AirTran...Good & Bad please...

[The Mayor]

booked the flight from Orlando to Boston in Dec. as they had the best fare....flying Jet Blue on the way down...since the new Search here is confusing I couldn't find any past threads and I'm sure there are some...anyone have have experience with them.

 

[The Mayor]

Anyone...info on AirTran...good or bad

 

[sheri236]

we flew airtran last april round trip pit to mco and had a great expirience. good service, flights were on time, nothing to complain about. will be using airtran again in 4 days--hopefully its the same as last year!!

 

[DJBounce]

We've flown Airtran several times. All very good experiences. The only negative I can think of was that the XM satillite radio didn't work very well. But that is very minor!!

 

[The Mayor]

Thanks Sheri & DJ...that's what I was hoping to hear.

 

[pygmymom]

We've flown Airtran MSP to MCO several times and had very good experiences. Staff friendly and courteous, planes almost always on time, newer planes, XM radio that my teen DDs love and fast boarding. They do tend to tinker with times and flights, I have yet to fly my original reservation. When they've changed my flight in the past, they've called or emailed me, but not this time. So I just know to check my itinerary on their website frequently. If you remember to do that, everything else should be great!

 

[minniebeth]

We've flown Airtran MSP to MCO several times and had very good experiences. Staff friendly and courteous, planes almost always on time, newer planes, XM radio that my teen DDs love and fast boarding. They do tend to tinker with times and flights, I have yet to fly my original reservation. When they've changed my flight in the past, they've called or emailed me, but not this time. So I just know to check my itinerary on their website frequently. If you remember to do that, everything else should be great!

Newer planes is good to hear... I was a little leary when I hear that AirTran is now the company ValueJet used to be...who did not have a good maintainance/safety record. It seems like AirTran has made vast improvements?! They have good fares and positive reviews... I would definately consider booking with them if their itineraries fit into our schedule.
Thanks for the positive feedback that I've read!

 

[mikesmom97]

We have flown Airtran our last 2 times to Disney
THe last being 9/23/06 - on time no delays - very nice
Will do it again since it is a non-stop flight for us

 

[m_kasch]

I have flown air tran several times, to a few different places. The only trouble I had a couple of times was that they didn't really follow the assigned seating. Once, I got on the plane, and I was supposed to be sitting in the second row, but someone was sitting in my seat. I had to move to the very back of the plane and ended up sitting next to a screaming child...so I wasn't very happy with that. I asked the flight attendant if she could ask the person sitting in my seat to move (especially since the seats are assigned, i got up at 5:30 in the morning the day before to reserve mine), and she wouldn't. By the time I got off the plane (which took forever, sitting in the last row), I didn't feel like going to complain anymore, but I was still mad. That is one of the things they advertise, assigned seats. This happened another time, but this time wasn't as bad, someone just took my window seat. But still, I reserved my seat ahead of time, and if they are going to say they have assigned seats, they should enforce it!! Also they lost my bag on that flight as well...so that wasn't such a good trip. But I did get it back later. But I really do like Air Tran, and that is what we always fly, but just beware of the assigned seat problem, it has happened several times.

 

[Dopey & Grumpy]

Will do it again since it is a non-stop flight for us

I agree. It's non-stop from Pittsburgh airport too. We've flown Airtran about 5 or 6 times and have never had a problem.

 

[dudspizza]

I have flown air tran several times, to a few different places. The only trouble I had a couple of times was that they didn't really follow the assigned seating. Once, I got on the plane, and I was supposed to be sitting in the second row, but someone was sitting in my seat. I had to move to the very back of the plane and ended up sitting next to a screaming child...so I wasn't very happy with that. I asked the flight attendant if she could ask the person sitting in my seat to move (especially since the seats are assigned, i got up at 5:30 in the morning the day before to reserve mine), and she wouldn't. By the time I got off the plane (which took forever, sitting in the last row), I didn't feel like going to complain anymore, but I was still mad. That is one of the things they advertise, assigned seats. This happened another time, but this time wasn't as bad, someone just took my window seat. But still, I reserved my seat ahead of time, and if they are going to say they have assigned seats, they should enforce it!! Also they lost my bag on that flight as well...so that wasn't such a good trip. But I did get it back later. But I really do like Air Tran, and that is what we always fly, but just beware of the assigned seat problem, it has happened several times.

I witnessed this on a Delta flight in May. A couple decided to take the window and aisle on the 2 seat side of the MD-80. Towards the end of boarding another couple comes up and tells them they are in their seats... the people played dumb, but did move... guess where to a window and middle seat on the other side of the plane...... you can't tell me people are so stupid that they cannot read....

That same trip had a connecting flight on a small 40 seater. A guy was seated in the first row with tons of extra leg room (Premium seat). He had his buddy sit next to him instead of in the last row... When the rightful owner of the seat he is asked by the first guy to take his buddies seat.... so the guy did..... I would have said, "see ya, I am in a preferred seat for a reason".........

Some people don't think the rules apply to them and it is too bad Airtran did not enforce them this go around.

Duds

 

[BrerMama]

We flew Air Tran on our 2004 trip. They called me at work a week before we were supposed to leave to tell me they'd overbooked our flight -- for the entire week of our trip. Would we be willing to leave the following week?

Needless to say, we weren't. I did, however, fly out of another airport in exchange for 5 free round-trip tickets, which we never used.

Both of our connections were at least an hour late in taking off out of Atlanta, one was more like 3 hours late.

