Air Tran Reward flights?

[TJDisneymama]

anyone have experience redeeming these? I just applied and got approved for the SW Visa so I could transfer my SW points over to AT reward points (B/C SW doesn't fly non-stop out of our airport), and then went over to AT to look at available reward flghts just to get an idea (trip is in april, they don't even have our dates out yet) and there's hardly any good flights available to choose from!! I only looked quickly at some march dates but there were no Sunday flights available (we have to come home on a Sunday, not an option to come home on a different day) and I don't think I saw any nonstop flights either!! This is depressing. Our whole trip depends on getting affordable airfare during a week which there normally isn't much affordable airfare, lol (school vacation week) and I thought I found a way around it, but now I'm thinking I just went ahead and got a new credit card (last thing I need) for no good reason.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Bumping.....anyone?

 

[dis-happy]

AT does have a somewhat limited schedule as far as airports go, although the no flights on Sun thing is unusual. We used up a bunch of flight credits recently on visitors and I was glad to see them (flight credits, not the visitors ) go...too inconvenient. They used to fly to San Diego where we have family but now we're limited to LAX. My dh still books AT for his Charlotte to Baltimore/DC business flights though. And oh! Trying to switch AT credits to SW credits was totally a losing proposition....great disparity there. Not sure if it's better the other way around.

 

[TJDisneymama]

There are plenty of actual *flights*.......just not many that were eligible with rewards. I'm just wondering if they don't put out the reward info right away (this is for April) OR if maybe they just have a limited # of reward flights and they sell out fast. I guess once they actually put flights out for my dates I'll have a better idea.

 

[dis-happy]

I've noticed in general that prices are up while being able to use free points ( for airfare and hotels) is pretty limited for the spring break season next year. You may be SOL. During the summer we had to book our guests into business class seats at double the points, and it wasn't just AT, USAir ( where we also have pts) was just as bad. And with the SW merger there is probably a lot more competition for the AT flights.

Surprised you have a non-stop option as sooooo many flights go through ATL. Maybe call and see when they are releasing your dates and be ready to jump early that morning. GL

 

[TJDisneymama]

well they just released flights this a.m. and there are no coach reward flights available the entire month, only business class. Is this the norm? do they start out with only biz flights and add coach at some point? Why would they not let you use your points on any coach flights? So frustrating.

 

[bear_mom]

Deleted for wrong info.....

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

well they just released flights this a.m. and there are no coach reward flights available the entire month, only business class. Is this the norm? do they start out with only biz flights and add coach at some point? Why would they not let you use your points on any coach flights? So frustrating.

Why would they open up a lot of award seats ("free") flights during a time when they can sell out seats?

I can tell you that on UA, they do occasionally open up award seats which were previously not available. I don't know if AirTran does.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Why would they open up a lot of award seats ("free") flights during a time when they can sell out seats?
.

IDK, I have no experience with miles/reward flights so IHave no idea what the protocol is, that's why I'm asking. I was told the award flights sell out quickly, that's why I wasn't seeing any available for my first flight (I first looked weeks after they released). Now here I am the minute they release flights for my 2nd flight, and there's stil nothing (coach)

Sent from my SCH-I405 using DISBoards

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

well they just released flights this a.m. and there are no coach reward flights available the entire month, only business class. Is this the norm? do they start out with only biz flights and add coach at some point? Why would they not let you use your points on any coach flights? So frustrating.

Yes, this is how they always release: BC 1st then over the next day or so coach. Keep checking and soon you will see coach pricing & availability. SWA is scheduled to extend their calendar tomorrow so the fact that AT is showing anything for those new dates is a pretty good sign that they will extend their calandar tomorrow.

If my trip was dependent on getting great fares, some reward seats, I'd gladly choose a connecting flight than to pay full price. I prefer non stops esp since our whole flight is only 2-2.5 hrs but unless you have babies/toddlers or you're flying during winter weather, the connecting ones aren't so bad. It's still way better than driving. Free is awesome.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping. Now I know to keep checking.

Sent from my SCH-I405 using DISBoards

 

[TJDisneymama]

it's weird b/c all the coach flights are only $5 less than the Biz flights. Strange how they do things.....

 

[bear_mom]

FYI - I booked free flights tonight on dates that were released yesterday. Glad I listened to the person on the phone yesterday who said to check daily to see when the A+ flights would be added.

Emily

 

[TJDisneymama]

looks like I was right in my initial assumption that they weren't going to have any coach reward flights on sundays, the day I need. I didn't know if there were just none showing on past sundays because they had sold out quickly, but it looks like they just don't offer them because just about every other day of the week now has coach reward flights offered. luckily the price for my flight dropped low enough that I felt ok paying for it.

 

[TJDisneymama]

is it likely that an april flight would be sold out already (opened last month)? It just says --- under coach flights.