Airtran- is it worth it to pay for seats?

[tjmw2727]

We will be buying our seats but I have a related question about very young children: Have any of you that fly Airtran often actually SEEN children separated from their parent? What happened and how was that trip? Who helped the kid in and out of their carseat for the bathroom and walking around?

Relatedly, I called Airtran because I had questions about our carseat and she said carseats are required to go in a window seat and if none were available when we bought our tickets that they would make someone move when we boarded. I asked if the child would have to sit by themselves and she said no, the guardian would be the only one to install/uninstall the seat and buckle/unbuckle the child and would be required to sit next to them. So I guess a flight attendant can and will make someone move even if they paid for that seat.

Yes, I have actually been separated from my preschool aged kids on flights but I have never flown Airtran. We fly often and even the legacy airlines don't guarantee seats. Sometimes when flights change even by a couple minutes the computer re-assigns seats. I have had us separated on AA, Delta and Jet Blue.

If/when I have the option to pay to guarantee my seats I would not hesitate - just add it into the cost of the flight.

My kids were past car seat age but based on my number of flights I would guess that if a window seat isn't available for the carseat then they may ask you to check the carseat or wait for a flight with available seating.

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
It's so worth paying for your seat so that you know you'll have seats together. Years ago, we flew when you didn't get to pick seats on Air Tran, and my DD, DGD and I got stuck in the last row. My DD was freaking out. She's claustrophobic and there's no window in that row. The seats were more uncomfortable since they don't recline at all. Since I'm paying a good amount of money for a Disney trip, a little more money for guaranteed seats is worth it. Just have to buy a few less soveniers!!

 

[taitai]

When my kids were still in car seats, we only flew carriers that assigned seats without having to pay. However, I have been separated from my preschooler before (original flight cancelled, they somehow found 5 seats on another flight but not all together) and it worked out okay. He was only a couple rows away and so we could check on him often.

In terms of the car seat in the window. I have seen a family who had to leave the plane as there was not a window seat available to install their car seat and no one would move. They had to take the next flight. So, that is the way they seem to get around it...just put you on the next flight with an available window seat.

 

[lindsroc]

There is no way in a million years I would ever not sit next to my (young) child. Yes, we're then in their teens they can sit together seperate from my husband and I. But anything younger than that...wouldnt happen. No way would I ever put my child in a carseat and sit anywhere but right next to them. There are waaaaay too many crazies out there. I dont trust anyone.

A long time ago when I worked for United Airlines...there was a child (I believe with Down Syndrome) on the plane travelling as an unaccompanied minor. Something happened with the passenger next to her doing something inappropriate. The plane radio'd in and we actually had the state police waiting on the jetbridge when the plane came in. It was a really terrible ordeal.

 

[tjmw2727]

There is no way in a million years I would ever not sit next to my (young) child. Yes, we're then in their teens they can sit together seperate from my husband and I. But anything younger than that...wouldnt happen. No way would I ever put my child in a carseat and sit anywhere but right next to them. There are waaaaay too many crazies out there. I dont trust anyone.

A long time ago when I worked for United Airlines...there was a child (I believe with Down Syndrome) on the plane travelling as an unaccompanied minor. Something happened with the passenger next to her doing something inappropriate. The plane radio'd in and we actually had the state police waiting on the jetbridge when the plane came in. It was a really terrible ordeal.

Well then you better be prepared to purchase seats - (the point of the thread) or wait for the next flight in some cases. I would wait for the next flight for a child under 5ish but after a typical developing child can ride the school bus I was ok with them in a row or 2 ahead or behind. In our case we didn't have the option of waiting on the next flight or not taking the trip, TMI for this thread. Despite booking the flight and seats together in advance our seats were changed - it happens, more than folks here are willing to accept.

After 16 years of parenting and becoming a widow at 45 I have learned never to say never.........

I am not saying everyone has to be ok with sitting apart but don't judge those of us who have.

I would also advise folks to know in advance what the options are, what your comfort level is and what your willing to do to stay within that. Be prepared for the fact that you could be separated if you don't purchase the seats on a carrier like Air Tran as well as on the legacy airlines if the equipment or flight times change.

 

[LilyWDW]

There is no way in a million years I would ever not sit next to my (young) child. Yes, we're then in their teens they can sit together seperate from my husband and I. But anything younger than that...wouldnt happen. No way would I ever put my child in a carseat and sit anywhere but right next to them. There are waaaaay too many crazies out there. I dont trust anyone.

A long time ago when I worked for United Airlines...there was a child (I believe with Down Syndrome) on the plane travelling as an unaccompanied minor. Something happened with the passenger next to her doing something inappropriate. The plane radio'd in and we actually had the state police waiting on the jetbridge when the plane came in. It was a really terrible ordeal.

