Anyone flown with Airtran?

[jelo]

We will be going to Florida on March 3/2012, flying down from Buffalo, NY.

We flew with Southwest last May, and I wasn't happy with the unassigned seating. Not their fault, but I completely forgot to do the online boarding quick enough and my whole family was separated! My 4 year old was 15 rows ahead of me sitting with strangers on her first flight...

So now I'm pricing for this trip, and I've found AirTran if more reasonably priced, but with the same online booking(now owned by southwest)
Does anyone know how AirTran planes compare, does anyone have a preferance?

I did see the post for Direct air, but I would have to stay 3 extra days since there isn't a return flight on the 13th, and what I've saved going that way, I've spent on hotel/food etc...

 

[dancin Disney style]

I've flown AT a bunch of times and they are just fine. You will have to pay for checked luggage and assigned seats.

There will be no changes made by Southwest, to AT, until some time after the end of the first quarter next year.

 

[networktek]

we have flown both air tran and south west we have never had a problem with air tran we ofton upgrade at the last min to business class for about 80.00 we only have been going with south west cause airtran does not have any early direct flights to orlando.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

We have flown with Airtran .... the flight was fine, paid for seating .... no problems here.

 

[Tower]

As much as we had to pay for our luggage and seats (so we could sit together) I liked Airtran. I'd fly Southwest again too.
Both are good.

 

[sjsjbrook]

Southwest has bought Air tran.

 

[iluveeyore]

If SWA has better flight times and prices for you (plus free baggage), you could pay the extra $10 each and they will check you in online at the 24 hour mark automatically so you can board near the front - I'm also wondering why you couldn't board in the family boarding with a 4 year old in between the A & B boarding groups? They usually allow families with children 6 and under I thought, to board earlier no matter what your boarding group says on your pass.

 

[mbb]

Another for AirTran.

Flew with them from Pensalcola...maybe...I can't remember.
One of the Panhandle airports, anyway.

 

[maryliz]

I've flown both several times each. I actually prefer SWA because they don't seem to ever change their flight times, love the free baggage, and I actually LIKE the non-reserved seating ... worst I've ever had is a B boarding pass so we could still be together. Airtran is famous for changing the flight times ... once it worked to our advantage, but a few times it has really messed up plans. We are flying AT home in Sept and they have changed our flight time TWICE already, and we still have almost 3 months before that flight.

Flying Delta for the first time this summer ... hoping that works out well for us!