First time flier/AirTran......

[ShortyNBug]

Help a first time flier out. I'm thinking of using AirTran because it's the cheapest I can find. I'm finding mixed reviews and would like to see what all of you think of it. Let me know. Thanks!

 

[dudspizza]

Help a first time flier out. I'm thinking of using AirTran because it's the cheapest I can find. I'm finding mixed reviews and would like to see what all of you think of it. Let me know. Thanks!

Airtran is a good airline. What you will find mixed reviews about is that they tend change their flight times more often than other airlines. So, you have to expect that your flight times may change in the months leading up to your flight. Now, this can happen with most other airlines, but Airtran is known to tweak their schedules more often.

As far as the inflight experience, they are great.

Duds

 

[Inkmahm]

See my thread "I love Airtran." That should tell you how I feel about flying with them.

If you haven't booked with them before, be aware that you need to pay a fee to book your seats in advance. Highly recommended if you want to sit with your family.

There is also a thread on the board now about $12 off coupons with Airtran. Book your flights as one way trips and you can one coupon there and another coupon back for each person.

 

[Missytara]

Love, love, love Airtran. Fly them out of BWI all the time. Only way to go.

 

[dawnmommy]

love love love love love AirTran! I think the mixed reviews are due to a few factors:

1. used primarily by leisure travelers who fly once or twice a year, and don't realize how often the "majors" (UAL, AA, etc) change their flights

2. commonly the only airline flying direct out of smaller markets. smaller markets might mean flights change more.

we love Airtran. they have an amazing policy of refunding or changing your tickets if they make even the slightest travel time changes. They'll also give you a credit if the airfare drops after you've purchased your tickets.

I do recommend paying for assigned seats if it is important for you to be seated next to your family. it is as low as $6 per flight.

 

[ancestry]

Air Tran is a good airline. My in-flight experience with them has always been wonderful. No problems with traveling or flying.

The only point of contention that I have with them is from my home airport (PWM) they seem to change their flight schedules quite frequently especially if you book far in advance. In fact I can honestly say that I have never booked a flight with them where they haven't changed the time - sometimes by a few minutes, other times by hours, and still yet they have cancelled a direct flight with nothing to replace it with.

Now, all airlines do change flight times around but in my personal experience, to the places that I fly, Air Tran has a much high track record of doing this than other airlines. If my travel times matter I usually choose a different airline or wait to book until I am less than 90 days out. If my travel times are flexible then I never hesitate about booking Air Tran.

My teenagers fly on Air Tran all the time. They love it and have never had a problem. But they are usually flexible with the changing flight times when they travel -- i.e. they usually need to be somewhere on a specific day not necessarily at a specific time.