AirTran-need help quickly please

[mom_rules]

Can anyone tell me anything about AirTran and Ryan Int'l Airlines?

I need to book soon and know nothing about either of these two airlines.

Anyone had Business Class experience?

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[prncess674]

AirTran is just fine and there prices are reasonable. There business class product is very mediocre. You get a bigger seat and 2 free alcoholic drinks.

What else would you like to know?

 

[Phudso]

We flew on Ryan Intl out of St. Louis to Las Vegas last year and they were nice plans and the crew was very friendly. No Complaints here. I don't know much about AIRTRAN we are flying with them this September to Disney World. I have read good things about them. Hope this helps

 

[mom_rules]

How are these airlines for being ontime, schedule changes etc.

Does Ryan Int'l have a business class also?

The reason business class appeals to us: for an 8 hour trip the more room and comfort the better.

Do they show movies? Do they have meal service? What are the special amenities offered by business class and is it worth the extra cash?

Thanks again.

 

[prncess674]

Directly from AirTran Website:

Ours is a Business Class any business can afford. You'll get 7 inches more legroom than you would in coach, and a much wider seat too, since our Business Class seating is 2-across, like first class on other airlines. This means plenty of room to open your briefcase and spread out, or to work on your laptop without sharing the information on the screen with the person next to you. In addition to soft drinks and snacks, you receive two complimentary alcoholic beverages.

Business Class upgrades are available in advance for $35.00 over the full one-way coach fare for nonstop flights and for $70.00 over the full one-way fare for connecting flights. They are not available for use with discounted fares.

Does AirTran Airways serve meals on flights?

AirTran Airways is a low fare carrier. In an effort to control our costs and provide low fares to our customers, we do not serve meals on our flights. We serve complimentary coffee, juices, Coca-Cola products and snacks on all flights. Cocktails, beer and wine are $4 on all flights.

Business Class is nothing special. you do not get a meal. I was not aware that AirTran flew to Canada. Also note that the full one way fare can be pricey.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

For your information,

AirTran is the same airline that was previously called ValuJet which had the accident in the Florida everglades quite a few years ago.

ValuJet was in serious trouble, so they bought a much smaller airline, AirTran, and changed the name on the company and all the planes.

Haven't heard anything bad against them since, but just wanted to let you know.

 

[miller2000]

On the risk of sounding negative I want to share with my experience in May of 2002 with Air Trans. We flew out of Philadelphia non-stop to Orlando. Going down I thought that this airline wasn't too bad. It was a newer plane and everything went well. Coming back was a different story. When leaving Orlando we got delayed. They had to replace a part on the plane. Not a comforting thought. Anyway we missed our connecting flight in Atlanta. When we were in Altlanta (I am not kidding) there were 2 other Air Trans planes delayed for mechanical reasons. We had to spend 5 hours with 2 small children in the Atlanta airport. Not very fun. In the end it took us 17 hours from start to finish to get home. Driving would have taken 18 hours.

Our plane was built in the sixities and the flight attendent told us that half their planes were new and the other half were aging and eventually will be replaced. So if you know that the plane you're booking is one of the newer ones and it is non-stop then you are okay otherwise getting there on time could be a gamble. Sorry, I was so lengthy, but I have issues with AirTrans.

 

[mom_rules]

I thank you all for your opinions. I think I'll save the extra $ (and drive to BUF - 2 hours) and find another airline.

 

[prncess674]

Mechanical delays can happen on any airline. Just because the big airlines all "look like" new planes some of the planes are just plain old. TVs on the interior does not mean it is new plane. AirTran's planes are just as old as many of Delta's, Continental, American, Northwest, and USAir.

The original poster also was looking at flying business/First. Flying in BC or FC is cost prohibitive. You will not find a roundtrip ticket under $1,000 per person. AirTran offers a very watered down FC product, that if all you are looking for is a wider seat is a good product, but don't look for FC service. The legroom is nothing to shout about either.

AirTran has just as many mechanical problems as other big carriers. I would not not pick an airline based on one person's account of a delayed flight. If you scroll through the transportation forum it is riddled with comments on every airline. I can find atleast one post on every major airline about someone complaining about the service, or the delay, or whatever you can think of.

Go with the best price and time for your schedule. If AirTran were unsafe the FAA would not let them fly planes. Discount airline does not equate to unsafe airline.

 

[smart cookie]

Originally posted by miller2000
When we were in Altlanta (I am not kidding) there were 2 other Air Trans planes delayed for mechanical reasons

This is not uncommon as Atlanta is Airtran's hub city. A vast majority of Airtran flights connect through Atlanta. Their main maintenance facilities are also located there (Just like Delta.)

It can happen on any airline, in fact, I spent an hour sitting on a Delta plane in the Atlanta heat two years ago, waiting for them to find a part to 'fix' our plane.

Our plane was built in the sixities and the flight attendent told us that half their planes were new and the other half were aging and eventually will be replaced.

The flight attendent obviously hasn't checked up on his/her facts in the last couple years.

Airtran has 76 aircraft in their fleet. 62 of those 76 are new or nearly new Boeing 717's. 6 are newer Canadair Regional Jets (CRJ's), and only 8 are the older DC-9's. By December of this year there will be no more of the older planes in Airtran's fleet.

 

[Captain Bram]

AirTran had been flying the oldest commercial fleet in the US skies, with their 30+ year old DC-9s. Yes, they are replacing their fleet, but everyone knows that the older the aircraft the greater the probability of mechanical issues.

The poster that pointed out that AirTran is the former ValuJet is also correct. They rebadged everything after the oxygen generators ignited in the cargo hold of one of their scheduled service aircraft during flight causing one of the most horendous accidents in US aviation history. I have friends who served on the Emergency Response Team that responded to the accident...

With the advent of newer aircraft in their fleet, and a new organizational structure since the tragedy, I am sure that they are much improved for a scheduled service airline.

Although, I have never flown them...