Airtran baggage charge question

[Inkmahm]

If I book coach and then upgrade to business class when I check in on Airtran the day before the flight, is there still a $15 charge for my first suitcase? The site says the baggage charge applies to coach reservations.

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

What a great question! I hadn't even thought of this - we are planning on upgrading to business class with our A+ credits on our upcoming flight, too. It would be great if the baggage charges are waived. Does anyone know the answer to this?

 

[Inkmahm]

I saw someone comment on the DCL cruise forum about not paying baggage fees if you upgrade to business class. I haven't flown Airtran business class since the baggage fees were introduced so that hadn't crossed my mind. But we are flying tomorrow so I'll know one way or the other very soon.

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

I saw someone comment on the DCL cruise forum about not paying baggage fees if you upgrade to business class. I haven't flown Airtran business class since the baggage fees were introduced so that hadn't crossed my mind. But we are flying tomorrow so I'll know one way or the other very soon.

Have a great trip! I wish we were heading down to WDW for Flower & Garden Fest! It's such a great time to go! Post here or PM me when you get back about the baggage fees/Business Class. Thanks!

 

[Inkmahm]

I know the answer! I just upgraded our seats to WDW tomorrow using my A+ reward credits. When I checked us in as business class travelers, I was able to select one suitcase each at no charge!

 

[cbrfan]

We do this all the time, just did it Sunday. If you upgrade to Business Class you can check 2 bags for free.

There's a little tidbit I was hoping to keep to myself. I see the cat's out of the bag now!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

. How many reward points are needed to upgrade to business class?

 

[Inkmahm]

. How many reward points are needed to upgrade to business class?

4 A+ reward credits per person or $69 each ( for us, anyway. The cash cost depends on the length of the flight I think).

I'll have to check next time if it is two bags free per person or one bag free. Two would be great for when we fly at Christmas and always end up with an extra bag of gifts to take home!

 

[Inkmahm]

And the answer is... TWO bags are free when you upgrade to business class. We're at the airport now and I checked two bags for me and one for my DH so we have no rolling carryon this trip. I fell naked walking around an airport with only my fanny pack and no bag! But it is great. Two bags free for each of us will come in handy at Christmas for sure.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

And the answer is... TWO bags are free when you upgrade to business class. We're at the airport now and I checked two bags for me and one for my DH so we have no rolling carryon this trip. I fell naked walking around an airport with only my fanny pack and no bag! But it is great. Two bags free for each of us will come in handy at Christmas for sure.

Wow excellent! I'm still tossing around the idea whether or not to take out the Airtran CC, so I can get more rewards points! This is VERY tempting...thanks for the update.

 

[taycreekcropper]

I just looked into upgrading and the cost would be $250, bummer but I'll pay the baggage cost, must less....we are only checking one bag each, so $90 is much less.

 

[fers31]

I just looked into upgrading and the cost would be $250, bummer but I'll pay the baggage cost, must less....we are only checking one bag each, so $90 is much less.

It's $250 now....it will be $69 or so when you arrive at the airport (assuming they still have seats.)

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

And the answer is... TWO bags are free when you upgrade to business class. We're at the airport now and I checked two bags for me and one for my DH so we have no rolling carryon this trip. I fell naked walking around an airport with only my fanny pack and no bag! But it is great. Two bags free for each of us will come in handy at Christmas for sure.

That's fantastic! We're moving our daughter down to WDW for her Disney College Program assignment, and we need to check all the bags we can! LOL! Free bag check is GREAT! Thanks!

 

[taycreekcropper]

It's $250 now....it will be $69 or so when you arrive at the airport (assuming they still have seats.)

So do I ask when I get to the ticket counter? As I'm checking our bags? Do I ask for that on the way back too? What a novel idea...thanks so much! This forum rocks da house!!!

 

[cbrfan]

So do I ask when I get to the ticket counter? As I'm checking our bags? Do I ask for that on the way back too? What a novel idea...thanks so much! This forum rocks da house!!!

