EEEKKK Southwest & Air Tran Merge!!!

[tigger2on]

What will this mean to our low cost airfares from Buffalo to Orlando?????

 

[minnie56]

Well-competition is a healthy thing and SW just swallowed a big competitor up! Remains to be seen if they operate as seperate companies or merge AT into SW. Often they 'say' they will run individually but that ends up being shortlived.

More info

http://www.lowfaresfarther.com/

 

[boundfordisney]

Not so sure if this is a good thing? I quess we will see in the future

 

[boundfordisney]

southwest is our favorite airline so I hope it turns out as a good thing!

 

[snickerboo]

I just heard this on the news. SW is my favourite airline, too. Fingers crossed that it keeps operating at good prices. I can't imagine them keeping AT since it was, I heard, operating at a loss. The news said they bought it to get AT's hub (where is AT's hub BTW?)

 

[Tower]

Provided Jetblue stays in business, I'm optimistic that SW will remain with its low fares

 

[glendalais]

While there are no current stated plans, I do imagine over the long term they'll be reducing service to Orlando. AirTran and Southwest are the two largest carriers into MCO, and they would have many too many flights here if they were to just combine their schedules.

 

[Alderbrook]

I just heard this on the news. SW is my favourite airline, too. Fingers crossed that it keeps operating at good prices. I can't imagine them keeping AT since it was, I heard, operating at a loss. The news said they bought it to get AT's hub (where is AT's hub BTW?)

Just heard it on the news too. I think AT's hub is Atlanta from what I remember.

 

[snickerboo]

That's what I thought, too, Alderbrook. I guess I can see why SW would want to get into Atlanta. We are moving to St. Louis soon and SW is one of the major carriers through there and flies cheap b/w BUF or DTW and STL. Planning to use them for all of our trips home so hoping we don't experience major price changes.

 

[coastgirl]

Ok, finally got the website to load--I guess it was oversubscribed this morning!

AirTran flies from Maine, so I keep wanting to like it. It's a good couple of hours further for us to get to SW, in Manchester NH. But every time I look at AirTran it's got those baggage fees, and a hefty change fee. If SW moves into Maine I'll be very happy! I do see now that they don't plan to continue Air Tran's bag or change fees. No assigned seating either, but now that I know how to get my "A" group boarding (use my cell phone if I'm on the road!), I don't mind.

 

[grantclaire]

hi. Was just on the transportation board and a poster stated that SW may be opening flights into March. Starting Tues 28th. I have found flights on Airtran and JetBlue to be much higher for direct flights to Orlando.

 

[Alderbrook]

I actually got an email from AT this morning announcing the merger. We won't be flying again for a long time so no worries for us. Will be interesting to see how it pans out though.

 

[CanadianPaco]

I have one flight booked with Air Trans currently. I also started looking into Spirit Air flights out of Detroit. That would be one alternative to SW if the prices go up.

 

[Belle599]

I think that this merger means that we should all take as many flights to WDW as we can before SW and AirTran become one!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Hopefully it won't affect pricing too much - we have 2 flights booked right now on Air Tran - one Thanksgiving weekend to MCO and another in December to San Juan - hopefully my December flight isn't affected!!