Airtran Sale!!!!

[Lollipop Mom]

My Dh thinks the for the discount seats offered online you only get the middle seats and a family can't sit together with the bargin price offered on the web.

This is what worries me, i would like to keep our family of 5 together. Also has everyone used hotels.com to book from AirTran? I found their prices cheaper, but i was wondering if there were any problems or if you can still get your seat assignment online?

Absolutely NOT true that you get center seats only!! Normally Air Tran does not assign seating at the time of booking unless you are booking a full, unrestricted fare. Here's a good little tip though....book Air Tran through a TA and they can assign your seat AT THE TIME OF BOOKING!! Not at online check in 24 hours before, at the time of booking even with the really low sale fares.

I booked our family of 4 on flights from Atlanta (I'm a TA) in December using the current sale. $53 each way fares (plus junk fees). Our seats are assigned already. When I went to assign them only a handful of seats are taken. The only seats I did not have the option to reserve were business class (since I had an "internet special" H class, coach rate) and exit row seating (since we are travelling with a 3 and 5 year old). Someone had the aisle seats in the 1st available non-bulkhead row for the flight back so we are in the 2nd available row but on the way there we are on the first row. I'm guaranteed we are together too. That makes all the difference in the world to me to be able to have my seat assigned in advance. So now I can check in before we leave for the airport but don't have to set my watch to check in exactly 24 hours before to get to have "first pick" of the seats. No worrying about having someone from home or the concierge at AKL checking me in for the flight home while we are in the parks...the important stuff is done already...I've got my seats!

So just something to keep in mind...a TA can get you the same fares and can book them immediately for you, can use your rewards # and everything AND they can assign your seats in advance.

(If any TAs reading this aren't sure how to do it...let me know. The info still says you can't assign seats on an H class but if you look at the TA contract it says that all corporate benefit bookings and any booking made by a TA on airtran.com qualify for advance seat assignment. You must edit the completed itenerary but there are no charges for it if all you do is assign the seats. If you make changes to the flight itself, you get the $50 fee but not just for seat assignment).

 

[CarolA]

Does anyone have details on this sale... I swear AirTran's website is horrid!

 

[deacondarlin]

I booked mine straight through AirTran's website, and saved $15 for each ticket from the price I got from Orbitzs. Expedia didn't even pull the fare up. As for seating assignments....if its not a super lenghty flight, I figure a person could live with not sitting with their family in order to save on travel. You're going to spend the entire week with them...dont' want to get sick of them too soon (jk). Then again, it's just me and DH, so we don't have kids to worry about...

 

[aero99]

I just checked-in online for our flights for tomorrow (noon time). There were PLENTY of choices left and I got two seats right over the wing (my favorite spot to be). I also purchased tickets for my girls only trip in December for $98/peron round-trip.

Melissa

 

[keishashadow]

Mixed emotions when it comes to AirTran...in February they lost a piece of luggage & refused to acknowledge that it ever existed. A month later I get a call from the HRH in Orlando. A lady in Flint, Mich., called them and said she had a bag with their bell hop tag on it, could they please track me down & have me call her!!! She indicated that the bag had been set on her front porch the day it became lost and that she had been calling them Every Day to come & pick it up (she also had a missing bag out of Orlando). When confronted, AirTran couldn't have been nicer & I had the bag back in 2 days & 3 RT vouchers.

It's been a challenge obtaining seats using the vouchers due to the capacity booking regulations they follow, but we did succeed for our upcoming Dec. trip.

When I was scanning the AirTran site yesterday, I saw that our return flight from Orlando was now leaving 4 hours later and we wouldn't be home until well after midnight (with DS & DH having to get up for work & school @ 6:00 a.m.).

When I called CS @ AirTran, they insisted that I received an email advising me of same (no way!). They did allow me to cancel the flight. Since the only other direct flight out leaves @ 8:00a.m.; and we'd still be on the Wonder, we'd have to book a connecting flight. I was told we'd have to pay an "upcharge" for that pleasure.

