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

[Dani's First Time]

Thanks, ssawka. Sorry you wasted your 1000 post on that too! I'll be sticking to the resort / parks / restaurants threads from here on out. 140 days to go - so excited!

 

[maxiesmom]

Welcome to the Transportation board. I frequent many boards on the DIS and the Transportation board is the least friendly one to be on. That's not to say that there aren't friendly people on here, but you have some posters with a "holier than thou" attitude here.

Edit: I just realized that this was my 1,000 post! It's a shame I wasted with this post.

Eh, people here do not have a "holier than thou" attitude. They have a "Tell it like it is, not like people want it to be" attitude. The transportation board is short on just patting people on the hand and saying "There, there". That kind of attitude does not help anyone when it comes to dealing with ins and outs of air travel.

Fact is, buying a ticket on ANY airline only guarantees you passage from point A to point B. Things like departure times and non-stop vs connecting flights are NOT guaranteed. Too bad so many people learn that the hard way, and not by reading the Contract of Carriage from the airline.

For example, Dani's First Time may have thought that not flying Air Tran would solve all of their travel time problems. That is not the case. It would do no good to say "Yes, Air Tran is horrible. Fly anyone else but them" when ALL airlines adjust their flight schedules. Just not flying Air Tran will not guarantee your flight times won't change, or that your non-stop flight won't become one that connects.

There is a time and place for Pixie Dust. Unfortunately, when you travel by air, it is in short supply. Best to be a realist.

 

[LilyWDW]

There is a time and place for Pixie Dust. Unfortunately, when you travel by air, it is in short supply. Best to be a realist.

The travel business is an expensive business. If we were all pixie dust and rainbows on the transportation board, we could end up costing people a LOT of money. We are not going to post whatever someone WANTS to hear. We are going to give them the truth, even if people don't want to hear it. Airlines and the TSA don't sugar coat things, so neither do we. The people who post on this board are doing what they can to HELP people by being realistic. No one is "holier then thou", they just know a heck of a lot more then most people when it comes to travel.

The only airline you can be pretty sure won't change your flight is Southwest. This is because they wait longer to release their schedules. Any other airline has and will change their schedules are the weeks (and months) past. If someone can not handle checking their flights every so often (and daily as you get closer) then they should wait to book their tickets and book with Southwest. Otherwise there is a good chance the flights will change.

 

[mcissel03]

We flew on Airtran just last week when we went on our trip to Disney. We flew out on May 24 from PHL at 7 am and flew back on May 30 at 8:47 pm. They did change our flight time, but only by 27 minutes on the way back and we had booked our tickets back in Feb. We had a direct flight.

We loved flying with them. It was myself, my husband and five of our children. They were great with the kids, made sure they were comfortable, gave them wings because it was their first flight.

We did hit storms on the way back and something that I really liked about Airtran, the pilot told us we may encounter them before we ever took off. And kept us fully informed.

We have flown with Delta and hit storms where they don't even let you know.

Personally, IMO, every carrier has issues....no carrier is perfect.....no carrier can EVER guarantee they will not change your flight, they will not delay, they will not cancel your flight....Sometimes, the safest thing is to not take off....Even if it means at the very last second you can't board....I am sure you would be more angry if they took off knowing the plane wasn't safe, the weather was dangerous ect...

 

[cbiss]

I'm courious of everyone's opinion... Just this morning my AAA TA called me and told me that my 8am non stop flight to MCO on Sept 25 was cancelled!! So mind you this is NOT weather related. They "compensated" us by putting us on a 5:30AM flight with a connection in Atlanta. We told them no, as I paid for a non stop flight and am also traveling with a 3yr old. The only other flight they can give us is at 11 am is going to get us to MCO three hours later than the first flight. Not that big a deal but we are now missing time in the parks on our first day. So my question is... How can they just do that and expect people not to complain!! And now I have to worry about them changing my return flight for some no good unexplained reason!! I should have just listened to the boards and spent the extra $$ and NOT booked with AirTran!!

