Airtran

[bbrnca]

Ok folks I know lots of Yes's and No's can and will be said about Airtran now I am about to book a flight from Buffalo to Orlando and Airtran is the only one below $100.00 for the time frame we are looking at... Southwest and Jetblue are way out in left field on some of their flights but I need to know how bad or good is Airtran... is the 89.00 flight worth it or just bite the bullet and pay extra for Jetblue or Southwest ????? your info is appreciated...

 

[buzzmom3]

I have used Airtran with no problems. If your flight gets changed and doesn't work for you, they will let you change or cancel.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

We just flew Airtran on 6/22 & 7/3 with absolutely NO issues!!! We loved it!!!! Both our flights left on time and arrived to our destinations about 10 minutes early!!!!! Smooth flights both ways!!!!

 

[natebenma]

Originally we booked a non-stop flight from Orlando to Boston, 2 PM to 5 PM. Airtran cancelled this flight, and we are now flying at 11:30 from Orlando to Atlanta, with an hour layover. We arrive in Boston around 5. Airtran no longer has any non-stops scheduled on our departure day and all of the flights with other airlines are much more money.

 

[Alexander]

We have flown AirTran out of Rochester many, many times and have never had a problem with flight times or changes, etc. I am amazed at how many people on these boards have had issues from their home airports. If Buffalo is anywhere near as reliable as Rochester, you'll be just fine!

 

[micci41]

We have also flown Airtran multiple times from Rochester and never had a problem. I have never had a flight cancelled only "adjusted" 5 or 10 minutes.

 

[Inkmahm]

Airtran is my first choice flying out of Milwaukee for any location. We use it consistently for our trips to MCO.

Remember that you have to pay $6 minimum for your seat assignment if you want to ensure that you sit with your family. I usually pay the $20 for each of us to get the exit row and then upgrade to business class at the 24 hour mark ($69, or another $49 in addition to the $20 paid for the exit row). We LOVE flying in business class and we can afford to do that on Airtran.

 

[alwaysmom]

I wouldn't hesitate to fly Airtran out of Buffalo again. No issues even with a very short layover in Atlanta.

 

[Eveningsong]

Airtran also charges for luggage, Jetblue gives you one bag free, and Southwest gives you two bags free.

 

[ssawka]

The thing with Airtran is that their service is fine, but if you book too early your flights are likely to change/cancel. I think, based on previous threads, that it might depend on the Airport the flight is originating from. I know the last time we flew out of DCA our flights changed 6 times, but I did buy the tickets 7 months in advance. If you don't really care when you get there, then I say go for it, but if you are concerned about schedule or absolutely do not want a connecting flight, then it might be worth the extra $.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have flown Midwest Air for past 12 years, and with them no longer around, have a high anticipation level to meet, they were excellent. In the past 18 months I have now been using Airtran. They too have been excellent. I always book exit row, and then upgrade to business at the 24 hour mark. Business class also includes 2 checked bags free, so the upgrade fee is not all that bad.

 

[Alexander]

Airtran also charges for luggage, Jetblue gives you one bag free, and Southwest gives you two bags free.

Even if you pay for your seats and luggage on AirTran is still waaaaayyyyy cheaper than flying JetBlue or Southwest (right now) out of Upstate NY. AirTran seems to have the market cornered here for low airfares. Since this has been the case for awhile now, the flights are almost always full, and that may have something to do with flights not being cancelled from our airports.

We have flights booked on AirTran for December (booked in May) ROC to MCO and I have no worries at all. The times may change a bit, but never by much, and we've never had a flight cancelled (knocking on wood!).

 

[ccgirl]

You don't know how much better this thread makes me feel. Up until this point, I have exclusively flown SW. But...their fares are super high...even when I add on seats and checked luggage. We (my DH and myself) are flying AirTran for the first time for a long weekend in Nov to Ft. Myers and then we are all flying to MCO in December with AirTran. The fares were more than $500 cheaper (total) once all the fees were added up. A significant savings. I just hope they keep the non stop flights non stop.

I think people tend to speak of their negative experiences more so than their positive.

 

[bbrnca]

Thanks to everyone who had some input.... I believe Airtran is probably our best bet for travelling right now price wise even with extra charges.... Southwest is up and down 176.00 to (89.00 on late flight) but that wouldn't work well and Jetblue is ok except on direct flight $209 and $119 with layover in JFK....

Decisions.... Decisions....

 

[hipporina]

Another good experience with Airtran. We flew them in 2007 and 2008 and were very pleased with them both times. In 2008, they changed our return flight from a non-stop to a short stop in Atlanta, but it was no big deal. We would definitely fly them again.

 

[fsmith2845]

I have flown out of Newport News VA to several destinations on Airtran and even when they were ValuJet. I have always had good experiences flying with them. A little disappointed they have resorted to charging for baggage like the others, but I agree with PP that the rates are still cheaper, and with the positive experiences i have had, it s a no-brainer for me. We'll be flying down to Orlando the week after Thanksgiving for a week and will be using Airtran. I haven't booked the flights yet, but they do offer non-stops out of Newport News to MCO which is a huge bonus..

Just my $.02 worth..

 

[jgraney106]

Another thumbs up for Airtran here! We are using them again this August for our trip to Disney. We fly out of Rochester, NY and you can't beat their prices for airfare. Our flight in August was changed twice so far , but like another poster said, it was only by a few minutes, so it was no problem. I would say you would be just fine booking with them, and who knows, you may just become a fan of Airtran in the process.

 

[cherylsmike]

I have have used AirTran for two trips to WDW and booked with them again for our trip in August. Our flights have changed a few time over the few trips but never by more than a few minutes and we ended up getting on a better flight because of it. Go for it!!!

 

[ibcnu]

Originally we booked a non-stop flight from Orlando to Boston, 2 PM to 5 PM. Airtran cancelled this flight, and we are now flying at 11:30 from Orlando to Atlanta, with an hour layover. We arrive in Boston around 5. Airtran no longer has any non-stops scheduled on our departure day and all of the flights with other airlines are much more money.

Same thing with flights between Atlantic City and Orlando and they changed us too from a nonstop to a layover in Atlanta for 2 hours. Checked flights all that week and it looks like Airtran discontinued non-stops between AC and Orlando. Not happy.