Airtran OR Southwest?

[need_a_Disney_fix]

We also fly out of Moline and have never had a problem with AirTran. They now have DIRECT flights out of MLI to MCO, so its AirTran for us!

 

[deltachi8]

We go with whoever has the lowest rates and really have had no problems with any airline. Never have flown AirTran, but would do so. They often match SW fares out of Buffalo, but Southwest has direct flights, so I choose them. I also think SW has excellent customer service.

As for accident history...."Quantis. Quantis never crashed." - Raymond Babbit

 

[RumpleMom]

We flew AirTran from PIT to MCO last January. Absolutely no complaints. The plane was clean, employees were professional and baggage return was prompt.

We had relatives who had to cancel due to a health problem and AirTran waved the cancellation fee and gave a credit on furure travel. We really appreciated this gesture during a very difficult family time.

AirTran gets a gold star from our family.

 

[MAH4546]

We go with whoever has the lowest rates and really have had no problems with any airline. Never have flown AirTran, but would do so. They often match SW fares out of Buffalo, but Southwest has direct flights, so I choose them. I also think SW has excellent customer service.

As for accident history...."Quantis. Quantis never crashed." - Raymond Babbit

Spelled Qantas. No "u". Not a big deal, but Australians hate it when people spell it with a "u". Not surprisingly, it is perhaps one of the most commonly misspelled airline names. So misspelled that Qantas owns the domain name www.quantas.com and it will re-direct you to www.qantas.com automaticlly.

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

We always fly Airtran from Moline to Orlando. We've been very happy with their service. The planes are new and generally clean. The flight attendents are mostly great. They have always been on time for us.

In December '03, we were meeting my brother and his family at the airport in Moline for a flight to Orlando. He was late. The plane was scheduled to taxi in 7 minutes when my brother called me on the plane to say they were in the airport trying to check their luggage, but the counter was closed--rightfully so. I mentioned this to the flight attendent. She paged a counter clerk and had them check my brother's family in and personally walk them to the front of the security line. My brother made the flight with 1 minute to spare. I thanked the flight attendent profusely--she just said she couldn't bare the heartbreak on my 6 year old daughter's face when she heard me tell my brother there was no way he'd still get on the plane. We'll always fly Airtran.

 

[CarolA]

CarolA- It is not "strange" and I'm sorry you think so. I was simply saying that that is my favorite thing about SWA. It is somewhat a reflection of how well their fleet is maintained. I have been on an older, not so maintained plane that was literally falling apart. In fact, it broke midflight and we had the emergency landing from you know where. That airline has since been shut down... I wonder why. I travel a lot too! I don't appreciate being called strange.

I did the research and answered my own question. CarolA, you're mistaken. On 6/10/97 AirTran merged with ValuJet. So yes, now they are the same company. They changed the name to Airtran on 9/24/97. What I DID learn today is that in 1999, AirTran began to update it's fleet and it does have a VERY new fleet, especially since 2003 when they ordered more than 50 new 737's and 717's.


P.S. The last time I flew SWA was last Friday, and they continue to provide both pillows and blankets. No whole cans of soda or XM though. Air Tran has its perks, I guess.

Personally strange was not the word I wanted to say....

I find it sad that the way you build up your perferred airline is by trying to "scare" folks away from other airlines. All that type of post does is scare reluctant flyers and it comes up on this board. AirTran and ValueJet are different companies... you may have found a merger, but they had completely different management and styles.... Of course, Delta also has merged with about three airlines and USAir with a few... I don't tend to hold history against airlines.

As I indicated, I am a frequent SW flyer so it's not that I don't like them. As a matter of fact I have only flown AirTran once and really was not impressed. I don't get the assigned seats if you have to get them 24 hours in advance, that seems useless to me, but..... (Have not seen any pillows lately on SW, but haven't looked either!)

