Flying on Air Tran....thoughts?

[love2embellish]

My husband just started a new job so my son and I are going alone and just booked out flight instead of driving. We are leaving on June 26th. When should I get info in the mail and what does everyone think about Air Tran? I have never flown with them before....

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I have flown on Airtran and loved it. We flew from Akron Ohio to MCO this past Feb and had no issues. Then the time before that we flew Akron to Atlanta and again no issues.
The only thing to keep in mind is that if you want to sit next to your son you will have to pay for seat assignments I think it is $6 person per flight segment depending on what seats are available at the time you book. Otherwise the airline assigns seats the day of your flight and you may not get seats next to one another.

 

[love2embellish]

So when can I pay for seat assignments? At the airport?

 

[princessjane]

If you have already booked flights call Airtran and make sure you get seat assignments . It's $6 a piece or you have to take your chances at the Airport. I paid for the Seat assignment via onliine. But I would call direct. this will also be my first Airtran flight. Normally I'm a USAIR person. so it's all new to me!

 

[purplevalentine]

Just flew Airtran last weekend. Still a good cost effective airline. Had no issues at all. I flew from Baltimore to Atlanta. I fly them every now and again and am usually satisfied with my flight and experience. You do have to purchase your seat assignment if you want to definitely sit together. $6 per person, so it would be $12 for your flight down and $12 for your flight back. You can purchase your seat assigments now on the Airtran site. Just go to the site and look up your itinerary with your confirmation number. On the right hand side you will see change seats, select that and you will get the plane map to choose your seats. Once you select your seats you will see the cost indicated next to your name as well as your son's. Then you can confirm and use your credit card to purchase. It's that easy. You might want to do that so you don't run the risk of you and your son being split up during the seat selection on the departure day. Keep in mind also, like a lot of other airlines if you plan on checking your luggage there will be a fee of $15 for the 1st bag. One benefit is that you do have free XM Satellite radio so there is some sort of entertainment, bring your own head phones because AirTran no longer gives out free ones. All in all I think you will enjoy your flight with them.

Have Fun!!

KAREN

 

[kevgraub]

My husband just started a new job so my son and I are going alone and just booked out flight instead of driving. We are leaving on June 26th. When should I get info in the mail and what does everyone think about Air Tran? I have never flown with them before....

I think others have covered the seat assignment thing - I would definitely get that done right away just to be safe.

You mentioned something about getting something in the mail. Are you talking about paper tickets? I did not think that Airtran issued paper tickets. I'm not sure, but everytime I have flown, all I had was an e-ticket (which is nothing more than a confirmation number sent via e-mail). When you call to check on your seat assignments, you might ask about that if you are expecting tickets in the mail.

The only consistent complaint you will hear about Airtran is the fact that the do change their flight times fairly often, and are not always prompt about letting you know. I would make sure I checked the flight online fairly often just to make sure the times are still the same.

Other than that, Airtran is a pretty good airline. Someone mentioned the free XM radio, which is nice. They also have wireless internet available on every flight now, but there is a fee for that (I think about $10-$15 depending on the length of the flight).

 

[JerJan]

I fly AirTran almost exclusively...I wouldn't worry too much about the seat assignment. AirTran will do everything in their power to seat you and your child together...even if they have to ask someone else to trade seats with you. Believe me no one else wants to sit next to your child just as badly as you want to sit next to him!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

You don't have to pay to sit together. You can check in 24 hrs before your flight and choose your seats then. yes, there is no guarantee but finding 2 seats together shouldn't be that hard. It's not like you're looking for a family of 6 to be together.
For our group of 6 we do pay for us to be together just cuz the odds of finding seats together might be harder to get. Maybe some others who chose seats at the 24 hr mark can tell you what selection was like.

Nothing comes in the mail these days. It's all electronic ticketing.
They also charge for luggage. Sat radio is nice.

 

[Inkmahm]

I think others have covered the seat assignment thing - I would definitely get that done right away just to be safe.

You mentioned something about getting something in the mail. Are you talking about paper tickets? I did not think that Airtran issued paper tickets. I'm not sure, but everytime I have flown, all I had was an e-ticket (which is nothing more than a confirmation number sent via e-mail). When you call to check on your seat assignments, you might ask about that if you are expecting tickets in the mail.

The only consistent complaint you will hear about Airtran is the fact that the do change their flight times fairly often, and are not always prompt about letting you know. I would make sure I checked the flight online fairly often just to make sure the times are still the same.