 

[jlk806]

Actually, last Sept we were on a nonstop flight from BUF to MCO on Airtran and when we were about 30 min from Orlando they announced they were turning the plane back and landing in Atlanta due to a weather sensor out in Orlando and it was raining there. We sat on the ground in the heat in Atlanta for about 1.5 hours before it took off again and got us to Orlando. We just took it and moved on but by the time we got home from our trip we had letters from Airtran waiting for us at home offering each of us a $50 voucher off another trip within a year(which we graciously used to book our trip for this Aug.). We didnt expect anything from it, but it was a nice surprise!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Welcome to the Transportation board. I frequent many boards on the DIS and the Transportation board is the least friendly one to be on. That's not to say that there aren't friendly people on here, but you have some posters with a "holier than thou" attitude here.

Edit: I just realized that this was my 1,000 post! It's a shame I wasted with this post.

It apparently can't be said often enough: transportation is too serious to be handled with an "aw, gee, you're right and the mean nasty airline/car rental company/taxi/cruise ship is wrong of course" commisseration. Nobody laid into any new poster on this thread, just as nobody lays into any poster on this board. And nobody has a 'holier than thou' attitude, although apparently facts and bluntness are perceived as such by some readers.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We flew on Airtran just last week when we went on our trip to Disney. We flew out on May 24 from PHL at 7 am and flew back on May 30 at 8:47 pm. They did change our flight time, but only by 27 minutes on the way back and we had booked our tickets back in Feb. We had a direct flight

Okay, I don't know why, but this post got me thinking... instead of just saying the new poster who changed her entire plan based on one poster's semi-negative experience with AirTran should have asked here first instead of automatically cancelling her AirTran plans, I thought I'd do some research.

It's true, there's no 8 AM nonstop PHL-MCO flight on October 20. But there IS one at 7 AM. And since I requested four seats, there are apparently four seats available. There's another nonstop at 11:05. Yes, I understand AirTran's computer automatically moved them to the first flight of the day when the 8 AM flight was cancelled - but they wouldn't have been stuck with this flight. And yes, I realize an 11:05 flight would have gotten them to WDW somewhat later than originally planned, but she has stated at least a couple of times that even 7 AM is too early for her young children.

I am so terrified of something going wrong with the biggest trip I've ever planned. So, I went out to check on my AirTran reservation booked in March. I picked an 8am out of Philly instead of a 7am with Southwest. We live an hour outside of the city and will be traveling with two boys - 4 and 2. We thought it was just too early.

Imagine my surprise when my flight reservation now says I am leaving Philly at 5:50 am with a layover in Atlanta (we were direct before). Not only is this flight unacceptable in terms on time but it's not direct and I was never notified of the change! I called AirTran and asked for my money back.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So my question is... How can they just do that and expect people not to complain!!

Respectfully, please reread maxiesmom's post # 122, which refers to each airline's Contract of Carriage and states that, ultimately, what your ticket ensures is transportation from Point A to Point B - not necessarily in the seats you selected (JetBlue even notes that on the seat selection screen), not necessarily on the plane you expect, not necessarily at the time you reserved, not necessarily the itinerary (routing) you chose... as zimaaaaah discovered, under extreme conditions not even on the day you planned!

It appears AirTran has eliminated the 8 AM nonstop flight from Philadelphia to Orlando, since your time options pretty much match the ones given by/to Dani's First Trip. Yep. Actually, in your case - the 7 AM flight is sold out on September 25, which is why it wasn't given to you as an option. If it makes you feel any better, the two lowest fares on the 11:05 flight are sold out, too, making your flight now a better value.

Airlines don't cancel/eliminate flights for "no good reason". They could be reducing costs. There could be overcrowding at PHL at that time of day and all airlines were required to eliminate or reschedule flights. Maybe take-off fees are graduated and it costs more to depart during 'peak' hours, and AirTran is just trying to cut back on costs. Maybe overall there aren't enough vacation bookings to warrant TWO nonstop departures daily only an hour apart.

But schedule changes of ANY kind are never done for "no good reason". Excellent chance the airline won't share the reason with passengers - although they might with shareholders - but there's always a valid reason.

 

[ssawka]

It apparently can't be said often enough: transportation is too serious...

Really? I don't find transportation any more "serious" than anything else discussed on these boards. We are talking about Disney and vacations here! I don't think any of it should be taken too seriously!

