airtran board flow?

[leanne11]

were isle 17.. w/4 carry ons
[/LIST].do we get on early then fill the back? or does back fill up then middle..then front..and if no=1]
[/LIST]: room ..what does gate check mean

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

Back to front with the exception of special needs passengers. Seats are assigned, so I don't know what you mean about seats filling up. You sit where your ticket tells you.

Gate check is pretty simple: You have a carry on and you bring it with you to the gate. Once you get there, sometimes the airline will ask if people are willing to check their carry on because the plane is full. You can opt to check the bag at that point and you don't have to pay the luggage fee. You don't have to check your carry on, and you can take things out before you check it if you want to. We always gate check when we can

 

[TaraPA]

Airtran boards by zones, based on what type of seating you paid for. Business Class will board first, then zone 1 is anyone who paid for Priority Seating (generally seats towards the front, or exit rows with more leg room). After that, on the AT planes I've flown, zone 2-3 is usually the people that paid for seat assignments, the higher paid seats get zone 2, the $6 regular seats are zone 3-5. For those who did not pay for seats at all & chose at the 24-hour mark or were assigned at check-in at the airport, they will have the lowest zones, and board last.

It's not always back to front. My last trip that I flew alone I just waited til the 24-hour mark to pick whatever was left for free. I was in row 12 - while the rest of my travellng party, who had paid for seating, was behind me. They boarded before me in zone 2, I was zone 7, and boarded last.

If you're in one of the last zones to board, on the smaller AT planes, you will most likely have to gate check your bag. I've boarded in the last zone 3-4 times, and every single time I had to gate check. They will take your bag & check it through to your final destination, at no charge to you, because there is no more overhead space for it on the plane. You need to go to baggage claim to retrieve it, they will not have it waiting outside of the place when you land (perhaps maybe if it's a very small plane, but I've never encountered that with AT).

So if you're in row 17 - did you pay for that seat? The price you paid (I think it's $15 for Priority, $13, $10 & $6 for general seating) should clue you in to what zone you will board.

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually, when I flew Airtran last week, to and from Boston to Ft Lauderdale, I paid extra for priority boarding and was put in zone 2....then when they announced zone 3, a bunch of people boarded. I know that zone 1 was business people, basically in the first class area. Then, zone 2 was almost me all by myself. It didn't matter where I was seated. I did pay addtl for my seats though. I was concerned about lack of overhead space since I was traveling with carryon only. So, paid for priority so I could get the space close to me.

I was in row 16 coming home on Sat. Those in front of me boarded later in the boarding call. The flight wasn't crowded though, so they didn't have a huge issue with overhead space. But, if the flight had been full, it could very well have been an issue.
If there is no space for carryons, then you will give the FA your bags and they will 'gate check' them...they will go beneath the plane the same as checked bags.

 

[leanne11]

..my DS has a medical condition so they assigned the seats to me..so the zone s/b on the ticket when i check in 24hrs before..we have a stroller. and car seat already ..so the gate check is fine with me..just thought there was a charge.

 

[dudspizza]

..my DS has a medical condition so they assigned the seats to me..so the zone s/b on the ticket when i check in 24hrs before..we have a stroller. and car seat already ..so the gate check is fine with me..just thought there was a charge.

We pack our carry ons hoping they will gate check them! We always have a smaller backpack, purse, or laptop bag as well. If they gate check the carry on, we won't have to worry about them until we get to MCO.

One suggestion is to put the yellow ME tags on them if you are staying at a Disney Resort. That way, they will be sent all the way to your room. If you don't use the yellow tags and are using ME, you'll have to stop at baggage claim to fetch your gate checked carry on.

There is no charge for this, but they don't always offer it, though Airtran seems to offer it quite often. The worst is when you don't want to check your carry on and are forced to if you board late. I heard a girl at the gate telling everyone her laptop was in her roll-a-board. You should have seen the panic on her face when she boarded late and had to scramble to get everything out. Best thing is to have your roll-a-board packed with anything you can do without until you get to your destination.

Duds

 

[disny_luvr]

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I have a question about Airtran boarding too.