Then you need to do what you need to do to get a seat next to your child. If that means paying for seats, then you need to pay for your seat. People do not have to move for you to be seated next to your child. Personally, if I paid for my seat, I would not move. There is a reason I wanted that seat and that is why I paid for it. Your inability to plan does not make it an emergency for me.

 

[Inkmahm]

I am asking here if anyone saw a child separated from their family and how that went, because so far all we have are "what ifs," so for those that have flown AT, I am wondering how it really turned out.

I have no problem buying the seats I want/need, I had previously posted here because I had no idea that A) that they would separate young children (grade school and teens are no problem) and B) that buying your seats was the way AT worked.

And yes, our seats for our return trip are bought but not for the trip down there. I called and asked about the car seat because there are no 2 seats together that include a window for the trip down, so I don't have a choice of buying the ones I need. I am not going to buy 2 $13-20 seats in the aisle and center just to be told when I arrive they have to put us in $6 because of the carseat, and I am not going to buy a seat that is separate from my daughter because of their policy. If their policy is that a carseat goes by the window and that the parent/guardian installs it and sits with the child, then they will have to make that happen.

Yes, I HAVE seen families split up. See my post here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=35974530

 

[lindsroc]

Well then you better be prepared to purchase seats - (the point of the thread) or wait for the next flight in some cases. I would wait for the next flight for a child under 5ish but after a typical developing child can ride the school bus I was ok with them in a row or 2 ahead or behind. In our case we didn't have the option of waiting on the next flight or not taking the trip, TMI for this thread. Despite booking the flight and seats together in advance our seats were changed - it happens, more than folks here are willing to accept.

After 16 years of parenting and becoming a widow at 45 I have learned never to say never.........

I am not saying everyone has to be ok with sitting apart but don't judge those of us who have.

I would also advise folks to know in advance what the options are, what your comfort level is and what your willing to do to stay within that. Be prepared for the fact that you could be separated if you don't purchase the seats on a carrier like Air Tran as well as on the legacy airlines if the equipment or flight times change.

I did purchase seats, right after I read on here that people werent able to sit together or had seen it happen to other families.

 

[dudspizza]

Your inability to plan does not make it an emergency for me.

One of my favorite all time quotes! I used it on my oldest daughter this am when she texted me from the school bus that she needed lunch money. Think ahead kid, you are in high school now.....

duds

 

[quirty30]

So glad I stumbled onto this thread....tonight I broke down and purchased seats for our March and July trips on Airtran. I didn't realize that some of the seats were only $6.....$36 RT was well worth the peace of mind (I'm a single mom with a 12 year old son and 9 year old daughter.) I have one other question; if we want to upgrade to business class at check-in, will they apply the $6 to the business class fee? I looked all over the Airtran website for an answer, but couldn't find it.

 

[Traveliz]

So glad I stumbled onto this thread....tonight I broke down and purchased seats for our March and July trips on Airtran. I didn't realize that some of the seats were only $6.....$36 RT was well worth the peace of mind (I'm a single mom with a 12 year old son and 9 year old daughter.) I have one other question; if we want to upgrade to business class at check-in, will they apply the $6 to the business class fee? I looked all over the Airtran website for an answer, but couldn't find it.

Yes.

Liz

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am asking here if anyone saw a child separated from their family and how that went, because so far all we have are "what ifs," so for those that have flown AT, I am wondering how it really turned out.

I have no problem buying the seats I want/need, I had previously posted here because I had no idea that A) that they would separate young children (grade school and teens are no problem) and B) that buying your seats was the way AT worked.

And yes, our seats for our return trip are bought but not for the trip down there. I called and asked about the car seat because there are no 2 seats together that include a window for the trip down, so I don't have a choice of buying the ones I need. I am not going to buy 2 $13-20 seats in the aisle and center just to be told when I arrive they have to put us in $6 because of the carseat, and I am not going to buy a seat that is separate from my daughter because of their policy. If their policy is that a carseat goes by the window and that the parent/guardian installs it and sits with the child, then they will have to make that happen.

yes, Saw it 12/19 out of Atlanta. Mom pitched a fit. Gate agent told her take this seat or get off. They sat down. Kids were pre-teen but not toddler.

 

[ccgirl]

So glad I stumbled onto this thread....tonight I broke down and purchased seats for our March and July trips on Airtran. I didn't realize that some of the seats were only $6.....$36 RT was well worth the peace of mind (I'm a single mom with a 12 year old son and 9 year old daughter.) I have one other question; if we want to upgrade to business class at check-in, will they apply the $6 to the business class fee? I looked all over the Airtran website for an answer, but couldn't find it.

