Hoping to fly AirTran in June 2012...

[kristenrice]

...will we still be able to fly with them?

We are hoping to fly AT out of Grand Rapids, but we are willing to drive to Detroit if needed. Right now, AT is the only airline that flies direct GRR-MCO. We will be a party of 15 (8 adults and 7 kids, ranging in age from 7 months to 10 years old) so a non-stop flight is almost a necessity.

If we cannot get non-stop from GRR, we'll drive to Detroit since both Delta and AT have non-stops, for now. Unfortunately, SWA does not have non-stops from Detroit. Once the merger is complete, I'm wondering where we're going to have to go to get a "cheap" non-stop.

Since SW is releasing their June flight schedule this Sunday, I'm hoping AT will do the same. Right now, the acceptable flights on Delta (from Detroit) are almost $380 r/t. The non-stop on AT out of GRR (for the last week in May) are only $200 r/t so we're hoping that the June fares will be comparable. Does anyone think that AT will be SWA by the middle of June?

 

[Inkmahm]

You should be fine. If the Airtran schedule has a flight that you want, go ahead and book it. I have flights booked for Nov, Dec, Jan and March with Airtran. No worries.

 

[lotus14]

I don't know where you are but have you considered flying out of Kalamazoo or Lansing? Both have direct flights, though they might be to SFB. Direct Air flies from Kalamazoo on Mondays and Fridays and their schedule is open in June. Lansing may not be yet but fhey are through Sun Country Airlines.

We flew Spirit from DTW direct to MCO in October so that's an option too.

 

[DebbieB]

Full integration of the 2 airlines is not expected until 2014, so AirTran will still be around in June. There are issues with the pilot's contracts, they each will continue flying the current planes for awhile. But they are already starting to adjust schedules so you have to wait until they release June.

 

[kristenrice]

Full integration of the 2 airlines is not expected until 2014, so AirTran will still be around in June. There are issues with the pilot's contracts, they each will continue flying the current planes for awhile. But they are already starting to adjust schedules so you have to wait until they release June.

Best news I've heard all day!!

That's what we were hoping. Although it wouldn't be a huge deal to drive to Detroit (we'd get to start our trip a day early since we'd spend the night before our flight near the airport), it would certainly be easier to fly from the airport that is 15 minutes from my front door.

 

[Mary T in PA]

I believe I read that SW will be releasing flights on November 13th for travel thru early Aug 2012. I am hoping AT opens up their schedule at that time too, patiently waiting to see what July 2012 will look like.

 

[bear_mom]

I don't know how GRRs prices compare to FNT, but I got really good rates flying from Flint April/May for our trip ($89/each way) so that might be another option. Still a smaller airport and Airtran has a non-stop flight.

Emily

 

[kristenrice]

I don't know how GRRs prices compare to FNT, but I got really good rates flying from Flint April/May for our trip ($89/each way) so that might be another option. Still a smaller airport and Airtran has a non-stop flight.

Emily

I've considered FNT in the past, but with so many children flying with us, that 7am non-stop is just a little too early. Over the last 3 years, I've never seen the one non-stop from FNT-MCO be anything later than 7:30am so we've pretty much ruled it out for this trip.

 

[Lisa0620]

Hi Kristen,
I just wanted to mention that when I booked our March/April flights the airtran info was up a couple of days earlier than the release date that SWA had on their website. (I think it was supposed to open Monday and it really opened Sat) so you might want to check often and early. Also, Orbitz had a really decent introductory rate for just an hour or so while AT's website opened really high. I didn't book Orbitz because I wanted to book direct and I though AT would come down. It did come down after a day, but never as low as that Orbitz rate that got away. Good luck!

 

[Dis_Dreamin]

...will we still be able to fly with them?

We are hoping to fly AT out of Grand Rapids, but we are willing to drive to Detroit if needed. Right now, AT is the only airline that flies direct GRR-MCO. We will be a party of 15 (8 adults and 7 kids, ranging in age from 7 months to 10 years old) so a non-stop flight is almost a necessity.

If we cannot get non-stop from GRR, we'll drive to Detroit since both Delta and AT have non-stops, for now. Unfortunately, SWA does not have non-stops from Detroit. Once the merger is complete, I'm wondering where we're going to have to go to get a "cheap" non-stop.

Since SW is releasing their June flight schedule this Sunday, I'm hoping AT will do the same. Right now, the acceptable flights on Delta (from Detroit) are almost $380 r/t. The non-stop on AT out of GRR (for the last week in May) are only $200 r/t so we're hoping that the June fares will be comparable. Does anyone think that AT will be SWA by the middle of June?

Not sure if you've considered it, or are eligible, but you may be able to save a few bucks with Group Reservations too. I know it's not the answer to your question specifically, but it may be easier for you to book for the whole group through their group booking department.

http://tickets.airtran.com/Search.aspx

"Groups of 10 or more, please call our Group Department at 1-888-419-6109.

* Number of Passengers: Do not include infants who will be under 2 years of age on the date of travel and will be carried in the lap of an adult passenger."