When I purchased our plane tickets I paid $6/ticket to pick our seats. I chose row 17 as it was the closest row to the front with the cheapest pre-paid seats. Anyway, we are planning on taking four carry-ons. My boys' carry-ons consist of their DS's, snacks and other activities to keep them entertained during the flight. DH always carries in his carry-on our camera, videa camera and laptop. Mine I don't care as much about as it usually has our bathing suits and clothing for the first day in case our luggage gets misplaced. I'm concerned now that we'll be boarding last and that no over-head space will be left. I don't want to have to gate check either of my sons' carry-ons or DH's carry on as it has our cameras and other important things. Can I move our seats to row 16 and pay an additional $4 per seat since I already booked and paid for seats in row 17? If we do move to row 16 does that guarantee us priority boarding before others sitting behind us? If the carry-ons fit under the seats in front of us can we just store them there?

TIA!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I'm concerned now that we'll be boarding last and that no over-head space will be left. I don't want to have to gate check either of my sons' carry-ons or DH's carry on as it has our cameras and other important things. Can I move our seats to row 16 and pay an additional $4 per seat since I already booked and paid for seats in row 17? If we do move to row 16 does that guarantee us priority boarding before others sitting behind us? If the carry-ons fit under the seats in front of us can we just store them there?
TIA!

It sounds as if your carry-on items will be small enough to fit under the seat, so I don't think you'll have to worry if all overhead space is taken.

 

[TaraPA]

I honestly don't know if switching from the $6 seats to the $10 seats gets you a better zone. I think the only guarantee of a better zone is to pay for the $15 or $13 Priority Boarding seats. Each plane type might be set up differently as well based on size, so those $15 and $13 options might not be available on every flight.

I do know that you CAN change your seats after you've already chosen/paid for them, and pay the difference. I've done that myself. I had the $6 seats & then got a credit on my account, so I used it to upgrade to the $15 Priority Boarding seats. I just don't know that the $10 and $6 zones are any different.

Another option is this: If even just one person in your travel group has zone 1, you can ALL board with zone 1. The whole group can board with in the lowest zone even if only one person has that zone. We've done that already as well. So you could possibly upgrade just 1 or 2 of you to Priority Boarding, then all board together.

You might want to call AT & ask. Every time I've had to call them they've been super nice & provided excellent customer service. Or maybe there's a contact us button on their website you could shoot them an email.

Let us know what you find out!

 

[vacationclub]

Airtran boards by zones, based on what type of seating you paid for. Business Class will board first, then zone 1 is anyone who paid for Priority Seating (generally seats towards the front, or exit rows with more leg room). After that, on the AT planes I've flown, zone 2-3 is usually the people that paid for seat assignments, the higher paid seats get zone 2, the $6 regular seats are zone 3-5. For those who did not pay for seats at all & chose at the 24-hour mark or were assigned at check-in at the airport, they will have the lowest zones, and board last.

It's not always back to front. My last trip that I flew alone I just waited til the 24-hour mark to pick whatever was left for free. I was in row 12 - while the rest of my travellng party, who had paid for seating, was behind me. They boarded before me in zone 2, I was zone 7, and boarded last.

If you're in one of the last zones to board, on the smaller AT planes, you will most likely have to gate check your bag. I've boarded in the last zone 3-4 times, and every single time I had to gate check. They will take your bag & check it through to your final destination, at no charge to you, because there is no more overhead space for it on the plane. You need to go to baggage claim to retrieve it, they will not have it waiting outside of the place when you land (perhaps maybe if it's a very small plane, but I've never encountered that with AT).

So if you're in row 17 - did you pay for that seat? The price you paid (I think it's $15 for Priority, $13, $10 & $6 for general seating) should clue you in to what zone you will board.

Actually, you can pay $6 for seats and end up in zone 5 or 6, just happened last week for us. Not sure who was in zones 2-4 since very few people boarded when called.

I think AT has a hybrid of back to front and out to in. For example, our pair of tix were purchased together, seated side by side, but wife was zone 5 (window) and I was zone 6 (isle). But you can board with the lower zone if your party has more than one. I think they try to fill the outer seats first to avoid people having to get up to let people in the row after they sat down.

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I have a question about Airtran boarding too.

When I purchased our plane tickets I paid $6/ticket to pick our seats. I chose row 17 as it was the closest row to the front with the cheapest pre-paid seats. Anyway, we are planning on taking four carry-ons. My boys' carry-ons consist of their DS's, snacks and other activities to keep them entertained during the flight. DH always carries in his carry-on our camera, videa camera and laptop. Mine I don't care as much about as it usually has our bathing suits and clothing for the first day in case our luggage gets misplaced. I'm concerned now that we'll be boarding last and that no over-head space will be left. I don't want to have to gate check either of my sons' carry-ons or DH's carry on as it has our cameras and other important things. Can I move our seats to row 16 and pay an additional $4 per seat since I already booked and paid for seats in row 17? If we do move to row 16 does that guarantee us priority boarding before others sitting behind us? If the carry-ons fit under the seats in front of us can we just store them there?