Yes. They will also refund any baggage fees you might have paid. Was thinking of doing this on our last trip until I found out it was $100 for each of us each way.

 

[ladyhawk14624]

I love this thread. We're flying AirTran in two weeks and yes, we've paid for our seats both ways. I'm a lousy flyer and even though we're going without kids and could sit apart there is no way I'd want to. Heaven help anyone who tries to sit in our seats and tells us to take other ones! Not happening. I need a comforting hand to hold most of the time.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

This is in response to PPs comments about the legacy carriers dealing with aircraft changes.

In Dec 2009 we flew US Airways (USAirways doesn't charge to pick seats), and our flight home was cancelled because of the DC blizzard. In fact, we couldn't get ANY flight home for 2 days. You can imagine how packed the flights were (and how sad we were to stay in Disney 2 extra days

Well, we get our boarding passes, the seats were all over the place.

When we got to the gate, we told the gate agent we had a 1 yr old and 9 yr old, and the gate agent said, "Don't worry, WE don't split parents from their children." He moved people around the plane so each child had an adult sitting next to them.

 

[Disney Ella]

This is in response to PPs comments about the legacy carriers dealing with aircraft changes.

In Dec 2009 we flew US Airways (USAirways doesn't charge to pick seats), and our flight home was cancelled because of the DC blizzard. In fact, we couldn't get ANY flight home for 2 days. You can imagine how packed the flights were (and how sad we were to stay in Disney 2 extra days

Well, we get our boarding passes, the seats were all over the place.

When we got to the gate, we told the gate agent we had a 1 yr old and 9 yr old, and the gate agent said, "Don't worry, WE don't split parents from their children." He moved people around the plane so each child had an adult sitting next to them.

That's nice it worked out for you. We flew US Airways before I knew to check every day for changes. I noticed an equipment change about three weeks before our flight, but by then, there were no seats available together. The customer service representative assured me that we could get seats together if we asked at the gate. Yeah, right. The flight attendants had absolutely no interest in the problem, but we were able to get the two kids seated together (they were 7 at the time and one was a nervous flier) after DH asked three or four people to switch. While the seat problem can work out, it can be a problem on almost any airline and you never know if airline employees will be willing or able to help.

 

[hinodis]

Yes, I always pay for seats.

 

[quirty30]

Yes.

Liz

Yes. They will also refund any baggage fees you might have paid. Was thinking of doing this on our last trip until I found out it was $100 for each of us each way.

Thank you both. I recently flew Airtran solo to DFW...by the time you pay for a seat, a checked bag & a few drinks, you might as well pay the upcharge to Business class...it also allowed me to use a special security line in MKE. I was through security in 5 minutes when the regular line appeared to be taking at least a half hour or more. I think the cost was like $69 each way if you upgraded at the time of online check-in. Obviously with 2 kids it's a little less tempting.

 

[tinkerbell423]

OK I still have not had any luck getting through to Airtran. The snow today hasn't helped the phone lines are all tied up. I am assuming our group has the seats listed on my confirmation and on Airtrans website but i want to hear it from them.
Now I have another couple questions:
What is the checked bag fee? The web site says this: 1st checked bag: weight: 50 lbs. or less; dimensions: 61 inches or smaller
Reservations prior to August 17, 2010 $15
Travel through August 31, 2010 $15
Reservations made after August 16, 2010 $20
for travel after August 31, 2010


Our reservations were made August 16th so does that mean 15 or because we travelin Feb (after Aug 31) is it now $20?


Also peopel have mentioned buying drinks is this just alcholic drinks or do you purchase all drinks?

Thanks guys we have never traveled with Airtran so i just want to know what to expect and pass the correct information on to the rest of our group.

 

[Alexander]

This is in response to PPs comments about the legacy carriers dealing with aircraft changes.

In Dec 2009 we flew US Airways (USAirways doesn't charge to pick seats), and our flight home was cancelled because of the DC blizzard. In fact, we couldn't get ANY flight home for 2 days. You can imagine how packed the flights were (and how sad we were to stay in Disney 2 extra days

Well, we get our boarding passes, the seats were all over the place.

When we got to the gate, we told the gate agent we had a 1 yr old and 9 yr old, and the gate agent said, "Don't worry, WE don't split parents from their children." He moved people around the plane so each child had an adult sitting next to them.

Yes, but the other passengers had not selected AND paid for their seats. People who have paid for their seats are not as willing to move. That is the key difference with AirTran and the Legacy carriers.