For those familiar with Airtran....

[maciec]

yes, I know that the seats are free if you use Kayak (and I do go through Kayak), but to make it less confusing for others, I use the word "pay ahead".

 

[cbrfan]

yes, I know that the seats are free if you use Kayak (and I do go through Kayak), but to make it less confusing for others, I use the word "pay ahead".

Sorry. The cheapskate in me hates to see anyone pay for something that they can get for free.

 

[Girlie1]

I typically fly JetBlue but when I checked the flights for my family's April vacation JetBlue's flights cost more than double Airtran. I went with Airtran because I could not justify spending $3,700 on airfare that I could get for $1,700 with Airtran (even though I love JetBlue). I bought the ticketswith Airtran fully knowing that they would more than likely change the flights. I checked today and lo and behold Airtran changed my flight going down and made it 20 minutes later and they changed my flight back home to 2 hours earlier. Not happy about the later because it means we will have to give up our breakfast ADR on the day we leave but I still would have gone with Airtran for the price.

 

[maciec]

I typically fly JetBlue but when I checked the flights for my family's April vacation JetBlue's flights cost more than double Airtran. I went with Airtran because I could not justify spending $3,700 on airfare that I could get for $1,700 with Airtran (even though I love JetBlue). I bought the ticketswith Airtran fully knowing that they would more than likely change the flights. I checked today and lo and behold Airtran changed my flight going down and made it 20 minutes later and they changed my flight back home to 2 hours earlier. Not happy about the later because it means we will have to give up our breakfast ADR on the day we leave but I still would have gone with Airtran for the price.

Call Airtran and let them know that your return flight time does not work with you and have them change you to a later flight. They will do it for free.

 

[Girlie1]

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately there is only one direct flight to the airport I fly into and with two small children, I did not want to have to make a connection so we will stick with the flight anyway.

 

[diskids2]

Just repeating information that's already been stated - if you book through Kayak, you don't have to pay for the seat fees. It's not an agency. You will still book through AirTran's site. You just take the link there from Kayak to avoid paying the fee.

Hi.

I just booked airfare from HPN (White Plains, NY) to MCO for July. I went onto the Kayak site first and got a quote of $195 per person for non stop flights. This, of course, included getting the seats.

I then, immediately checked on the Airtran site directly and got seats for $182 per person which included the seat booking fees.

The reason was that I was able to get HPN to MCO for $74 when Kayak was showing ...$100 for that leg.

I guess all I am saying is check both before you book.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Hi.

I just booked airfare from HPN (White Plains, NY) to MCO for July. I went onto the Kayak site first and got a quote of $195 per person for non stop flights. This, of course, included getting the seats.

I then, immediately checked on the Airtran site directly and got seats for $182 per person which included the seat booking fees.

The reason was that I was able to get HPN to MCO for $74 when Kayak was showing ...$100 for that leg.

I guess all I am saying is check both before you book.

When you book with Kayak - it links you back to Airtran and any discrepancies in price is fixed. You don't actually book through Kayak and you will get the current Airtran price.

If you just booked - you have 4 hours to cancel with Airtran so you could go ahead and rebook it going through Kayak and get the seats for free.

 

[diskids2]

When you book with Kayak - it links you back to Airtran and any discrepancies in price is fixed. You don't actually book through Kayak and you will get the current Airtran price.

If you just booked - you have 4 hours to cancel with Airtran so you could go ahead and rebook it going through Kayak and get the seats for free.

When I select the flight on Kayak it routes me to the AirTran sight and gives me the $100 price. I went as far as I could without charging the Kayak flight and there is no place where it updated to the $74 flight that I got when I went directly to AirTran.

I don't understand it either because I have booked with Kayak before, but for some reason this morning...this is what happened.

 

[DVCBELLE]

That is odd...

what i have found it that if you try to book 4 seats and 3 of them are 74 and one is 100 - then you get them all at the $100 price. I wonder if when Kayak checked there were only 3 seats at the $74 price.

But that does bring up a good tip for pricing a trip - I always price out one ticket before I price out for all of them and if there is a price discrepancy then I know it is b/c there were not enough seats at the lower price. So then I book as many as I can at the lower price.

 

[tam626]

We flew out of BWI on Airtran the past 2 years. Our flight time was only changed by a couple of minutes, literally 2 or 3 so I don't worry too much about that. Last year I booked as soon as the flights came out that we needed & got them for $59 one way, which I thought was pretty good. Of course you pay then to pick your seat.

 

[disneymayz]

Hi everyone! Thanks for the help! I just booked bwi to mco for 5 people for a total of $792.00....I booked through Kayak and it let me pick out my seats and did not increase the charge.... I do have one question since this is my first time with Airtran...Southwest usually gives seperate confirmations that I can print from home and then scan at check in....I did not receive that from Airtran, just one email confirmation...is that all I need? Thanks!

