Airtran 717 or 737.. which is my flight on?

[dudspizza]

Is there any way of knowing which if the two aircraft my flight will be on? They mainly fly 717's and some 737's.

I would prefer the 717 with the 2x3 seating. We have 4 adults (2 couples) and would love to sit 2 and 2.

I am flying to Orlando from Minneapolis. Booked 4 rewards tickets via the Airtran/Wendy's promo.

Thanks.

Duds

 

[bicker]

Hmmm... Airtran does a good job of shielding customers from that information on its website. I'm not quite sure why.

 

[Servants of Evan]

Airtran and Southwest were the only two profitable airlines in the US last year. Airtran's reason for success was: Flexibility. They can reroute aircraft and crews to meet demands. I wouldn't be too surprised if that aircraft model would change simply based upon passenger needs/reservations and either aircraft is well within mileage limits...

 

[dudspizza]

Ok.... their fleet is mainly 717's, with some 737's. Does anyone know how many 717's vs 737's that they have in their fleet?

Duds

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Ok.... their fleet is mainly 717's, with some 737's. Does anyone know how many 717's vs 737's that they have in their fleet?

Duds

According to the FAA, Airtran Airways Inc has 85 Boeing 717's and 25 Boeing 737's in the fleet.

 

[ricka47]

The Air Tran fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of March 2006):

85 Boeing 717-200 (further 3 on order)
24 Boeing 737-700 (further 51 on order)

I've flown them a few times and they do as good a job as any of the others...they get you there in one piece.

 

[erikthewise]

If you buy a fare class with advance seat selection, you'll know right away as you can see whether the aircraft has 2-3 (717) or 3-3 (737) seating. But Wendy's promotion tickets probably don't qualify for advance seating.

The 737s are going to be used on the high-volume routes. I'd guess that the Atlanta-Orlando flights are mostly 737's. Our nonstops from Dayton are always 717s, which is great! Minneapolis-Orlando is harder to call, but there's a reasonable chance you'll get a 717.

 

[dudspizza]

If you buy a fare class with advance seat selection, you'll know right away as you can see whether the aircraft has 2-3 (717) or 3-3 (737) seating. But Wendy's promotion tickets probably don't qualify for advance seating.

The 737s are going to be used on the high-volume routes. I'd guess that the Atlanta-Orlando flights are mostly 737's. Our nonstops from Dayton are always 717s, which is great! Minneapolis-Orlando is harder to call, but there's a reasonable chance you'll get a 717.

These are my thoughts exactly. I am hoping for the 717.

The seat class is considered A+ Coach with no advance seat assignment. I could really care less where I sit, though I would prefer to sit on the 2 seat side with my wife next to me and the other couple in the vacinity. I am just one of those anal people who loves to think about those type of things. I am sure the flight times will change many times anyways!

Have a good one, everyone!

Duds

 

[MinnieGirl33]

FWIW, when you do on-line check in 24 hrs prior & print your boarding passes you will be able to do seat assignment.

 

[dudspizza]

FWIW, when you do on-line check in 24 hrs prior & print your boarding passes you will be able to do seat assignment.

Yep, at 10:07am the day before, I will be on getting my seats taken care of. I just like to think about these things.... I check my flights daily, making sure all is in order. I also have flights to Corpus Christi in May and I check them daily.... it is so much part of the whole vacation process... I love it all..

Duds

 

[zulaya]

duds...I think if you go to Orbitz and check your flights on Orbitz, they show the type of aircraft...I know they did when I was booking Airtran for my July trip to Chicago.

On the way down, I *think* I have a 717 and a 737 on the way back.

 

[zulaya]

I saw in your siggie that you are going in October...I randomly put in Oct 14 and Oct 21 and travel days.

The nonstop MSP-MCO/MCO-MSP shows 717 as the aircraft both ways. Now whether that's the same for your dates...

But I even looked at the ones that stop in ATL and almost all the aircraft were 717.

 

[safetymom]

Most of the time now when you check in at the 24 hour mark your seats have already been assigned. Everytime lately it has been this way. If there are any empty seats you can switch to those.

 

[ohiomom28]

Ours from Dayton to MCO was a 717 also.

 

[dudspizza]

I saw in your siggie that you are going in October...I randomly put in Oct 14 and Oct 21 and travel days.

The nonstop MSP-MCO/MCO-MSP shows 717 as the aircraft both ways. Now whether that's the same for your dates...

But I even looked at the ones that stop in ATL and almost all the aircraft were 717.

Thanks. We are on the non-stop flights each way. Oct 18-23 (MEA break).

Duds

 

[Chicago526]

I'm a travel agent, and the non-stops from MSP to MCO and back October 18 and 23 show as 717's in my airline reservation system. So, baring an equipment change, you should be fine.

 

[dudspizza]

I'm a travel agent, and the non-stops from MSP to MCO and back October 18 and 23 show as 717's in my airline reservation system. So, baring an equipment change, you should be fine.

Thanks. I should have had you do the reservation for me and then I would have been given advanced seat assignment! LOL Of course, there isn't much in it for you when the seats are free for me to begin with!

Duds

 

[Chicago526]

Thanks. I should have had you do the reservation for me and then I would have been given advanced seat assignment! LOL Of course, there isn't much in it for you when the seats are free for me to begin with!

Duds

Well, the airlines don't pay us anymore, so the only way we make money on airline tickets is if we charge you a service fee. If you'd booked it through me, I would have charged you for it (sorry, gotta pay the bills somehow!). A lot of people balk at that, but we do offer a lot of value for our fee. We have a fare checker program, after you purchase the ticket, if the fare drops we see it and can issue a credit on airlines that allow it. If you don't like the seats available at the time you book, our seat checker program will watch and if something better opens up it will move you. And I can't tell you how many people I've helped who have been stuck at an airport, they can get right through to us rather than have to wait in line at the airport or on hold with the airline's 800 line. We do all sorts of things!

Anyway, glad it all worked out for you!

 

[manning]

A little trivia. Did you know the boeing 717 isn't really a Boeing plane even though they build it.

It is a McDonald Douglas (MD) design and was inherited when Boeing bought them out. It was the airplane that was suppose to save MD.

Have a relative who worked there when it got taken over and now works at Boeing. A nice strong plane.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

A little trivia. Did you know the boeing 717 isn't really a Boeing plane even though they build it.

It is a McDonald Douglas (MD) design and was inherited when Boeing bought them out. It was the airplane that was suppose to save MD.

Have a relative who worked there when it got taken over and now works at Boeing. A nice strong plane.

Did you also know the plans for the DC9/MD80/717 were engineered way back in 1961. Eastern Airlines was the first to deliever the DC9-30-40-50 and Northwest still operates those aircraft today (along with Spirit). Kind of a scary thought, but every 3000 hours, FAA mandates a total rebuild of the jet system (New Vaccums, Turbines, Generators, Hydrolics, etc..)