Info about Airtran.com check in and seat assignments

[dudspizza]

I just checked some friends in for their Airtran flight tomorrow. I will detail how the check in process worked for everyone as it seems there have been a ton of Airtran questions lately.

1. Went to www.airtran.com and clicked on Check In.
2. Entered the departure city and confirmation number.
3. Was taken to a list of names to check in and I clicked them all.
4. The names all popped up with seats already assigned. There had been discussion here that seats were preassigned, but what I found is that they were assignemed right when I started the check in process.
5. You can click on a seat number to view a seat map and change the seat assignment. They had placed our friends all in one row and they wanted to be in two rows on the 2 seat side of the 717. I simply made the changes one at a time and they got the seating they wanted.
6. Clicked continue and was able to confirm number of bags checking at the airport and print boarding passes for each passenger.
7. Printed an itinerary for them as well.
8. They were checked in

The whole process was very easy. The big thing is that the seats were assigned right when I checked in. When I clicked on the seat assignment to change them, I had 97% of the plane to choose from. As long as you are checking in at the 24 hour mark, there should be no issues getting seats together. As people check in, the seats will fill up and I am guessing that is happening right now as I type this.

I hope this helps everyone. I am flying Airtran for the first time in October, so I volunteered to check them in so I could see how the process works. I liked it.

Have a great day!

Duds

 

[safetymom]

Sometimes even checking in at the 24 hour mark there aren't a lot of seats to switch to. It all depends on how many people are booked for that flight.

 

[dudspizza]

Sometimes even checking in at the 24 hour mark there aren't a lot of seats to switch to. It all depends on how many people are booked for that flight.

I would also guess that more seats could be filled if people by the seats that come with advance seat assignment or through travel agents who can get them advanced seat assignment.... the big thing is to check in early for the best chance at the seats you want.

Duds

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Thanks!

I will be doing this in September to make sure we get my family together. I would also like the 2+2 so DS can kick DHs seat and not a stranger.

 

[dudspizza]

Just talked to my friends... they are in the airport at MSP now. They have one way tickets on Airtran (they are flying Sun Country home) and have had no issues with extra security or anything..... sounds like things are going very smooth.

Duds

 

[westjones]

Thanks for posting this. We are using Airtran for the first time next month.

Did you friends say if they were asking for bumps? In other words, are they overbooked?

DJ

 

[dudspizza]

Thanks for posting this. We are using Airtran for the first time next month.

Did you friends say if they were asking for bumps? In other words, are they overbooked?

DJ

She did not mention if they were... but their flight isn't until 1015, so it is still a bit early.

I know the cheapest fare was still being offered a few days ago, so my guess is that the flight is not full..

Duds

 

[BWVNUT]

Hi everyone - i've never flown airtran - but am doing so in July. I purchased the cheapest seats possible that says choose seats at check in. If I'm reading your posts correctly - you can check in on line 24 hours in advance of flight? I was thinking I'd have to wait til we got to the airport c/i counter.....
thanks for any info

 

[Minnesota!]

Thanks for the info - we fly Airtran a week from Saturday and I will be checking in online next Friday! We are flying out of MSP as well...if you talk to your friends again - can you find out what terminal the Airtran counter is on (still refer to them as the concourses, actually...green, red, blue, gold....LOL)?

 

[dudspizza]

Thanks for the info - we fly Airtran a week from Saturday and I will be checking in online next Friday! We are flying out of MSP as well...if you talk to your friends again - can you find out what terminal the Airtran counter is on (still refer to them as the concourses, actually...green, red, blue, gold....LOL)?

I just read they are changing terminals at MSP starting May 18. I would double check which terminal they fly out of prior to arriving at MSP. They are moving to HHH gates H9 and H10. Here is the link. http://mspairport.com/msp/appdocs/headlines/AirTranmove.html

