General Airtran question, and Branson-Orlando ?? as well

[AllesonWonderland]

I've only flown Southwest, and that's been over Spring Break so both times I got our tickets the day they released flights. Now we have an unexpected trip in January and I'm hustling to get everything planned. I was online the day SW released the January dates, but the fares seemed REALLY high to me so I didn't buy.

Now I'm looking at other options and so far the lowest is flying Airtran out of a different airport than we normally use. But, having never flown with them or priced fares for Airtran or that airport I'm wondering if I should hold back yet? Is there a certain time before your trip (like 3 months out, x number of weeks, etc.) that they really lower rates? I notice the sale that ended yesterday was only good on travel through November. Or, are they more like Allegiant where your best prices are farther away and they rise as your dates get closer? FYI I'm looking at Jan 7ish-Jan14ish.

Has anyone flown the Branson-Orlando route that can tell me what they paid and whether they thought it was a good price or not?

I know there are a lot of variables in my question. And with the SW/AT merger what happened in the past might not be what happens now. Plus, what I think is high may not be high for others--maybe I've been spoiled with the rates I've gotten from Kansas City in the past. (Though I remember being really happy each time, when others were wishing for $39 legs like they had gotten before. )

Thanks in advance for any insight!!

 

[BensDaddy]

I live just up the road from you in Bella Vista and rather than fly out of XNA, we flew to Orlando on AirTran from Branson a few weeks ago. The unfortunate reality is that XNA is among the most expensive airports in the country due to the extensive business travel market generated by the presence of Walmart, Tyson, and JB Hunt in the area.

I think we paid $288 per person round trip and thought it was an excellent price. Parking in Branson is expensive, but if you can save $100 over the XNA fares you will come out ahead. Branson is a brand new, nice facility. Very low stress airport, no lines at TSA, etc. I am not a huge Southwest fan -- seems like they have low fares when they start a route, but later on they are competitive with the major network carriers and just hope their customers don't notice.

For now, however, AirTran is owned by SWA and the Branson fares are significantly lower that we're doing a lot of travel from Branson.

I'm not looking forward to our trip on American (XNA-DFW-MCO) in September. Have a good trip!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Fare prices are very unpredictable. Its hard to say when an airline will have lower prices. I usually book with SWA when I feel the price is good. Then I watch and if the price goes down I rebook an get a refund in the form of a travel vouchure. I do look at prices at near by airports especially if we can save $200 or more.
I do look at Bing travel and they will tell you what today's prices are and they also tell you if it is time to buy or to hold off. They usually list how confident they are that a price will change such as 80% confident that prices will go down. Or buy now because the prices have been trending upward.

http://www.bing.com/travel/flights?FORM=TRABFL

 

[AllesonWonderland]

Howdy neighbor! We've never flown out of XNA, though I almost considered it when I saw Allegiant fares to Sanford that were $607 roundtrip for our family of 4. But it's in January, for a wedding, and I had flashbacks of the airport closing down last year due to weather and got nervous. (It closed a day after I sent my inlaws home. Whew! )

We always drive to KC. One year our tickets were under $500 r/t total for the 4 of us and a few years later it was under $600 total. (See why I'm thinking I might be spoiled? LOL)

Thanks for all the Branson tips, I haven't even looked at parking yet.

 

[lilkitty819]

Hi
I have found that lately SW prices have really gone up, I fly out of BWI which has a SW hub in it but my trip coming up I am flying Air Trans because SW wanted over $1000. more for our tickets

 

[BensDaddy]

Howdy neighbor! We've never flown out of XNA, though I almost considered it when I saw Allegiant fares to Sanford that were $607 roundtrip for our family of 4.

We took Allegiant twice last year. Once in June for our son's first visit to Disney World, the second in October to Disneyland in CA (because he liked trip #1 so much and the airfares couldn't be beat).

We liked Allegiant but there are a few things to remember. #1, if you take them to Orlando they fly to the Sanford Airport -- not Orlando international. So Disney transportation is not available. Between you and me I actually liked Sanford a whole lot better. It's smaller, less crowded, easy in and easy out.

#2. There are a LOT of extra fees on Allegiant so book slowly and carefully to keep the price down.

#3. Since they only have 1 flight every few days, if that flight cancels you may be out of luck (they don't interline) So if its something you have to be there for (like a wedding) I wouldn't choose them. But for a quick weekend getaway, it's a great deal and a lot of fun!!

 

[TaraPA]

Airtran's rates have been all over the place in the last year. I fly to Orlando 2-3 times a year & watch them like a hawk. I have noticed though, that in the last 6 months, the flights I'm watching have never gone down only up. Previously, they used to go up, then down, then up, then down, etc.

