Airtran baggage charge question

[BWV Dreamin]

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.)

Ok, every flight so far we have had free bag checkin (including this upcoming May). However, our Oct. trip we don't. What is BAGS? What is the reason to call them, and what is the number?

 

[Uncleromulus]

When you use Resort Airline Check-in at WDW, they will check your bags at the resort and then take them to the airport for you. No need to check your bags at the airport. HOWEVER--now that they (the airline) charge $$ for baggage, the Resort Airline Check-in folks (a private company) cannot take that $$. So you now have to call BAGS and pay in advance!! Otherwise you cannot use Resort Airline Check-in.
Not sure how an airport upgrade would affect all that, but I'm certain they'd find a way to screw it up----

 

[BWV Dreamin]

When you use Resort Airline Check-in at WDW, they will check your bags at the resort and then take them to the airport for you. No need to check your bags at the airport. HOWEVER--now that they (the airline) charge $$ for baggage, the Resort Airline Check-in folks (a private company) cannot take that $$. So you now have to call BAGS and pay in advance!! Otherwise you cannot use Resort Airline Check-in.
Not sure how an airport upgrade would affect all that, but I'm certain they'd find a way to screw it up----

Ok. Well to be honest, I'd rather take my bags with me on ME and check them in at the airport anyway. I just don't trust stuff with 3rd party vendors..too many ways to make a mistake. Also, our last WDW visit, we left so early, resort check in couldn't even check our bags in anyway. It was no big deal to check the bags in at the airport...ok, thanks for the info.

 

[Inkmahm]

I also like to move my own bags. We rent a car and do everything ourselves. This trip we even moved from AKV to VWL and I still moved my own bags between resorts. Less chance of error that way, I think.

 

[marandr]

Does anyone know how likely there will be upgrade available?

I was thinking of buying up front but if I can get an upgrade just before we leave, that would save us some money.

Any thoughts?

 

[cbrfan]

Does anyone know how likely there will be upgrade available?

I was thinking of buying up front but if I can get an upgrade just before we leave, that would save us some money.

Any thoughts?

You can check the seats on your flight and see how many business class seats are available. If they're full, you won't be able to get an upgrade unless someone cancels. When you check-in at the 24 hr. mark you'll be given the option to purchase at that time IF seats are available. The earlier you check-in, the better your chances. If you have A+ Reward credits, you can upgrade for 4 credits and can do that anytime the day before your flight. You don't have to wait until the 24 hr. mark. I'm always on the phone at midnight.

 

[Inkmahm]

You can check the seats on your flight and see how many business class seats are available. If they're full, you won't be able to get an upgrade unless someone cancels. When you check-in at the 24 hr. mark you'll be given the option to purchase at that time IF seats are available. The earlier you check-in, the better your chances. If you have A+ Reward credits, you can upgrade for 4 credits and can do that anytime the day before your flight. You don't have to wait until the 24 hr. mark. I'm always on the phone at midnight.

I tried to do that with the credits at midnight for my flight down on March 17 but they said I had to call 24 hours in advance, no sooner. I even tried an hour in advance (so 25 hours before the flight) and that didn't work either. I thought maybe Eastern time vs. Central time, but no.

 

[cbrfan]

I tried to do that with the credits at midnight for my flight down on March 17 but they said I had to call 24 hours in advance, no sooner. I even tried an hour in advance (so 25 hours before the flight) and that didn't work either. I thought maybe Eastern time vs. Central time, but no.

I just called AirTran and, as long as I had the Rewards Dept. on the line, asked them about booking a Business Upgrade with a reward voucher. I was told it can be done anytime the day before. You don't have to wait until the 24 hr. mark. This has also been my personal experience, having used reward upgrades on numerous occasions. Whoever you spoke to must have misunderstood and assumed it was a purchased upgrade, not a reward upgrade. You do need to call the Rewards Dept. to receive the upgrade. The website also shows anytime the day before. It's listed in the A+ Rewards section under "terms and conditions".

