Anything i need to know about AirTran?

[TandLMommy28]

Thanks for all the responses. The last eight times I flew I was flying with a lap child and seating assignments were of no concern to me. Plus I generally flew Southwest and they didn't have seat assignments (no idea if this has changed). The seat fee ticks me off to no end, I think it's utterly absurd to not just charge the $6 in the fare . I wouldn't have noticed my flight being $6 more, but going back in and paying it later (I didnt realize it was that important when I first booked) really annoyed the crap out of me!

I've heard of some airlines charging a fee for printing a boarding pass for you or something like that. I just wanted to be prepared if I don't have time or (my luck) my printer runs out of ink that day.

I'm planning to check just one bag on the way On the way home, I plan to check two (if I find a Disney suitcase to buy! I bought one last trip and would like another). With four people, two of us can each check a bag as our first bag right? So $40 instead of $45. I know it's only $5 but number crunching is in my blood and I like to be as exact as possible in my budget.

Ugh, I really loathe flying. It's way too much work. I'd rather a 1200 mile road trip any day. But I was outvoted this time!!!

 

[declansdad]

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.

We had Delta do the same thing with one of our bags a couple of years ago. Plane was full and the overheads were full because they don't enforce the rules too strictly about the number of bags. She went back to the front of the plane and the gate agent did everything at the door.

 

[lylone]

I have flown Airtran about 15 times in about 5 years, and NEVER have they checked our carry-ons to make sure they were the right size. Never have had to gate check the either.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have flown Airtran about 15 times in about 5 years, and NEVER have they checked our carry-ons to make sure they were the right size. Never have had to gate check the either.

Maybe that is because of your home airport. Flying out of GRR, if I have a connecting flight, it is almost always a small commuter jet. Having to gate check my undersized carry-on bag is almost a given.

And the Air Tran agents are very strict! The first time it happened it made me laugh because the pre-boarding announcement was "Each passenger must hand their own ticket to the gate agent. Yes, even the children! Once you board the plane you need to quickly make your way to your seat, place your bag in the overhead bin, and step out of the aisle!" It was as if they were the drill sergeants of the airlines!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I wouldn't mind the drill sergeant thing. I hate getting on planes and running into things like "Honey....can you climb back out and get my book out of the bag?? I'm sure these people won't mind!' or "OK so Susie gets raisins and Mikey needs headphones..Johnny STOP hitting Mary, Mary stop not touching your brother otherwise I'm going to stand here and not let this plane take off!" and of course the guy that needs to let you know he's got better things to do as he loudly speaks into his cell phone "Yeah no one these days knows how to fly!!! Everyone with kids and whatnot, it's just ridiculous!!" while not realizing he's so distracted by his conversation that he's holding everyone else up.

Yes....I'd like the drill sergeant thing.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

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.

This isn't quite how gate checking works. If you check your bag at the gate because the overheads are full or the gate agents ask for volunteers to do so because the plane is full, they do print baggage tags right at the gate and attach to your bag. Then you leave your bag near the door of the plane. At your destination, you pick up your bag at baggage claim, not planeside.

You only pick up bags planeside on planes where regular carry-on bags won't fit in the overheads because they are so small.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

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.

I have flown Airtran about 15 times in about 5 years, and NEVER have they checked our carry-ons to make sure they were the right size. Never have had to gate check the either.

I did a search for AirTran and luggage on this forum, and I am glad I found you all! I was actually thinking about all of this today and wondering if I should start a thread about luggage. I am glad you are already talking about it so I don't have to. How do they take the measurements for the luggage? Do they count the wheels and pegs that make the bags stand up straight? Or do they just take the measurements of the actual bag? We usually fly Continental, so I just don't know how wierd they are about it. Also, has anyone ever used a backpack as their one personal item with AirTran? I have done that with Continental, but wasn't sure if it was ok with AT.

On a side note, we paid the fee of $6.00 for our 12 people going to be able to pick our seats. One time when Disney booked our flights they had us seated all spread out on the plane. My four year old was in the very last seat of the plane sitting with strangers. We had to shift people around in order to be close to everyone and to make sure our little one was right next to one of us. We like knowing our seats are picked.

Thanks for the help with my questions guys!