Air Tran - trusted them, not again

[iloveokw]

Ok, I swore I would never book Air Tran again (lots of reasons) mostly because they way they change flights. I was booking our flights for our DCL cruise in August on March 30 - we are flying down SWA but their only return was 10:30 a.m. or late at night so I decided to book Air Trans noonish flight. I checked yesterday - of course it was gone - two flights at around 9:30 a.m. instead. There were later flights but I don't trust them not to change them. So now I am going to fly out of Tampa a 2 p.m. on Southwest for a fraction of the cost. Live and learn.

 

[OhMari]

I thought our flight was gone, but when a flight is full, they take it off the website. Did you check the flights for your day or your actual itinerary?
I freaked out too when I saw the flight gone, but it was on our itinerary with 2 seats left of those were ours.

 

[iloveokw]

Nope it was GONE!

 

[a1tinkfans]

They are FAMOUS for doing this, I would NEVER NEVER NEVER fly them!!!

Glad you were able to work it out though!!

 

[maj42169]

I always fly Airtran...........sorry you encountered such a problem!

 

[bicker]

All airlines that allow you to book flight six months in advance do this. If your paramount concern is itinerary changes, then it is best to wait until four or five months prior to the flight. While that won't always eliminate all changes, it greatly reduces them.

 

[Disneyhappy]

Yep! While other airlines may do this on a much less frequent basis,Airtran is notorious for this wwhich is why I was glad SW came to PHL. I have never had SW change a single flight time. I book them as soon as the schedule opens up and I fly them at least 4 times a year for personal and 5 times a year business. We fly in and out of Tampa all the time. While it will take a little longer to get there, it is a great airport!

 

[bicker]

Delta is also pretty notorious for this, and US Airways too. At least from the Northeast.

 

[Disneydonnam]

That is why we will never fly airtran again. Our flight went from a am nonstop flight to a flight that was going to take over 6 hrs. We switched to southwest but in Sept. we are trying Jetblue/

 

[taliategan]

I just noticed that both of my flights changed at the end of June. The return flight actually for the better. It is a connecting flight, leaves MCO 1/2 hour later and lands an hour earlier - avoids a lot of the layover time in Atlanta. But the departing flight was moved up 2 hours on a day I was planning on working most of the day. Not sure what to do, as Airtran's only other late flight willn't get to MCO to around midnight. POssibly may cancel, and go with SW on that flight.

 

[emmababy]

Do they cancel their nonstop flights often?

 

[TheWog]

Bicker, are you saying all airlines that let you book six months in advance always cancel the flights?

Why does Airtran do this? Is it in their business model? Do they price out certain routes and then need to change? I would like any insight as to why they do this.

 

[bicker]

Bicker, are you saying all airlines that let you book six months in advance always cancel the flights?

All the airlines that let you book 330 days in advance all change flight schedules along the way, which could result in some flights seeming to be canceled, and others moved to different times.

Why do [airlines] do this? Is it in their business model? Do they price out certain routes and then need to change? I would like any insight as to why they do this.

There is no way to predict, with sufficient accuracy, 11 months prior, or even 6 months prior, what demand will be. What is released so far in advance is a flight schedule projection, which is intentionally refined, several times, before the flight.

 

[bear_mom]

I fly equally between Airtran and Northwest and I always have way more time changes with Northwest than Airtran. I think it is the nature of flying these days.

Emily

 

[TheWog]

I guess I should consider myself lucky then booking with JB as we bought our tickets in October for April departure and the flight had one change to the departure time which delayed it by 2 minutes. I would think you purchased a particular departure time and route that you would be able to receive that service at the specified day and time. Good to know.

 

[bicker]

I would think you purchased a particular departure time and route that you would be able to receive that service at the specified day and time. Good to know.

It is a common misperception. Hopefully we've saved a few more folks from being surprised later.

 

[OzFan]

I swore too last year that we weren't going to fly AT again after they changed our flights from NS to lay overs in Atlanta. They had even put my husband on a totally different flight. BUT...they have offered the best fares and the best times thus far for my family this trip. So, I booked with them again. If our flights change I'm sure all I will have to do is call, and get them changed to something close or even better than what I have. I am just going to roll with the flow this year.

We have flown with them several times before and found that the flight attendants were WONDERFUL, the planes are newer, and we always get there ahead of schedule. What more could I ask for! : )