ATA Merges with Southwest

[inkkognito]

Granted, it was unofficial and only for one day, but Friday at Midway was a total zoo! Up until now, we haven't noticed a change in the service level at ATA. But yesterday their computer system was down, so the baggage checkin area resembled the trading floor at the New York stock exchange, but with less organuization. At the gates, people were lined up down the whole terminal because they announced it was open seating, since they couldn't print any boarding passes. I pitied the passengers getting off planes, as they had to maneuver around the people all sitting on the floor in lines, who were all pissed and refusing to move. Our flight was delayed over 3 hours, and with a gate change on top of it (to A4B, literally the worst gate in all of Midway). I was never so thankful of my Elite status, which allows me to preboard, as I was last night. And of course it took forever for seating to get worked out...we were short seats, apparently because four people with ticketless babies had taken them, but with the computers down the flight attendants couldn't prove which ones they were. I felt sorry for them...with tempers short, people were swearing at them and treating them very rudely. This was my first experience with cattle call boarding. I sure hope Southwest is more efficient!
Barb

 

[CRCrazy]

Southwest sure is more organized!

That's why they have open seating - it's actually faster and more efficient than assigned seating, when done correctly!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Barb, would you say that if ATA's computers had been working, it may have been business as usual? Please say yes. We're leaving next week.

Tink

 

[NotUrsula]

How did the passengers get past security with no boarding passes? All of those people had to have had some hard-copy proof that they were supposed to be on that flight, or TSA would not have allowed them onto the concourse.

 

[disneymom3]

Well, the babies who are legal to fly in a lap wouldn't need the boarding pass, but the ones who really had seats should have had a ticket anyway wouldn't they? Why didn't they just make the people with babies show their tickets? As NotUrsula says, the rest of the passengers would have to have something to get through security.

 

[inkkognito]

People got rinky dink hand written papers to get through security (although I supposed they're no worse than a pass printed out from online). Thank God we had checked in online...we had a box to check, but when I saw the zoo in baggage claim, I brought it through security (just barely fit through the scanner) and gate checked it. Personally I thought the people with babies should have been made to show proof, but the flight attendants seemed really nervous about even asking on the intercom...we were near the jump seats and overheard them. I think it's because the passengers were so cranky. One guy responded when they asked for volunteers to give up their seats, but he didn't like something they said and then started yelling, "F--- you!" at them for no reason!
But Tink, don't worry...we fly them almost every week, and barring this computer mess, they have been fine. I felt bad for them because I overheard many people saying "I see why they're bankrupt," when that was actually a pretty rare situation.
Barb

 

[CarolA]

Well if the guy cursed at the FA, he is lucky he didn't get to meet the security guards. I have seen people escorted from planes for abusive behavior.... that is one way to free up seats LOL

They really should have checked those infants back when they were writing the boarding passes. On most airlines they note on your printed pass.... Infant in arms...

Of couse where do these poeple get off just assuming there is a seat for thier infant!

 

[inkkognito]

We thought Mr. Swear was going to get taken off...they held the plane for something like 15 minutes, and we thought they might be getting Security. I never figured out exactly what was going on, but he didn't get pulled. Personally, I think people like him should be...they'd learn to act correctly on an airplane next time.
There was another nut who sprinted like a track runner when they announced the pre-board (he was NOT a pre-boarder). We were on the pre-board due to being Elite, and he nearly bowled me and the family in front of me over (gate 4B is set up weird, so there is a long walk from where you wait to the boarding area). Apparently the rest of his large party tried to run, too, but the gate agent stopped them. They were way behind people, and they just shoved by. But amazingly, they let the idiot pre-board!! The woman in front of me had some choice words! I wonder, do these people normally have better manners, or are they like this all the time?!
Barb

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I realize that the title of this thread, "ATA Merges with Southwest," is in jest, and is based on Southwest's unassigned seating policy.

But, in reality, ATA's Midway Airport operations are on the verge of "merging" with another carrier. There's an excellent new article, "ATA looks to return to its roots," at http://www.indystar.com/articles/3/196147-1623-223.html

Here's a brief quotation from the article: <blockquote>Viets called 10 airlines and offered to sell planes and gates, but only one expressed interest, Orlando-based AirTran Airways.

ATA worked out a deal last week to sell its Midway rights to the Florida carrier for $89.9 million.

As part of the bankruptcy process, ATA also has put itself up for sale in an auction. Bids are due Dec. 10. Besides AirTran's offer, bidders are expected to be Southwest Airlines and America West Airlines.

Mikelsons favors the AirTran deal. It immediately would pour $17 million into ATA for the turnaround and provide another $22 million in payments through 2012.</blockquote>
Read the whole article for an overview of ATA's past, present, and (they hope) future -- including why ATA had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection October 26.