Help! USAirways-SW-or Airtran??

[yrdlyprincess]

Ok, here's it is: Right now leaving 9/22-10/1 (flying out on a Saturday-more expense- I think that I have almost convinced DH to fly out Friday for it to be cheaper from all carriers-- We can go Usairways (have set seats) 99 each way- or SW for 103 each way-no set seats (I don't real understand all the different categories they have anyhow) or Airtran 49. each way (no set seats) I have dd7- ds3 I know that it makes a difference w/ SW but what about airtran?? Help!!! Please give me the good, the bad & the ugly about all carriers!

 

[123SA]

Ok, here's it is: Right now leaving 9/22-10/1 (flying out on a Saturday-more expense- I think that I have almost convinced DH to fly out Friday for it to be cheaper from all carriers-- We can go Usairways (have set seats) 99 each way- or SW for 103 each way-no set seats (I don't real understand all the different categories they have anyhow) or Airtran 49. each way (no set seats) I have dd7- ds3 I know that it makes a difference w/ SW but what about airtran?? Help!!! Please give me the good, the bad & the ugly about all carriers!

We have flown airtran and have always been able to pre-board with young children. We have not had any problems with Airtran. We have also flown both Southwest and USAir. With Southwest, we were also able to pre-board but the whole process made me anxious for some reason. USAir I was more comfortable since we had assigned seats (we did pre-board again). This last trip the kids were 4 & 7 so you should be able to pre-board without problem.

We are not seasoned travellers -- only 4 trips to WDW and no other trips by air. The airlines all seemed the same to me.

Our trip is 9/24 - 10/5. I have airtran going to MCO (From PHL) for $69. I am having trouble with the return flight. DH doesn't want to get back too late so that leaves me with the 450pm USair flight -- at $122 for 5 tickets I am not happy.

 

[keishashadow]

I've flown all 3 - my take:

USAir - quit flying them a few years ago, due to bankruptcy issues; sure is nice to have confirmed seats when you book.

AirTran - i'm a lifer ; use their CC to rack up credits for vouchers. My current complain is their inability to readily give credit for vouchers w/o my having to call & request them; haven't had much luck lately converting them either. Additionally, out of PIT they have rather lousy flight times and an annoying habit of tweaking the departure times (eliminating flights entirely); we've had up to an 8 hour change...of course, I was able to book on a different flight once I complained. Since you select your seats when you check in on AT (24 hrs prior; preboarding should be a problem for you; unless you wait too long).

SW - i'm a newbie, still learning the ropes lol. Know enough to realize that Philie gets fantastic fares vs PIT (lots of $49 ones when the schedule was released last time - my best so far is $120)

good luck

 

[yrdlyprincess]

to keishashadow: last night airtran was 49 each way this morning it's different (that happens w/all carriers) but SW right now is 103 each way (still too much) us airways is 155-99 (pending on flight we take) & 69 back (this morning) of course I really want to get the best deal, best carrier & one that doesn't have a high rate of lost luggage (lost DH home from honeymoon) I found that SW had the lowest rate of lost luggage, Usairways out of phl look what happened inthe winter!!

 

[jcemom]

*I* am going to hold out for better SW rates and hope they come along.

I used to fly US Air but starting right before their bankruptcy they had the highest rates going, and they stayed high. Once SWA came to PIT I could fly them for about a third of the cost of US Air. So, they've lost me. I don't even check them anymore. Well, I did today, but it's the first time in a long time that I have.

I used Air Tran between US Air and SW. I liked them. I would still fly them but SW has far better flight times out of PIT and SW's times don't change, they're reliable.

Right now I could get $140 round trip on Air Tran vs. $240 on SW. I'm going to hold out for a better SW rate because Air Tran has only one non stop flight per day each way. The am flight has us getting to the airport during morning rush hour traffic. We live nearly two hours drive from the airport with no traffic. I don't want to add the stress and time of dealing with rush hour to our already long trip. My dad drops us off and I won't do that to him, or us.

I don't mind SW seating at all. I actually like it. They're so efficient. We've always either preboarded or had A passes so it's just not an issue, we always get to sit together with our choice of location. Often the plane isn't full either and we get a little elbow room, which is very nice.

In the OP's situation I'd probably take the savings and book Air Tran, as long as the flight times are suitable. Heck, that's half price.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

My husband recently had to use US Air for several roundtrips back-to-back and was extremely frustrated as every flight was late and they were always overbooked. So the downside is you might not get to your destination on time, but the goodside is there are lots of opportunities to get bumped and receive a free ticket (of course now we're back to the downside again -- the flight would have to be on US Air!. )

 

[jobie61]

Use Airtran at that price.

 

[HeatherC]

In case you weren't aware of it, you can pick your seats on Airtran 24 hours before your flight. We did this coming home from Disney at the end of President's week and had no problem getting 5 seats together.

As far as USAIR---- personally don't like them...any of their planes I've been on have been very old and dirty.

Love SW but if Airtran is cheaper and times are better, I'd go with them since you can guarantee a seat before you leave...even if it's the day before.

Heather

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I vote for SW. Their prices will surely go down, esp. for your dates. We used them last 4 times for MCO from PHL and always got $49 each way.(This was Feb 07, Sept/Oct. 06, June 06 and May 06.) I also have 2 young kids but you can check in online 24 hrs. before your flight so that your boarding pass is an "A" pass. (choices are A, B or C and you board the plane in that order and sit wherever there is an open seat.) As long as you get the A you will be able to sit together easily. We've even been able to sit together with a B pass but we were way in the back of the plane.
Also with SW, if you find a sale price or Ding fare that's lower than what you booked, you can rebook with no change or cancellation fees and pocket a credit that can be used for future flights for 1 yr. from original date.
We now have about $300 in credits. I'm also flying Sept. (12-16) but I'm not booking until the prices drop.
also book separate one way flights so that in case 1 leg drops in price, you can easily change 1 ressie without messing with the other.
btw, USAirways lost our luggage the last 2 times we flew with them, plus they're miserable people in general. Even when we have preassigned seats, they change the flight times, change the flight # then separate us all over the plane. I had to constantly keep rechecking our ressie and call to have our seats reassigned to put us together again. We have enough miles for all 4 of us to fly free to the Caribbean and then we're done with them.
We love SWA for their "no fees" policy and overall excellent service.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

At that price, you have to go with Air Tran.

As mentioned, you can pick your seats when you print your boarding pass. We did this a couple of years ago and had absolutely no problem getting seats together.

Sure, Southwest will probably go down, but you have that price guaranteed with Air Tran, so grab it while you can.

 

[Bill From PA]

At that price, you have to go with Air Tran.

As mentioned, you can pick your seats when you print your boarding pass. We did this a couple of years ago and had absolutely no problem getting seats together.

Sure, Southwest will probably go down, but you have that price guaranteed with Air Tran, so grab it while you can.

Concerning the online check in with AirTran, we're thinking of asking my daughter to go to their site 24 hrs out and do this for us from home for our return flight as I don't know if I'll have access to a PC and printer at the Swan. If so, can they just pick seats for us two together, tell us which they are over the phone, or will we need a printed boarding pass to get our seats?

Thanks,
Bill From PA