Airtran Travelers beware

dis-happy · Jan 29, 2007

iluvflorida8 said:
calgarygary
Southwest has that policy in there by-laws. But they never do it. I have flown them 2x a month for the last 18 months and they have NEVER changed a flight time or cancel a flight because of not enough passengers. There schedules never change. Only weather conditions would alter a Southwest flight schedule.

In fact on several occasions I have been on a Southwest flight(Pittsburgh to MCO) and have had less than 20 passengers on a plane that holds 128. Most of the other legacy airlines would cancel a flight like that, and move the passengers on another flight.

Most likely, Southwest needed that plane at the new destination for the next round of flights. My dh flies out of BWI each week and on more than one occasion has seen a Southwest problem. I know one time there was a flight to Orlando that was completely cancelled at the last minute leaving a terminal full of people not arriving until the next day. It happens, usually due to weather, and no airline is immune.

Minnie · Jan 29, 2007

iluvflorida8 said:
Thats why I only fly SOUTHWEST for the last 2 years. They NEVER change flight times or cancel flights!!

Ummm not so fast. We got one of those great Ding deals showed up at the airport to find our flight cancelled (they told us about 30min before our flight was to board). This was a direct flight that wasn't going to be full whatsoever. They transferred us to a flight which required 2 plane changes on a very full flight. What fun :rolleyes:

calgarygary · Jan 29, 2007

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Southwest had 7621 (.76%) flights cancelled, 1543 flights diverted, and an ontime performance of 80.55% in 2006. Airtran had 1718 (.79%) flights cancelled, 452 flights diverted and an ontime performance of only 74.5%. I'm not sure if the difference is worthy of the Airscam label. And I think that the numbers show that sometimes, airline performance is in the eyes of the user.

Geoff_M · Jan 29, 2007

The bottom line: It's possible to have the rug pulled out from under you on either AirTrain or Southwest.

Anyone that's watched the "Airline" TV show knows that SW has their share of unhappy customers (even if a lot of the anger is not reasonable or misplaced). I also think it's fair to think that a lot of those unhappy fliers on SW also eventually go to their computers and flame "SouthWorst" and type their tales of woe swear to never fly them again... I know I've read such postings here too!

kevw67 · Jan 29, 2007

calgarygary said:
Here is part of Airtran's contract of carriage:

Here is part of Soutwest's:

Also, here is a section of Delta's:

Every airline has the same type of disclaimer in their contract of carriage. You are not entitled to any form of compensation and quite frankly, I do not understand why you feel it necessary to refer to AirTran as Airscam because they had to alter their schedule.

So what is your point? I can read. My point is that even though every airline has that policy, and Ive flown at least seven different ones, AirSCAM is the only one that consistently changes its schedule. Dont advertise the departures if you cant honor them. The others have a much better track record than this airline. I liken this to false advertising, but because it is an airline, they dont get called on it. Whenever airlines run thier business into the ground, the government bails them out and we pay for it, only to get screwed when we need to use them. So, yes I am upset, and yes I refer to them as Airscam. If Jetblue changed their schedule that much they would be Jetscrew. I understand weather conditions, but this was not. This was poor planning or poor anticipation. Period.

calgarygary · Jan 29, 2007

Using the statistics (not anecdotal evidence), Airtran does not have a significant difference in cancelled flights vs. Southwest. So what is your point, because it was you inconvenienced, the airline somehow owes you? If you do not want to incur additional costs, take the later flight and forego the extra hours in WDW.

Dznypal · Jan 29, 2007

is the fact that airtran is trying very hard to buy midwest airlines which is based in Milwaukee--Midwest is a great airline---

we've flown them many times---my brother was a pilot for them quite a few years ago and hes the one that got DH to finally fly!!!

We're never had a problem with schedules changes--overbooked flights or any other problem.