 

[Inkmahm]

I just called AirTran and, as long as I had the Rewards Dept. on the line, asked them about booking a Business Upgrade with a reward voucher. I was told it can be done anytime the day before. You don't have to wait until the 24 hr. mark. This has also been my personal experience, having used reward upgrades on numerous occasions. Whoever you spoke to must have misunderstood and assumed it was a purchased upgrade, not a reward upgrade. You do need to call the Rewards Dept. to receive the upgrade. The website also shows anytime the day before. It's listed in the A+ Rewards section under "terms and conditions".

I did call the Rewards department and both people I talked to said I had to wait until 24 hours before the flight. I'll try again for my next flights and see what happens.

 

[CarlisleMom]

When you use Resort Airline Check-in at WDW, they will check your bags at the resort and then take them to the airport for you. No need to check your bags at the airport. HOWEVER--now that they (the airline) charge $$ for baggage, the Resort Airline Check-in folks (a private company) cannot take that $$. So you now have to call BAGS and pay in advance!! Otherwise you cannot use Resort Airline Check-in.
Not sure how an airport upgrade would affect all that, but I'm certain they'd find a way to screw it up----

Wonder if I'll have problems in May. We plan on checking the bags in at CBR. But we booked our flight in September, our first bag there is no charge (so we plan on each checking 1). Will this be in Disney's computer? I do plan on taking all documentation.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I wish I could answer that question. It SHOULD be on the computer, but remember you are dealing with a private company and NOT the airline directly. So having documentation would be a good idea...

 

[cbrfan]

I spoke to someone in the A+ department at AirTran yesterday and, according to the agent I spoke with, they have made some changes in their policies very recently. I was told that there is no free checked bag perk on a reward upgrade. But there is on an upgrade purchased at check-in. I guess all good things must come to an end. But I still plan to call back and ask someone else.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I spoke to someone in the A+ department at AirTran yesterday and, according to the agent I spoke with, they have made some changes in their policies very recently. I was told that there is no free checked bag perk on a reward upgrade. But there is on an upgrade purchased at check-in. I guess all good things must come to an end. But I still plan to call back and ask someone else.

So could you use your A+ rewards at "check in" and get the free baggage?

 

[Inkmahm]

So could you use your A+ rewards at "check in" and get the free baggage?

Wouldn't that still be a reward upgrade and not a purchased upgrade? I hope the new information is wrong... I was looking forward to the free baggage in the future, too.

 

[cbrfan]

Well, folks.....I just called back and asked again and was told that once you upgrade to business class, either purchased or reward, you received the same amenities as any other business class passenger. So the current tally is:


No free baggage with reward upgrade - 1
Two free bags with purchased upgrade - 1
One free bag with reward upgrade - 1
2 free bags with upgrade, purchased or reward - 2

They really need to get it together over there. I think I'm going to e-mail them for a written response.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Well, folks.....I just called back and asked again and was told that once you upgrade to business class, either purchased or reward, you received the same amenities as any other business class passenger. So the current tally is:


No free baggage with reward upgrade - 1
Two free bags with purchased upgrade - 1
One free bag with reward upgrade - 1
2 free bags with upgrade, purchased or reward - 2

They really need to get it together over there. I think I'm going to e-mail them for a written response.

Soooo....now I am confused! What does all of that mean? Are you just posting all the responsed you got each time you called?

 

[cbrfan]

Soooo....now I am confused! What does all of that mean? Are you just posting all the responsed you got each time you called?

Yep. Those are the answers I got from 3 different agents to the same question- How many free checked bags do I get if I get a business class upgrade and how many for an upgrade purchased at check-in.

 

[Inkmahm]

Well, folks.....I just called back and asked again and was told that once you upgrade to business class, either purchased or reward, you received the same amenities as any other business class passenger. So the current tally is:


No free baggage with reward upgrade - 1
Two free bags with purchased upgrade - 1
One free bag with reward upgrade - 1
2 free bags with upgrade, purchased or reward - 2

They really need to get it together over there. I think I'm going to e-mail them for a written response.

I can just tell you what we ACTUALLY got this month, we got 2 free bags with using a reward upgrade. Maybe that makes the count 3 instead of 2 in your tally.

 

[cbrfan]

You get two checked bags free anytime you fly in business class. Just got it in writing from AirTran.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

You get two checked bags free anytime you fly in business class. Just got it in writing from AirTran.

Thanks for clearing that up! Now, I just need some A+ credits!!