TIA!

I wouldn't worry about it. You will probably have overhead space, and even if it's tight, your bags sound pretty small so some could go under the seat.

 

[jennyjinx3]

Thanks everyone for all this info! I needed to know it but just didn't ask...we are flying Airtran for the first time in September. They sound like a good choice from what everyone has said.

 

[vacationclub]

Thanks everyone for all this info! I needed to know it but just didn't ask...we are flying Airtran for the first time in September. They sound like a good choice from what everyone has said.

Airtran is probably my favorite airline of all time...which makes it very disappointing that SW is taking them over soon. I'm hoping they don't change them much, but even the seating change is a big one. Hopefully the prices won't go up and the schedules and routes don't change.

I was just at MCO last week and the Airtran terminal has now moved to share space next to Southwest...the beginning of the end for AT. One of the two planes we took had the XM radio removed per SW.

 

[Mardis22]

Airtran is our favorite airline. Our last trip we arrived early and on the way home the pilot played the harmonica over the intercom! Nice way to end our trip.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I have a question about Airtran boarding too.

When I purchased our plane tickets I paid $6/ticket to pick our seats. I chose row 17 as it was the closest row to the front with the cheapest pre-paid seats. Anyway, we are planning on taking four carry-ons. My boys' carry-ons consist of their DS's, snacks and other activities to keep them entertained during the flight. DH always carries in his carry-on our camera, videa camera and laptop. Mine I don't care as much about as it usually has our bathing suits and clothing for the first day in case our luggage gets misplaced. I'm concerned now that we'll be boarding last and that no over-head space will be left. I don't want to have to gate check either of my sons' carry-ons or DH's carry on as it has our cameras and other important things. Can I move our seats to row 16 and pay an additional $4 per seat since I already booked and paid for seats in row 17? If we do move to row 16 does that guarantee us priority boarding before others sitting behind us? If the carry-ons fit under the seats in front of us can we just store them there?

TIA!

If you are concerned, pay for priority boarding....perhaps pay for two of you, and the others can board with the original zone. When I flew Airtran last week, those in zone 1 were business passengers and were pretty much in the first class area, up front. There were a few in the coach section that boarded prior to me. I paid for priority boarding and was in zone 2....there were very few of us in zone 2.
For my flights to Atlanta I chose seats in row 28...way in the back of the plane. Plenty of room back there. For my flights from Atlanta to Boston and Atlanta into Ft Lauderdale, I chose seats closer to the front....19 and 16. Didn't want to get stuck behind the entire plane for deplaning. When I have checked bags, it isn't such a big deal, but with carryon only, I don't want to stand there, waiting. Want to get off and to my ride.

So, even if you are in row 17, you may find that there is little overhead space by the time you board. I know that those around me, on the more crowded flights, were having issues finding space remotely close to their seats, if at all. And row 17 boarded a bit later in the process. If you have checked luggage, you really are better off in the rear of the plane. Plenty of overhead space, and if you have to wait to get off the plane, you will have less of a wait at baggage claim.

 

[Inkmahm]

Just checked my mom in for her flight yesterday and I paid attention to the boarding group. She was in row 24 at the window and was boarding group 3.


But since she is in a wheelchair, she actually got on the plane first. Airtran is great about wheelchair service for mom, especially when she is traveling alone. They help her with her carryon if she has one but she usually checks her bag even though it would fit as carryon. That makes it easier for the wheelchair person to just take her to baggage and not have to seal with a rolling case, too.

Back on topic... the flights are usually full on Airtran between Milwaukee and Orlando. I always hear them asking for people who want to gate check their carryons. LOTS of people do that for free. Even when the plane is full, I can't remember more than once when someone had to gate check a bag that they tried to bring on as carryon. The Airtran people are really good at being able to move luggage around to get it all to fit. Every time I see them do it, I think "they have obviously done this many times before." I wouldn't worry too much about your carryon luggage, in other words. It will work out fine.

 

[vacationclub]

Airtran is our favorite airline. Our last trip we arrived early and on the way home the pilot played the harmonica over the intercom! Nice way to end our trip.

I think I've had that same pilot before!