Minneapolis - St. Paul International Airport
AirTran Changing Terminals
AirTran Airways will relocate its operations at MSP to the Humphrey Terminal beginning May 18. The airline has operated from the Lindbergh Terminal since May 2001 and will now occupy gates H9 and H10 at the Humprey Terminal. From MSP, AirTran flies to Atlanta, Chicago and Orlando.
AirTran joins scheduled carriers Midwest and Sun Country Airlines as well as charter carrier Champion Airlines in providing service from the Humphrey Terminal. The new Humphrey Terminal offered eight aircraft gates when it opened in 2001 and has since been expanded to 10. Like the Lindbergh Terminal, the Humphrey Terminal has direct metro light rail service, covered parking a skyway's walk from the terminal, auto rental facilities, and in-terminal dining and retail opportunities.
One of America's largest low-fare airlines, AirTran Airways recently added fuel-efficient Boeing 737-700 aircraft to create the nation's youngest all-Boeing fleet. The airline is the first to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft and the only airline with Business Class and XM Satellite Radio on every flight. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where it is the second largest carrier.

 

[dudspizza]

Hi everyone - i've never flown airtran - but am doing so in July. I purchased the cheapest seats possible that says choose seats at check in. If I'm reading your posts correctly - you can check in on line 24 hours in advance of flight? I was thinking I'd have to wait til we got to the airport c/i counter.....
thanks for any info

Yes, you will be able to check in online 24 hours in advance. Your seats are assigned at that time and you can change them if you don't like the ones they give you.

The only way you wouldn't be able to check in online 24 hours in advance is if you are holding a paper ticket issued by a travel agent or something like that. If you have an eTicket (basically a confirmation number), you can check in online.

Duds

 

[shoes99]

I flew Air Tran this past weekend and I checked-in on line the evening before both flights. I was also able to change the computer generated assigned seat.
Two observations:
EWR to MDW, the computer was down at the gate, so there was free for all seating. I didn't have a problem, but lots of folks were not listening to the gate instructions and they wandered onto the plan late and found only middle seats left. I had a seat assigned so I just took that one and it was on the 2 seat side.
MDW to EWR: the flight before us was MDW to MCO. There was no pre-boarding except for first class cabin. There were lots of families with small children at the gate, and everything seemed orderly, even with no pre-boarding.
My flight to EWR was fine and we landed early. I carried on my mickey luggage and had no problem lifting it into the overhead compartment.

 

[BWVNUT]

Thanks very much, Dudspizza and Shoes99!!

 

[disneydaveb]

What about papaer tickets? Why do passengers with paper tickets need to wait until they get to the airport to check-in?
I didn't receive any additional discounts for paper tickets, why should I be restricted?
Does anyone have any experience with Airtran paper tickets? There is no way my 9 and 6 yr old daughters are going to sit by themselves on the flight.

 

[dudspizza]

What about papaer tickets? Why do passengers with paper tickets need to wait until they get to the airport to check-in?
I didn't receive any additional discounts for paper tickets, why should I be restricted?
Does anyone have any experience with Airtran paper tickets? There is no way my 9 and 6 yr old daughters are going to sit by themselves on the flight.

Call Airtran and ask. This is from airtran.com

Who can use online flight check-in?
All passengers with an electronic ticket for a domestic flight may use our online flight check-in program. Please note that passengers with baggage to check will need to proceed to the ticket counter to check their bags.

The following passengers may not use the online flight check-in program:

Passengers with a paper ticket issued by a travel agency
Passengers traveling to international destinations
Passengers traveling with a pet
Passengers traveling as part of a group reservation with 10 or more passengers in the party
Standby passengers who do not have a confirmed reservation
Children traveling alone

This is pretty standard for airlines now adays... If you did book via a travel agent, call them and see if they can contact Airtran to get your seats assigned ahead of time.

If you can't check in online, I would suggest getting to the airport early to ensure getting seats together. They hold back blocks of seats for this very reason.

Duds

 

[BWVNUT]

This is pretty standard for airlines now adays... If you did book via a travel agent, call them and see if they can contact Airtran to get your seats assigned ahead of time.
Duds

I agree, I think usually when you have a paper ticket you also already have a seat - it is best to call and check it out from now rather than be surprised. . .good luck - I wouldn't be happy either if my children were separated from me - but, there are usually nice pax on flight as well who would switch with you if the airline staff are willing to ask. . . it happened to us on a Delta/Song flight - our 6yo was placed in an exit row(!) and separate from us - so they asked the people sitting by the rest of the family and someone gladly switched (who wouldn't right - for a more spacious exit row?).