AirTran($146.00) vs USAir($196.00)

[jazmyin]

We have never been on Airtran from Philly to Orlando but this price is to good to be true. AirTran has a special including tax of $146.70. USAir Is $196.00. I do like the seat assignment ahead of time however, $50.00 per ticket savings is great. Help me with my decision please. We are flying 12/3-12/8.

 

[XStAnt]

It's a no brainer--take AirTran. If you want to get your seat assignment ahead of time use their online boarding pass feature. If that doesn't work, just get to the airport about 90 mins before departure and you should be able to get seats together.

AirTran uses new Boeing 717s. They have a 2-3 seat configuration. USAir uses either Boeing 737s, or Airbus A319s or 320s. These have your typical 3-3 seat configuration. Other than that there really isn't much difference between the airlines.

Go with the cheaper fares. reward the company that gives you the better deal.

 

[Good Deeds]

Are you sure your Air Tran rates include tax?? I tried to book a flight from Philadelphia to Orlando in late January and got the $146 rate until I continued with the reservation...taxes and additional charges brought it to just under $200. (close to USair rates). People on this board have recommended waiting a bit closer to our travel date to get a better rate...

Hope I'm wrong on this... would love to book at $$146 taxes included...(there are 6 of us flying!!!)

Keep us posted

 

[Esmerelda]

I would take the cheaper of the two. I have flown Airtran many times with zero problems. Its too bad your trip wasn't sooner..I just got notification yesterday via Airtran that they had one way tickets for $49 each way from Baltimore and Philly to Orlando thru 11/7...what a great airfare!!! (this is why I'm a firm believer in NOT booking airfare too far out....so many folks rush to do just that...I don't get it)

happy planning,
Esmerelda

 

[zurgswife]

Is it a direct flight?...Airtran out of Philly only has about 3 nonstop flights the others connect though Atlanta....Usair is all nonstop....

That would be the catch for me...if Airtran's flight was nonstop I'd pick the cheaper...

 

[helenk]

We fly AirTran in June and really liked them. Both going to and coming back from Florida our flight actually left a bit early. Service was very good. Going down I went on line and did the pre-boarding and got our seat assignments, coming back we just got to the airport a bit early so we could sit near to each other (there were 7 of us) and we had no problems.
I'm flying UsAir this trip because I was able to get airfare for $116.70. Airtran had the same price but not for the times I wanted.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I have flown Airtran 2 times and are flying them again in Ocotber. We have had no problems with them. They have great prices. Do be aware though that they will not give you a credit if the price drops more unlike other airlines.

They give you the line "we don't expect you to pay more when the price goes up...etc."

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We used Air Trans for the first time this July flying out of Phila. I didn't notice any difference than when we flew US AIr so I would definitely take the cheaper fare. We had assigned seats and everything went fine!

 

[B'rer Karen]

That price is very tempting. For me, I am not a fan of Air Tran. I have flown them a couple of times, all connecting flights through Atlanta. That's the first problem. Maybe it's just me, but I have never had a flight leave on time from Atlanta. Every leg I flew with Air Tran was delayed. On one flight to Tampa it took an hour for my luggage to show up on the conveyor belt. It wasn't just me, it was the whole flight. There were other problems too that just annoyed me. Also, it may not make a difference to you, but Air Tran used to be Value Jet. They just changed their name. Unfortunately I found that out after I already had tickets purchased so it was too late to change, but I will say that I will never fly Air Tran again. But I also have the luxury of only having to buy one plane ticket, so I can be a little choosy.