Airtran-Well, you all warned me but I didn't listen

[kaytieeldr]

Now that I fully understand from some of you just how foolish I was to complain about Airtran

Foolish to complain? Who said that? Where? On reading your second post, several of us apparently think you had (and may continue to have) unrealistic expectations. The warnings you've read here have been about AirTran making frequent schedule changes in advance of the flights. Rarely do airlines cancel flights only a few hours before departure, and they don't do so on a whim. You checked your flight status in the early afternoon - what, about four to five hours - prior to its departure, and it was still scheduled. That's not typical, so it's not the kind of warning you'd read here.

So, long story short, after about an hour of calling and working the issue, a supervisor had us moved to another hotel for our vacation and took care of the problem. I did not have to throw a fit or anything. And guess where they moved us? The Grand Floridian. So all is well that ends well.
The only reason I even re-posted is to illustrate the difference in customer service styles and IN MY OPINION ONLY the right and wrong way to handle a customer problem that was not of the customers' making.

That's great. Seriously. The difference here is, Walt Disney World owns twenty-two resorts with over thirty thousand rooms. They had plenty of places to which to move you - and congratulations on the upgrade. AirTran doesn't have any "spare" planes.

 

[goofy4mykids]

If it is a weather cancellation, they don't have to (and won't) do anything.

I didnt have time to read all the post so please forgive me if this has been said already. This is my experience with Airtran. In Sept 09 we flew out of Atlanta to NJ for a weekend Atlantic city airport real small.... so small that as my sister went to drop us off someone ran out of the airport to tell us the flight was cancled...Because Atlanta was under water, we didnt have the TV on all weekend so were unaware. Not only was Airtran puting ppl up in hotels free of charge , everyone recd comp flights to be used within the year we didnt expect it but it was nice and I fly with them all the time because of it.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I only fly with Airtran and their CS has never been less than stellar!!

Anytime there has been even as much as a 5 minute flight change - they are willing to change your flight at no charge. I was recently on vacation and decided to extend a day - Airtran had changed my flights from what I had originally booked several months before my trip but since I had never accepted the change - they were more than happy to put me on the flight of my choice on the way home the next morning.

I have sat in the airport while they had a mechanical problem and they worked with me to get me (and my party fo 13) onto new flights and make sure we would make it to our destination as quickly as possible. And when our luggage didn't make it - they delivered it to my hotel room 45 minutes away at 1:00 in the morning.

I once missed a flight due to a traffic jam on the highway and Airtran completely refunded my fare with no fees. I was able to get on another airline with FF miles.

I am willing to bet that Airtran will - if they haven't already - completely refund the OPs airfare.

I - of course - would be thanking the Disney gods for the good fortune of missing my original flight and the snafu that resulted in me staying at the GF for the week instead of the POP!!

 

[NancyIL]

I am willing to bet that Airtran will - if they haven't already - completely refund the OPs airfare.

I don't think there was any doubt that AirTran would refund the OP's money, since the flight was cancelled.

Instead, the OP paid three times as much to fly on another carrier on Saturday, but got an upgrade to a WDW resort that easily costs at least three times what she would've paid for Pop Century.

 

[kaytieeldr]

More like at least four times as much, NancyIL!

 

[NancyIL]

More like at least four times as much, NancyIL!

Perhaps the OP ought to send a thank you note to AirTran for cancelling her flight!

 

[wdwobsessed]

OMG....I think all the OP was trying to say was......"YOU TOLD ME SO". She was just venting. Some of the people on here can be very harsh. I am sure if it happened to you...you would feel the same...even if it is the weather....I feel very sorry for OP. I hope you have a fantastic time on your disney vacation.......

AMEN! She was venting and that was ok.

Some of the nasty people on this board need to CHILL OUT.

WDWO

 

[NancyIL]

AMEN! She was venting and that was ok.

Some of the nasty people on this board need to CHILL OUT.

WDWO

I haven't seen any "nasty people" on this thread OR nasty comments. Why is it that it's ok for the OP to "vent" - but if anyone disagrees with them, they're "flaming" or "slamming" the OP, or in this case - they're "nasty people"?

