Airtran review

[deelam]

We just got back from our trip. We had problems flying into Florida on 4/30. It was me, my husband, my 2 year old and my 9 year old. First our flight was delayed until appx 2:30 due to bad weather in the south. As we got close to boarding time, I was paged to go to the gate. As I aproached the gate I heard the customer service rep Clarence tell another Airtran employee that the flight was over sold. So I aproached the gate and was told by Clarence that my party was being denied boarding. He said our seats were broken. Clarence was really mean. I asked if I could upgrade to first class, he said "no, what did I tell you, this flight is full". He said in a very mean way, "if you want to go around asking people if they will give up their seat for you to fly on this flight be my guest." I was shocked at how nasty this man was. I asked about my luggage, he said that my luggage was on the plane that I was denied boarding on. I asked if my luggage would just stay on the belt for hours until I arrived, and he just walked away. A very nice flight attendant told me that my luggage would be find. Clanrence came back and booked me on another flight that transfered in Altanta. We ended up not ariving in Orland until 10 at night. It was horrible.
Our plans for the first day were ruined. We planned to see Mardi Gras at Universal, that didn't happen. The Royal Pacific didn't hold our room. They had to put us in a parlor and we slept on cots the first night. The car we wanted to rent was gone. We wanted a Grand Prix and had to settle for an impala.

Airtran did give us free round trip tickets to use within a year. But, it really doesn't make up for how they treated me. Plus, I really can't go on vacation again for 13 months.
The hotel did credit the first night of our stay because they didn't have beds for us. And our luggage was sitting next to the belt, unsuppervised
I know this could happen on any airline, but the way Clarence handled this was wrong. He really was nasty.

 

[DebbieB]

I would report it to Air Tran management. They should have made an announcement asking for volunteers to give up their seats. I would have called Royal Pacific to tell them about your late arrival. Did you have a 1 night deposit? They should have held your room. As for the car, they don't guarantee a particular model, it depends on what is available when you arrive. Both a Grand Prix and an Impala are full size.

 

[mepperson]

OMG - so sorry about your trip. We also flew AirTran on 4/30, but our trip went very smoothly. Everything on time, with very nice employees all around. We left from Dallas, and our pilot just flew around the bad weather, getting to Orlando about 15 minutes later than planned. When we got off the plane, we decided to go get the rental car first, then luggage. By the time we came back from rental car counter (which took WAY TOO LONG), our luggage (six large bags) had already been taken off the belt and were sitting on a cart with an attendant waiting for us to find them. He noticed us looking immediately and gave us our bags - it was wonderful.

I hope your next trip is better. Maybe you can at least use those free round trip tickets for a quicky weekend vacation if you cannot take another long vacation.

I would write a letter to the corporate office about the particularly nasty way you were treated - using specific factual details. That could at least be filed in the employee's records, even if you see nothing more of it.

Mary

 

[deelam]

I did call the Royal Pacific and told them our flight was delayed. They said no problem. We had paid the reservation in full before our trip. I have no idea why they didn't hold a room for us. They said that all they had was the polar room, but it didn't have any beds. It had a kitchen, dining room, and living room. We did have use of the club area the next day, that was nice. We were very uncomfotable sleeping in cots, so I called and asked for a credit, which they gave to us.
I think I should complain to airtran about Clarence. He handled me as if I were a hostile person, and I am not. Do you think the airline would extend the free flights out 13 months instend of 12?

Deneen

 

[deelam]

I did send Airtran an email about my problems and the rude rep. I think that they should know. Maybe the mean customer service rep Clarence just needs to be reminded that all customers should be treated with respect. I'm sure he has seen his share of hostile flyers that he has had to bump from flights. However, I was not a hostile flyer, and he shouldn't have approached me and my children as if we were.