Air Tran operated flights with SWA

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

It is quite ridiculous that they are drawing this out as long as they are. And they do not make it clear that certain Airtran policies still apply if you book through Southwest. If Airtran/Southwest is going to screw over customers they should deal with the consequences when they're called out on it. The only reason they're doing it is so they continue to nickel and dime people with more fees for booking through Airtran. They need to become one airline with one set of policy and get it over with.

I disagree. They are not dragging out the merger so that they can continue to collect AirTran fees for as long as they can. If they loved fees so much, they'd continue to charge them post-merger. But they're not going to. They're dragging the merger out so that the integration goes smooth. If you saw what happened with the USAirways/America West merger, the Delta/Northwest merger and in particular the United/Continental merger, you'd know that fast integrations are a disaster and far worse than the few inconveniences taking place with Southwest/AirTran.

BobK/Orlando

 

[lizzi6692]

I disagree. They are not dragging out the merger so that they can continue to collect AirTran fees for as long as they can. If they loved fees so much, they'd continue to charge them post-merger. But they're not going to. They're dragging the merger out so that the integration goes smooth. If you saw what happened with the USAirways/America West merger, the Delta/Northwest merger and in particular the United/Continental merger, you'd know that fast integrations are a disaster and far worse than the few inconveniences taking place with Southwest/AirTran.

BobK/Orlando

They are dragging it out to continue getting the fees. Southwest can't keep the fees once they complete the merger because it goes against the very thing that attracted customers to them in the first place. I call BS on not being able to integrate computer systems(which is what they claim the hold up is) in 2 years, especially since they've been officially one airline since last March. They are dragging this out as much as they can because it benefits them financially. They are choosing to rebrand the planes before they finish the integration rather than the other way around because it helps them not their customers.

 

[LovetheMouse12302]

I apologize if this is old news but since I'm a newbie to flying I had no idea that an AirTran flight booked through Southwest is not eligible for resort airline check-in. We were told during our resort check-in that Disney would take care of it and we would receive a packet on our door. We woke up to no packet so my DH walked over to the desk and they then informed us they couldn't check us in and we had to do it on our own.

 

[DebbieB]

I think part of the reason they are dragging it out is because it takes time to reconfigure the seating on the planes. First, they are subleasing all the AirTran 717's to Delta at the rate of 2 or 3 a month. Those planes are smaller and have 3 x 2 seating, plus have business class. So the flights still operating on those planes are staying AirTran until they are gone. Also the AirTran 737's need to be reconfigured to get rid of the business class.

It seems like they could have handled it better. Just left the systems separate until everything is switched over, supposedly by the end of next year. They are losing the bag fees on AirTran flights booked through SW so doing this for fees doesn't make sense.

 

[Soon2B4]

We flew an Airtran booked through SW flight on Saturday home from TPA. When we checked in at the 24hr mark, we had seats all over the place. My kids are 4 and 6. When we got the airport and checked our bags, the girl tried to get us seats together but it was a full flight. She managed to get us 2 together, one directly infront of those, and one a few rows back. She apologized and said to try at the gate since they can work more magic than they could. I was happy with what she did manage to get, but I asked at the gate. At first they couldn't do much and said they would keep trying as the flight got closer and they saw who all checked in. When we went to board, they had new boarding passes for us. We had 3 together in row 11 (my kids and I) and my husband in row 15. That was just fine with me! I didn't care about my DH and I, just as long as I was near my kids. Overall, I was pleased with the experience. I felt really bad for the SW employees in TPA. (Everyone I dealt with was wearing SW clothes and one even said she is still learning the Airtran system) It isn't their fault and this is causing them a lot of extra work.

The only thing I was bummed about was I couldn't use my free SW drink tickets

 

[msjprincess]

I apologize if this is old news but since I'm a newbie to flying I had no idea that an AirTran flight booked through Southwest is not eligible for resort airline check-in. We were told during our resort check-in that Disney would take care of it and we would receive a packet on our door. We woke up to no packet so my DH walked over to the desk and they then informed us they couldn't check us in and we had to do it on our own.

Did they say why? Both Airtran and SWA are participating airlines.

 

[supersuperwendy]

We have AirTran booked through Southwest for our October visit. Now I'm getting nervous about the seating and resort airline check in. My youngest is only 3 so hopefully she's put with either myself, husband or 15 year old daughter. When is the merger supposed to be complete? Eventually it will all be southwest correct?

 

[lizzi6692]

We have AirTran booked through Southwest for our October visit. Now I'm getting nervous about the seating and resort airline check in. My youngest is only 3 so hopefully she's put with either myself, husband or 15 year old daughter. When is the merger supposed to be complete? Eventually it will all be southwest correct?

The merger is supposed to be completed by sometime next year.

 

[supersuperwendy]

The merger is supposed to be completed by sometime next year.

Not soon enough to ease my mind

I just took a look at SW prices and it would be an additional $698. So it looks like we'll be taking our chances with airtran via sw. From what I've been reading the likelyhood of getting bumped seems high. There are 6 of us.. 2 adults/4 kids. Would they bump us together?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I was TOLD by a SW representative that the choosing seat options is NOT available in the SW computer system so thats why it isnt an option when booking an AT flight. Same thing with baggage fees, the SW system cannot accomodate those fees.

