Flying on Airtran Plane Operated by Southwest--Baggage Fees?

[boxer]

A friend just got back from a trip on an Airtran plane--which he said was supposidly operated by Southwest. He was charged $25/bag fee, which completely suprised me since it was supposed to have been operated by Southwest?

I have the same exact booking coming up in Nov, but I *thought* the bag fees would be free since my reservation is booked through Southwest?

Any insight on this?

 

[msjprincess]

If you book through AT you pay baggage fees, if you book through SWA there are no baggage fees.

 

[boxer]

Thank you!!! Any advice to on-line check-in with Airtran (since it is assigned seats)? Do we still need to do on-line check-in, or does that not matter since seats are pre-assigned?

 

[JimboCh]

A friend just got back from a trip on an Airtran plane--which he said was supposidly operated by Southwest. He was charged $25/bag fee, which completely suprised me since it was supposed to have been operated by Southwest?

I have the same exact booking coming up in Nov, but I *thought* the bag fees would be free since my reservation is booked through Southwest?

Any insight on this?

What site did he book the flight on? Airtran.com or Southwest.com?

 

[MJBING]

Thank you!!! Any advice to on-line check-in with Airtran (since it is assigned seats)? Do we still need to do on-line check-in, or does that not matter since seats are pre-assigned?

I also want to know this answer...we booked online at southwest and our trip home to BWI in November is via Airtran.

 

[JimboCh]

I also want to know this answer...we booked online at southwest and our trip home to BWI in November is via Airtran.

We are doing the same thing for our September trip, I assume when you check in online 24 hours before your flight on the Southwest site and get your boarding pass, that will have your assigned seat # on it. If your seats are not together you will have to see the person at the gate and they can move you around to sit with the rest of your family if they can.

 

[TDC Nala]

Baggage fees depend on which one you booked through. If through Southwest, no fees.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Thank you!!! Any advice to on-line check-in with Airtran (since it is assigned seats)? Do we still need to do on-line check-in, or does that not matter since seats are pre-assigned?

Did you check Southwest's website? The policies and procedures for each airline are clearly explained:

http://www.airtran.com/faq/swa_airtran_connectivity.aspx

 

[Paigesmom2013]

I personally like to do online check-in with any flight I take. One time I was very very late to a flight (with only a carry-on) and ran to the gate. If I had not been checked-in already I think they would have given my seat to a standby passenger. Maybe not, but I like the peace of mind.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If you book through AT you pay baggage fees, if you book through SWA there are no baggage fees.

But be prepared to argue this.

Flew AirTran yesterday and was reminded why I despise them. They tried to charge me the $25 and then sighed heavily as if I was taking cash from her child when I said "I booked on SW". And that was after one of the 4 agents decided that she could leave the party planning session to deal with customers (the other 3 continued to plan their night out)

Boarded I time, but then the we waited in a hot plane in the desert for half an hour at the gate because they had issues they knew about an hour before when the plane landed but didn't start fixing until time to leave and the "ground unit was out of order"

Landed and waited 39 minutes for a gate with no announcement as to why or when.

Then they lost the luggage. (I drove back to airport to pick up when they told me the delivery time would be around midnight. For luggage that arrived at 1 pm)

Par for the course with them IMHO