Ive heard many horror stories about airtran and Im afraid that if they take over midwest we'll no longer have good air service to MCO among many other cities

iluvflorida8 · Jan 29, 2007

dis-happy said:
Most likely, Southwest needed that plane at the new destination for the next round of flights. My dh flies out of BWI each week and on more than one occasion has seen a Southwest problem. I know one time there was a flight to Orlando that was completely cancelled at the last minute leaving a terminal full of people not arriving until the next day. It happens, usually due to weather, and no airline is immune.

dis-happy
If you read my post, I said it CAN happen at Southwest if it is weather related. I bet your husband's flight that was cancelled was weather related.
I am talking about if it isn't weather related, Southwest has the best record of NOT canceling, or changing flight times of ANY airline that flys in the USA!

Lowillian · Jan 29, 2007

I'mNoPrince said:
I agree but man I need my June flights to open.

I'm not really that concerned as they normally open at the same price +/-$10 and there are many choices. I have about $400 in credits right now so I should be OK and not put much out of pocket.

Yeah, I'm waiting for them to open flights after May 10th also. Wow, that's a lot of credits!

How do you like the new (or not so new now) SW pier at BWI?

rubbergypsy · Jan 29, 2007

yikes, i fly out of buf on feb 16th, sure hope you calm down by then, but i believe we arrive around 5:30ish, and that is a nonstop which has been changed twice, no worries here. just keep changing the time on our dinner adrs. we always fly airtran and flight changes are unavoidable on any airline.

Minnie · Jan 29, 2007

We've had nothing but superior service through Airtran. If possible I wouldn't fly on any other airline.

What has us worried is that Delta (known for horrible customer service) is now servicing this same area and advertising a meet or beat pricing plan.

I don't want to loose my Airtran!

Lewisc · Jan 29, 2007

It's a shame you don't have the slightest idea what the statistics you quoted mean. They have nothing to do with what's being discussed in this thread.

Your statistics talk about flights that are canceled. All airlines have weather and mechanical cancellations.

The OP is talking about a flight that was discontinued due to a schedule change. SW waits to book flight until their schedule is firm.It is a fact that SW makes almost no schedule changes after they put a flight on sale. It is also a fact that other airlines change their schedule many times.

The OP isn't entitled to compensation, knows it and is just looking to vent.

calgarygary said:
Using the statistics (not anecdotal evidence), Airtran does not have a significant difference in cancelled flights vs. Southwest. So what is your point, because it was you inconvenienced, the airline somehow owes you? If you do not want to incur additional costs, take the later flight and forego the extra hours in WDW.

dis-happy · Jan 29, 2007

iluvflorida8 said:
dis-happy
If you read my post, I said it CAN happen at Southwest if it is weather related. I bet your husband's flight that was cancelled was weather related.
I am talking about if it isn't weather related, Southwest has the best record of NOT canceling, or changing flight times of ANY airline that flys in the USA!

Sorry, I was just making the point that SW was not flying a mostly empty flight at a significant $$$ loss in order to keep the schedule in tact...airlines do that when they have a reason to do so, usually to get the plane to another location where a full flight is waiting.

The Southwest horror story was just anecdotal for those who think SW (or any other airline) never cancels or changes flights. Thankfully my dh wasn't on that SW flight...he was flying Airtran.

The very worst flight story I ever heard was a family friend who was on America West. Wish I could remember ALL the details...it went on for an hour...unbelievable!

Anyway, the TSA info that someone posted showed there really wasn't much of a difference in cancelled flights between ATA and SWA. It would be great to see the list of all the airlines.

calgarygary · Jan 29, 2007

Lewisc said:
It's a shame you don't have the slightest idea what the statistics you quoted mean. They have nothing to do with what's being discussed in this thread.

Your statistics talk about flights that are canceled. All airlines have weather and mechanical cancellations.

The OP is talking about a flight that was discontinued due to a schedule change. SW waits to book flight until their schedule is firm.It is a fact that SW makes almost no schedule changes after they put a flight on sale. It is also a fact that other airlines change their schedule many times.

The OP isn't entitled to compensation, knows it and is just looking to vent.

