Airtran Q re: getting charged for changes?

[disneyfan2kids]

I know Airtran charges $75 change fee per ticket for changes. BUT if they change our flight times and I don't want the times they've offered me...can I change ticket to a different day with times I WANT and avoid the "change fees" per ticket?

Anyone know?

 

[goofy4tink]

Depends. If they change your times by a substantial amount, 3 or more hours, then they may very well change your flights with no fees. But, if it's just an hour or so, probably not.
A whole different day? Probably not. There have been times when airlines have allowed passengers to change to a different day if they (the airline) changed their flight substantially...but you shouldn't expect it to happen.

 

[PSUGuy]

Last Oct we had direct flights down and back, they switched our return to a connector, I called and told them the new flight time didn't work for us and they put us on a direct flight home that was so expensive when we first booked that I avoided it. Also the flight time was much better for us so we ended up with a superior flight, for no extra $$ of any sort. The days weren't different, just the hours and the fact that we were switched from a direct to a connector. AT is known for this sort of customer service.

Bill From PA

 

[TMB1203]

I have switched my flights in reaction to their changes and have never paid the change fee. The last time, I actually changed airports as well after they changed my flight (I live between MKE and MDW) and they didn't make me pay the fee.

 

[Inkmahm]

This is one of the reasons I am loyal to Airtran. I have changed our flights many times after Airtran has changed one of the flights by even just a few minutes. Most recently, I started an "I Love Airtran" thread here when our flight arrival time changed from 11:15 am to 11:19 am for MCO. I changed our flight to the same flight but the day before so we got another day of vacation. No change fee charged.

If you call and are very polite when you ask for changes, and know what you want to be changed to, Airtran is very accomodating.

 

[micci41]

I was able to cancel a flight with no penalty after they change our flight by 8 minutes. I was thinking of cancelling the trip but didn't want to lose the money from the flights. When I received the email stating they changed the time I called and asked if I could cancel and they said no problem. I got a full refund.

 

[azdizzymom]

We had a change and they didn't charge us either. Went from nonstop to one with layover. I agree with poster saying it should be more than an hour or so OR going from nonstop to flight with layover! I can't believe people complaining about a FOUR MINUTE OR EIGHT MINUTE CHANGE! Yes, Airtran did let you change your tickets for free BUT that is totally taking advantage of a situation and hopefully will not stop them from not charging in the future. You could spend more time sitting on the runway for takeoff and you change to a different day...can't believe Airtran let people do this and someone would have the audacity to even ask for a change.

Sorry just don't get it...sorry for offending and sticking my foot in my mouth. Our flight was one changed by hours and would have resulted in us losing a full day in the park. But for FOUR OR EIGHT MINUTES....

 

[WeLuvTink!]

Yes, if Airtran changes your times then they will allow you to change flights or even cancel and get a refund. I've done both within the last year.

 

[Inkmahm]

We had a change and they didn't charge us either. Went from nonstop to one with layover. I agree with poster saying it should be more than an hour or so OR going from nonstop to flight with layover! I can't believe people complaining about a FOUR MINUTE OR EIGHT MINUTE CHANGE! Yes, Airtran did let you change your tickets for free BUT that is totally taking advantage of a situation and hopefully will not stop them from not charging in the future. You could spend more time sitting on the runway for takeoff and you change to a different day...can't believe Airtran let people do this and someone would have the audacity to even ask for a change.

Sorry just don't get it...sorry for offending and sticking my foot in my mouth. Our flight was one changed by hours and would have resulted in us losing a full day in the park. But for FOUR OR EIGHT MINUTES....

Sorry you don't like the way Airtran operates. But they are very good with customer relations and have earned my business by allowing the types of changes that you don't agree with.

In case you haven't figured it out, I WANTED to go a day earlier than I had originally planned. All I had to do was wait for that 4 minute change and then I was allowed to change my flight to the day earlier, no charge. Service like that is the reason that I love Airtran and try to fly with them on any flights that I have to take.

My original "I love Airtran" thread about the 4 minute change: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2538812&highlight=airtran

 

[micci41]

I didn't cancelled because of the EIGHT MINUTES. I cancelled because it is Airtrans policy to allow fight changes or refunds if the flight doesn't work for you. In this case we were thinking of cancelling the vacation but didn't want to lose the $$ from the flight otherwise an EIGHT MINUTE change wouldn't matter to me either.

 

[Inkmahm]

I didn't cancelled because of the EIGHT MINUTES. I cancelled because it is Airtrans policy to allow fight changes or refunds if the flight doesn't work for you. In this case we were thinking of cancelling the vacation but didn't want to lose the $$ from the flight otherwise an EIGHT MINUTE change wouldn't matter to me either.

I"d clarify your second sentence to say Airtran allows flight changes or refunds if a flight WITH A CHANGE IN TIME doesn't work out for you. Even if it is a small change in time. And to be fair, the OFFICIAL policy on the website is that a change fee will be charged for changes in flights once they are booked. But many of us can tell you from experience that this is NOT how Airtran actually operates. Could that change at any moment? Sure. But in the meantime, I think it is great customer service that I get from Airtran and they get most of my flying business because of it.