AirTran Stockholders Approve Southwest Merger

[NancyIL]

http://pressroom.airtran.com/phoeni...ID=1542158&highlight=&cid=sf1225861+sf1225861

This will happen sooner than I thought.

 

[SondraC]

http://pressroom.airtran.com/phoeni...ID=1542158&highlight=&cid=sf1225861+sf1225861

This will happen sooner than I thought.

Bummer.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Cool!

 

[mdsd8700]

Thanks for the update, will have to watch to see how this one plays out.

 

[Thumper4me]

Thanks for the update!! It is really happening quickly.

Now, whether to book our Labor Day flights on AirTran now or wait.

 

[NancyIL]

Thanks for the update!! It is really happening quickly.

Now, whether to book our Labor Day flights on AirTran now or wait.

I'm still hoping I'll be on AirTran in early December and not Southwest.

 

[Thumper4me]

Honestly, the price is too high right now and will probably come down. However, it will be interesting to see how the seating arrangement will work - pay to pick your seat (AirTran) or open seating (Southwest). How the luggage will be handled will be another question up in the air for a while I would think.

 

[Missytara]

I'm still hoping I'll be on AirTran in early December and not Southwest.

You and me both; looks like it may be my last time having a non-stop flight out of BWI to the World. Only Airtran and Southwest do it, and I absolutely refuse to fly Southwest.

Seriously, just let me pick my seat, how hard is it really.........

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

You and me both; looks like it may be my last time having a non-stop flight out of BWI to the World. Only Airtran and Southwest do it, and I absolutely refuse to fly Southwest.

Seriously, just let me pick my seat, how hard is it really.........

I fly all the time and have had my seat moved more times than I can count. Which is why I think Southwest is so great - I can pick my seat.
Avoid the coughing family, the screaming baby, etc.

 

[mcd2745]

You and me both; looks like it may be my last time having a non-stop flight out of BWI to the World. Only Airtran and Southwest do it, and I absolutely refuse to fly Southwest.

Seriously, just let me pick my seat, how hard is it really.........

From Southwest's site for info on the merger:


http://www.lowfaresfarther.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Q: What about assigned seats?

A: As you know, Southwest does not assign seats. AirTran does offer seat assignments including Business class and Coach. Upon full integration, it is our intent to have a consistent product offering. It is our intent that seat assignments would not be part of that product.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Honestly, the price is too high right now and will probably come down. However, it will be interesting to see how the seating arrangement will work - pay to pick your seat (AirTran) or open seating (Southwest). How the luggage will be handled will be another question up in the air for a while I would think.

SW has made it very clear... AirTran will be moving to the SW model. The big question is how long will the plane "refit" take to allow the removal of "Business Lite" and how will they work in the transistion period.

Long term, it's SW!

Considering the "service" I have received on AirTran.. BRING ON SW!!!!

 

[iluveeyore]

I wonder how it will work if you have an existing Airtran credit - hopefully, they would transfer them

 

[NancyIL]

I wonder how it will work if you have an existing Airtran credit - hopefully, they would transfer them

I plan to use my AirTran business class upgrade voucher on my flight to Orlando next month.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I'm confused...isn't this a good thing?? On SW you don't have to pay for seats or luggage...right!?!

What does this mean though since I already booked my Airtran flight for Aug/Sept.?

 

[briar_rose_59]

I'm confused...isn't this a good thing?? On SW you don't have to pay for seats or luggage...right!?!

It's good for some, not so much for others. For me SW charges WAY more for flights than AirTran would even if I was paying for exit row seats & checking 2 bags (for the trip I was looking at at least). I'm kind of indifferent on the whole "cattle call" method of boarding but I knew it probably wasn't going to be an option on my last trip. I was travelling with a very nervous 20 year old first time flyer. We wouldn't have qualified for preboarding at all and I had no idea if we'd be anywhere near a computer/guest services to check in at the 24 hour mark. Granted we probably could have found seats together somewhere but I really prefer to be in the front half of the plane and am a somewhat nervous flyer if I'm not in the window seat. For us it was just easier to book with an airline where we could specify what seats we wanted and keep an eye on them & change them back if need be than try to work our last day of vacation around making sure we were at guest services. That and it saved us about $500 between the 2 of us if memory serves correctly AND we got an extra 3 hours in FL at the beginning and end of our trip.

 

[iluveeyore]

It's good for some, not so much for others. For me SW charges WAY more for flights than AirTran would even if I was paying for exit row seats & checking 2 bags (for the trip I was looking at at least). I'm kind of indifferent on the whole "cattle call" method of boarding but I knew it probably wasn't going to be an option on my last trip. I was travelling with a very nervous 20 year old first time flyer. We wouldn't have qualified for preboarding at all and I had no idea if we'd be anywhere near a computer/guest services to check in at the 24 hour mark. Granted we probably could have found seats together somewhere but I really prefer to be in the front half of the plane and am a somewhat nervous flyer if I'm not in the window seat. For us it was just easier to book with an airline where we could specify what seats we wanted and keep an eye on them & change them back if need be than try to work our last day of vacation around making sure we were at guest services. That and it saved us about $500 between the 2 of us if memory serves correctly AND we got an extra 3 hours in FL at the beginning and end of our trip.

This is the opposite of my trip the beginning of this month - I booked an Airtran flight, then ended up saving $120 for each of us ONE WAY with Southwest, plus I didn't have to pay for luggage, plus we got a non-stop earlier in the day (Airtran was evening), plus we got a late non-stop coming home on SWA (Airtran's were all connecting), which gave me 5 extra hours at Disney, PLUS when we boarded I was able to see where all the tired and cranky infants were sitting and choose a seat away from them. So I'll happily say good-bye to Airtran (who also charged me a change fee, while SWA did not).

 

[briar_rose_59]

iluveeyore, this is why I liked the separate companies lol. It was a bit of competition for eachother and you could pick which one worked best for you. I've had trips where Southwest was a way better option but lately their times have SUCKED for the flights I've been looking at (ie. a 2 stop almost 6 hour flight from Detroit to Orlando? no thank you! even if had been cheaper, which it wasn't lol). It'll be interesting to see how the merger affects the actual flights as far as times and pricing though.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

For you seasoned air travelers and those that have experience in airline mergers --- what does this mean to me?

I bought tickets on AirTran for our trip this October. We are flying out of Indianapolis; the flight times work out perfectly for us, they are non-stop and I paid for the seat assignments.

I'm assuming I shouldn't count on my flight times staying the same --- or remaining non-stop --- or getting my seat assignments. Would we get a refund for the seat assignment we already paid for? How/when do we get notified of changes?

So many questions. Since I'm not a frequent flyer - but a nervous one! - this has kind of thrown me for a loop. I really don't like the uncertainty.....but I guess that's life, huh?

TIA,
Debbie

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I have the same questions as you Debbie....does anyone know that for those of us that already booked with Airtran for August or later...will our flights change??

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It is Airtran, with or without a merger you have a big risk of flight changes. Watch your flights.