Needless to say, I voiced my displeasure and they extended 3 one way vouchers until March. Now I just need a flight home! (We did book the $49 fares just to be covered!) Hopefully, I won't have any problems using the vouchers to rebook early next year - I'm sure they'll have a greater value then (think airfare will increase due to fuel costs).

Bottom line, out of Pittsburgh we have a carriers in bankruptcy (other carriers don't have to honor their tix anymore if they go under); AirTran & SW (don't have the patience to jump thru their hoops); none are an ideal choice IMHO.

 

[tggrbuny]

Two weeks ago as a result of another thread, we found lower airtran fares for our October trip. We email them, they gave us a credit which I used Wednesday to book $69.00 Dayton to MCO.

I keep a spreadsheet of all the travel expenses from all our past trips (I know - I am way too organized) and this is the low fare we have ever gotten. Considering the gas problems, we are thrilled

We have flow with airtran many times in the last five years and always had great experiences. (Of course we have been delayed by the weather too, but that was not their fault).

 

[keishashadow]

Two weeks ago as a result of another thread, we found lower airtran fares for our October trip. We email them, they gave us a credit which I used Wednesday to book $69.00 Dayton to MCO.

I keep a spreadsheet of all the travel expenses from all our past trips (I know - I am way too organized) and this is the low fare we have ever gotten. Considering the gas problems, we are thrilled

We have flow with airtran many times in the last five years and always had great experiences. (Of course we have been delayed by the weather too, but that was not their fault).

Are you saying that AirTran will lower your fare (i.e. give you a credit) when you spot a sale price on the internet? I've asked before and was told that prices are final when booking. Of course, you always have the option of rebooking for $50/segment charge for original credit.

FYI, AAA TA in Pittsburgh will not book air on AirTran (eliminating the avail of preassigned seats for us).

 

[Traveliz]

My Dh thinks the for the discount seats offered online you only get the middle seats and a family can't sit together with the bargin price offered on the web.

PLEASE tell me he is wrong......

He is absolutely wrong - its first come first served on picking seat assignments - just go online 24 hours prior to flight and you will have a great choice.

Liz

 

[Good Deeds]

I booked 4 tickets early Thursday morning and got $$49.00 each way...direct flight...great departure and arrival times.... Today the same flight is listed at $102.00!!!

Thanks for posting info about the AIRTRAN sale...

We are going to see Mickey

 

[Bronte]

when will airtran open their dates ... IND to MCO ... March 30 - April 9th. ????
Thanks for any info..
Bronte

 

[mrgoodwrench]

After all fees and taxes, I got 4 round trip tickets from Newports News, Virginia to mco for $92 each.Flying out First week of December.

 

[PaulaSue]

Thanks for the responses.....

Another stupid question.... Does Air Tran fly into the same airport as all the other airlines in Orlando. A friend said it flies into a different/smaller airport there. I thought online it said MCO for the airport but I have been reading so many fdifferent web sites so maybe I am confused?

 

[CarolA]

Airtran flies into MCO which is the same as all the other majors. Some airlines do fly into Sanford Regional which is smaller and farther away.

 

[keishashadow]

when will airtran open their dates ... IND to MCO ... March 30 - April 9th. ????
Thanks for any info..
Bronte

AirTran usually books up to 8 months out. Sale prices usually start @ 6 months. Lately, in my market they've become more competitive in price since SW entered the market. Good Luck.

 

[deacondarlin]

Well, same fair I booked Wednesday for $93 r/t is now $208! Glad I got it when I did!

 

[tggrbuny]

Are you saying that AirTran will lower your fare (i.e. give you a credit) when you spot a sale price on the internet? I've asked before and was told that prices are final when booking. Of course, you always have the option of rebooking for $50/segment charge for original credit.

FYI, AAA TA in Pittsburgh will not book air on AirTran (eliminating the avail of preassigned seats for us).

