Airtran VS Jetblue ?

[Blanche_Neige]

Have you ever tried them?

what do you think?

pros & cons?

travelling with 3 young busy boys. How are the seats, roomy? Do they pre-assigned the seat?

 

[jackdis]

We used to swear by JB. Would only fly them. Then, their fares became higher. (Such as $630-something dollars for a roundtrip to Florida. Yes, during peak travels, but all the same, other airlines were much cheaper. We paid a little more for airfare and hotel to go to Hawaii that same week!!!) Their fares were also higher during non peak travel times. They have also followed the other airlines and put into place a reservation change fee if the fares decrease after purchase. (JB would give you a credit into a JB account for the difference that you could use for future travel. We always had a few bucks in that account.)

So we tried AT. I was impressed. There's no tv's, but the service was good, and most importantly, the price was right. Also, the first time we flew AT was Thanksgiving. We didn't have any delays. Good job in my book.

HOpe this helped. Don't get me wrong. We are flying JB in August. (AT in July.) I just have seen a noticeable increase in JB's prices and a decrease in their customer services recently.

 

[bicker]

It should be noted that both AirTran and JetBlue (along with Continental, US Airways, American, Midwest Express, and Southwest) are considered by Access America worthy of them offering travel insurance, while airlines like Delta, Frontier, Northwest, Spirit, Sun Country and United are not.

 

[plutosgirl]

Funny...we have tickets the end of October on JetBlue going down and Airtran coming back...couldn't beat the $79 fares, the times of the flights (if they don't change them by a lot) and flying out of a smaller local airport. So, I guess we get to experience both for the first time for the same trip!

 

[Charleyann]

It should be noted that both AirTran and JetBlue (along with Continental, US Airways, American, Midwest Express, and Southwest) are considered by Access America worthy of them offering travel insurance, while airlines like Delta, Frontier, Northwest, Spirit, Sun Country and United are not.

Could you explain what you mean?

Thank you

Charleyann

 

[bicker]

I try to avoid doing so, Charlyann, because some people get angry about the explanation... but since you asked... Access America is one of the most recognizeable names in travel insurance in the United States. They actually "put their money where their mouth is", offering to take on much of the risk air travelers face from various quarters. They will offer customers travel insurance including air travel on a number of air carriers, but will not offer travel insurance for other air carriers. That reflects their belief that certain carriers (the ones they don't offer travel insurance for) are more likely to go into financial default.

I recommend folks stick with the air carriers that Access America covers:
- AirTran, American, Continenal, Midwest Express, Southwest, US Airways.
And avoid the air carriers that Access America does not cover:
- Delta, Frontier, Northwest, Spirit, Sun Country and United.

 

[TDC Nala]

About your assigned seating: If you purchase a discounted coach ticket on Airtran, you select your seat when you check in for the flight, not when you book the flight. If you want to select your seat at booking, there is a $6 fee per seat.

 

[Charleyann]

I try to avoid doing so, Charlyann, because some people get angry about the explanation... but since you asked... Access America is one of the most recognizeable names in travel insurance in the United States. They actually "put their money where their mouth is", offering to take on much of the risk air travelers face from various quarters. They will offer customers travel insurance including air travel on a number of air carriers, but will not offer travel insurance for other air carriers. That reflects their belief that certain carriers (the ones they don't offer travel insurance for) are more likely to go into financial default.

I recommend folks stick with the air carriers that Access America covers:
- AirTran, American, Continenal, Midwest Express, Southwest, US Airways.
And avoid the air carriers that Access America does not cover:
- Delta, Frontier, Northwest, Spirit, Sun Country and United.

Understood now! Prehaps that is good advice....

Charleyann

 

[bicker]

A clarification... Specifically, that list applies to travel insurance for financial default of the air carrier. That's what we're talking about in this context: The airline going bankrupt. We're discussing this in another thread, and apparently that wasn't clear enough in that thread.

 

[lghost]

In the past I have only flown with JB. Our last trip I saw a big difference in the airplanes. They are getting a little worn, specifically the tv's and the controls on the arm rests. On the trip down, the direct tv wasn't working and they credited everyone on the flighlt $15.

Recently I booked Airtran because their flights were $350 less for a family of 5 than JB for flights more or less around the same time from the same airport. So I won't be getting a bag of JB potato chips but I think I'm happier with the cash!

 

[hsmamato2]

we've flown both, Airtran is GREAT with schedules,etc- they're always on time or early- JB is NICE- big seats, tv for the kids- more relaxing, Airtran charged 7 bucks per seat to reserve a seat,so count that cost in too.... I prefer the tv's and big seats.... we're flying them next January again whatever is the best deal- it'll be fine!

 

[aprince&princess]

We are splitting our going and coming home flights between Airtran and Jetblue for an Oct trip. The Airtran flights were cheaper so we booked it going to Fl, but coming home the non stop flight was earlier in the day than we wanted, so we are returning on Jetblue.

I did find the Jetblue seats to be a little roomier. Yes they have tv's, but since the kids always bring some hand held game with them it isn't that big an issue to use Airtran. Now we have only flown one round trip on Airtran, there was no problem going, but coming back our flight was moved an hour later a few weeks before our return trip and then we ended up delayed at the airport in Orlando for an 1 1/2 on top of that. We have never had delays on Jetblue, but I think it just depends on how you hit it.

 

[Jeanne B]

If there's not much difference in price I would choose JB. We flew AirTran for the first time last month and we had the least legroom that we'd ever experienced on any airline so I doubt we'll be flying them again unless we get a good price as compared to the other airlines.

 

[WVMomof3]

About your assigned seating: If you purchase a discounted coach ticket on Airtran, you select your seat when you check in for the flight, not when you book the flight. If you want to select your seat at booking, there is a $6 fee per seat.

I am a little worried about this. I didn't really understand the select your seat thing so skipped it. But we have 3 kids. What are the chances we will be separated? I guess we don't all 5 have to be together, but at least 3 and 2. Although, Last time my 7 year old cried LOUD because of her ears, maybe that is a good thing to push off on someone else. (kidding!!) Really, is there a secret to sit together if you do not prepurchase your seat choice? I have never flown Airtran before.

 

[disney0210]

I am a little worried about this. I didn't really understand the select your seat thing so skipped it. But we have 3 kids. What are the chances we will be separated? I guess we don't all 5 have to be together, but at least 3 and 2. Although, Last time my 7 year old cried LOUD because of her ears, maybe that is a good thing to push off on someone else. (kidding!!) Really, is there a secret to sit together if you do not prepurchase your seat choice? I have never flown Airtran before.

I'm sure you can still add it in now if you are still interested. Either online or thru phone, I would assume... I check my booking every day and it seems I can still change my seats if I want to... I did choose my seats at time of booking and paid $6 per person... Just one less thing to worry about IMHO.

 

[WVMomof3]

Thanks for the tip. I went back in this morning and paid for the seats. I was lucky to get $129 roundtrip last night. I thought we could not pass it up, even though we have to drive 3 hours to the airport, Pittsburgh is the closest to us and it is 1.5 hours, so not a whole lot of difference. For that price I could not pass it up. Today the same flight is listed for $269. Wow, what a difference a couple hours can make!!