Do not forget to add the $15/1st bag ($25 for the 2nd) for every passenger each way. That's $150 that you have not paid for yet if everyone checks a bag. If you want to use the internet on the flight it will cost about $5. Lucky about the picking seats it usually cost $5/person to pick seats each way. Since you fly out of BWI next time look into SW out of Dullas they have been around $59 each way the past few months.

 

[3kidz4dis]

Do not forget to add the $15/1st bag ($25 for the 2nd) for every passenger each way. That's $150 that you have not paid for yet if everyone checks a bag. If you want to use the internet on the flight it will cost about $5. Lucky about the picking seats it usually cost $5/person to pick seats each way. Since you fly out of BWI next time look into SW out of Dullas they have been around $59 each way the past few months.

We are going to have the kids carry their luggage on....we have thought about Dullas but it adds another hour onto an hour and 1/2 trip to the the airport which makes the airport a little too far...also the other plus of Airtran was the check in at the resort especially since we have a late flight, we can say bye to our bags and go on with our day...

 

[diskids2]

That is odd...

what i have found it that if you try to book 4 seats and 3 of them are 74 and one is 100 - then you get them all at the $100 price. I wonder if when Kayak checked there were only 3 seats at the $74 price.

But that does bring up a good tip for pricing a trip - I always price out one ticket before I price out for all of them and if there is a price discrepancy then I know it is b/c there were not enough seats at the lower price. So then I book as many as I can at the lower price.

Great Tip!

 

[3kidz4dis]

However, she did already have her seating assignments.

The problem with checking in at the 24 hour mark, with Airtran, is that essentially you have checked-in. When you go to the RAC desk, you will have been bumped out of the system, and they cannot check your baggage to take to the airport.

A few people reported on the boards, not long after my trip that they did go online, checked in at the 24 hour mark, and when they got to the RAC desk, they were essenstially locked out.

If she already has her seat assignments and she wants to use RAC, then checking in 24 hours ahead is not a good idea.

How does RAC handle the $15.00 baggage fee? I would assume that you can check in and pay the fee to them? Also, if you have a later flight, will they take the luggage early in the am? Thanks!

 

[disneymayz]

How does RAC handle the $15.00 baggage fee? I would assume that you can check in and pay the fee to them? Also, if you have a later flight, will they take the luggage early in the am? Thanks!

When I called and talk to them they told me that I had to call and do it over the phone.
Dullas is about 2-2.5 hrs for me also. We do the stay and fly where we get a room the night before and we get to keep our car at the hotel while we are gone. Cost - parking = around $40 for a night at the Sheraton.

 

[Anal Annie]

FWI parking is cheaper & more efficient at BWI than Dulles. I hate parking at Dulles. It's such a schlep. We always use the Fast Park places at BWI. You can get an internet coupon for $6.40 / day at the Blue Lot or $7.40 / day at the Red Lot - both of which are all of a 10 min. shuttle away from the Air Tran skycaps! They're awesome. When you pull in they tell you what row to go to to park & they send the shuttle behind to pick you up. Very efficient. When you return you go to baggage claim & pick up your luggage & go outside & wait until you see the van for your appropriate lot.

Here's a link in case you're unfamiliar with them:

https://www.airportfastpark.com/Baltimore-Washington-Airport-Parking.aspx

https://www.airportfastpark.com/BaltimoreMap.aspx

I am going to have to keep a watch on their website though because the current coupon is good thru 3/31 & we fly home on 4/1. I need to get one good for the first!

 

[3kidz4dis]

FWI parking is cheaper & more efficient at BWI than Dulles. I hate parking at Dulles. It's such a schlep. We always use the Fast Park places at BWI. You can get an internet coupon for $6.40 / day at the Blue Lot or $7.40 / day at the Red Lot - both of which are all of a 10 min. shuttle away from the Air Tran skycaps! They're awesome. When you pull in they tell you what row to go to to park & they send the shuttle behind to pick you up. Very efficient. When you return you go to baggage claim & pick up your luggage & go outside & wait until you see the van for your appropriate lot.

Here's a link in case you're unfamiliar with them:

https://www.airportfastpark.com/Baltimore-Washington-Airport-Parking.aspx

https://www.airportfastpark.com/BaltimoreMap.aspx

I am going to have to keep a watch on their website though because the current coupon is good thru 3/31 & we fly home on 4/1. I need to get one good for the first!

Thanks for the info! I am noticing that since the last time we have flown out of BWI, the park and fly options are getting strict and limit leaving our car only for 7 days....leaving our car at one of these locations eliminates leaving it at the hotel since it is getting more difficult