 

[ssawka]

...not necessarily in the seats you selected

They better guarantee the seats or at least equivalent ones if they are going to charge you to reserve them.

Airlines don't cancel/eliminate flights for "no good reason". They could be reducing costs. There could be overcrowding at PHL at that time of day and all airlines were required to eliminate or reschedule flights. Maybe take-off fees are graduated and it costs more to depart during 'peak' hours, and AirTran is just trying to cut back on costs. Maybe overall there aren't enough vacation bookings to warrant TWO nonstop departures daily only an hour apart.

But schedule changes of ANY kind are never done for "no good reason". Excellent chance the airline won't share the reason with passengers - although they might with shareholders - but there's always a valid reason.

Yes, it could also be that it is the business practice of AT to initially schedule more flights than they know they will fly with the expectation that they will consolidate these flights at a later time thereby making it look like AT has flights that perfectly fit your schedule. To me it seems like a marketing ploy to get you to book with them. I know at least from my local airports it seems like AT usually have more flights available than any other airline. It's true that you could always cancel, but once you're booked most travelers either won't want to go through the hassle of finding a new flight, canceling, and rebooking; or it will be too late to get a reasonably priced flight from another airline.

 

[kaytieeldr]

They better guarantee the seats or at least equivalent ones if they are going to charge you to reserve them.

Please just don't fly AirTran. There is apparently far too much about their business model - either actual or assumed - that you do not like and which would likely either cause you aggravation or bring you here to complain about whatever AirTran did to ruin your vacation.

Currently, AirTran has PHL-MCO nonstop flights at 7 AM and either 8:06 AM or 8:20 AM from October 21 forward. That's not to say these will remain on the schedule - but the November 1 flight appears to be sold out. On 10/21, by the way, as full as the departure schedule appears - there are actually only three flights departing Philadelphia for Orlando; the other four connect in Atlanta. There are actually about fifteen itineraries listed - but half of those are merely connection alternatives.

 

[seashoreCM]

... once you're booked most travelers either won't want to go through the hassle of finding a new flight, canceling, and rebooking; ...

I haven't been able to understand why, after so many years, the airlines haven't gotten down pat a schedule (maybe two more systemwide schedules for standard time and daylight time changeover respectively) that doesn't need more tweaking. Okay, okay, maybe separate schedules for regular winter days, Christmas day, Thanksgiving day, etc. but each day's schedule is still preselected and revealed on the on line booking screens and is therefore predictable. (OT: Anyone remember when schedules had such notations as "ESSH" ("XSSH") or "MWF"?)

It is fair that the airline accommodate each and every one of the few travelers who, astutely or despairingly, do promptly go through the hassle of finding a new flight and attempt to cancel or rebook.

 

[ssawka]

Please just don't fly AirTran. There is apparently far too much about their business model - either actual or assumed - that you do not like and which would likely either cause you aggravation or bring you here to complain about whatever AirTran did to ruin your vacation.

Yes, just like how you "Assumed" that the TA had a legitimate reason for changing flights. It's funny how you don't mind assumptions if it is in favor of the airline.

I would never say that they "ruined" my vacation (I'm not that sensitive!) and they were actually fine when I flew on them. I'm just saying given their "track record", do not book them if you want to leave at a specific time or need to have a direct flight. Personally I probably will not book them again, because it makes no sense for me to have a layover for a two hour flight.

 

[eroilersgal]

If ALL of the flights out of your airport were cancelled, don't slam Airtran. Weather is not under their control. EVERY airline cancels flights, charges for basic things like bags, seats, blankets, etc. We have had a number of positive experiences with them and will gladly fly with them again.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, just like how you "Assumed" that the TA had a legitimate reason for changing flights. It's funny how you don't mind assumptions if it is in favor of the airline.

I don't have the slightest idea to what you're referring. Where or when did any Travel Agent change any flight? Do you mean this post?

Just this morning my AAA TA called me and told me that my 8am non stop flight to MCO on Sept 25 was cancelled!!

The Travel Agent didn't cancel the flight. Travel Agents don't do that, and I don't see anything in that post indicating the TA overstepped boundaries. The airline cancelled the flight - the SAME flight they cancelled a month later, 'on' Dani's First Trip.

