AirTran bag fee - confused

[Lmichele]

This was posted on the DIS today:
** - Effective December 5, AirTran and Delta will begin charging for the first checked bag

According to AirTrans website...which says:
Effective December 5, 2008, for all reservations booked on or after November 12, 2008, the charge for the first checked bag will be $15.


I booked well before Nov. 12th, so I am assuming I will NOT be charged the $15 when I do the resort check in to come home. Is this correct??

 

[mom2pandc]

That is not correct...unfortunately, this is from airtran's website

Effective December 5, 2008, for all reservations booked on or after November 12, 2008, the charge for the first checked bag will be $15. For reservations booked prior to this date, for each fare-paying customer, AirTran Airways will allow one (1) checked bag free of charge, with size and weight limitations

Since you made your ressie ON November 12th, you will be charged.

 

[crashbb]

I think the PP misread your post. You stated that you booked WELL BEFORE 12 November. If this is the case, you will not be charged for the first bag (of each person).

 

[Lmichele]

Thanks crashbb, I did book well before...in fact I booked this flight back in June. Just wanted to make sure my thinking was right and I won't be charged the fee.

 

[mom2pandc]

whoops, some day my college edu-ma-cation will kick in and I'll learn to read! SORRY! LOL

 

[mkmommy]

I am sorry I am still confused if you booked before Nov 12 are you able to use the resort airline check in without paying the fee?

 

[WeLoveDW]

I am dealing with the same thing today - We are going to Disney 12/3 - 12/11 booked our AirTran flights in July. I called AirTran to figure out what to do.
We have the first checked bag fee waived for the return trip due to the date we bought the tickets. I asked customer service at AirTran to email me a letter just to have with me in case of confusion. They were very accomidating, we will see if I actually get the letter. He did say that we would have a charge for the second checked bag.
Anyway - if you booked your flight in June no matter when you fly you should not have a charge for the first checked bag. You could use the resort check-in even with the fee, but it would have to be paid prior to your check in at the desk of the resort.
I think its pretty confusing too! Good Luck!
AirTran phone number I called: 866-247-2428

 

[dudspizza]

I am dealing with the same thing today - We are going to Disney 12/3 - 12/11 booked our AirTran flights in July. I called AirTran to figure out what to do.
We have the first checked bag fee waived for the return trip due to the date we bought the tickets. I asked customer service at AirTran to email me a letter just to have with me in case of confusion. They were very accomidating, we will see if I actually get the letter. He did say that we would have a charge for the second checked bag.
Anyway - if you booked your flight in June no matter when you fly you should not have a charge for the first checked bag. You could use the resort check-in even with the fee, but it would have to be paid prior to your check in at the desk of the resort.
I think its pretty confusing too! Good Luck!
AirTran phone number I called: 866-247-2428

All you need for RAC is two things.

#1 Your confirmation showing that you purchased before Nov 12 AND
#2 the baggage rules printed out from the website at http://www.airtran.com/policies/carry-on_checked.aspx

#2 isn't even needed IMO, but it will be nice to produce the exact wording if questioned.

You can do #1 by logging on to Airtran.com and printing out your Itinerary. It says the date you booked on towards the top of the page. My booking date is Nov 13, so I get to pay the fee!

Duds

 

[WeLoveDW]

I agree I probably won't need it, but I thought it might be nice to have when checking our luggage at the resort on December 11, just in case BAGS (the service you are to use to prepay the fee) or the check in desk at my resort has any confusion. What can I say, I am a bit of a control freak and our return trip is right after they are implementing the fee.
When (or if ) I get the letter I will post the wording.
Thanks!

 

[morgan loves minnie]

We are going to be in WDW Dec. 4 - Dec. 11 and are flying Airtran.

I know I am exempt from the first bag charge, since I booked my flight in May. I do have a question about RAC for my return flight and the second bag fee (I'm going to try to pack light, but at least one of us might have a second bag). According to Airtran, since I booked my flight between April 22 - August 13 my charge for a second bag is $10 if I check in online and enter the bag or $20 at the airport. Assuming I will have at least one second bag, what will RAC charge me for this bag? Will I be charged the $10 like if I check in online or the $20 as if I checked it at the airport? I'm not really going to argue with them over $10, but if I know how it usually works I won't be surprised when they tell me their charge.

Thanks.

 

[Lmichele]

All you need for RAC is two things.

#1 Your confirmation showing that you purchased before Nov 12 AND
#2 the baggage rules printed out from the website at http://www.airtran.com/policies/carry-on_checked.aspx

#2 isn't even needed IMO, but it will be nice to produce the exact wording if questioned.

You can do #1 by logging on to Airtran.com and printing out your Itinerary. It says the date you booked on towards the top of the page. My booking date is Nov 13, so I get to pay the fee!

Duds

Ok, just to clarify.....RAC is resort check in, right?