You CAN get a credit if you book with AT & the fare does go down. They have great customer service & it just takes a quick phone call. You don't get the money back, but you can use it towards any future AT flights or for baggage or seat fees for the upcoming one. So at least that's some consolation when booking. Although with the SW merger, no one knows the fate of AT, so your AT credit might be worth absolutely nothing by the time you want to use it.

I used to see AT rates of $59-$89 one way to MCO all the time, not so much anymore. I recently paid $114 one way for a November trip, after watching it daily & only seeing it go up up up. It's now at $189 one way. I had enough A+ points to fly home for free, that rate though started at $79, went to $84 within a week & is now at $134.

I'd suggest if you decide to go with AT, book now since the trend has been for rates to go up, and not come back down. Watch it though, and request a credit if you see it drop.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

Airtran's rates have been all over the place in the last year. I fly to Orlando 2-3 times a year & watch them like a hawk. I have noticed though, that in the last 6 months, the flights I'm watching have never gone down only up. Previously, they used to go up, then down, then up, then down, etc.

You CAN get a credit if you book with AT & the fare does go down. They have great customer service & it just takes a quick phone call. You don't get the money back, but you can use it towards any future AT flights or for baggage or seat fees for the upcoming one. So at least that's some consolation when booking. Although with the SW merger, no one knows the fate of AT, so your AT credit might be worth absolutely nothing by the time you want to use it.

I used to see AT rates of $59-$89 one way to MCO all the time, not so much anymore. I recently paid $114 one way for a November trip, after watching it daily & only seeing it go up up up. It's now at $189 one way. I had enough A+ points to fly home for free, that rate though started at $79, went to $84 within a week & is now at $134.

I'd suggest if you decide to go with AT, book now since the trend has been for rates to go up, and not come back down. Watch it though, and request a credit if you see it drop.

Thanks for the insight. Legs were $94 and $90 when I first checked, and now they've crept up to $108 and $94. I need to just buy something and then stop checking, because with as many airports I'm watching something's bound to go down later on and make me sad that I didn't wait.

 

[BensDaddy]

Orbitz has a price guarantee. If you buy and then another person gets a lower price (also on Orbitz) they'll send you a check for the difference without any action needing to be taken on your part.

 

[bop28]

Airtran out of Branson is Great! Keep checking their rates. They can vary weekly. We're leaving next Sat. nonstop to Orlando- for $104 one way and $90 the other. It seems their nonstops are on Sat. if that matters to you. The airport is small and easy with no lines. Parking is $10 per day I think though.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

Airtran out of Branson is Great! Keep checking their rates. They can vary weekly. We're leaving next Sat. nonstop to Orlando- for $104 one way and $90 the other. It seems their nonstops are on Sat. if that matters to you. The airport is small and easy with no lines. Parking is $10 per day I think though.

Rates for my dates are down tonight-$90 each way! Southwest is down too...hopefully it will continue!

 

[BensDaddy]

I'll be shocked if you can get it much cheaper than that...

 

[DISFANSTHREE]

WE will be looking at air tran out of Branson going to Orlando for next may. I live 20 miles north of Branson so would like to fly out of there. The one flight a day scares me, and only flyes on certain days I do not like. Most of the time we fly SW out of Kansas City, never had a problem. Only problem I think SW has Raised there rates, not a bargin anymore. We also fly alligant out of Spfd, but you are stuck with the one flight a couple times a week..

 

[AllesonWonderland]

Most of the time we fly SW out of Kansas City, never had a problem. Only problem I think SW has Raised there rates, not a bargin anymore.

You're right about the Southwest rates. Our last 2 trips we had great rates over peak times--1 year the 4 of us flew for $468 total roundtrip, last year it was $561. I probably just need to get those numbers out of my head and find a new price I think is reasonable and jump on it.

We've never had a problem with SW either, and I actually have some giftcards we got for Christmas to use too. They are good forever though, so I guess if I find better rates on another airline we can save them for the next trip. Wonder if once the merger is complete if they will work for Airtran as well?

 

[BensDaddy]

AirTran will not exist after the merger (by name) so the better question is whether SWA will continue service to Branson or not...

 

[JoanneDisFan]

I booked for this October (less than 3 weeks till we go) and got all 4 seats with paying the seat for for just over $1000. I thought it was a great deal compared to the other choices. Now if we can get past the car seat issues it will be great.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

I booked for this October (less than 3 weeks till we go) and got all 4 seats with paying the seat for for just over $1000. I thought it was a great deal compared to the other choices. Now if we can get past the car seat issues it will be great.

Your trip is almost here! I did see that Airtran started another sale today with some $77 fares from Branson...perhaps you want to take a look and see if your rates went down.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

Our flight down to MCO dropped from $90 to $65, so now I have a credit to use towards seat assignments and checked bags. Woohoo!!