Go with Air Tran from MSP?

[lauraljp]

After waiting months for some good fares out of Minneapolis for November, we are close to deciding on going with Air Tran. They have one non-stop each way. We can make these work for us. I am tired of waiting.

We would like Northwest, but the fare is 281.00 compared with the Air Tran fare of around $245.

Can you get advance seats on Air Tran? I have heard positive things about them so we may just book it.


Anyone have opinions?

Thanks.

Laura

 

[CarolMN]

This was a duplicate post. Couldn't delete completely.

 

[CarolMN]

Are you sure that Air Tran has non-stop service between MSP and MCO? If so, it must be very new. As far as I know, only NWA and Sun Country offer non-stop.

I just checked a few dates and was unable to find non-stop flights on Air Tran. All of the flights make a stop in Atlanta.

Air Tran does have some direct flights between MSP and MCO. Those still stop in Atlanta, but you don't have to change planes.

On the dates I checked (late July and mid-September), non stop service on Sun Country and NWA was only $10 more than Air Tran's one stop service. For that, I'd go non-stop (and you probably would, too).

I've not personally flown on Air Tran, but I'd take a chance if the price was right. Believe they do assign seats, but do not know for sure.

When are you going? If it's not over Veteran's Day or Thanksgiving, it might still be worth while to wait a bit. Delta might possiby come down again to anywhere from $160 to 201.50 RT. I'd also keep an eye on Midwest Express. Their hub is in Milwaukee and I've heard very nice things about both their service and their planes (roomier than average).

Good luck!

 

[CarolMN]

I stand corrected. I checked a few dates in November and did find the non-stop flights on Air Tran. On the dates I checked (11/8 - 11/15), though, Air Tran was the same price as NWA - $251.50 RT. In that case, I'd go NWA because there are more options if something gets cancelled or delayed. Sun Country was $253 RT.

 

[lauraljp]

CarolMN,

Thanks. I did double check and they Air Tran are non-stops. They only offer one per day. 3:10 p.m. and the return from MCO at 12:12 p.m. We are going 10/30-11/9. I have been trying NW but the lowest fares seem to be gone for our Sunday return. With 6 people, the lowest I can get on them for non-stops is $311.

I would really rather leave later out of MSP so the kids don't miss another half day of school. I think we will probably do it. $241 is hard to beat out of here for non-stops.

We got $160 three years ago on Delta. I was hoping for at least $200 this time, but I have not seen anything near that except those Delta ones a few months ago. Delta is very high for our dates now, so I am assuming the flights we would need to take are sold out at the lower fares.

Laura

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

You can choose your seats on Air Tran from your home computer.
We flew Air Tran for the first time last month and printed our boarding passes at home. Anytime from 24 hours until 90 minutes before your departure just get on line and pick your seats. Extremely easy and saves a lot of time at the airport. At the airport we already had our boarding passes so we went right to security and then to the gate with our carry-on luggage.
Coming home we picked our seats via computer (had someone do this for us to make sure we had seats) but did not have a printer available. So we got on line at the airport and they printed them out for us.
Much faster if you can print them out yourself, but it's still a good idea to choose your seats ahead of time. This way you'll be certain of a seat since most flights are overbooked on all airlines.

 

[doombuggy]

I flew airtran last year, and was assigned a seat at the airport. they were fine, and i am flying them again this Oct 28 - Nov 4. $151.50 r/t from Philly.