choice.

Nancy

I don't think Air TRan have non stop whereas SWA has 2 per day.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Air Tran has one non stop to Orlando per day.

DH used to fly them all the time - weekly infact. It's his airline of choice.

I've never flown SW so I'm not sure how the boarding works, but Air Tran is just like a regular carrier. You get you advanced seat assignments and board according to your row. You should be able to pre-board with your wheelchair.
They have a great website www.airtran.com
If you book you can log on within 24 hours of your flight and get you seat and boarding passes online.

If you have any specific questions, let me know.

 

[wee-haggis]

Air Tran has one non stop to Orlando per day.

DH used to fly them all the time - weekly infact. It's his airline of choice.

I've never flown SW so I'm not sure how the boarding works, but Air Tran is just like a regular carrier. You get you advanced seat assignments and board according to your row. You should be able to pre-board with your wheelchair.
They have a great website www.airtran.com
If you book you can log on within 24 hours of your flight and get you seat and boarding passes online.

If you have any specific questions, let me know.

I think you'll find that Air Tran only have a non stop flight on Saturdays wheras during the rest of the week its one stop.
I believe they fly non stop from Rochester though.

 

[mom22belles]

Thanks for the replies! We are in fact flying out on a Sat. Air Tran has 1 non stop flight that lands in Orlando at 3 ish . We don't really want to spend the night in Buffalo so the morning flight on Southwest is out which leaves the later flight which doesn't land till 9 pm. We will have our 3 kids ages 8, 4 and 1 with us so 9 pm might be a wee bit to late. The afternoon flight with Air Tran is during nap time for 1 year old which may make for an easier flight.

I do like the idea of pre selected seats though

Nancy

 

[SueM in MN]

We've flown Airtran a couple of times. The last was our trip this March.
Here's a link to their page for travelers with disabilities and special needs. If you identify your elderly person as a person with a disability or special needs when you are making your reservation, you should be able to pick your seats right then.

They do allow preboarding for guests traveling with wheelchairs; we've found it's best to ask the gate agent/make sure the gate agent knows we need to do this. Not all airlines automatically preboard people with wheelchairs, so if you need to do that, it's best to ask.

 

[jenkh]

Hey Guys,

Quick q for those familar with AirTran. For their flights from Buffalo to Orlando, when you click on the details it says layover... not changing planes.

I just wanted to confirm. So are most of the flights just layovers? Or do you actually change planes. Because if it's just a layover, I'd like to keep it in mind for a back-up for southwest. ( I don't leave till December... so I got some time)

Thanks!