Anything i need to know about AirTran?

[TandLMommy28]

Already paid the fee for assigned seats. I couldn't risk my four year old having to sit with strangers.

Any other "hidden fees" or policies I should know about? I haven't flown since right before the four year old was born and things seem to have changed so much. I feel so out of the loop on this stuff.

 

[maxiesmom]

Not that I can think of. Though whenever I have flown Air Tran they have insisted that every person hand their own ticket to the gate agent, even the children. And they are pretty insistent that your carry-on be the proper size.

Wait, they do charge for checked bags, are you aware of that? $20 for the first bag, $25 for the second per person.

Something else to keep in mind is that if you are using Magical Express, be sure you keep an extra yellow luggage tag on you. The last couple of flights they were offering to check bags for free at the gate. Would have been nice to have an extra yellow tag on me to slap on that bag.

 

[vacationclub]

Already paid the fee for assigned seats. I couldn't risk my four year old having to sit with strangers.

Any other "hidden fees" or policies I should know about? I haven't flown since right before the four year old was born and things seem to have changed so much. I feel so out of the loop on this stuff.

Things have barely changed in 4 years, if at all. Nothing is different, except for mergers.

Seat pre-assignment fees (as opposed to assignment for free during check-in) aren't hidden, which is why you knew about it and paid for it. They offer it when you buy the tickets. Only luggage fees could be considered "hidden". But it's been around for about 4-5 years now.

Something else to keep in mind is that if you are using Magical Express, be sure you keep an extra yellow luggage tag on you. The last couple of flights they were offering to check bags for free at the gate. Would have been nice to have an extra yellow tag on me to slap on that bag.

Are you referring to "gate checking" or actual checking? They will gate check for free if the overheads are full, and that means you put a valet tag on it, they put it on the plane directly from the jetway, and you pick it up at the jetway when you get to the other end. They would need to have an actual gate checking computer and printer at the gate to print bag tags there. If the bag isn't bag-tagged with a bar code and destination symbol, it won't go onto the carts destined for the luggage carousel (or for DME luggage grabbers) it will just go back to the people coming directly off the aircraft. The yellow tag wouldn't work other than being a nice decoration.

 

[francis6306]

I am flying in Nov and I chose to not pick my seats, but what are the odds that we wouldn't be together? Can I get there early to pick a seat at the desk? I would like for my 4 year old to be near one of us, but I also will have a lap-baby. I haven't flown with my kids ever.

 

[vacationclub]

I am flying in Nov and I chose to not pick my seats, but what are the odds that we wouldn't be together? Can I get there early to pick a seat at the desk? I would like for my 4 year old to be near one of us, but I also will have a lap-baby. I haven't flown with my kids ever.

If you have a 4-year old and want to sit next to him/her, it seems to me it would be well worth it to pay for some seat assignments for at least the 2 of you.

You can choose your seats at check in, but your options will obviously be limited since others have already picked seats that they paid for. If you wait until you arrive at the desk....your options will be very limited and you may find no pairs of seats together, but they may try to swap some people around, especially single riders who didn't pay for assignments, to get you together. But there are no guarantees at that point..Why not just avoid all this and pay some extra $$$?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I am flying in Nov and I chose to not pick my seats, but what are the odds that we wouldn't be together? Can I get there early to pick a seat at the desk? I would like for my 4 year old to be near one of us, but I also will have a lap-baby. I haven't flown with my kids ever.

It just depends on how crowded the flight is. Personally, I would pay for
pre-assigned seats if I were traveling with children.

 

[francis6306]

Well, it seemed like there were a LOT of "unassigned" seats to chose from, so I thought I would take my chances. Can I call and change that now to make sure she is with one of us?

 

[Missytara]

I am flying in Nov and I chose to not pick my seats, but what are the odds that we wouldn't be together? Can I get there early to pick a seat at the desk? I would like for my 4 year old to be near one of us, but I also will have a lap-baby. I haven't flown with my kids ever.

The Gate Attendant will tell you to ask people sitting around you to switch seats.

Forgive me, but $6.00 is pretty cheap insurance you will sit together, and I have already paid it.

Do not expect me to trade my window seat in the 10th row for a middle seat in the last row because you expected me to move.

 

[Missytara]

Well, it seemed like there were a LOT of "unassigned" seats to chose from, so I thought I would take my chances. Can I call and change that now to make sure she is with one of us?

You can go on at any time and choose seats; as long as they are available.

 

[francis6306]

You can go on at any time and choose seats; as long as they are available.

Thank you for your answer. Like I said before, I haven't ever flown with kids before and it just didn't seem like a big deal back when I was single, but then I started thinking about it and regretted it- which is why I asked the questions.

 

[Missytara]

Thank you for your answer. Like I said before, I haven't ever flown with kids before and it just didn't seem like a big deal back when I was single, but then I started thinking about it and regretted it- which is why I asked the questions.

