AirTran's at it again...

Stephaniecmc

Mouseketeer
Joined
Apr 16, 2008
Messages
239
Just have to vent a little...

They've once again changed our flight schedule! This happened to us in 2008 when we went to the World and we swore we'd never do it again. However the entire family is flying AirTran so we went with the majority. Now they know why I wanted to avoid them! Arrgh!!!! :mad:
 
This is our third consecutive trip to WDW on AirTran and, yes, they do often change the schedule. We had to switch flights last year because what they changed us to just didn't work, but it wasn't bad and there was no fee charged, so no big deal. We just got a schedule change notification over the weekend too and, dang, was that a big one!! We were scheduled to leave at 7 am with a change in Atlanta (just long enough to eat breakfast) then on to Disney by mid-afternoon. Our new schedule has us leaving at 6 am and not getting there until late afternoon! I figured I'd check the schedule and just switch to something better since we can do it once for free. Big surprise - the 6 am flight is now the only morning flight! All others won't get us there until after 7 pm. So anyway, I checked the three 6 am departure options and switched to the one that doesn't have me chasing two children around the airport for 3 hours and now we get to Orlando before noon. I'm trying to convince myself it's not terrible, but an hour earlier in the morning is a lot for me! I know it will all be fine once the big day gets here, so I'm trusting in that.

Sorry you're having problems too - hang in there! Mickey will make it ALL better!! :wizard:
 
Just pointing out - the further out you purchase your airfare, the more likely ANY airline is to make schedule changes (yes, I know - except Southwest).
 
I think everyone pretty much knows that Airtran does this - and like kaytieeldr said - most airlines do.

The reason I book with Airtran - even knowing this - is that they are BY FAR the most accomodating airline when it comes to schedule changes. If you aren't happy with the new flight - call and ask for another one - you can even change to the day before if you want.
 

This is our third consecutive trip to WDW on AirTran and, yes, they do often change the schedule. We had to switch flights last year because what they changed us to just didn't work, but it wasn't bad and there was no fee charged, so no big deal. We just got a schedule change notification over the weekend too and, dang, was that a big one!! We were scheduled to leave at 7 am with a change in Atlanta (just long enough to eat breakfast) then on to Disney by mid-afternoon. Our new schedule has us leaving at 6 am and not getting there until late afternoon! I figured I'd check the schedule and just switch to something better since we can do it once for free. Big surprise - the 6 am flight is now the only morning flight! All others won't get us there until after 7 pm. So anyway, I checked the three 6 am departure options and switched to the one that doesn't have me chasing two children around the airport for 3 hours and now we get to Orlando before noon. I'm trying to convince myself it's not terrible, but an hour earlier in the morning is a lot for me! I know it will all be fine once the big day gets here, so I'm trusting in that.

Sorry you're having problems too - hang in there! Mickey will make it ALL better!! :wizard:
Have you considered staying at the airport? We do this when we have early morning flights and use a hotel with park and fly. Since it would take us 35 minutes to get to the airport we feel this gives us extra time to sleep in the morning. Since you don't have to worry about traffic - it is easier to head to the airport about 10 minutes before you need to check in.

And since we then don't have to pay additional parking that ends up paying for at least 1/2 the hotel or more on long trips!

I just head to the hotel with a bag that only goes in there. I leave all of our other luggage in the car overnight and then drive over to drop everything at the airport - my DH then goes back to the hotel while I check us all in and he rides the shuttle bus back.

We hate early morning flights so this option makes it bearable!
 
The reason I book with Airtran - even knowing this - is that they are BY FAR the most accomodating airline when it comes to schedule changes. If you aren't happy with the new flight - call and ask for another one - you can even change to the day before if you want.

Agreed! I have never had a single problem with Airtran as far as changing flights and we did change to the day before our original on our last trip. No problem! I have always found them to be very accommodating and friendly, and flying with them has been very nice and easy. We had a flight attendant on our first trip that I dearly loved and I look for her every time we fly Airtran now. I would choose them over just about every airline (except SW) any time we fly.
 
Have you considered staying at the airport? We do this when we have early morning flights and use a hotel with park and fly. We hate early morning flights so this option makes it bearable!

