Airtran discontinuing service at ABE August 12th UPDATE: Frontier coming 5/26!!

[TaraPA]

Is there a smiley for CRYING YOUR EYES OUT???

It was officially announced today that Airtran is leaving ABE effective August 12th. Now there will be NO carrier with non-stop flights to MCO. Zippo. Zilch.

So even if Southwest does honor all my Airtran A+ rewards, I can't even use them since SW doesn't fly from ABE.

http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regio...at-ABE/-/132502/8477742/-/526fay/-/index.html

 

[Traveliz]

You have my sympathies - all of us in the Bloomington, IL area understand. We have all ready been through this so we are further along in the grief process. Our last flight is June 3.

No Southwest for miles around here either.

Liz

 

[DebbieB]

Is there a smiley for CRYING YOUR EYES OUT???

It was officially announced today that Airtran is leaving ABE effective August 12th. Now there will be NO carrier with non-stop flights to MCO. Zippo. Zilch.

So even if Southwest does honor all my Airtran A+ rewards, I can't even use them since SW doesn't fly from ABE.

http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regio...at-ABE/-/132502/8477742/-/526fay/-/index.html

I had a feeling that would happen since Southwest flies out of Newark and Philadelphia, both less than 80 miles from ABE. They seem to be abandoning small airports, it probably isn't cost effective to fly a small number of flights with the cost to rent counter & gate space. The main thing SW wanted with AirTran is Atlanta.

I traveled PIT-ABE for business a few years ago, my last trip USAirways cancelled the non-stop flight, I had to fly to Newark and drive.

 

[MickeyEars]

They are leaving Lexington, Ky (LEX) in August as well so I feel your pain. Actually I'm feeling it twice as we are losing Knoxville (TYS) in June and now LEX in August. We used both of these as they are just about the same distance from us.
It's very depressing.

Carla

 

[tefrench]

Drat. We flew out of there for our last Disney trip. It's fairly close for us, and a nice small airport.

I guess when we fly to Florida again, it'll probably be out of Newark. ugh.

 

[disny_luvr]

If I heard my local news correctly, AirTran is also discontinuing service from Harrisburg effective August 12th. We usually drive to BWI as it is only about an hour away but are flying AirTran out of Harrisburg this summer because the price was much better than anything we could get out of BWI. I will miss having a close, local airport but at least BWI isn't too far. The one thing I like about BWI versus Harrisburg is the selection in flight times. Hopefully Southwest will keep the many daily non-stop flights they fly from BWI to MCO.

 

[DebbieB]

If I heard my local news correctly, AirTran is also discontinuing service from Harrisburg effective August 12th. We usually drive to BWI as it is only about an hour away but are flying AirTran out of Harrisburg this summer because the price was much better than anything we could get out of BWI. I will miss having a close, local airport but at least BWI isn't too far. The one thing I like about BWI versus Harrisburg is the selection in flight times. Hopefully Southwest will keep the many daily non-stop flights they fly from BWI to MCO.

Yes, Harrisburg is on the list too. You don't have to worry about BWI, that's a hub for SW.

 

[TaraPA]

I had a feeling that would happen since Southwest flies out of Newark and Philadelphia, both less than 80 miles from ABE. They seem to be abandoning small airports, it probably isn't cost effective to fly a small number of flights with the cost to rent counter & gate space. The main thing SW wanted with AirTran is Atlanta.

I traveled PIT-ABE for business a few years ago, my last trip USAirways cancelled the non-stop flight, I had to fly to Newark and drive.

I know, I get why they're doing it, I've just become SO SPOILED! $89 one way and non-stop to MCO? I don't know that any carrier ever flew non-stop to MCO from ABE (well Allegiant did for about 18 months but they're now back to Sanford). I'm right by ABE, so 80 miles to either PHL or EWR is FAR! I'm really, really bummed about this!

 

[DonnaL]

Well folks....this is just so disappointing....I was looking forward to more flights per day from ABE once the two airlines were completely merged. We actually live practically on the runway of AVP.......but drive to ABE for Airtran nonstop service to MCO.......since we can't get anywhere ns from AVP. I just emailed SWA ......who knows ......maybe if they receive enough emails they will reconsider........I pointed out that every AT flight I've been on over the past few years to/from ABE has been a full flight. I would encourage everyone who has flown from ABE to MCO over the past few years to email SWA......you never know...it could work.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (<--- NOT laughing)

We're supposed to fly down on 8/15. I live about 1/2 mile from the end of the long runway at ABE. Now I'm gonna have to drive 1 1/2 hrs to Philly to get a decently priced flight to MCO?!?!?