I found out the fare had been reduced and called. The phone agent refused to help me without the $50.00 charge. I told him I KNEW other people got credits, he still refused. I emailed customer service with all my flight infomation and in less than 24 hour received a reply with a credit issued for both tickets we had bought. The credit was not the entire discounted rate, but I was happy to get anything. (It amounted to about 80%)

Don't call, email. It appears that only the web agents can make this change. I don't know if this will last forever, but I was grateful for it this time.

On the seat assignment issue, we have never had a problem getting seats at the 24 hour mark and usually upgrade ourselves to business at the airport anyways.

 

[deacondarlin]

IS business class that much better? And how much is it to upgrade at the airport? Our entire flight (Charlotte-Atlanta, Atlanta-Orlando) with the layover is only 3.5 hours...I don't think it'd be worth it for us.

 

[tggrbuny]

IS business class that much better? And how much is it to upgrade at the airport? Our entire flight (Charlotte-Atlanta, Atlanta-Orlando) with the layover is only 3.5 hours...I don't think it'd be worth it for us.

I guess it is more of a state of mind, at least for us. In the rest of the plane it is five seats across, in business four. The chairs are longer too. The leg room is great. I am 5'8" and I have to reach to kick the chair in front of me. There is the benefit of first on first off that saves a tiny bit of time and that cattle feeling.

We don't drink, but drinks are free. We tease each other when they bring the basket of cookies and say this is best $35.00 cookie we every had! We are close to the bathroom, but the seats are so wide that the increased traffic in not a problem. Our flight attendants having 6 people to care for instead of 100, seem friendlier.

I work hard to save money in every area of our vacation so that we can splurge on the things that are of value to us. We rarely pay for the room with a view, but we often get the convertible car. We like sit down WDW restaurants but still manage to keep ourselves to under 35.00 a day average on vacation food.

Sometimes I read what others on this board spend for stuff and I am shocked, but I know others would never upgrade because of the cost. I am okay with that, leaves more seats for us.

It is 35.00 for a short flight (like Atlanta to MCO). It is 50.00 on midrange flights (like Dayton to MCO with no layover) and I have no idea what the cost is on the cross country flights, but we hope to find out when we go to Disneyland next year.

 

[keishashadow]

I found out the fare had been reduced and called. The phone agent refused to help me without the $50.00 charge. I told him I KNEW other people got credits, he still refused. I emailed customer service with all my flight infomation and in less than 24 hour received a reply with a credit issued for both tickets we had bought. The credit was not the entire discounted rate, but I was happy to get anything. (It amounted to about 80%)

Don't call, email. It appears that only the web agents can make this change. I don't know if this will last forever, but I was grateful for it this time.

On the seat assignment issue, we have never had a problem getting seats at the 24 hour mark and usually upgrade ourselves to business at the airport anyways.

80% is certainly better than Zip...thanx for the email tip. Since we're relatively new to flying AirTran, I'm somewhat unfamiliar w/their policies.

Scratching our heads over the procedure to redeem the Rewards we've accumulated. We'll have 4/each, enough, I think to upgrade to Business Class 1 way. I've looked on the website and found the section to redeem points but, I'm unclear how to proceed.
Should I request the upgrade voucher now (for December)?

Do I call the day before, same as when obtaining seat assignments, or do I wait until I get to the gate?

I did call AirTran but the agent only told me they were "capacity controlled and cannot be guaranteed" Please advise if you know.

 

[tggrbuny]

Scratching our heads over the procedure to redeem the Rewards we've accumulated. We'll have 4/each, enough, I think to upgrade to Business Class 1 way. I've looked on the website and found the section to redeem points but, I'm unclear how to proceed.
Should I request the upgrade voucher now (for December)?

Do I call the day before, same as when obtaining seat assignments, or do I wait until I get to the gate?

I did call AirTran but the agent only told me they were "capacity controlled and cannot be guaranteed" Please advise if you know.

We call for our vouchers on the plus phone line about a month before and they are good for a year (just in case the trip is cancelled). We have never tried to do them early, we just use them at the airport. In our last 12 flights on airtran we have been able to upgrade to business by getting there early. I know a time will come when we can't...not looking forward to THAT!