I fly to WDW on 12/1, so NO fee....but I fly home on 12/8, however since I booked this flight on June 29th I will NOT be charged the $15 fee when I check in for my return fligh at AKL.

dudspizza is that right?

 

[dudspizza]

Ok, just to clarify.....RAC is resort check in, right?

I fly to WDW on 12/1, so NO fee....but I fly home on 12/8, however since I booked this flight on June 29th I will NOT be charged the $15 fee when I check in for my return fligh at AKL.

dudspizza is that right?

YEP... any flights booked before Nov 12 are grandfathered in..... NO first checked bag fee.

Duds

 

[dudspizza]

We are going to be in WDW Dec. 4 - Dec. 11 and are flying Airtran.

I know I am exempt from the first bag charge, since I booked my flight in May. I do have a question about RAC for my return flight and the second bag fee (I'm going to try to pack light, but at least one of us might have a second bag). According to Airtran, since I booked my flight between April 22 - August 13 my charge for a second bag is $10 if I check in online and enter the bag or $20 at the airport. Assuming I will have at least one second bag, what will RAC charge me for this bag? Will I be charged the $10 like if I check in online or the $20 as if I checked it at the airport? I'm not really going to argue with them over $10, but if I know how it usually works I won't be surprised when they tell me their charge.

Thanks.

This is copied from the sticky thread at the top of the page.

If your carrier charges for checked luggage or excess luggage, you can still utilize the RAC desk. Simply call BAGS (the company that operates the RAC desk) prior to checking in at the desk. You may pay your fee over the phone using your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express card. (You can find the number for BAGS listed on your DME paperwork, or by dialing 0 from your resort telephone)

If you don't do this, then you cannot check your bags in at the resort and will have to do so at the airport.

Duds

 

[morgan loves minnie]

This is copied from the sticky thread at the top of the page.

If your carrier charges for checked luggage or excess luggage, you can still utilize the RAC desk. Simply call BAGS (the company that operates the RAC desk) prior to checking in at the desk. You may pay your fee over the phone using your Visa, MasterCard, or American Express card. (You can find the number for BAGS listed on your DME paperwork, or by dialing 0 from your resort telephone)

If you don't do this, then you cannot check your bags in at the resort and will have to do so at the airport.

Duds

Yes, thank you, I understand that I have to pay the fee with them ahead of time. What I really wanted to know is if anyone has experience with WHAT I will be charged. Will I be charged the $10 fee since I am technically not checking in at the airport and will have my boarding passes ahead of time, or will I be charged the $20 as if I checked in at the airport? I'm just unsure because of Airtran having two different fees - one if you check in online, one if you check in at the airport.

 

[dudspizza]

Yes, thank you, I understand that I have to pay the fee with them ahead of time. What I really wanted to know is if anyone has experience with WHAT I will be charged. Will I be charged the $10 fee since I am technically not checking in at the airport and will have my boarding passes ahead of time, or will I be charged the $20 as if I checked in at the airport? I'm just unsure because of Airtran having two different fees - one if you check in online, one if you check in at the airport.

That is really weird wording now that I go look at it. I am confused too! Are they saying that if you pre-pay online that you will pay $10 and if you wait until the airport you will be charged $20 for that second bag? Way to confuse everyone, I am sure their own counter agents included.

Duds

 

[Kevenswife2]

I booked Nov 13th.

Thank goodness we only check one bag total for the three of us.

 

[morgan loves minnie]

That is really weird wording now that I go look at it. I am confused too! Are they saying that if you pre-pay online that you will pay $10 and if you wait until the airport you will be charged $20 for that second bag? Way to confuse everyone, I am sure their own counter agents included.

Duds

Yes, that is exactly what they're saying. If you pre-pay online it is $10, if you wait until you get to the airport it is $20. So, for my trip down I will "register" my extra bag and pre-pay online when I print my boarding passes. I just didn't know what fee I would be charged when I use RAC and pay through BAGS. Oh well, I guess I'll find out when I check out. Like I said, I'm really not worried about the $10 extra, I just wanted to see if anyone had gone through the same issue.

 

[dudspizza]

Yes, that is exactly what they're saying. If you pre-pay online it is $10, if you wait until you get to the airport it is $20. So, for my trip down I will "register" my extra bag and pre-pay online when I print my boarding passes. I just didn't know what fee I would be charged when I use RAC and pay through BAGS. Oh well, I guess I'll find out when I check out. Like I said, I'm really not worried about the $10 extra, I just wanted to see if anyone had gone through the same issue.

Got this email from Airtran.

Dear Mr. Dudspizza,

Thank you for contacting AirTran Airways with your inquiry.

In order to be assessed the $10 second bag fee you must check in online and pay the bag fee at that time. Should you choose to wait to check in at the airport you will be assessed a $20 second bag fee.

Should you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Sincerely,


Jennifer Hooper
Customer Relations Department
AirTran Airways