We can all empathize with the OP about having cancelled flights due to the weather. However, that doesn't mean we're all going to look the other way and say nothing when the OP equates her cancelled day-of flight with AirTran's reputation for changing flight schedules.

 

[LilyWDW]

I haven't seen any "nasty people" on this thread OR nasty comments. Why is it that it's ok for the OP to "vent" - but if anyone disagrees with them, they're "flaming" or "slamming" the OP, or in this case - they're "nasty people"?

We can all empathize with the OP about having cancelled flights due to the weather. However, that doesn't mean we're all going to look the other way and say nothing when the OP equates her cancelled day-of flight with AirTran's reputation for changing flight schedules.

I am so sick of the idea that if you don't agree with the person venting, then you are a horrible person and flaming them. NO ONE here has been "nasty". They are being realistic and pointing out the flaws in the posters argument.

The transportation boards are not like other boards. The travel industry is a HUGE industry with many rules and regulations where people spend a LOT of money. Here on the transportation board we have to be realistic on the expectations versus the rules. There are SO many people who don't fully understand the rules and regulations... it does these people no good for others to not be blunt.

There is no pixie dust on the transportation boards. We are not dealing with Disney here (most of the time). We are dealing with the cut throat travel industry, including the airlines and TSA. Patting people on the back and telling them it will be okay will NOT help them.

But in general, on all boards I have ever been a member of, don't post a question or a vent unless you are willing to hear and deal with ALL answers.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Something URGENT just occurred to me: since the OP went off on her own and made her own alternate flight arrangements, did she notify AirTran that she did this? Has she confirmed that, since she did not use the outbound portion of her tickets, her return tickets are still valid????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Or, as per the typical airline policy, could AirTran have cancelled her remaining itinerary when she did not show up for the outbound (any) segment????

 

[DVCBELLE]

I am guessing since she extended her vacation - she just booked a new RT instead of a one way.

 

[dudspizza]

AMEN! She was venting and that was ok.

Some of the nasty people on this board need to CHILL OUT.

WDWO

I have yet to meet any "nasty" people on this board.

Many prefer to take a level head and look forward when it comes to travel delays. You can't do anything about what has happened in the past..... you have to focus on what is in front of you. If you let emotions cloud your judgement, you don't get things done.

Way too many people come to this board and blame the regulars for being "pooyheads" to quote a good friend from this board. Really we are putting things straight forward with no sugar coating.

Transportation is what it is......

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am guessing since she extended her vacation - she just booked a new RT instead of a one way.

I truly hope you're right!!! She never indicated what they changed their outbound flight TO. Also, it appears they changed their resort vacation after they changed their flight - so if they never notified AirTran of the changes they made on their own, they may find themselves with no flight home!

 

[wdwobsessed]

You can disagree someone without being snarky.

I am not going to copy and re-post the posts I felt were nasty because that would be nasty of me.

Maybe "nasty" was a strong word.

Maybe "a lack of dealing with people in a kind manner" would have been more appropriate.

Lack of pixie dust or not .... there is no reason not to be KIND to people ... and I am sorry but some of people were NOT kind to the OP.

WDWO

 

[maxiesmom]

I think you are equating not agreeing with the OP to not being kind. No one here has insulted or been mean to the OP. Those who don't agree with her are just trying to explain some of the facts of air-travel. It does no one any service to simply agree and say how horrible Air Tran was, and that they are all just a bunch of poopy-heads.

Most airlines do not offer any kind of compensation for air travel delayed by weather. And those that do only do so on very rare occasions. That is another fact that can help you out when you are traveling by air. Expecting different is just setting yourself up to be miserable if you are one of the unlucky ones to have their flight cancelled because of weather.

We are kind of a just the facts bunch of people here on the transportation board. Some people may perceive that as being unkind. I actually think it is more kind to tell people what is true than to tell them what they want to hear.