It's interesting how so many people are so upset that the transition prevents them from using the other airline's seat selection programming, but NOT ONE SINGLE POSTER HAS INDICATED THE SLIGHTEST COMPLAINT that booking an AirTran flight through Southwest allows these same passengers two free checked bags each.

And they do not make it clear that certain Airtran policies still apply if you book through Southwest. If Airtran/Southwest is going to screw over customers they should deal with the consequences when they're called out on it.

Yes, they do make the conditions clear before you pay for your tickets. No airline or other business entity can reasonably be held responsible for its customers choice not to read the information provided, or reading comprehension.

They are dragging it out to continue getting the fees. Southwest can't keep the fees once they complete the merger because it goes against the very thing that attracted customers to them in the first place.

Sigh. Nothing is being dragged out. Southwest is taking the amount of time needed to transition the merger properly. Fees?
Passengers booking SW flights through AT can't opt/pay for EBCI (potential fee loss $12.50 per passenger).
Passengers booking AT flights through SW can't pay for advance seat selecting (potential fee loss $6-$20 per passenger).
Passengers booking AT flights through SW can't pay for their first two pieces of checked luggage (potential fee loss $20-$40 per passenger).

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not soon enough to ease my mind

I just took a look at SW prices and it would be an additional $698. So it looks like we'll be taking our chances with airtran via sw. From what I've been reading the likelyhood of getting bumped seems high. There are 6 of us.. 2 adults/4 kids. Would they bump us together?

Why do you think you'd be likely to get bumped? Check in 24 hours prior to departure.

 

[tyzzle]

It's interesting how so many people are so upset that the transition prevents them from using the other airline's seat selection programming, but NOT ONE SINGLE POSTER HAS INDICATED THE SLIGHTEST COMPLAINT that booking an AirTran flight through Southwest allows these same passengers two free checked bags each.

I would gladly pay the baggage fee if I could use my points to book on airtran, but I can't because those seats aren't available for the flights I want (and booked seats on using a credit) However I can book on southwest for my flights using points. Still might just pay and save my points. Either way it is just disappointing

 

[tyzzle]

Why do you think you'd be likely to get bumped? Check in 24 hours prior to departure.

People have reported being bumped even after checking in at the 24 hour mark

 

[kaytieeldr]

People have reported being bumped even after checking in at the 24 hour mark

One person here, unique situation where the person was notified several weeks prior to departure that they'd been moved to a later flight. They were eventually able to move themselves back to the original flight - only to get bumped at the airport because it turned out that entire earlier flight had been booked by a youth group.

Technically, yes, "multiple persons" were bumped from a Southwest flight despite checking in as much as 24 hours before departure - but that incident was a rare event, not business as usual.

 

[hsmamato2]

What I;m seeing is airtran flights are not nonstop,while the SWA fares are from my airport,and it looks like the airtran flights are cheaper.....
does booking with points work the same for either choice? I mean RR points... like,if I book an airtran thru SWA flight,then change my flight later, it works the same? And anyone know what a flight with one stop,no plane change means?

 

[DebbieB]

What I;m seeing is airtran flights are not nonstop,while the SWA fares are from my airport,and it looks like the airtran flights are cheaper.....
does booking with points work the same for either choice? I mean RR points... like,if I book an airtran thru SWA flight,then change my flight later, it works the same? And anyone know what a flight with one stop,no plane change means?

One stop, no plane change means the plane lands, people not continuing get off, people continuing stay on, new people get on, plane takes off again.

I did it in March - Pittsburgh-Baltimore-Orlando on Southwest. We landed in Baltimore, the flight attendants announced if you were staying on to Orlando to remain seated until they did a count. They said there were 41 people continuing. The other people got off. They did their count. They said OK, the count matched and we were free to change seats. I moved up to the third row. Within a couple minutes, the new people started boarding. We left the gate and took off for Orlando. Time on the ground was probably 30 minutes. If it's an AirTran flight, you would probably keep the same seat(s) for both legs.

 

[LovetheMouse12302]

Did they say why? Both Airtran and SWA are participating airlines.

She tried to do it but said their system wouldn't allow her to. We were surprised. I didn't think it would be an issue.

 

[DebbieB]

She tried to do it but said their system wouldn't allow her to. We were surprised. I didn't think it would be an issue.

It could have been an issue with their particular reservation. Sometimes you are flagged for extra security.

 

[Nancy F]

Seems I'm the only person who hates that Airtran is going over to SWA. I just booked a non stop flight through Airtran for Dec. I will be so mad if they change over to a SWA flight. I always upgrade to business 24 hrs out. SWA doesn't even offer it. I will not be flying SWA. Going to start booking with US Air after this next trip.
Nancy

 

[Disneylvr]

Seems I'm the only person who hates that Airtran is going over to SWA. I just booked a non stop flight through Airtran for Dec. I will be so mad if they change over to a SWA flight. I always upgrade to business 24 hrs out. SWA doesn't even offer it. I will not be flying SWA. Going to start booking with US Air after this next trip.
Nancy

Add me to your list! My family loves AirTran and will really miss it when the transition is complete. We too will not be flying SWA and will have to use either Delta or American.