airtran? help ?

[nmartin]

We are Canadian's and not familar with this airline but because we are a border town we decided to fly from the US to Orlando instead of our usual airport in Canada. I notice that airtran has very cheep flights but concered with the check in. Does this affect us sitting together. I have younger children and if it is between sitting together and paying more money, I will just suck it up. Also is it a good airline. Could someone ease my worries?

 

[3DisneyKids]

When you book online, you will book as "adult" and "child" and thus the kids are connected to the adult (don't worry...this is very easy to do on the web site....you just complete the online form and for each person they have you check whether the person is an adult or child). That way, when it is time to board it is noted that you are all together.

MAJOR TIP: Beginning at 24 hours before your flight, you can print your boarding pass. This is huge because (1) you don't have to wait in line at the counter at the airport, and (2) it puts you in the first "group" of people to board the plane. And if you are in the first batch to board, then you will easily be able to sit together.

Finally, make sure the employee at the gate knows that you are travelling with minor children and that you cannot be separated. In this era, they will NOT have kids sitting with adult strangers and not with their parents.

The one thing that might happen (and this is the worst case scenario, I think) is that one parent might end up with one (or more) kid in one part of the plane and the other parent will be with the other kid(s) in another.

HTH.

 

[nmartin]

If I am in WDW will the resort enable me to go on line at the 24hrs in advance to print my boarding pass?

 

[jekjones1558]

If I am in WDW will the resort enable me to go on line at the 24hrs in advance to print my boarding pass?

Yes. Go to the concierge desk. Others have also stated that the Guest Relations desks at the parks will do this, if you happen to be at a park 24 hours out. I have not tried this, however.
One more good thing is that in May AirTran will reportedly be added to the list of participating airlines for Magical Express and Resort Check In (currently there is a temporary pilot use going on at a few resorts). This makes AirTran even more attractive, IMHO.

 

[3DisneyKids]

Yes. Go to the concierge desk. Others have also stated that the Guest Relations desks at the parks will do this, if you happen to be at a park 24 hours out. I have not tried this, however.
One more good thing is that in May AirTran will reportedly be added to the list of participating airlines for Magical Express and Resort Check In (currently there is a temporary pilot use going on at a few resorts). This makes AirTran even more attractive, IMHO.

We are travelling on May 2 and using ME with AirTran. When I called MS to ask if I could use ME with AirTran she said you could now yse ME will ALL airlines...every single one. This was news to me.

As jekjones said, you can have your boarding passes printed out at the concierge desk at your resort...BUT this may depend on which resort. Any DVC resort will do this as will all of the deluxes. I am not sure if the Values and/or Mods offer this service. Maybe someone else can chime in one that. Where are you staying?

 

[JimMIA]

We are Canadian's and not familar with this airline ...

Also is it a good airline. Could someone ease my worries?

Airtran used to be called Valujet. They changed their name after their Flight 592 crash here in Miami in May 1996. I haven't checked their safety record since the crash, but I'm sure you can check that online.

I've never flown Airtran, so I can't give you any feedback on their service.

 

[lisareniff]

To put your mind at ease a little more...'

Our experience flying Airtran during break weeks (not sure if the full planes matter or not) has been good with the seating. It appears the last few trips our seats were pre-assigned. We did not purchase tickets that had that benefit. One time I forgot to go on line and get the seat assignments and was panicking at the airport. Low a behold they were already assigned! This last trip I went on their web site exactly 24 hours before the flight and they were assigned. I think the whole plane was assigned since only a few seats in the back were open. I did rearrange ours from a 1 + 3 to a 2 +2 arrangement. (I didn't want to get stuck with both the kids!) On the return I went to the lobby concierge desk and the seats were already assigned and they printed out the boarding passes for us.

The only negative I have about Airtran is that they often will change their flight time with out notification (or at least not until closer to the flight). Once your flight times have been changed, they have been great allowing you to change to any other flight. For us it is a non-stop flight so changes aren't that big a deal, we just don't plan anything to tight that first night.