Has anyone had experience with Airtran from Lehigh Valley/Allentown Aiport (ABE)

[helenk]

Generally I do not like Airtran because of the flight changes they make after you've booked. But in the past I have flown out of Philadelphia not Allentown.
But they have 1 flight that goes to MCO on certain days and this will actually work for me for my trip in September. The cost is $69 each way which is $20 per flight cheaper than leaving from Philadelphia and ABE is about the same distance as PHL so a bit of a savings there.
If you've used Airtran from ABE have you found that the flight time has changed after you purchased? As long as they do not cancel the flight, changing the flight would not be too much of a problem. My first and last days would be non park days anyway since the flight to MCO does not get in until 6:55 p.m and the flight home leaves at 1:20 p.m.

 

[helenk]

No one?

 

[637palmer]

Hi Helen,

We've flown out of ABE several times on Airtran. When they first started flying out of ABE, they did change our non-stop flight to a 1 stop flight. We got our $$ refunded and switched to SW out of PHL. More recently, they have been better about just changing the time - still a non-stop flight , just moved the departure back slightly. It's a quick 2 hour flight and easier in-out of ABE than either PHL or BWI - more convienent for us. I'd say book it if you got a good price - chances are just a slight time change. I'm NOT guaranteeing anything, though!! Good luck and happy flying!

LeeAnn

 

[helenk]

Thanks for your input. The fare out of ABE is $69 each way as opposed to $89 out of Phila so that's a nice savings. I'll be going in September so I can pack light and just do a carry on, so I think I'm going for it.
If things get changed around so be it. As I said my travel days will be non park days so any changes should not be too traumatic.

 

[princesspat209]

We have used airtran from allentown in November & had a good experience with them. Nice flight & very nice airport. No time change @ that time & we are using them again for our trip in April. We had 1 time change from the original time & then it was changed back to the original. The time change was v ery slight & the prices are good so I would say go for it. Happy traveling. pat

 

[Mallow]

Flew out of ABE first time in Oct. and will now always check flights there first. ABE is only 1 hr as opposed to a 2 hr drive for me. Had great experience: easy parking & easy to navigate as it is a much smaller airport. I had no flight changes but I did book only 1 month out. I would recommend airtran & ABE any time.

 

[helenk]

Well I went ahead and booked my flights! Flying out the Sunday before Labor Day and coming back on Friday the 10th.
Even Southwest has not had flight at $69 each way for awhile so I am thrilled with the cost and I'm excited about trying out a different airport.

 

[Mallow]

I don't think you'll regret it. I don't know if you've signed up for airtran's email promotions yet, but they often offer discounts. I was able to get a $25 voucher for my last flight and they are constantly sending new promotions. Even if you've already paid for your flight sometimes they let you use the voucher towards baggage check. Have a great trip.

 

[theterms]

We flew out of ABE in July on AirTran. We only checked my husbands bag and we (self, DS, DD & DDBF) carried on. Apparently, they had too many carry-ons so they checked our bags for free! I booked thru Kayak, so I had no seat fees, but apparently that's changed recently.

My problem is now you'll get great fares, but by the time they add on the seat and baggage fees, there are other airlines that are better. We flew Southwest in November out of Philly, it's a longer drive, but well worth it for the price AND my husband and I thought it was the best flight we've ever been on. Just fantastic all around.​

 

[helenk]

We flew out of ABE in July on AirTran. We only checked my husbands bag and we (self, DS, DD & DDBF) carried on. Apparently, they had too many carry-ons so they checked our bags for free! I booked thru Kayak, so I had no seat fees, but apparently that's changed recently.

My problem is now you'll get great fares, but by the time they add on the seat and baggage fees, there are other airlines that are better. We flew Southwest in November out of Philly, it's a longer drive, but well worth it for the price AND my husband and I thought it was the best flight we've ever been on. Just fantastic all around.​

I have found that Southwest has had better rates because of no luggage fees, but they do not have their fares out past mid August right now. And lately I have not seen $69 from Philly of course my luck when they do open up they will have some fantastic rate.
Since I am travelling solo and will just need shorts and tee shirts for myself I will just need a carry on. And since I am going by myself I won't pay to book my seat ahead of time. I'll take my chances at the 24 hour mark.

 

[thumbalyna]

i just did this flight in dec with my daughter - we went friday to monday - no time changes - we just did the carry on with no problems - we didnt pay for our seats waited to the 24 hr mark and then moved from the 3 seat row to the 2 seat row did the same on the return trip - we had the same FA's on both flights and they were nice no complaints - was going to do this again in august but they dont fly on the days we are going now looking at jetblue out of newark - i have had it with PHL and i am trying to avoid it at all costs

 

[helenk]

i just did this flight in dec with my daughter - we went friday to monday - no time changes - we just did the carry on with no problems - we didnt pay for our seats waited to the 24 hr mark and then moved from the 3 seat row to the 2 seat row did the same on the return trip - we had the same FA's on both flights and they were nice no complaints - was going to do this again in august but they dont fly on the days we are going now looking at jetblue out of newark - i have had it with PHL and i am trying to avoid it at all costs

I've looked at these flights before and they just did not fit into my schedule. They only fly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and leaves so late going down and comes back kind of early. Usually I like to leave for WDW as soon as possible and stay as long as I can on my last day. With getting there on Sunday and coming back on Friday I will have 4 full days in the parks. The crowds should be low, so this schedule should work out fine, and the price is right.

 

[Needafix]

Helen - I have Airtran booked out of ABE for March and again in July. For both flights they changed the times an hour later going and returning. It actually made it a bit easier for us, so I didn't mind at all.

I live minutes away from ABE and have used it often. It's a great little airport. Hopefully I don't jinx myself, but I've never had any delays out of there and it's such a peaceful, easy going airport.

 

[Hillbeans]

Flew out of ABE first time in Oct. and will now always check flights there first. ABE is only 1 hr as opposed to a 2 hr drive for me. Had great experience: easy parking & easy to navigate as it is a much smaller airport. I had no flight changes but I did book only 1 month out. I would recommend airtran & ABE any time.

This was our experience too last June - we were very happy with the flights and thought the airport was much easier to navigate than Newark. I am going to try and book our November 1st - 7th flights there as well unless we can somehow get FF flights free from Newark.

 

[Needafix]

Just keep track of your flight times. Airtran just switched the time AGAIN so I'm getting a bit disappointed, but it's still manageable as long as they don't switch it any more it will be fine.

 

[cruisekat]

Allegiant air is another airline that flies out of ABE, and while they used to go only to Orlando/Sanford airport, they just started (yesterday!) flying into Orlando international! Great fares, we are using them for our trip next month...the airport is only 5 minutes away from us!

 

[Needafix]

Yeah...I keep kicking myself for not booking at least one of the two trips with Allegiant to compare them. I just got slightly better prices with Airtran since we won't be checking luggage. Luckily, not a biggie yet. It is nice to have such a nice little airport in our backyard.

 

[helenk]

I had check Allegiant, and their prices were the same 69.99 round trip, the flight down was a better time 1:50 instead of 4:25 with Airtran, but the flight home leaves at 7:50 am, that is just too early for me.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Glad to have found this thread as we're hoping to fly out of LVIA on AT for the 1st time in November!

 

[Needafix]

I had check Allegiant, and their prices were the same 69.99 round trip, the flight down was a better time 1:50 instead of 4:25 with Airtran, but the flight home leaves at 7:50 am, that is just too early for me.

That's exactly why we didn't go with Allegiant. I didn't want to end two great visits to Disney waking up before dawn. I don't mind doing that to get to Disney, but NOT to go home!!!