We did that last time and loved it! Unfortunately, that hotel won't work for us this time because we'll be gone more than 7 days. Their "requirements" for their park and fly get stupid for more than 7 days, so that one's out. I'm going to check into others and see what I can find. If nothing works, we'll just suck it up. It takes us about 40 minutes or so to get to the airport, but on the plus side, AirTran flies out of the less busy terminal here, so we can use value parking and it will be easy to get in and checked in at that hour for sure! It will be fine, but I can't promise I'll be talking very much when we leave our house at 4 a.m. :upsidedow
 
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I didn't know you could change your flights once without a fee? It states on their website that all coach ticket changes are $75. I wanted to make a change to my inbound and outbound but didn't want to pay $300. Or can you only change to what you want if THEY change your flights first because they have changed my outbound. Any help would be most appreciated. Either way, I'm excited for this mother, daughter adventure!!:woohoo:
 
I didn't know you could change your flights once without a fee? It states on their website that all coach ticket changes are $75. I wanted to make a change to my inbound and outbound but didn't want to pay $300. Or can you only change to what you want if THEY change your flights first because they have changed my outbound. Any help would be most appreciated. Either way, I'm excited for this mother, daughter adventure!!:woohoo:

You can only change without a fee if they have made a flight time adjustment or if there is weather that is causing problems (that would not happen until the day before or day off a flight)

Liz
 
Did you get an email from them stating the change or did you just figure it out? Either way, call Airtran and select the option for schedule changes (I think it's option 6). Tell them your schedule was changed and you would like to alter it. I haven't ever had a problem and have not been asked to pay when they made the change first. Give it a try!! Good luck!
 
I got home yesterday from a trip to WDW, and I flew on AirTran. I bought my tickets a month ago, so there were no schedule changes. However, I agree with others that AirTran is a great airline to fly, and it's the only airline that's relatively close to my home that has a non-stop flight.

I just checked my American flights for April, and they have changed again. I bought the tickets in September, and this is the 3rd schedule change.
 
You can only change without a fee if they have made a flight time adjustment or if there is weather that is causing problems (that would not happen until the day before or day off a flight)

Liz

They changed it by literally 5 minutes. I wonder if that would count?
 
I didn't know you could change your flights once without a fee? It states on their website that all coach ticket changes are $75. I wanted to make a change to my inbound and outbound but didn't want to pay $300. Or can you only change to what you want if THEY change your flights first because they have changed my outbound. Any help would be most appreciated. Either way, I'm excited for this mother, daughter adventure!!:woohoo:
They have to have made the change - but they will do it even if it has only changed by 10 minutes. Check your original email confirmation - if the times are different - they will let you make changes.

ETA: I see there was a slight change - I would call and just say the schedule changed and I know it was only 5 minutes but I was running tight anyway - is there anyway I can switch to another flight. If the rep says no - hang up and call back later.
 
That's why I am not using AirTran anymore for long term planning trips. We swtiched to Delta--cheaper and they don't tend to play musical flights.
 
That's why I am not using AirTran anymore for long term planning trips. We swtiched to Delta--cheaper and they don't tend to play musical flights.

If you think Delta doesn't have schedule changes, you are mistaken! If they change the flight time by even a few minutes - you will LOSE your seat assignment and have to call to get a new one. I was so fed up with Delta after my 2006 trip I swore I'd never fly with them again. Now my Northwest miles are Delta miles - arghh!
 
If you think Delta doesn't have schedule changes, you are mistaken! If they change the flight time by even a few minutes - you will LOSE your seat assignment and have to call to get a new one. I was so fed up with Delta after my 2006 trip I swore I'd never fly with them again. Now my Northwest miles are Delta miles - arghh!
I agree - I have had Delta change my flight by over 30 minutes and I had to stay on the flight - regardless of how it fit into my travel plans. I ended up just getting home later than I wanted but if it had left earlier - then I might have had problems getting to the airport
 
Knock on wood, we haven't had the issue. I will, of course, keep checking! ;-)
 
If you think Delta doesn't have schedule changes, you are mistaken! If they change the flight time by even a few minutes - you will LOSE your seat assignment and have to call to get a new one. I was so fed up with Delta after my 2006 trip I swore I'd never fly with them again. Now my Northwest miles are Delta miles - arghh!

Oh my gosh, I forgot about my seat assignments! I'd better check that. My email didn't say anything about reminding me to pick new seats. Thank for the reminder. I think I am going to try to change the times anyway since they made the first move!
 
I am flying AirTran for the first time in August. I just booked it last weekend and my flights have already changed...I am now leaving and arriving 4 minutes earlier going down and leaving and arriving 5 minutes earlier coming back...Thus, I just lost one full minute in Orlando...:mad:
 
I am flying AirTran for the first time in August. I just booked it last weekend and my flights have already changed...I am now leaving and arriving 4 minutes earlier going down and leaving and arriving 5 minutes earlier coming back...Thus, I just lost one full minute in Orlando...:mad:

I think you deserve some compensation! ;)
 














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