Airtran experience since change??

[ksumn1]

I believe the reason that Airtran started allowing people to book set assignments is because before the change over 35-40% of our calls were from customers upset because they couldn't book their seat assignments.

When you booked online, it would tell you this fare class does not allow advance seat assignment..you may get your seat assignments 24 hours before your flight by doing the Internet check or upon check in at the airport.
If it's a medical issue, of course you may get your SA, due to the ADA. You would have to call in and it would be done no problem. It was the other people who had no medical issue and just wanted them because American does, or Delta does, or I don't want to be seperated. Policy was unless you booked in a pre assigned seat fare class, we couldn't do it. And it really took up ALOT of time trying to keep people happy while denying them their request. I think it's great that you can now pay extra for SA, if you want to. If not, just wait until 24 hours before like "the old days"

Oh, row 10 is bulkhead, reserved for wheelchair passengers or their wheelchairs, row 11 is usually blocked in case their are more wheelchair passengers that didn't specify such when they book, passengers with infants, or passengers with non wheelchair medical concerns that needed an advance seat assignment.

 

[ribbot]

I'm jumping onto this thread kinda late, but the insurance is not a major upsell point. You're supposed to ask, but your main upsell (or it was when I worked there) was Hertz rental cars, and Disney. You are required to do the Hertz or some other upsell at the end of the call. You will get points taken off your Quality assessment if you don't.

I made my ressies online and found out 2 months later that there were seating assignments on the website for my flight (by accident). When I called and inquired about it (twice), they didn't try to sell me the seats for the extra $5 per seat. They told me we'd be sitting all together and they didn't use a scare tactic so I'd shell out the $15 for us. (which I ended up doing anyhow) and will let you know in a week how it turns out. I never heard a thing about Hertz or Disney--they just said thanks and hung up.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

Just checked in online. We all got seats together and I didn't pay to reserve ahead of time.

 

[crazy_for_the_dis]

Thanks for replying after your experiences. Anyone else?

 

[Debbru]

DH and I recently flew Airtran from Newburgh NY to Daytona Beach (connecting flights, so a total of 4 planes). We did not pay for preassigned seats. I was able to change all 4 at the 24 hr online check-in from seats on the side with 3 to seats on the side with 2 (mid plane rows).

Also, on arrival at the airport, we went up to the check-in desk and asked if there were any exit row seats available. On 3 of the 4 flights we were able to change to exit row seating.

All flights were not only full, but overbooked (they were offering free flight vouchers for voluntary bumps). I don't think many people on our flights paid for the preassigned seats.

Debbie

 

[marciemi]

Just adding in that we had no problems on the first leg of our flight (Milwaukee to Orlando). Quickest boarding we've ever seen, allowed us to all board together (even though we were different "zones"), got the seats we'd paid for without any issue and arrived on time with all our luggage. Guess you can't ask for much more than that! Our flight was also 100 percent full. We'll let you know how it goes on our return flight Saturday!

 

[ahilly]

subscribing we fly them in November

 

[mom2my3kids]

I will be pissed if I paid a extra 50.00 and someone is in my seat and they don't make them move. They will be giving me my 50.00 back...

 

[Inkmahm]

I haven't flown AirTran in a very long time (several years) because I didn't like the "no seat assignment ahead of time" policy and because the planes are so much more uncomfortable than flying Midwest. I am overjoyed today to hear that Midwest turned down AirTran and will NOT be selling the business to them. My worst fear was AirTran taking over Midwest.

Go Midwest, go!

 

[marciemi]

I'll update that we again had no problems at all with Air Tran on our return from Orlando to Milwaukee Saturday. Flight boarded on time, got in early, and we got all our luggage (4 bags and 2 golf bags) quickly and without issue.

DH flies a LOT for business, normally Northwest or Delta, and he was impressed with how much more efficiently Air Tran boarded and got everyone off the plane, and how much friendlier they seemed to be compared to those airlines. Yes, I know it's only 2 flights on Air Tran, but he's comparing them to a lot on the other airlines.

After walking to the back of the plane to use the restrooms, I have to agree I wouldn't want to take a chance being put together back there in a row without a window and with people leaning on me constantly as they wait for the bathroom or move for those going down the aisles.

