Airtran - Bait and Switch?

[Maxwell]

How many think Airtran is playing and switch. Here's my story: We booked a non stop flight for $124pp from Boston to Orlando for November 22nd back in February flight #630. The time was changed twice since that date. It went from 11:33AM to 7:57PM (not accepted) to 7:40AM. Fine at this point. On August 1st Airtan cancelled all non stops for this date and gave us numerous connecting choices. We decided not to accept as we have small children and the idea of connecting was definitely not an option. So they gave us a full refund. Last night (August 2nd) all of a sudden flight #633 appears non stop from Boston to Orlando at 7:00 AM for $344pp. Coincidence? I think not!!

 

[canwegosoon]

That does sound fishy...wonder how many people will be calling the AG on that one.

 

[mickey2000]

With all the layoffs coming this week maybe???
Its called increased dollars or cash flow


Published on: 07/31/08

As AirTran Airways cuts flight capacity, it's not grounding planes — it's selling them.

It's a somewhat uncommon strategy in the struggling U.S. airline industry. Many carriers are reacting to fuel-driven capacity cuts by parking planes.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's not bait and switch (that's advertising an item at a certain price but not having the item available at all, and "upselling" the customer - generally applies to retail purchases).

I am in NO way defending AirTran's schedule changes - but it appears that waiting a couple of days (instead of reacting immediately) might have provided the OP with a different result,,, such as, being able to change to the newly-scheduled nonstop flight at no additional cost.

 

[dogodisney]

From what I have read on this board, it's not just AirTran that is cancelling or changing flights, it's a few different airlines doing it.

 

[andymattmom]

From what I have read on this board, it's not just AirTran that is cancelling or changing flights, it's a few different airlines doing it.

Agree...but it seems people complain about Airtran most and ignore the other posts about the other airlines changing. We are on a nonstop from Airtran from IND to MCO. We have gone thru a cancellation of a nonstop (they put us on another earlier nonstop at no cost and were fantastic about it- now our original flight has reappeared). We have had 2 flight times changes on our outbound flight...and one on the return flight. So far the changes are fine with us...2 more Disney days. I have had 1 email from Airtran but check my schedules daily (morning and night) to see if there are changes. It seems it would be better if there were just one Airtran thread rather than a new one each time someone has a complaint...then people could read how to handle the change...decide if they want to wait it out a few days or change quickly. Each time I see an Airtran thread I immediately read it but then realize they are basically all the same...then you get the rumors of Airtran cancelling nonstops, etc and it is frustrating. We are all in the same boat but leaving from different places. All airlines are having financial issues and flights are changing, last week someone reported they got to the airport and Delta (?) had cancelled their flight and not notified them so it is more than Airtran. Maybe someone could post something about what to do if your flight changes on XXXXX airline guidelines. If there is a change fee, etc. I thought Airtran was great when I encountered an issue...it does no good to yell or get nasty with the CSR because they didn't do anything.

Just my thoughts on this

 

[kloei423]

I have been dreading the fact that we booked AirTran for December. they changed the flights on me twice, first time no biggie second time eliminating conveient non-stop flights. so today I called and changed airports. The selection of non-stop flights for the other airport was far more selection, so even if they remove some, I will have other options. I would only completely cancel as a last resort. I do have 2 small children and definately prefer non-stop but if push comes to shove, I will deal with a plane change when i know that i cannot beat the fare that i paid and no way do I want to cancel my vacation!

 

[fhirleighinn]

Only changed twice, that is not that bad. I cancelled my tickets after the 4th change (and still 100 days to go). It would only be bait and switch if they did not have any intention of offering the flights that we all originally booked. I am not quite convinced that it isn't. If I had a harder time getting my money back...

 

[TLinden16]

I'm another victim of the Airtran flight changes.

I originally booked a 9:15 am flight on Oct. 10 from Boston to MCO back in April (may have even been March).

In early July, they changed my 9:15 a.m. to a 7:40 a.m.

A week later, they changed my 7:40 a.m. to a 8:00 a.m.

Today I looked, and my 8:00 a.m. was now a 3:00 p.m. Considering that I'm meeting someone down there, the 6:00 p.m. arrival time was way to late for me.

I wound up calling airtran and switching my flight on the 10th to a 3:00 p.m. flight on the 9th, so now I have to get a room for another night, but I'd rather do that than lose a whole day of my vacation.

Time to call and get a room for Thursday.

 

[Lewisc]

I can't tell, did the OP call Airtran or did Airtran call the OP? Some airlines wait to contact passengers until they're finished making schedule changes. Passengers that don't want to wait sometimes are able to get flights that wouldn't be available if they waited until the airline contacted them but sometimes those passengers "outsmart" themselves.

 

[Maxwell]

I called Airtran. Maybe bait and switch is the wrong terminology but I believe they are playing games here. I was specifically told by the rep that the flight was cancelled and no other non stops available. I even spoke to her supervisor as I was upset over the situation. She told me the exact same thing. I ended up cancelling Airtran and booked JetBlue.

 

[Lewisc]

They are not playing games. Had Airtan wanted to play games they would have contacted the existing passengers. Moved them to "bad" flights or given them refunds. Only then would they have brought back the N/S flights. The people on the phone don't have any information regarding schedule changes.

Frequently passengers that are pro-active and call the airline can get better flights then those who wait. In this case you would have been better off waiting for Airtran to contact you.

I called Airtran. Maybe bait and switch is the wrong terminology but I believe they are playing games here. I was specifically told by the rep that the flight was cancelled and no other non stops available. I even spoke to her supervisor as I was upset over the situation. She told me the exact same thing. I ended up cancelling Airtran and booked JetBlue.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Obviously this airline is struggling, these constant flight changes are an attempt to save any dollar they can to stay in the air. Unfortunately many people are being effected by the changes. Airtran is not the only airline changing things daily, it's the nature of the beast right now.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I'm another victim of the Airtran flight changes.

I originally booked a 9:15 am flight on Oct. 10 from Boston to MCO back in April (may have even been March).

In early July, they changed my 9:15 a.m. to a 7:40 a.m.

A week later, they changed my 7:40 a.m. to a 8:00 a.m.

Today I looked, and my 8:00 a.m. was now a 3:00 p.m. Considering that I'm meeting someone down there, the 6:00 p.m. arrival time was way to late for me.

I wound up calling airtran and switching my flight on the 10th to a 3:00 p.m. flight on the 9th, so now I have to get a room for another night, but I'd rather do that than lose a whole day of my vacation.

Time to call and get a room for Thursday.

Any chance JetBlue has better flights for you & would Air Tran credit your credit card due to the time change on their part by more than "X" amount of hours?

 

[Halle]

I really don't trust Air Tran, we've been lied to by them on more than one occasion...I know why did we go back for more abuse? Low fares.....not worth it.

 

[TLinden16]

Any chance JetBlue has better flights for you & would Air Tran credit your credit card due to the time change on their part by more than "X" amount of hours?

JetBlue would have been more than double for me to switch to their flight (more than the cost of a night at a value resort), so I stuck with airtran and booked out a day earlier. I'm sure I could have gotten a refund from airtran, as the OP did, but chose to take my chances with Airtran and fly out a day earlier--at least I'll get an extra morning in the parks.