Airtran boarding?

[MoonFaerie]

I just checked in for our flight tomorrow. We did pay in advance for seating because the kids aren't old enough to be sitting alone. I'm sitting with ds, and dh is sitting with dd in the seats directly behind us.

The boarding passes show dh & I in zone 6 and both of the kids in zone 5. I'm assuming zone is related to the order that they'll have us board, but surely the kids wouldn't have to board by themselves, right?

Also, if our flight is at 12:05 on a Sunday, is 2 hours before departure early enough?

I apologize if these are silly questions. I haven't flown since I was 3 or 4, and dh has never flown commercially.

 

[crashbb]

I'm not totally sure of Airtrans' boarding procedure, but it sounds like they do some form of WILMA and you and your DH have window or middle while your kids have middle or aisle. It shouldn't be an issue to all board with zone 5. If the GAs are being picky, just all board with zone 6. Since you have your seats, it doesn't really matter when you board (unless people are going overboard with carry on luggage).

Two hours before flight time should be fine - though airport and date/time of your flight make a difference.

ETA - I'm an idiot you gave flight time/date. Two hours should be good (again, airport does make a difference).

 

[maxiesmom]

I flew Air Tran in July, and they made many announcements that if you were traveling as a family you could all board with the first zone your family was in. So no need to worry.

 

[dioxide45]

Two hours before your flight should be fine. As the previous poster indicated you will be instructed (through muffled announcements) to have groups board with the lowest zone in the party. So you will all board when zone 5 is called. They board back to front after business class is boarded. Window seats will also have a lower zone since they want those people in their seats first before the middle and isle seat people board. But since you are traveling together, it doesn't matter.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Awesome, thanks. I figured we'd be able to board together, but I knew I'd sleep better tonight if I had that confirmed for me.

 

[DeadHead]

Just flew Airtran on Friday. DW & I were seated together she was zone 3,I was zone 4 we were told to board at the same time. Zone 3 boarded first, no prolem at all.

 

[Missytara]

We had a good laugh when we flew Airtran a couple of weeks ago. Both going down and coming back, we had seats 25 D, E, and F. I was in the aisle seat.

Each time, my companions were in zone 4 and I was in zone 5. It finally dawned on us - they boarded the window and center seats in that area first and boarded the aisle seats after that. It seemed to really help with boarding.

That said, the first time going down we were talking and they missed the call for zone 4. We went with zone 5 together and had no trouble boarding all at one time.

On the way back, we did board as per the tickets and it really seemed like it would have saved some time - if it hadn't been for the elderly gentleman traveling with a large family group of sisters and their kids, who decided to name himself - the official grandpa airplane usher..... he asked who wanted to sit with whom and started moving everyone around in their assigned seats so certain people could sit together. After a few anxious minutes, a flight attendant came down and put an end to that real quick! Happily, we were boarded in a few minutes. Phew!

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

FYI...save yourself money next time and use Kayak.com to book your Airtran flights. Then you can choose your seats for free!