 

[keishashadow]

I think you are equating not agreeing with the OP to not being kind. No one here has insulted or been mean to the OP. Those who don't agree with her are just trying to explain some of the facts of air-travel. It does no one any service to simply agree and say how horrible Air Tran was, and that they are all just a bunch of poopy-heads.

Most airlines do not offer any kind of compensation for air travel. And those that do only do so on very rare occasions. That is another fact that can help you out when you are traveling by air. Expecting different is just setting yourself up to be miserable if you are one of the unlucky ones to have their flight cancelled because of weather.

We are kind of a just the facts bunch of people here on the transportation board. Some people may perceive that as being unkind. I actually think it is more kind to tell people what is true than to tell them what they want to hear.

The DISboards is a kindler, gentler place than most message boards, yet you really must turn the filter off when speaking of factual things (transportation) to avoid misinterpretation

afternoon storms out of MCO in the summer are a given, they should print an advisory on the ticket confirmations. I've seen so many peeps lose it in the terminals thinking they're eligible for compensation.

That said, i've never had a problem receiving compensation (as outlined in each airline's carriage of contract) when:

* a cancellation or delay is due to mechanical problem
* my plane has been diverted to another route (always ask why your flight is canceled or delayed)
* if my baggage has been lost longer than 30 days.

They will pay up but you must request it & you can negotiate.

 

[crashbb]

AirTran doesn't have any "spare" planes.

Funny enough, I just had an interesting airline experience on Monday.


I was flying home from New York (from Newark). It was the Monday of a holiday weekend (in Canada) so all of the flights were full/oversold.

By the end of the day (my flight was the second last flight) there were a lot of stand by passengers - a few missed connections and at least one family who showed up late at the airport for an earlier flight and a canceled flight to Montreal (so passengers were being re-routed through Toronto).

They asked for volunteers to be bumped from the second last flight and put onto the last flight (difference of 75 minutes). They guaranteed a seat of the later flight. Since it is unusual to guarantee a seat on the next flight, I asked about it. The airline DID have a spare plane. They switched out the plane that should have come (seats 73) for a bigger plane (seats 130).

I know this is unusual. The flight was coming from a major hub (Toronto) and ending in that same hub (and it takes about 4 hours from leaving Toronto to returning to Toronto).

Anyway, I got $400 US for waiting 75 minutes.

 

[maxiesmom]

I had to go back and edit my previous post. I meant to say that most airlines do not offer compensation for air travel delayed by weather.

They most certainly do offer compensation when they over-book and need to bump people to different flights.

 

[kaytieeldr]

That said, i've never had a problem receiving compensation (as outlined in each airline's carriage of contract) when:

* a cancellation or delay is due to mechanical problem

Agreed. My last Delta flight - two or three years ago - was departure-delayed because of a warning light. Mechanics worked on it for a couple of hours, the pilot took the plane out on the runway for a check... we finally boarded at about the time we were supposed to be landing in Boston.

I knew I was going to miss the last bus back to my car. I talked to the Gate Agent, they told me "no problem", they'd call ahead to Boston and arrange for transportation. Ha! Never believe "no problem" but the GA at Logan was able to provide me with a taxi voucher after some discussion.

 

[keishashadow]

Agreed. My last Delta flight - two or three years ago - was departure-delayed because of a warning light. Mechanics worked on it for a couple of hours, the pilot took the plane out on the runway for a check... we finally boarded at about the time we were supposed to be landing in Boston.

I knew I was going to miss the last bus back to my car. I talked to the Gate Agent, they told me "no problem", they'd call ahead to Boston and arrange for transportation. Ha! Never believe "no problem" but the GA at Logan was able to provide me with a taxi voucher after some discussion.

especially if combined with 'trust me' is scary thing to hear when travelingglad it worked out for you.

last i requested (AT)was told the magical # of hours delay, caused by mechanical issue, to equal a flight voucher is two. Not sure if that is 'unofficial' standard industry-wide or not. Dicey asking for anything with AT or SW anyway, as i don't think they follow the rules of the legacy carriers