Booking Airtran on Southwest.com?

[chimilady]

I decided to try and see what the current prices are on Southwest. I see now that they are listing Airtran and when I click on an Airtran flight, it says "2 free bags" now is that because I am booking via Southwest, or has Airtran changed their policies? Will I still get Rapid Rewards since I am booking on Southwest.com? Has anyone been through this yet? I love Southwest but want to be sure I'm doing the right thing.

 

[Donnainnj]

I decided to try and see what the current prices are on Southwest. I see now that they are listing Airtran and when I click on an Airtran flight, it says "2 free bags" now is that because I am booking via Southwest, or has Airtran changed their policies? Will I still get Rapid Rewards since I am booking on Southwest.com? Has anyone been through this yet? I love Southwest but want to be sure I'm doing the right thing.

I will be watching for an answer to this, I was also wondering if you could use the Rapid rewards points to book these airtran flights.
Donna
(also where has the Reply button gone? only option I saw was quote)
after I posted it was there, weird

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

It because you are booking on SWA. IF you were to book flights on Airtran site you still pay the baggae fee but on SWA you don't

The web site says you will get RR points for Airtran flights. and you can use RR to book Airtran flights but only on SWA site

 

[FINFAN]

lately, I have been going with SW simply because of the no penalty policy for changing/cancelling. AirTran charges $75, I believe.

 

[Marionnette]

I decided to try and see what the current prices are on Southwest. I see now that they are listing Airtran and when I click on an Airtran flight, it says "2 free bags" now is that because I am booking via Southwest, or has Airtran changed their policies? Will I still get Rapid Rewards since I am booking on Southwest.com? Has anyone been through this yet? I love Southwest but want to be sure I'm doing the right thing.

Oooh! Oooh! I can answer this because I just booked an "AirTran" flight on SWA this morning and hopped over to AirTran's website to see if there's a difference.

Here's what I learned:

1. You can earn SWA RR points if you book it on the SWA website but you earn A+ Rewards if you book on the AirTran website.
2. You get 2 free checked bags if you book on SWA but not if you book on AirTran.
3. Regardless of where you book, you will be assigned seats by AirTran, which you can change when you check in if you like. SWA is still doing EBC and the cattle call line ups for their boarding.
4. If you have RR points or LUV vouchers, they can be applied to the cost of the flight if you book thru the SWA website.

I'm just unsure as to what happens if you have to cancel or if you want to change to a cheaper airfare. SWA issues credits with no change fee. AirTran issues credits but will charge a change fee.

 

[chimilady]

I'm just unsure as to what happens if you have to cancel or if you want to change to a cheaper airfare. SWA issues credits with no change fee. AirTran issues credits but will charge a change fee.

Yes, this is one of my main concerns. I have two disney trips planned for two different weeks because my husband's stupid boss won't let us know which week he was approved for yet. and I want to jump on the airfare since it's lower than it has been this past month. I may have to change flights and don't want to pay a penalty.

 

[chimilady]

I'm just unsure as to what happens if you have to cancel or if you want to change to a cheaper airfare. SWA issues credits with no change fee. AirTran issues credits but will charge a change fee.

Ok, I realize I'm double posting but I just called SWA. All SWA policies apply if booking on Southwest.com. Which means that provided I re-book on SWA than there are no cancellation or rebooking fees. Which was exactly what I was hoping for.

 

[jd4nati]

Oh how I wish I had logged on to the DIS earlier today. I just booked a flight on AirTran and now I'm kicking myself because I could have saved on baggage fees. At least I know better going forward.

 

[ICF]

Is this for only certain airports? When I go to southwest.com, i dont see any flights to orlando from Indy except the same couple of SW flights I've seen for the last few months.

 

[chimilady]

Is this for only certain airports? When I go to southwest.com, i dont see any flights to orlando from Indy except the same couple of SW flights I've seen for the last few months.

I have no idea if Air Tran flies out of Indy. I know both fly out of PHL which is why both are showing up. I am guessing if on SWA is showing up, than only SWA flies out of Indy.

 

[ICF]

I have no idea if Air Tran flies out of Indy. I know both fly out of PHL which is why both are showing up. I am guessing if on SWA is showing up, than only SWA flies out of Indy.

They actually both fly out of here and Air Tran had about 7 flights out on 6/1 where as SW only has a couple....I'd love to be able to get the benefits of flying SW with the better flight times on AirTran....but I'm not seeing those flights.

 

[mousestruck]

Oooh! Oooh! I can answer this because I just booked an "AirTran" flight on SWA this morning and hopped over to AirTran's website to see if there's a difference.

Here's what I learned:

1. You can earn SWA RR points if you book it on the SWA website but you earn A+ Rewards if you book on the AirTran website.
2. You get 2 free checked bags if you book on SWA but not if you book on AirTran.
3. Regardless of where you book, you will be assigned seats by AirTran, which you can change when you check in if you like. SWA is still doing EBC and the cattle call line ups for their boarding.
4. If you have RR points or LUV vouchers, they can be applied to the cost of the flight if you book thru the SWA website.

I'm just unsure as to what happens if you have to cancel or if you want to change to a cheaper airfare. SWA issues credits with no change fee. AirTran issues credits but will charge a change fee.

Thank you for the information! One question... your post indicates that AirTran will assign seats regardless of where you book. Does that mean those who book through AirTran can no longer pay the extra $6 for an assigned seat? I'm planning to book through SWA to save on those dreaded baggage fees, but I'm concerned we'll have a problem sitting together if everyone who booked through AirTran can pick their seats. I think we'll take the chance anyway to save $100 each way. That's a lot of money!

 

[Marionnette]

Thank you for the information! One question... your post indicates that AirTran will assign seats regardless of where you book. Does that mean those who book through AirTran can no longer pay the extra $6 for an assigned seat? I'm planning to book through SWA to save on those dreaded baggage fees, but I'm concerned we'll have a problem sitting together if everyone who booked through AirTran can pick their seats. I think we'll take the chance anyway to save $100 each way. That's a lot of money!

From what I could tell, you could still pay to choose your seats if you booked on the AirTran website.

 

[JerseyTink]

Has anyone tried booking a fight on Airtran through Southwest then using the confirmation code to buy seats off the Airtran site?

 

[uromac]

Oh how I wish I had logged on to the DIS earlier today. I just booked a flight on AirTran and now I'm kicking myself because I could have saved on baggage fees. At least I know better going forward.

Same here re: booking our flights today!! Although I'm still a little confused - every time I go to Southwest and I get a pop up window asking if I want to click and go to the Airtran site (specifically the flights from Philly to MCO). Do you mean to say that if I pick to continue and accept going to through to the Airtran.com site I can get free bags? I'm still afraid that I will be charged a per bag fee and penalized for flight changes. Am I correct on these points?

Thanks !!!

 

[ibob52]

Most Domestic Airlines have a 24 hour Rule

in which you are able to cancel airfare puchased (within 24 hours)

and have no penalty or fee charged = full refund.

 

[Straitlover]

Has anyone tried booking a fight on Airtran through Southwest then using the confirmation code to buy seats off the Airtran site?

Won't work. You have a SW confirmation code, not an AirTran. They just assign you a seat. You can change it at the airport when you check in if there are any empty seats.

 

[ultimate_ed]

Interesting thread. Now what about this twist :

If you do DCL ground transportation back to the airport, you can do on board check in for Airtran, but not southwest.

If you book an Airtran flight via Southwest, do you lose access to the online checkin and bag service?