(<--- again, NOT laughing)

 

[DonnaL]

Send SWA an email........I just did......you never know.......if they get enough public outcry......they just may reverse their decision. If we sit back and do nothing......they will continue with their plans....

 

[TaraPA]

Donna - I'll email them - what email did you use - just the general contact us email? I'll email both AT and SW, someone has to be reading both (well I'd assume they would!)

 

[TaraPA]

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (<--- NOT laughing)

We're supposed to fly down on 8/15. I live about 1/2 mile from the end of the long runway at ABE. Now I'm gonna have to drive 1 1/2 hrs to Philly to get a decently priced flight to MCO?!?!?

(<--- again, NOT laughing)

It's a crying shame, I know, you're NOT LAUGHING (loved that!)

Catty - yes you ARE on the end of the runway! I guess we're back to paying $300+ round trip and it taking 6 hours minimum with a layover to get there. And having a layover in Chicago on United (um yeah a whole time zone out of the way!)

 

[TaraPA]

They are leaving Lexington, Ky (LEX) in August as well so I feel your pain. Actually I'm feeling it twice as we are losing Knoxville (TYS) in June and now LEX in August. We used both of these as they are just about the same distance from us.
It's very depressing.

Carla

to you & the DFW-ers, the Newport News/Williamsburg & BMI-ers who lost/are losing service too.

 

[DebbieB]

If you want to start an e-mail campaign, I would start with your local government representatives. If they could offer SW a subsidy to reduce their airport costs, that may make a difference. For example, Allegheny County offered subsidies to Delta for flights from Pittsburgh to Paris that kept it going for awhile.

 

[aubriee]

You have my sympathies - all of us in the Bloomington, IL area understand. We have all ready been through this so we are further along in the grief process. Our last flight is June 3.
Liz

They are leaving Lexington, Ky (LEX) in August as well so I feel your pain. Actually I'm feeling it twice as we are losing Knoxville (TYS) in June and now LEX in August. We used both of these as they are just about the same distance from us.
It's very depressing.

Carla

Those of us in the Dallas/Ft Worth area are even further along in the grief process than you. DFW was the first place they left. The last Air Tran flight out of DFW was Nov 22nd. Since then our airfare has more than doubled. I go to WDW several times a year and always got nonstop flights on Air Tran for $158.00-$220.00. I never paid more than $220.00. Air fare to MCO is now running around $450.00 on American, Continental, and Delta and around $375.00 on Southwest and only American has nonstop flights. Starting in midMarch Spirit is going to fly one nonstop per day to Orlando. Last week I went ahead and booked both my May and Sept trip with them. They had a $50.00 off coupon and before bag fees the r/t fares were like $148.00, (so $188.00 with either checked or carry on fees).

Send SWA an email........I just did......you never know.......if they get enough public outcry......they just may reverse their decision. If we sit back and do nothing......they will continue with their plans....

Wouldn't do us in the Dallas area much good. Due to the Wright ammendment, Southwest can't fly out of DFW.

 

[EpcotQueen]

LVIA is not likely to offer a subsidy...they can't afford it. They have to pay a $2 million lawsuit. Alligent flies nonstop from ABE but I'm a little fearful to fly a charter airline. I can remember when another charter abruptly stopped flying, leaving lots of folks stranded. The commercial airlines did not have to accomodate thos passengers. Besides Alligent flies into Sanford, a 45 min drive from WDW. Air Tran was perfect! They even added another flight each way. I really thought ABE dodged the bullet when they did that! BOO HOO!!!

 

[leanne11]

ooh book..we love ABE..ha i remembrance they had HOOTERS yes ago..didn't last long..we used to love Allegiant but man now a $50 flight is about 120 with the fees...

 

[DonnaL]

Tara.....yes, the email I used was the general customer service email...I did not even send it to AT, but, to SWA since it's actually SWA discontinuing the service.......under the AT name. In the past I've had very good feedback from SWA in response to emails I've sent ....mainly about good customer service experiences from them.....we'll see what type of response, if any, comes my way this time.

 

[Checkers]

Grieving here in Harrisburg, too. It is BWI for us as well. For us it is a fairly easy drive but I sure do hate that beltway traffic! Will send an email as well to SW. Our local paper said the MDT to MCO flight was the most popular flight out of the airport and with this being the state capital maybe that will have some leverage. And, yes, I was hopeful that the sale to SW wouldn't be affected since they just added another direct flight. Guess you never can tell!