Anyone ever take Air Tran on their offer...

[CanadianPaco]

for free round trip tickets if you give up your seats?

Here is what happened to us this past Sunday. We were flying from Orlando to Atlanta to Buffalo ...home from our Disney trip. Air Tran said they need 6 seats since they were close to being over booked. They would guarentee us seats on their 3:33pm flight and in return we would get free round trip tickets any where Air Trans flies, good for one year. For us, it meant 5 hours in the Atlanta airport. So we took it and flew out 5 hours later. Three of us meant three free round trip tickets. I know there are black out periods, etc but it sounded too good to be true!

In the experiences of others, was it?

 

[dudspizza]

No experience with it, but I would have jumped on it too!

I would just plan ahead and book as soon as flights come out! Enjoy!

Duds

 

[snoopy two]

I did it! Worked out great for us.

 

[bsusanmb]

It did not work out for us. No matter where we tried to go or when we could not get seats. I won't do it again. It was nice to get a free meal in the airport, but I was very disappointed about the free tickets.

 

[seashoreCM]

A lot of airlines offer these round trip vouchers but usually with significant black out dates or, more confusingly, you can book the voucher only in certain fare categories that tend to be sold out quickly.

Using the round trip voucher, you would have to accept such things as fly into Orlando late at night and go home early in the morning.

 

[crashbb]

I only take the involuntary bump if I am given cash, rather than a voucher.

 

[Lucky4me]

We have done it and hope to do it again.
We just know we'll be using the tickets mid week and not during the summer or any holidays.
If you know you'll need to fly on a weekend or during the summer or any holidays, it will be tough to use the tickets.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Worked great for us We got 2 RT each for giving up our seats in March. I valued our savings at over $1000!!

I normally fly the cheapest days anyways, but you do need to be flexible. We used our vouchers as 1 ways for June, October and again in January.

I would do it again for 2 or more vouchers. We are never in a hurry to get there or get home, so that helps. Using ME worked great when we took the bump our luggage was already checked, but with the tags, it was delivered to our room

 

[alwaysmom]

We took the bump in Atlanta but at the last minute due to no shows they put us on the plane, we were bummed. The offer was hotel room, shuttle, meals, & 2 tickets each (8 total). Recently, Baltimore to Buffalo, needed volunteers, the offer was 1 ticket plus $300 cash. We couldn't delay our return so missed out.

I'd take the bump. For the few that it doesn't work out for there are many it does.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I only take the involuntary bump if I am given cash, rather than a voucher.

On an "involuntary" I believe they are required to give you cash.

On a "voluntary" they can give these round trip vouchers.

I only bump for "money". It does not have to be real cash, it can be "virtual" cash that can be spent on the airline's website to buy tickets. That generally has no restrictions so you can use it do whatever flight you want. *(I have never actually gotten cash, but have never had an involuntary bump)

 

[blugill13]

We got involuntary bumped from delta

they gave us breakfast and $300 credit each and then got us on an american flight that due to our original flight being delayed got us to mco before the delayed flight.

Just used the vouchers to fly for "free" this december