Airtran/Southwest - frustrated!

[locodemickey]

We bought tickets from AirTran on March 2 and now Southwest is listing the same exact flight (Southwest didn't have flights available back on March 2 from Grand Rapids, Michigan). I am so frustrated because had we waited, we could've gotten two free bags per person and we go to Disney for three weeks. This not only could've allowed us to check our baggage, but we also could have sent boxes of food as we stay in one and two bedrooms for the whole time.

 

[leebee]

Have you tried calling SW customer service to see if they will exchange your ticket/route to SW? I don't know if they will do this without a fee, but it can't hurt to call them. Just figure out what it'll cost to do the suitcases, etc., on AT and then see what SW can do for you.

 

[Disneylover99]

We bought tickets from AirTran on March 2 and now Southwest is listing the same exact flight (Southwest didn't have flights available back on March 2 from Grand Rapids, Michigan). I am so frustrated because had we waited, we could've gotten two free bags per person and we go to Disney for three weeks. This not only could've allowed us to check our baggage, but we also could have sent boxes of food as we stay in one and two bedrooms for the whole time.

Is the price with SW now the same price you paid when you booked with AT last month?

We booked with AT in early Feb. and then two weeks later the same flight was available through SW but it was about $70 more per round trip ticket.

 

[locodemickey]

Is the price with SW now the same price you paid when you booked with AT last month?

We booked with AT in early Feb. and then two weeks later the same flight was available through SW but it was about $70 more per round trip ticket.

Yes,same price. I did get AirTran to give me a $25 credit per person but that only pays for one bag going one way. Southwest would give me two bags going both ways for free. I did call Southwest and they said that there's nothing that they could do for me.

 

[Disneylover99]

Yes,same price. I did get AirTran to give me a $25 credit per person but that only pays for one bag going one way. Southwest would give me two bags going both ways for free. I did call Southwest and they said that there's nothing that they could do for me.

The only reason to choose AT over SW is for the option to pay for and choose your seats if that's important to you.

 

[sam_gordon]

The only reason to choose AT over SW is for the option to pay for and choose your seats if that's important to you.

Or if SW didn't offer the flight when AT did, and at a price acceptable to the customer, which was the OP's scenario.

 

[Disneylover99]

Or if SW didn't offer the flight when AT did, and at a price acceptable to the customer, which was the OP's scenario.

Yes, of course. But I can see how this would feel frustrating for anyone. Free bags and the ability to change your flight without paying a penalty is a huge savings and good piece of mind if you don't care where you sit.

When we booked our October trip we could have chosen to book the same flight with either AT or SW for the same price. We opted to book through AT only so we could book our seats, but knowing we would have to pay baggage fees and have to pay to change our flight if we needed to.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes, of course. But I can see how this would feel frustrating for anyone. Free bags and the ability to change your flight without paying a penalty is a huge savings and good piece of mind if you don't care where you sit.

When we booked our October trip we could have chosen to book the same flight with either AT or SW for the same price. We opted to book through AT only so we could book our seats, but knowing we would have to pay baggage fees and have to pay to change our flight if we needed to.

I'm sure it's frustrating. But, as is often the advice given here, after you book your airfare, don't go back looking for better deals unless you can take advantage of them... ESPECIALLY if you'll get upset if you "miss out".

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm sure it's frustrating. But, as is often the advice given here, after you book your airfare, don't go back looking for better deals unless you can take advantage of them... ESPECIALLY if you'll get upset if you "miss out".

I always check back frequently to see if my AT flight has dropped in price so I can obtain a credit. Now when people check they often see the message, "view southwest air for this flight". So it's not like people are looking for better deals from different airlines but the AT sight recommends checking the SW sight. Then they realize the advantages to booking SW to AT if seating isn't an issue.

 

[locodemickey]

I always check back frequently to see if my AT flight has dropped in price so I can obtain a credit. Now when people check they often see the message, "view southwest air for this flight". So it's not like people are looking for better deals from different airlines but the AT sight recommends checking the SW sight. Then they realize the advantages to booking SW to AT if seating isn't an issue.

This is exactly what I was doing!