ATA Questions

[SusanSeng]

We just booked round trip airfare from Chicago to Orlando in January for $115.00 per person!! We booked with ATA. We have never flown ATA. We saw the price and booked. How are they???

Also, we know they are having financial troubles. Does anyone have a update on this and if this is going to be a problem for us?

Thanks!!

 

[inkkognito]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but they are bankrupt and in the midst of leaving Midway. RIght now, it looks like either Air Tran or Southwest may take over some of their routes. We were mega-frequent flyers on them (at least twice a month from Midway to Orlando), but at the moment we don't have anything booked beyond Jan. 4. Do a Google news search for more information. We spoke with the crew on our Friday flight and they said there is nothing firm yet, but it looks VERY bad for their jobs.
Barb

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We just booked round trip airfare from Chicago to Orlando in January for $115.00 per person!! We booked with ATA. We have never flown ATA. We saw the price and booked. How are they???

Also, we know they are having financial troubles. Does anyone have a update on this and if this is going to be a problem for us?

ATA is operating under Chapter 11, which provides court protection while ATA restructures itself. ATA wants to emerge as a smaller, but financially viable airline centered in Indianapolis.

ATA's plan was to raise money and cut expenses by selling their Chicago Midway Airport operations, including 14 gates, to AirTran Airways. But the question now is whether ATA or the Chicago Department of Aiports controls those gates.

Southwest Airlines is also interested in ATA's Midway business. According to AP yesterday, "the bidding war for bankrupt ATA Airlines' assets heated up on Friday when Southwest Airlines offered at least $100 million in cash and loans for gates at Chicago's Midway Airport and an alliance with ATA, its main rival there."

My guess is that your January tickets from MDW to MCO will be honored. The question is whether they'll be honored on ATA nonstops, on ATA connections through Indy, on Southwest (as part of a transaction between ATA and Southwest), or on AirTran (as part of a transaction between ATA and AirTran). I wound not count on your original flight times, but I think you'll make it to and from Orlando.