You can purchase your upgrade when you check-in online at the 24 hr. mark or at the airport. I always do it at the 24 hr. to make sure I get the upgrade before they sell out. Be aware that if you purchase the upgrade and you have a connecting flight you will have to pay the fee for each leg of the flight. Non-stop flights have only one charge. You will need to purchase the upgrade at check-in both times if you want it for both ways.

 

[taycreekcropper]

So when / if I check in on-line there is a spot to check for upgrades available? with the price?

forgive me, I am an amateur when it comes to travelling and especially flying

 

[kristenrice]

So when / if I check in on-line there is a spot to check for upgrades available? with the price?

forgive me, I am an amateur when it comes to travelling and especially flying

I did the upgrade for our trip last October. It must be a fairly simple process, because my dad did it for me over the phone. When I realized that I would be at a lunch meeting (without internet access!) at the 24-hour mark, I called my dad and gave him my info. He was able to check us in and get the upgrade within about 5 minutes. He laughed when he saw our seat assignment since we moved from Row 22 to Row 1!

You can find the price on the AirTran website. I believe you go under "travel tools" and click on "business class". It mentions a "limited time promotion" (not sure what "limited" means since it has been ongoing for over a year!) which allows you to upgrade for as little as $49 each way. There is a list of routes and what the cost is. The longer the flight, the higher the cost. We fly Dertroit to Orlando and it is $69 each way.

I am planning on doing it again for our trip in June as a surprise for my DH. (He did not go with us on our last trip) I loved the complimentary adult beverages. I got my money's worth on our flight down! I don't bother with the upgrade on the return though since I have no "magical express" to make my 2 hour drive home!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I did the upgrade for our trip last October. It must be a fairly simple process, because my dad did it for me over the phone. When I realized that I would be at a lunch meeting (without internet access!) at the 24-hour mark, I called my dad and gave him my info. He was able to check us in and get the upgrade within about 5 minutes. He laughed when he saw our seat assignment since we moved from Row 22 to Row 1!

You can find the price on the AirTran website. I believe you go under "travel tools" and click on "business class". It mentions a "limited time promotion" (not sure what "limited" means since it has been ongoing for over a year!) which allows you to upgrade for as little as $49 each way. There is a list of routes and what the cost is. The longer the flight, the higher the cost. We fly Dertroit to Orlando and it is $69 each way.

I am planning on doing it again for our trip in June as a surprise for my DH. (He did not go with us on our last trip) I loved the complimentary adult beverages. I got my money's worth on our flight down! I don't bother with the upgrade on the return though since I have no "magical express" to make my 2 hour drive home!

So is the upgrade price a one time fee ($69, $49, or whatever it is) or is it per person?

 

[kristenrice]

So is the upgrade price a one time fee ($69, $49, or whatever it is) or is it per person?

It is per person, per segment. Our flight (DTW-MCO) was non-stop. To upgrade the three of us, it was $69 each...total of $207 (no additional taxes or fees). I do not know if you can only upgrade one segment if you have a connection. I have only upgraded a non-stop flight. I really liked it and I plan on trying to upgrade all of our outbound flights from now on.

Here's another question for all the AT flyers...

IF you do RAC at the resort, can you upgrade at that time? Also, what happens to the baggage fee in that case? Since you have to call BAGS in advance of check in to arrange payment, what happens if you get the upgrade, thus waiving your baggage fee? (I'm just curious. I don't plan on upgrading on the way home...well, not this time.)

 

[Inkmahm]

My DH and I were the ONLY ones to upgrade on our flight home from Orlando this morning so we had a personal flight attendant! She was very nice, kept asking if there as anything she could get for us. There were only about 40 people total on the flight so it was not crowded. I just love the extra space in business class.

I use my Airtran flight credits to get the upgrades so I call Airtran to do them. But they can be done online for the $69 cost, too.