Lewis, you indicated that the OP is only wanting to vent - something that he initially stated but he also stated:

Of course I took the extra night and Ive emailed them and will continue to harass Airtran until I get something besides an apology.

That statement indicates that he most definitely is seeking a reimbursement that is not due. I look forward to reading the statistics that will verify your anecdotal statement regarding SW's schedule and their performance vs. other airlines.

Lewisc · Jan 29, 2007

Sorry but you're the one who chose to post statistics that have nothing to do with the OP. I'll let you do the work and correct the statistics you posted.

calgarygary said:
Lewis, you indicated that the OP is only wanting to vent - something that he initially stated but he also stated:
That statement indicates that he most definitely is seeking a reimbursement that is not due. I look forward to reading the statistics that will verify your anecdotal statement regarding SW's schedule and their performance vs. other airlines.

calgarygary · Jan 29, 2007

Lewis, you were the one who suggested that the OP was not seeking anything other than to vent. For those that are interested in airline travel statistics here is the website: http://www.transtats.bts.gov/HomeDrillChart.asp

kaytieeldr · Jan 29, 2007

kevw67 said:
so I try to book as far out as possible to get good rates, and this is how they treat you. ... Of course I took the extra night and Ive emailed them and will continue to harass Airtran until I get something besides an apology.

Just remember, it's not personal. AirTran is not picking on YOU, trying to mess with YOUR plans. It's a schedule change. As aggravating as it is, it happens. The closer you book to departure, the less likely there are to be such changes. I'm sure you're not going to get anything other than an apology. Remember, the same thing happened to all the passengers on your original flight (and if it's an across the board schedule change, it happened to all the passengers on that flight number on a lot of OTHER days, too.
Your airline ticket actually just guarantees to get you from your starting point to your destination on a given day.

kevw67 said:
So what is your point? I can read. My point is that even though every airline has that policy, and Ive flown at least seven different ones, AirSCAM is the only one that consistently changes its schedule.

LewisC said:
The OP isn't entitled to compensation, knows it and is just looking to vent.

Um, not according to this statement

:

kevw67 said:
and Ive emailed them and will continue to harass Airtran until I get something besides an apology.

He's most assuredly looking for something more than just the opportunity to vent :teeth:

kevw67 · Jan 29, 2007

Yes...im looking for more...overbooking flights, changing schedules...its all crap. Do hotels overbook and then toss you out after you have made a reservation? Do they tell you "oh im sorry, you cant arrive on the day you reserved, you'll have to come on a different day" NO they dont, because you've booked their service for a certain time. However, hotels dont get gov't bailouts and dont get away with making peoples vacation plans an inconvience so they wouldnt even think of pulling these shenanagans(sp). Airlines hold you at bay wondering if you can get to your destiny when you want to get there. You are at their mercy. I do understand weather delays and all that as others have mentioned. It is the point of the matter that when you book a vacation, time is precious. Most of us work for a living and take time off of work to go on vacation and dont need to be jerked around by airlines. I already get hosed on airfare at the times that I can travel and from the city I depart and I dont need to get it again by schedule changes. You search for the product at the best price and comparative shop so that you get the best deal. Well, i got that when I booked and now I dont have it. When you sign a mortagaeto build a house, you dont get something totally different then what you and the contractor agreed on. You get what you bought. Its a simple concept that these airline people have never figured out. Thats why they are always in trouble asking for gov't help, which in turn is OUR MONEY!!! So lecture me all you want, but you actually own part of some of these airlines and you get nothing but hassles in return. Soooo...again, yes I am looking for more than an apology.

iluvflorida8 · Jan 29, 2007

Lewisc said:
Sorry but you're the one who chose to post statistics that have nothing to do with the OP. I'll let you do the work and correct the statistics you posted.

I agree......and thank you.

kevw67 · Jan 29, 2007

I should also state that while I am looking for more than an apology, I am a realist and dont expect to get anything more than an apology.

Airtran Travelers beware

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