 

[JustHolly]

I wasn't trying to scare anyone into using SWA. Personally, I could care less what airline people choose to use. It doesn't affect me in any way, shape or form. The OP asked for Pro's and Con's and I gave her one. I was just saying why I personally like it, and added what I think is a "pro" that nobody else had mentioned.

I'm not on these boards to manipulate people or scare people into thinking my way. I'm sorry if anyone got "scared" by my post, and I highly doubt that happened!

Gosh, people get so defensive over the silliest things. Now I remember why I stopped coming to these boards....

I don't hate AirTran. I'm not scared of Airtran. One of my best friend's husbands works for AirTran, and they fly AirTran all the time.



To the OP: Both airlines have their Pro's and Con's. Pick whatever airline best suits your budget and schedule. Taking a peek at a particular flight's ontime schedule is helpful too, if getting there by a certain time is important to you.

The ontime record for the flight I wanted to take last Thursday night was terrible, but I booked anyway because it was cheap. Of course it was delayed by hours. After finding out that I would not arrive at my destination until the middle of the night, I rebooked for the next morning on the flight I should have booked in the first place.

 

[cbrfan]

We love AirTran and fly them almost exclusively. We've always encountered clean planes and friendly staff.

 

[MAH4546]

AirTran and ValueJet are different companies... you may have found a merger, but they had completely different management and styles....

No, they are the same airline.

After the ValuJet crash, ValuJet bought out airTran (they didn't merge), and Orlando-based Valujet's management tookover Atlanta-based airTran. Since the ValuJet name had a bad image at the time, they decided to take the airTran name instead. That is why airTran is based in Orlando, Florida. The original airTran was based in Atlanta before Valujet bought them.

 

[momsgoofy]

Okay....AirTrans has the XM radio? Can someone still explain how it works? I've never flown either SW or AT, but hey if I can save a buck then woohoo! I am just trying to gather information so that I can make my own decision about travel. The XM radio thing is a plus, because I have a family that loves their music and XM radio is awesome. No, I'm not making my choice based solely upon this fact....but I am just curious how it is handled on the aircraft.
Does each passenger have a set of headsets for FREE? Do you have to purchase the headsets? If so do you know the cost?

Thanks!

 

[tinknme]

I will be flying AT for the 1st time in Oct. From what I read on their site they do provide headsets, but suggest that you bring your own.

Does each passenger have a set of headsets for FREE? Do you have to purchase the headsets? If so do you know the cost?

Thanks!

 

[momsgoofy]

I will be flying AT for the 1st time in Oct. From what I read on their site they do provide headsets, but suggest that you bring your own.

Thanks! Also, noticed that you are in Illinois...so where do you fly AT from? Probably Chicago. We are in the southern part of the state so Bloomington and Indianapolis are actually the closest. Just curious if you've any experience with either and AT?

Thanks again!

 

[djbleach]

I think It's "great" that we are having a discussion on the "low fare" airlines. I wonder when the "big boys" will catch on. How can SW and AT continue to have such low fares and make a profit?
A few days ago I got r/t tickets for my daughter and I for $160 total! The ding fare was $33 and I couldn't pass it up. We couldn't drive it for that. We live in Virginia.
We have SW out of Norfolk and AT out of a smaller airport in Newport News.
I usually just go with whoever has the cheaper flight.
The thing that I like about AT is new planes, and fresh air "pumped" into the cabin.
I haven't had any flight change, so that has never been an experience. I'm lucky because I never checked to see if the times had changed.
SW has always been good to us.
Both airlines have been on time. Had our luggage.
I don't mind the way SW does the "cattle call". As long as I have a seat, It doesn't matter to me.
I usually can get better prices with SW, so we fly them more.
So to the OP, Either one Is fine. You can purchase One way tickets at no extra cost.
So do get your own experience. Try SW going and AT comming home, or vice versa.
That sounds like a good experiement.
Let us know if you decide to do that.

