Airtran or Midwest? please help

[Violet Crayon]

We are flying out of Milwaukee and went through Midwest last January, and we are looking to book our tickets (for January 2008) very soon (the price is cheaper than we paid last year, and I want to get it out of the way). There are a few things that I am still trying to figure out, so I hope you can bear with a twenty-two old who has limited travel experience.

We were thinking of trying Airtran because I had heard a ton of good words and they let you pick your seat (for the extra $5) before going through the entire transaction. With Midwest (if it is the same as last year) I will have a link after I make the purchase to view the seating and move our seats to what we wish. And there is no $5 charge for choosing your seat. We are trying to get two rows behind one another because our friends are coming with us. Most likely there will be plenty of seating right now, but Airtran has the advantage with the chance to easily see what is available before you commit.

But I have been hearing awful things recently about Airtran moving flights throughout the DIS. The flights I have been watching are morning departure (8ish) and evening return (7ish) that seem pretty standard and have not changed for the past two months. The Midwest flight is the exact same one we did last year with the similar morning departure and evening return flight. Midwest wins out this worry because it is what we are familiar with and we had no problems last year.

We are also worried about Midwest being bought out by Airtran and possibly messing up our plans. Will we be able to easily transfer to an Airtran flight that matches the Midwest one if this happens (obviously if it isn't full)? Midwest seems to be holding out and I have not heard a lot lately.

Thanks if you read through this and take the time to respond. My boyfriend had no constructive advice, and our friends are letting me make the choices for everything.

 

[canwegosoon]

Since it seems your primary concern is that Airtran might move your flights, you have to realize that most(yes I know SW is one of the exceptions, and Midwest might be another) airlines do make schedule changes, but really it isn't a problem. Just don't be so locked into your schedule that your first 4 hours are committed items(like FDP or Cindy's or Le Cirque). I have had most of my flights change, and honestly I only had 2 times where I called the airline and asked to be put on a different flight in the past 8 years. Your friends might not be able to sit near you...and that will be ok. Please don't stress about this, I would go with the flight that has the best price/cancellation /refund policy and times that you want to go. If you are really worried, be on the earliest flights for to MCO and the 2nd to last out of MCO. You will be fine.

Reading Flyer talk might give you information about the possible merger. Have a good time.