AirTran booked w/SW seat experiences

[buckeyemom16]

Hi all,

Don't know how long this has been going on so not sure if anyone has any actual experience with it, but I booked AirTran flights today through SW to MCO in June. It says they will assign our seats. Anyone have experience with this? When do they assign the seats? We are a family of four so I know we'll have to split up but I'm hoping they make a good attempt to put us in the same row. I would've gladly paid for seat assignments but it wasn't an option.

Thanks for any help!

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[Shelly F - Ohio]

Hmm

 

[kmermaid]

I'm just curious why you didn't book thru Airtran so you could pay for seat assignments? Was it because of the baggage fees?

 

[sara mom]

We did the same thing...booking AirTran through SW website using our SW points.

 

[msjprincess]

I'm just curious why you didn't book thru Airtran so you could pay for seat assignments? Was it because of the baggage fees?

I am not the OP, but I'm thinking of doing the same thing. Booking through Airtran I'd be paying for seat assignment, luggage and there is a $75 change fee. Plus I have SWA Ticketless Funds. I would end up paying around $250 more on Airtran for the 5 of us, one way.

 

[buckeyemom16]

I'm just curious why you didn't book thru Airtran so you could pay for seat assignments? Was it because of the baggage fees?

Yep! Baggage fees and Rapid Rewards points.

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[JandD Mom]

I'm just curious why you didn't book thru Airtran so you could pay for seat assignments? Was it because of the baggage fees?

I am interested in this answer too!

Another reason to nook it through SW is the flexibility of no change fee. .

 

[turtlebean]

I'm not OP, but considering doing the same. The SWA flight was $86 w/no baggage fees. The same flight booked through airtran is $98 plus $25 baggage fee & $11 (May be more now ) for seat assignment. That's a savings of $332 for a family of 4. I'm not sure I will find a cheaper flight, but concerned about my kids sitting alone.

 

[mousey]

If you can book airtran thru SWA without any baggage, seat or change fees, why would anyone use the airtran site where you have to pay baggage, seat and change fees? The airtran employee I spoke with said this is SWA way of phasing out airtran.

 

[Disneylvr]

If you can book airtran thru SWA without any baggage, seat or change fees, why would anyone use the airtran site where you have to pay baggage, seat and change fees? The airtran employee I spoke with said this is SWA way of phasing out airtran.

Because to some families, like mine, pre-assigned seats are important. Until the merger is completed, we will happily book through the AirTran site, the extra fees are worth it to us.

 

[mousey]

I completely understand the pre-assigned seats. The way they are handling this merger seems like they are trying to phase out airtran. I know the airtran employees feel this way too! Its like they are enticing people to book on the SWA site with the free baggage and no change fees. They are obviously still taking advantage of the extra fees airtran charged by not merging that perk with SWA.

 

[tyzzle]

I have a thread started on this topic also. I will probably just book airtran because I have a 2 and 5 y.o. and don't want to leave our seating to chance.

 

[Disneylvr]

I completely understand the pre-assigned seats. The way they are handling this merger seems like they are trying to phase out airtran. I know the airtran employees feel this way too! Its like they are enticing people to book on the SWA site with the free baggage and no change fees. They are obviously still taking advantage of the extra fees airtran charged by not merging that perk with SWA.

I think that is the plan to completely phase out AirTran eventually. I believe that is why AirTran flights are now showing up on the SWA website and vice versa however I don't think it was carefully thought out in regards to seat assignments vs Early Bird Checkin.

 

[dj2]

i just adjusted a standard award booked on southwest with one stop to a non-stop flight operated by airtran. our flights are on different conf. numbers so there's no way we'll be seated together. but i was told that they do not assign all the seats in advance, that some "zones" are held for assignment at the gate, and that when we arrive at the gate they will try change our seats to accomodate us.

we are 2 adults, so not a big deal if we are separated, but if i were traveling with kids i'd want guaranteed seats together. that said, i've heard that it's extremely rare for airlines to not sit young kids with their parents, and i've even seen flight attendants asking people to move to accomodate families with small kids. unless they show up right as the plane is departing. so definitely arrive early!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I think that is the plan to completely phase out AirTran eventually. I believe that is why AirTran flights are now showing up on the SWA website and vice versa however I don't think it was carefully thought out in regards to seat assignments vs Early Bird Checkin.

When airlines merge, only one airline continues and that airline is going to be Southwest, which bought AirTran. The integration should be complete by the end of 2014.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

we are 2 adults, so not a big deal if we are separated, but if i were traveling with kids i'd want guaranteed seats together. that said, i've heard that it's extremely rare for airlines to not sit young kids with their parents, and i've even seen flight attendants asking people to move to accomodate families with small kids. unless they show up right as the plane is departing. so definitely arrive early!

No airline guarantees any seat assignment. They are always subject to change.

 

[turtlebean]

I just booked our flights through SWA on an Airtran flight and will take our chances. I called SWA and asked what the likelyhood of my kids not being able to be seated w/atleast one parent. The person I spoke with told me that while it can happen, SWA and Airtran do everything they can to make sure parents and children can sit together. I'm not so worried about all of us sitting together, but more concerned about atleast 1 parent w/the children. I couldn't pass up the deal. I doubt I will be able to find flights this cheap. For us to fly the same flight and book through Airtran, it would be an extra 384.00 w/difference in fare, baggage fees and seat assingment fees (based on what we paid for seat assignments 2 yrs ago on Airtran). That's basically paying for the extra night we decided to add so my DS could wake up in Disney on his birthday. Now if Disney would just release their summer discounts, I could book my stay and start to relax a little.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I completely understand the pre-assigned seats. The way they are handling this merger seems like they are trying to phase out airtran. I know the airtran employees feel this way too! Its like they are enticing people to book on the SWA site with the free baggage and no change fees. They are obviously still taking advantage of the extra fees airtran charged by not merging that perk with SWA.

They "feel this way" They should not "Feel" they should KNOW!

The SW CEO is on record as saying the final airline will be SWA not Airtran.

(Of course they can always decided to start charging fees... and I expect it's coming. )

 

[dj2]

No airline guarantees any seat assignment. They are always subject to change.

of course that's true. but it still feels more secure to have the seats pre-assigned and all together than to have to wait until 24 hours out, have the seats assigned to whatever is left, probably not all together, and then to have to ask the gate attendant to make adjustments--which i'm confident every attempt will be made and will likely occur--and yet it still feels better to have those seats pre-assigned.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

of course that's true. but it still feels more secure to have the seats pre-assigned and all together than to have to wait until 24 hours out, have the seats assigned to whatever is left, probably not all together, and then to have to ask the gate attendant to make adjustments--which i'm confident every attempt will be made and will likely occur--and yet it still feels better to have those seats pre-assigned.