 

[tinknme]

We will be flying out of Moline

Thanks! Also, noticed that you are in Illinois...so where do you fly AT from? Probably Chicago. We are in the southern part of the state so Bloomington and Indianapolis are actually the closest. Just curious if you've any experience with either and AT?

Thanks again!

 

[momsgoofy]

I think It's "great" that we are having a discussion on the "low fare" airlines. I wonder when the "big boys" will catch on. How can SW and AT continue to have such low fares and make a profit?
A few days ago I got r/t tickets for my daughter and I for $160 total! The ding fare was $33 and I couldn't pass it up. We couldn't drive it for that. We live in Virginia.
We have SW out of Norfolk and AT out of a smaller airport in Newport News.
I usually just go with whoever has the cheaper flight.
The thing that I like about AT is new planes, and fresh air "pumped" into the cabin.
I haven't had any flight change, so that has never been an experience. I'm lucky because I never checked to see if the times had changed.
SW has always been good to us.
Both airlines have been on time. Had our luggage.
I don't mind the way SW does the "cattle call". As long as I have a seat, It doesn't matter to me.
I usually can get better prices with SW, so we fly them more.
So to the OP, Either one Is fine. You can purchase One way tickets at no extra cost.
So do get your own experience. Try SW going and AT comming home, or vice versa.
That sounds like a good experiement.
Let us know if you decide to do that.

I'm of the same mind as you...why can't the big boys catch on?

I've never flown either SW or AT, but with all the talk about other "major" airlines going under or downsizing, I think it's always the same risk with any of them, so why not save some bucks? That way I can do more at the Mouse's House.
For me the nearest airport is St. Louis, which has SW and it's a 2.5 hours drive or Evansville, IN, but it's pretty small so not much choice there...then I go out to 3.5 to Nashville, TN or Louisville, KY (both SW), then 4 hours to Indianapolis (both SW and AT) or Bloomington, IL (AT). Naturally there are other airlines at all of the airports I have to chose from, but they are the big boys and I'm looking at anywhere from $200 to $350/person with them right now. So, I keep holding out for SW to give me a great price out of STL, so the drive is shorter since in December you never know what the weather will be like around here.

 

[owtrbnks]

SWA is the best!!!!
No reason to check anyplace else.
Lowest fares, no change fees, set schedules, old people want their seat assigned so they fly Delta, free peanuts!

 

[Pinnie]

I'm of the same mind as you...why can't the big boys catch on?

The Legacy carriers have a load of retirees that they are supporting on the backs of current employees. The legacy pilots make more $ than the pilots of the no frills airlines. Until the "big boys" get a clue, we will be seeing more and more fall into Chapter 11.

SWA flies only 737s, so they only have to fix and repair one kind of plane. Legacy airllines like NWA fly a variety of planes.

Personally, I am perfectly happy to fly SWA. I konw that once their schedule is up, it isn't going to change, save a mechanical or weather problem. The non reserved seating doesn't bother me at all. SWA has the fastest gate turnaround than any other carrier. They pull up, they load up, the get out. NWA can't even come CLOSE to the turnaround that SWA has!

pinnie

 

[Pinnie]

old people want their seat assigned so they fly Delta, :

Give me unassigned seating on SWA anyday!!!!!

pinnie

 

[billsfan]

Here's An answer to the headphone question.
You can bring your own headphones or buy a pair from Airtran that you can keep for $3 or $4 dollars (I don't remember what it is). Just remember Airtran does not accept cash, only credit cards and debit cards.

 

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

I totally agree with JustHolly. The fact that SW has an impeccable safety record is comforting to me, and tells me that they are doing something right. It has nothing to do with trying to scare others away from other airlines, nor is it strange. It is just one of the things that attracts some people to SW. I don't necessarily hold it against an airline because they have had a crash in the past, but when an airline has a 30 plus year history of being accident free, like SW does, that should tell you that they really know what they are doing. That is a very comforting thought.