Other than that, Airtran is a pretty good airline. Someone mentioned the free XM radio, which is nice. They also have wireless internet available on every flight now, but there is a fee for that (I think about $10-$15 depending on the length of the flight).

I COUNT on Airtran changing their flight times. I booked our October flight to Orlando when they were first released becuase there was a good price, but not for the flight that I wanted. I just waited until yesterday when the flight time changed by 18 minutes and then called. I was able to switch from our flight with a connection in Atlanta to the direct, non stop flight to Orlando at no extra charge. I knew when I booked the first flight that there would be a time change sometime before October... I was right

 

[AJKMOM]

When you book early, AirTran changes flight times a lot. Usually it isn't too inconvenient. Once, they switched from 10am to 8am and we had to spend the night in Pittsburgh near the airport.

Once they switched from 10am to 12 noon and that was better.

We have always checked in online 24 hours before the flight and gotten seats together for free. When in Orlando, I go to Guest Servies at the MK to have them check in for us, no problem.

Even though they change the flight times, they are always on time with departures and arrivals. I highly recommend AirTran. (If you know anyone there, please try to get them to lower their fares from MCO in November, $135 return is TOO much for us to handle)

 

[shoes99]

AirTran starts inaugural service out of Atlantic City, NJ in June 2009. We grabbed a $59 fare going to Orlando for June 27th leaving at 8AM.
Hope they don't have any schedule changes for their only non-stop out of ACY to MCO.

 

[chell]

Being able to upgrade to Business Class at a reasonable rate is also a huge plus!

 

[horseshowmom]

If you go through www.kayak.com (just a search engine) when you check the airfare, it will take you to the actual AirTran site, but you won't have to pay for the seat assignments.

BTW, I love AirTran. It's my favorite airline.

 

[Magical JenK]

I COUNT on Airtran changing their flight times. I booked our October flight to Orlando when they were first released becuase there was a good price, but not for the flight that I wanted. I just waited until yesterday when the flight time changed by 18 minutes and then called. I was able to switch from our flight with a connection in Atlanta to the direct, non stop flight to Orlando at no extra charge. I knew when I booked the first flight that there would be a time change sometime before October... I was right

In February I booked my first flight w/Airtran for October...I just checked on something today & realized my flights have changed. I never received any notification from them about it either? I understand things change, but my flights changed by many hours (both to & from MCO)...wondering if I should expect them to change again? It works out well for me now as I can attend the MNSSHP on arrival night where before I couldn't, but don't want to buy the MNSSHP tix unless I know there is a good chance the flight time is set now??? Is that possible??

 

[AJKMOM]

In February I booked my first flight w/Airtran for October...I just checked on something today & realized my flights have changed. I never received any notification from them about it either? I understand things change, but my flights changed by many hours (both to & from MCO)...wondering if I should expect them to change again? It works out well for me now as I can attend the MNSSHP on arrival night where before I couldn't, but don't want to buy the MNSSHP tix unless I know there is a good chance the flight time is set now??? Is that possible??

AirTran probably thinks they aren't done changing the schedule. I noticed once that they changed a flight twice and did not email me until it was close enough to the travel date that the time didn't change again. I wouldn't buy those MNSSHP tickets just yet. Sorry.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

AirTran probably thinks they aren't done changing the schedule. I noticed once that they changed a flight twice and did not email me until it was close enough to the travel date that the time didn't change again. I wouldn't buy those MNSSHP tickets just yet. Sorry.

I agree. I guess about 3 weeks prior things should settle. They probably make many changes and don't want to notify passengers until things are final.

 

[Magical JenK]

I agree. I guess about 3 weeks prior things should settle. They probably make many changes and don't want to notify passengers until things are final.

Sadly, it says right on their site that if there are any changes, they will notify you as early as possible....hmmm....

Thanks everyone! I figured I should hold off on buying the MNSSHP tix...thanks for confirming.

 

[chell]

In February I booked my first flight w/Airtran for October...I just checked on something today & realized my flights have changed. I never received any notification from them about it either? I understand things change, but my flights changed by many hours (both to & from MCO)...wondering if I should expect them to change again? It works out well for me now as I can attend the MNSSHP on arrival night where before I couldn't, but don't want to buy the MNSSHP tix unless I know there is a good chance the flight time is set now??? Is that possible??

They love to change the times. You can actually call them and select another flight at no charge if you want to fly in even earlier. Every time they change a flight you can change it to a more convenient time for you at no charge. So you can buy those tickets.