I have to say, even as a single flier, as someone who has claustrophobia, I feel much better sitting on the window seat. The seat fee insures I will have that comfort zone when I fly, even if it is only two hours door to door.

 

[maxiesmom]

Are you referring to "gate checking" or actual checking? They will gate check for free if the overheads are full, and that means you put a valet tag on it, they put it on the plane directly from the jetway, and you pick it up at the jetway when you get to the other end. They would need to have an actual gate checking computer and printer at the gate to print bag tags there. If the bag isn't bag-tagged with a bar code and destination symbol, it won't go onto the carts destined for the luggage carousel (or for DME luggage grabbers) it will just go back to the people coming directly off the aircraft. The yellow tag wouldn't work other than being a nice decoration.

No, they offered to actually check bags, as in we would have to go to the luggage carousel to get them. They made that very very clear! As we usually have extra yellow tags, from now on I'm taking one with me to the airport, just in case.

 

[francis6306]

I have to say, even as a single flier, as someone who has claustrophobia, I feel much better sitting on the window seat. The seat fee insures I will have that comfort zone when I fly, even if it is only two hours door to door.

Not me. I have flown to Europe and cross country several times and I was just happy to be on the plane. I'm not at all picky and generally have no problems on flights with where I have been seated.

 

[vacationclub]

No, they offered to actually check bags, as in we would have to go to the luggage carousel to get them. They made that very very clear! As we usually have extra yellow tags, from now on I'm taking one with me to the airport, just in case.

I wonder why they would do this since it completely undermines their revenue stream from checked luggage.

 

[maxiesmom]

I wonder why they would do this since it completely undermines their revenue stream from checked luggage.

I think because we were already at the gate, they weren't really losing any money. Rather they were trying to keep the carry-on bag space fights to a minimum. Maybe it is less hassle for them than gate checking them?

 

[vacationclub]

I think because we were already at the gate, they weren't really losing any money. Rather they were trying to keep the carry-on bag space fights to a minimum. Maybe it is less hassle for them than gate checking them?

Their losing money in the long run because they are broadcasting to everyone that you can get away with bringing a bag that's too big and getting it checked as actual checked luggage.....for free....with no penalty. People seeing this may simply forgo paying money next time and just walk to the gate and wait for the "free" bag check.

Gate checking isn't uncommon, in fact on smaller planes nearly every single passenger MUST do this since the overheads are so small. But they simply have you put a colored tag on it and leave it at the end of the jetway instead of printing tags (after looking up your records in a computer) for every single carry on bag. I can't imagine how that method would be easier than just telling you to leave it at the door.

 

[maxiesmom]

Their losing money in the long run because they are broadcasting to everyone that you can get away with bringing a bag that's too big and getting it checked as actual checked luggage.....for free....with no penalty. People seeing this may simply forgo paying money next time and just walk to the gate and wait for the "free" bag check.

Seems kind of risky to me. But yeah, I can see people trying it. I would be too chicken too. It is the only direct flight on Air Tran to Orlando out of my home airport each day, so maybe they aren't too worried about the word getting out.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

This is my first time flying Airtran and my first time ever booking everything straight through Disney. Do you guys know what I need to check in to my flight? Do I use a kiosk and the card I used to book the whole package or do I go to the desk and give them the confirmation number? Some combination of the two? Do I need to dress in drag and to the hula? I'm just kind of boggled because I've always booked my flights separately.

 

[vacationclub]

This is my first time flying Airtran and my first time ever booking everything straight through Disney. Do you guys know what I need to check in to my flight? Do I use a kiosk and the card I used to book the whole package or do I go to the desk and give them the confirmation number? Some combination of the two? Do I need to dress in drag and to the hula? I'm just kind of boggled because I've always booked my flights separately.

It's easy. Booking your flight through Disney is no different than if you fly for business and someone else booked your flight. They booked it but you still check in as if you booked it. Checking in can be done various ways....it's the same with just about all airlines including Airtran. You can check in on-line 24 hours or less. You can print your boarding pass at this time or wait until you get to the airport. As far as kiosks, that's dependent on the airport you are at. You could use one or just talk to a person. You could check in at this time as well but if you wait this long to do it you increase the chances that if the flight is overbooked that you are at risk. Check in and get that boarding pass as soon as you can.

If using a kiosk you just insert any credit card, doesn't matter which one, just so the computer knows who you are, then it pulls your reservation and asks if you want to use the same card for luggage fees (if you're checking bags). If at the desk you just just say hi and tell them who you are, they will ask for ID and method of payment for checking any luggage. Bags get tagged and you are on your way to get the best treatment the TSA can give you!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Lol can't say I've ever traveled for business or on a flight someone else has booked for me so that still would have left me boggled! But the rest of your explanation was great. Thank you for it!