Just one experience, but enough to convince me I need non-stop and another airline.

 

[ctbasketlady]

We flew Airtran from White Plains to Orlando in August. We had NO problems. I really liked the 3/2 seating plan. There are 4 of us so sitting 2x2 was much better than being squished in a middle seat or seperated from one another. Flights were on time, flight staff friendly and attentive. XM worked fine (DH had bad set of head phones and just requested another). Got soda and cookies on the flight down and pretzels and soda (plus extra water because of the restrictions) on the way home. Smooth flight - I'd definately fly AirTran again.

 

[Scotch]

We have flown the MLI-MCO route via AirTran at least 5 or 6 times now and AirTran to/from Atlanta and Newport News a couple of times; we're flying AirTran again this December. This is currently our favorite airline. (I used to be a huge AA fan and Platinum member in AA's FF program.) The only time we've experience serious delay was caused by a lightening storm. Otherwise we have been really pleased with the prices, the non-stop option (which is rare in our neck of the woods), the service, and the jet planes (I'm so sick of regional gets). You'll always hear some horror story re delays or overbooking or lost luggage -- I don't think any airline has managed to avoid those incidences over the years. I used to travel frequently and have experience every one of those incidences with almost every single airline I have flown (the only exception is Singapore Airlines). Hence my experience with AirTran so far puts it on the top of my list.

 

[NancyIL]

Airtran has a bad habit of changing schedules (as most airlines do), and they dropped the only daily non-stop flight from Bloomington, IL to MCO the week after I booked it! Since most everything goes through Atlanta - even my non-stop flight in June was delayed in Orlando because of weather in Atlanta - because the flight attendants for my flight were coming from there.

 

[iluveeyore]

We flew Airtran for first time in August - usually fly SW, which we did going down from BUF to MCO, but coming back could only find non-stop cheap flight on Airtran on our date, so booked with them. Week before we left, I was checking online, and our flight had been changed to connecting leaving three hours earlier, and no one had contacted me by phone or email! When I called the lady said it was their perogative to change flights, which is fine I guess, but I asked why would they put me on an earlier flight instead of later? She wasn't sure, but found a later flight with same connection and said we wouldn't have to get off the plane in Atlanta. Fine.
We get to MCO to go home, flight is delayed an hour. Check at the desk, do BUF passengers get off in Atlanta - No, definitely not.
Leave hour and a half late, get to Atlanta - Ladies & gentlemen, thank you for flying, this is the end of this flight, please deboard the plane - WHAT?
Yes, get off the plane, ask at the desk where we go, have to run eight gates away in this huge and very busy airport, and get on another plane that leaves in 25 minutes. That flight is delayed another half an hour. Supposed to be in BUF at 10 pm - get to our luggage at midnight - my son's suitcase is broken and socks are falling out, but too tired and mad to file a complaint.
Needless to say, never flying Airtran again - I'd rather pay extra for non-stop on SW - they have never changed a non-stop to a layover in the last five years for me.
Good luck to Airtran flyers!

 

[luvchip]

We flew AirTran for the first time in August from FNT to MCO and had excellent experience both ways. Staff was friendly and helpful and flights both ways were on time. Actually a little ahead of schedule. Planes were new and clean. Our flight home was changed about 2 months before our trip which cut out day short by two hours, but they did notify me about 3 weeks before our trip. I would fly them again since they offer a early morning non-stop to Orlando. Good Luck!

 

[Uncleromulus]

We just flew AIRTRAN out of Baltimore to Orlando-and back. Not a problem to report. Smooth sailing all the way.

 

[m_kasch]

In addition to my comments on the first page, we are flying air tran in November to Orlando from Midway (Chicago). I kept checking my flights, and the time kept changing, but it was only by a few minutes, so no big deal. However, yesterday I check and my flight was TOTALLY different, a different flight number and everything. Because of airtran's pricing, i was on a different flight than my DH and DBIL, and now I was getting in well after them -- but I have to be there first to check into the room with my AP. So I called up airtran, and they switched me (actually to the same flight as my DH, which was $100 for me to book because they were out of value seats) at no price, no big deal. BUT, imho, it IS a big deal for them to go switching people's flights without telling them. If I wanted to switch my flight, it would be a $50 fee. However, this did work out in my favor, but I just want to make everyone aware to CHECK YOUR FLIGHTS often, otherwise you might not be on the flight you think you are!!

I do still like airtran though, and will keep flying them. It just helps to know about the "bugs" to make the trip easier!!

 

[btuftee]

Yes, AirTran loves to fiddle with flight times and schedules. For our upcoming trip, we were originally planning to take a nonstop from Moline, IL to MCO, which AirTran offered Mon, Wed, and Fri afternoons. Whoops, all of a sudden the nonstop is gone! My sis, BIL, and their kids were already booked for a nonstop return on a Wednesday, and AirTran cancelled it and moved them to a different flight, and never told them! I had to look online, notice the flights were cancelled, and tell them to log into their AirTran accounts and see what had happened.

I booked our flights in May, and so far they've only changed slightly... I think the outbound departs like 15 minutes earlier, and the return is like 10 minutes earlier. With three weeks to go, here's to hoping there aren't any surprises.

As for quality, the planes are new, flights are timely (somehow Atlanta is big, yet doesn't have O'Hare's problems), and people are generally friendly. It's no frills flying, but that doesn't bother me.