Anyone ever fly Air Tran?

[Piglets Mommy]

What's been everyone's experience with their seat assignment/ boarding policy? We leave on Sat...4 adults and 2 kids..ages 4 & 7. We didn't pre-purchase seat assignments as we figured we'd be ok...we don't all have to sit together...we'd be fine as long as one adult was with each child. I got nervous, and decided I'd pre-pay for 4 seats, so that we wouldn't have to worry about the kids. When I got on their website, there were NO seats together anywhere. Do they usually release seats at the 24 hr check in mark, or are we out of luck? TIA!

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Forgive my ignorance, but how do you check on your flight times? Do you have to call them? Is there a way to check online?

Yes..you can just click on My Itenerary. then you'll enter your name (or whoever booked it) and your conf. #

 

[erikthewise]

Forgive my ignorance, but how do you check on your flight times? Do you have to call them? Is there a way to check online?

Or you can just pretend to make a new reservation and you will see the current flight times.

Piglets Mommy, about 30%-40% of the seats are reserved before a single ticket is sold. Do online checkin exactly 24 hours before your flight, and there's a good chance you'll be able to select better seats. If not, ask again at the ticket counter or the gate. Or maybe your fellow passengers will help you out.

An alternative: arrive early (2hrs) at the ticket counter and ask if they have any business class upgrades available. For a nonstop from PA they will cost $60 per seat. I'm not saying it's worth the money, but it sure is sweet...

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Or you can just pretend to make a new reservation and you will see the current flight times.

Piglets Mommy, about 30%-40% of the seats are reserved before a single ticket is sold. Do online checkin exactly 24 hours before your flight, and there's a good chance you'll be able to select better seats. If not, ask again at the ticket counter or the gate. Or maybe your fellow passengers will help you out.

An alternative: arrive early (2hrs) at the ticket counter and ask if they have any business class upgrades available. For a nonstop from PA they will cost $60 per seat. I'm not saying it's worth the money, but it sure is sweet...

Thanks! I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I can't imagine that all but about 10 people have pre-paid for seat assignments. I'lll just hope for the best!

 

[bcinohio]

I was looking at Air Tran after reading about it on this website but when I put in our dates, July 12-19, it says no flights available for those dates. Do they not release them this soon, like SW? It looks like it would fly out of Canton/Akron and not Cleveland.

Also, do they assign seats or does it work like SW?

Thanks for the help.

 

[sweet maxine]

I'm just guessing, but would you say most likely that flight times wouldn't change for non-stop flights? I'm thinking that most people having problems with flight time changes are those that have a connection through Atlanta.

Is this true?

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I'm just guessing, but would you say most likely that flight times wouldn't change for non-stop flights? I'm thinking that most people having problems with flight time changes are those that have a connection through Atlanta.

Is this true?

Not necessarily.
we are going PHL to MCO,. When we booked in March, our flight left at 9:25, now it's 9:31...no biggie in this case, but we have had more drastic time chanege, esp with multiple flights if they aren't all full they will consolidate.

 

[erikthewise]

I was looking at Air Tran after reading about it on this website but when I put in our dates, July 12-19, it says no flights available for those dates. Do they not release them this soon, like SW? It looks like it would fly out of Canton/Akron and not Cleveland.

Also, do they assign seats or does it work like SW?

Thanks for the help.

You are right -- Airtran releases flights about 6-7 months in advance, sooner than SW but later than most airlines.

You can reserve seats at time of booking for an additional fee, or you can let them assign close to departure date. When you check in online you will have assigned seats which you can change if there are others available.