Air Tran vs. US Air???

[D L and K's Mom]

My DD who is 15 will be traveling with my parents to Mass for a vacation. She will be traveling back to us ALONE I know she can do it, she is fine with it I am the one having a little problem. The question now is....there are 2 airlines that fly direct US Air and Air Tran. I am going to call to make sure someone is looking out for her anyway (I will pay the extra $) she will not be happy but I will feel so much safer. Anyway which one should I do??? US Air has much better flight times but costs double. Air Tran leaves at 8:45 which would make her have to be at Logan at about 7:00am so she will have to leave the house at 6:00. I know my parents won't mind as they are up at the crack of dawn. Does anyone have a preference of which of these is a better airline to have her fly on. I will pay the extra if it is a better airline for her to fly alone. the airtran plane is much bigger and I think that might be better for her ..less turbulance??? anyone..........I am alos going to put this on the transportation board. Thanks in advance.

 

[Nala56]

I have flown both airlines. The only difference I can see is that US Air you can choose your seat at the time of purchase. Air Tran you can only choose your seat 24 hours before flight. However, we have never had problem getting the seats we wanted on Air Tran, just went on line picked seats and printed boarding passes. Air Tran has much newer planes.

We just flew American to California and back and there were many teenages flying alone. The flight attendants were very attentive to kids flying alone. AA offered meals you could purchase when they were passing out drinks, but kids flying alone were automatically given free meals. My mom sat next to a kid flying alone, he told her he had to wait until everyone was off the plane before he was allowed to get off. He said it was the airline policy, not sure if all airlines do this, but I would assume they do. It seems much safer.

Hope this helps. I have a 14 y.o.daughter so understand how you feel. Good luck.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I fear Air Tran. I have no reason in particular but I fear it.

 

[Hannathy]

The last time my DD flew alone she was 12 (has been flying alone since 5) and the airline would not accept her as an unaccompanied minor. they said over 12 and they are on their own. By the way she did absolutely fine and yours is way, way older. I know my DD would have an fit if at 15 I tried to have her treated like a small child. I would go with the cheaper flight I have flown both airlines and they are both fine. If she isn't changing flights what is the big deal give her some credit if she is ok with it show her you support her. If it makes you feel better ask for permission for your Mom to walk her to the gate instead of leaving her at security.

 

[SueM in MN]

Airtran doesn't lost a top age on their website for an unaccompanied child. It just says the child has to be at least 5 to travel all alone on a non-stop flight and at least 8 for a slight with a connection.

US Air is a little more exact on their website. It says "Children 15-17 may travel unaccompanied on non-stop and connecting flights without US Airways assistance.
Children 15-17 who require US Airways assistance may travel unaccompanied on non-stop flights only. There is a $40 fee* each way fee."
So, they will accept children 15-17 without assistance on any flight, but if you want assistance, they are restricted to flying non-stop only.

I have flown on Airtran before; they were very nice new planes and the staff all seemed very nice and quite helpful.

A friend and I traveled last week on US Air. The first thing that was kind of unusual was that we had to check in at United. I read the small print and knew that - she didn't and waited in line at the US Air check in until she was told to move. We traveled from Minneapolis to Chicago and from Chicago to Tampa. In both cases, the plane made a stop, but some of the passengers were staying on that same plane and going somewhere else. Our trip back was Tampa to Charlotte and Charlotte to Minneapolis; the same thing happened there. SO, those flights were direct, but they were not non-stop (something else to check on).
2 of the planes we traveled on were marked US Air, 1 was United and 1 was TED. Our last plane was marked something West inside (I don't know what it said on the outside). Our seat assignments on the first leg of our flight (the Minneapolis to Chicago part) were changed when we got to the airport, even though I had checked the night before and they seemed to be OK. Both my friend and I had trouble with getting our boarding passes printed on the flight out of Minneapolis and I saw several other people who also had trouble (both my friend and i are veteran travelers who have used e-tickets before).

From my experience, I would choose AirTran. And, I would probably let her fly without assistance (especially since you say she is OK with it). I liked the suggestion of seeing if Grandma could accompany her thru security to the gate.
My oldest DD flew all the way from Russia when she was 17 and that's not much older than the child you are talking about. I was scared for DD (after all, she stopped in countries where she couldn't even speak the language). She did fine though and I'm sure your child will too.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Thank you. I called Air Tran and the difference if I have her labeled "unaccompinied minor traveling alone" is that it costs $$$ which is fine with me, Also they will allow my Mother to stay with her at the gate , they actually require it and I will have to walk to the gate here at our airport to get her. Also by labeling her she will not have to show picture ID. She has a school ID but that is about it. I think she was seeing herself with a ticket hanging around her neck like they do with young children. I think we are going to go Air Tran. Thanks for the input.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Both DW Lauri and I would pick AirTran over US Air or ANY of the major airlines in a heartbeat.

1. They have one of the newest fleets of planes out there
2. Their flight crew has always been outstanding on any of our flights, and between Lauri and I we have easily logged 10 flights between us
3. Their safety record is one of the best

 

[Galahad]

Both DW Lauri and I would pick AirTran over US Air or ANY of the major airlines in a heartbeat.

1. They have one of the newest fleets of planes out there
2. Their flight crew has always been outstanding on any of our flights, and between Lauri and I we have easily logged 10 flights between us
3. Their safety record is one of the best

ITA! Also, their "business class" upgrade is the easiest and cheapest. We had never done it before on other airlines. It seemed like such a waste (and kind of pretentious) but for $35, if there is an opening, you can move up to "first class" at the time you check in. A nice little perk. They are competitive with Southwest on price but you actually get an assigned seat without the cattle-call.

 

[Hannathy]

Any times I have had kids fly as unaccompanied minors they did have to wear a rather large pin (2-3 in metal button). If it is a non stop all paying the money will do is have your mom walk her to the gate (which you can get permission to do for free) check her in and at the other end walk her off the plane and check your ID. again you can ask for permission to meet her for free if you think it is a problem. They don't do anything special in the air for them. Just so you know. It is a lot of money to have them keep a teenager on the plane until everyone gets off in my way of thinking.