I think it was definitely worth the $25 per flight for the 5 of us to be together, near the front of the plane. If it were just DH and I flying, I probably wouldn't pay and assume we wouldn't end up in the very back and would probably sit together (even if one was a middle seat), and if we didn't, we'd survive. But with 3 kids, it was worth the guarantee.

 

[snowbunny]

I am overjoyed today to hear that Midwest turned down AirTran and will NOT be selling the business to them.

I'm not.
Those of us on the east coast flying to Wisconsin or Minnesota remain at the mercy of Northworst

 

[Inkmahm]

I'm not.
Those of us on the east coast flying to Wisconsin or Minnesota remain at the mercy of Northworst

Midwest flies to the east coast now. You don't need Airtran for that to happen.

 

[snowbunny]

Midwest flies to the east coast now. You don't need Airtran for that to happen.

They don't serve enough eastern cities to make it really work, I've looked into it.

I would have to book a separate flight on another airline like JetBlue to get to one of Midwest's cities such as NYC, then change in Milwaukee to get to MSP (2 stops and an expensive short hop). About the same cost as flying here from PWM on NWA with one change in Detroit. Airtran flies out of my city already, but you have to go to BWI and Atlanta "on the way" to MSP. The merger would have given them a midwest hub and from my standpoint, would have been great.

 

[ribbot]

We arrived home today via AirTran--and everything went off without a hitch. Even though I did not want to pay the $15 ($5 x 3 of us) for pre-assigned seats---I am glad we did. The most important reason I did it was because 24 hours before our flight was to depart, we were going to be at Le Cellier and I didn't want to be bothered with trying to find a guest services counter to print out a boarding pass. I paid the $15 ahead of time, picked our seats and did not have to get any passes until we were in line at the luggage check in counter today. I didn't even have to open my mouth--they came back in the line, and handed me our boarding passes and all was well.

The flight was full except for a handful of single seats here and there throughout the back of the plane. Another reason I was glad I paid it ahead of time.

They were trying to sell first class seats for "only" $60 more before the flight.

We had no problems at all with the flight and I'd definitely fly with them again. Snack was a small bag of pretzels and a drink. Alcohol was $5 and the earphones were free for XM radio.

We flew Southwest going down and no problems there either!! So two $59 one-way flights---what a bargain!

 

[Inkmahm]

They don't serve enough eastern cities to make it really work, I've looked into it.

I would have to book a separate flight on another airline like JetBlue to get to one of Midwest's cities such as NYC, then change in Milwaukee to get to MSP (2 stops and an expensive short hop). About the same cost as flying here from PWM on NWA with one change in Detroit. Airtran flies out of my city already, but you have to go to BWI and Atlanta "on the way" to MSP. The merger would have given them a midwest hub and from my standpoint, would have been great.

Midwest begins code sharing with Northwest later this year. They announced that early this year.

"New Codeshare Agreement. We plan to launch our new codeshare agreement with Northwest Airlines later this year. It will greatly expand the networks of both Midwest and Northwest by adding 250 city pairs and more than 1,000 new flight options for our customers."

 

[snowbunny]

Midwest begins code sharing with Northwest later this year. They announced that early this year.

That still doesn't get me out from PWM any differently...anyway, it would be hasty to think that the Airtran/Midwest merger is dead, it's not. Airtran increased the offer 2 days ago and according to a press release on the Midwest site, management is retreating to consider the options.

 

[Inkmahm]

That still doesn't get me out from PWM any differently...anyway, it would be hasty to think that the Airtran/Midwest merger is dead, it's not. Airtran increased the offer 2 days ago and according to a press release on the Midwest site, management is retreating to consider the options.

And with the drop in their stock price, that offer at the end of yesterday was worth LESS than the original.

If NW and Midwest share codes, you may be able to fly NW to someplace other than Detroit and catch Midwest from there. In any case, it should be easier to get to MSP with the code sharing.

 

[Inkmahm]

YAY!!! AirTran is not buying Midwest, thank God. I can't stand the scrunched seats on AirTran flights. Give me the wonderful space of Midwest planes anytime. Flying in comfort is wonderful!