Air Tran Users Please Help

[Morgand]

Airtran finally has Jan schedule released but the web specials are pretty high at $102 when we are used to seeing $59 for most flights out of DTW.
Are these prices for the web special likely to come down over the next while? How long might it take for this to happen? I know you guys know the answer from you past experiences. Thanks

 

[DuffGT06]

Hi, they will run better specials, usually about 3-4 months out. I'm at their hub here in Atlanta, though, so I would double check that they offer the same types of fares from your location.

Good luck!

 

[dioxide45]

It is still very early and I don't think they have any sales on at this time. Keep waiting, I am sure you will see better fares.

 

[maciec]

keep waiting!

 

[braydensmom]

I think it probably depends on when you are travelling. If you are away in January during Christmas break, I would guess those are the best rates. I bought airtran out of dtw in March for October and got them at 59. Too bad Airtran doesnt give you credit for lower priced fares

 

[johnnyr]

They were higher over the weekend. I am looking for Christmas week. Today, our return is cheaper ($142), but the departure is still $340. I watched the last batch of fares they released and it was about 5 days until the decent web specials started to show up. So far nothing worth jumping on.

 

[Missytara]

The first week or so, it will be the highest price; then they will start to come down.

Here is what I noticed about my trip; I am going November 28th (Thanksgiving weekend) to December 5th.

I am going non-stop, both ways, from BWI to MCO. The fare started out at $248.00 and bumped up to $390.00 at one point. It started back down and eventually got to $202.00, then bumped back up again to $272.00. I finally locked in last Thursday at 6:30 am at $172.00 - I don't think it is going to go any lower.

Here's what I found - starting mid-day on Friday till morning on Monday, the fares seem to be the highest. They started to drop on Tuesday through Thursday. I was checking on my lunch hour and after work and it got down to $202.00. I took a chance last Thursday and logged on as soon as I got to work, and lo and behold, it was down to$172.00. I booked it.

By the time, I rechecked it when I went home, it was back up to $192.00 again on Friday night.

Also, if you go through a site like I did, called kayak.com, you save the $6.00 seat fee each way.

 

[delmar411]

they might also drop at the end of this month when Southwest releases their fares for that time period.

 

[mmackeymouse]

they might also drop at the end of this month when Southwest releases their fares for that time period.

I'm really praying so.

OP, I am sure you noticed this......for the longest time, fares were $58 each way for us. But, as you mentioned, now that January has been released, it is up to $92 for us. I am praying they come back down.

I am not sure if they will come back down to $58 again. I have no problem waiting. As the PP said, I am hoping SW's release will push the fares downward. I am afraid to wait to the 3-4 month out mark, as with oil on the rise, I am not sure what will happen with the trends in airfare.

Note: In May, AT was scheduling 7 months out into December with low $58 fares.

 

[Minnesota!]

I think it probably depends on when you are travelling. If you are away in January during Christmas break, I would guess those are the best rates. I bought airtran out of dtw in March for October and got them at 59. Too bad Airtran doesnt give you credit for lower priced fares

I might be reading this wrong, but you CAN get credit for lower priced fares. I did it just a few months ago

My trip is currently at $102/each way. I am holding out for a few more weeks to book...hoping it comes down even a little bit..

 

[kevgraub]

I might be reading this wrong, but you CAN get credit for lower priced fares. I did it just a few months ago

My trip is currently at $102/each way. I am holding out for a few more weeks to book...hoping it comes down even a little bit..

Did you do it without paying a change fee? Most everyone on here has reported that Airtran would not do a credit for the difference in their ticket prices without paying the $75 change fee, which almost always wipes out any potential savings.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Did you do it without paying a change fee? Most everyone on here has reported that Airtran would not do a credit for the difference in their ticket prices without paying the $75 change fee, which almost always wipes out any potential savings.

Do you know if it is $75 per booking to change or $75 per ticket?

Either way, I think I am going to wait until Southwest releases fares before we make any decisions.

The problem is that oil is not, in any way, shape or form, following supply and demand. The price of oil is basically some obscure price OPEC decided sounded good. It is making it hard for economists to make predictions. Thus, any industry, especially airlines, in which oil is a key, have to err on the side of caution and estimate high.

Now, I would feel so much better if I thought this was a summer thing, and oil prices would return to normal at the end of the summer, but by every account I have seen or read, the price of oil is unexplainable, and it is hard to tell if or when it will top out/come down.

 

[Missytara]

I got lucky last week with Airtran, since I had just made my reservations less than 24 hours before. But they said if it has been any longer, they would have charged me. They let me cancel my reservation and go back online and re-book it at the lower price.

 

[goofy_js_70]

We are also in the same dilemma with a different twist. I booked PHL to MCO for Dec 20 at $59 one way on AirTran a few weeks ago planning to take a chance on great airfares returning on Dec 31. I also got another 5% off plus no bag fees through my company. I am glad I did because the fare has gone up significantly.

Yesterday I could get nonstop from MCO to PHL for $109 less corporate discounts. So the total out of pocket would be about $181 pp round trip. I have a courtesy hold on my seats but am trying to decide if I should wait on the return trip or just take the plunge.

 

[Morgand]

Thanks everyone, I guess we will keep waiting for now at least. Makes sense that it might drop with the SW release or any number of other reasons but I'm optimistic it will drop for all of us waiting. Keep on watching guys!