Now, maybe the TA could have been more proactive and explored cbiss's options before contacting her about the cancellation - but because the 7 AM flight is sold out on 9/25, the options in that case are limited, so it's likely the TA's hands were tied.

do not book them if you want to leave at a specific time or need to have a direct flight

I don't have any idea if AirTran offers direct flights anywhere. Going between Philadelphia and Orlando, they offer nonstop flights - the plane takes off from one airport and goes straight to the destination airport; and connecting flights, where passengers board one plane, then change planes at an interim airport and finally continue on to the destination.

Direct flights are flights where passengers board at the originating airport, land at an intermediate location to discharge and board passengers but don't have to change planes, and continue on to the destination.

 

[NancyIL]

I don't have any idea if AirTran offers direct flights anywhere. Going between Philadelphia and Orlando, they offer nonstop flights - the plane takes off from one airport and goes straight to the destination airport; and connecting flights, where passengers board one plane, then change planes at an interim airport and finally continue on to the destination.

Direct flights are flights where passengers board at the originating airport, land at an intermediate location to discharge and board passengers but don't have to change planes, and continue on to the destination.

Referring to a nonstop flight as "direct" is about as irritating to me as not knowing the difference between "loose" and "lose"! Even the revered Southwest offers the option to narrow flights to Nonstop or "Direct (No Plane Change, With Stops)" - so you'd think more people would notice that explanation.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't especially like Southwest - possibly if they increase their direct/nonstop flights from Boston, I'll consider changing my mind - but I do like that they have direct flights, and that they make it so easy to determine, simply on the booking screen, whether a flight is direct or connecting (or nonstop).

 

[NancyIL]

I don't especially like Southwest - possibly if they increase their direct/nonstop flights from Boston, I'll consider changing my mind - but I do like that they have direct flights, and that they make it so easy to determine, simply on the booking screen, whether a flight is direct or connecting (or nonstop).

Indianapolis is the closest airport that Southwest serves, and it's just over 2 hours from my house. AirTran's fares usually match Southwest's, and I'd rather accumulate flight credits on AirTran. Because economy parking at Indy is now $9/day - I don't fly from there unless there are at least two of us going. I will fly from my hometown airport (Champaign, IL) when using FF miles, but airfares from here are no bargain. I prefer to fly to Orlando from Bloomington, IL, which is an hour away and has free parking. My airline choices there are American, Delta, and AirTran. Only AirTran has one nonstop flight to and from Orlando several days a week, so that is usually my preferred airline to fly to FL. I have booked the nonstops several times - only to have AirTran cancel them down the road. Irritating - yes, but not a deal breaker.

 

[ssawka]

I don't have the slightest idea to what you're referring.

I'm refering to this:

Airlines don't cancel/eliminate flights for "no good reason". They could be reducing costs. There could be overcrowding at PHL at that time of day and all airlines were required to eliminate or reschedule flights. Maybe take-off fees are graduated and it costs more to depart during 'peak' hours, and AirTran is just trying to cut back on costs. Maybe overall there aren't enough vacation bookings to warrant TWO nonstop departures daily only an hour apart.

But schedule changes of ANY kind are never done for "no good reason". Excellent chance the airline won't share the reason with passengers - although they might with shareholders - but there's always a valid reason.

All the "reasons" you listed are all understandable, but they are also all favorable to AT. You don't think, as I mentioned, that AT could schecule more flights than they intend to fly just to deceive customers into thinking that they found the perfect flight just to change it later?

:I don't have any idea if AirTran offers direct flights anywhere. Going between Philadelphia and Orlando, they offer nonstop flights - the plane takes off from one airport and goes straight to the destination airport; and connecting flights, where passengers board one plane, then change planes at an interim airport and finally continue on to the destination.

Sorry, excuse me for using laymen's terms. Most people use "non-stop" and "direct" interchangeably. What I was getting at is that the last time I flew AT, I had booked a non-stop flight between MCO and DCA that should take 2 hours. The non-stop flight was canceled and I had to do a layover in ATL for 1.5 hours. Now I'm not one to complain about getting to my destination a little late or early, but to change a non-stop flight to a connecting flight is a bit of a stretch. Unfortunately you can't even ask for a fare reduction as AT does not differentiate between non-stop and connecting flights in terms of fare.