Irritating Airtran experience in Indianapolis

[Chelley00]

In the future, I will avoid the 7 am flight.

We've taken that 7am flight from Indy to Orlando and never had a problem, and this is with pokey kids who dawdle.

However, we get there at 5am, 2 hours before the flight as suggested by all the websites.

 

[Lewisc]

We've taken that 7am flight from Indy to Orlando and never had a problem, and this is with pokey kids who dawdle.

However, we get there at 5am, 2 hours before the flight as suggested by all the websites.

All of the website don't suggest arriving at IND two hours before your flight. Airtran suggests arriving 90 minutes before your flight. Southwest 1 hour. American Airlines 90 minutes. United suggests 90 minutes.

Those are the suggested times for passengers who are checking luggage.

Some people like to allow extra time but I can't find any official websites which suggest arriving two hours before your flight.

 

[delilah]

I apologize for getting the day of week wrong. Same difference though. The weekend before Christmas...Saturday or Sunday not a huge difference.

I did find a bit of info that is interesting. Indy is WAY BIGGER than Charleston and that is very misleading to those not familiar with the IND airport. I found this info based from 2006...a quick search.

Airport size ranking based on passengers boarded:

IND is 44 with approximately 4,000,000 passengers
Charleston is 90 with approximately 945,000

It is actually comparable to Fort Myers which was 47 with 3.8 million.

Houston Airport is very close with 4.1 million passengers for those who know that airport.

Guess point is IND is a fairly big airport. We can all argue till we turn blue how early we should arrive at airport. Say airline say arrive 90 minutes prior to flight, it takes you 30 minutes to get to airport so you leave 45 minutes prior so you can park and walk in to airport with about 90 minutes to get in line, check bags, get through security and get to gate. BUT you didn't factor in any extra time for that traffic jam on freeway, accident that cause extra traffic to be diverted on the road that normally has none, the flat tire or car trouble you had OR more importantly the large tour group of high school kids traveling for the first time going to Disney World to play in the parade. There are 25 of them and they all have to check in.....individually show ID and pay for bags, plus there are the other 20 passengers in line behind this group who is at ticket counter. Guess it is a gamble we all take....are we allowing enough time to get there, enough 'extra' time for things we don't expect like the large groups or slow moving lines. Also, what if flight before was canceled and reps working to rebook those passengers on another flight...that could add to line also. THESE SCENES COULD BE AT ANY AIRPORT!!!

We will still arrive at IND with a minimum of 2 hours....as I stated it paid off for us last summer. If we hadn't been there 2 hrs 15 minutes prior to our flight which was canceled (this was day after Memorial Day so flights full due to everyone leaving 500) we never would have made it to a graduation in Arizona. Delta had NO open seats with on flights with connections to PHX. Only way to get out that day was to drive to Cincinnati .... if we had been 1 hour later we wouldn't have made that flight and had to leave the next day. Took agent about 10 minutes to work through that situation with us and when we turned around there was a long line...passengers on our flight who they had to rebook....then those also mixed in who had flights around the same time!

We can all do whatever we want....just thought the airport info was interesting. As long as everyone makes it to their destination that is great...but don't whine if you almost miss your flight because you don't allow enough 'extra' time.

Pretty much I agree with you about the relative sizes of airports. The Charleston airport reminds me of the Gainesville airport or the old Ft. Myers airport. My main point was the Indianapolis isn't a huge airport where it can easily take 30 minutes or more to get to the gate from the check in counter. It is a 5 minute brisk walk at the most from the gate side of security to the furthest gate, as compared to Dallas-Ft Worth, for example, where it was a 30 minute run, even with their shuttle to help with the time. Or O'Hare or Atlanta, which are equally huge. Or even Orlando--it is a physical impossibility to get to the gate from boarding within 10 minutes, even under ideal circumstances. At Indy, it is not only possible, I have done it many times. Go at non-peak times, don't check baggage, etc.

So, I can see the rationale for wanting to get to the Atlanta or O'Hare or Minneapolis or Dallas Ft Worth airports 2 hours ahead of time, but at Indy or Charleston or Gainesville, unless you are dealing with really wacky fellow passengers or other factors beyond your control, you had better bring a good book along. Actually, as a matter of fact, really O'Hare is efficient enough so that 2 hours I might be excessive.

Sometimes, too, "extra time" is an illusion. Two years ago, for example, we had a similar situation that really totally out of our control We were traveling to Los Angeles (on American). Unknown to us, because we had checked in on line and printed our boarding passes 24 hours in advance, our flight actually was delayed due to weather conditions between Indianapolis and Dallas-Ft Worth. We were delayed about 30 minutes in Indy, and another 30 minutes or so in the air. So, our nice 90 minute lay over in Dallas-Ft Worth was only 30 minutes. That is how I know that it takes about 30 minutes to get from one gate to another running full speed. We made our plane, but, our checked bags didn't. Which was irritating, too. But, at least the baggage department in LA had the decency to inform us that our bags were on the next flight to LA, which would arrive in another 40 minutes or so. The Airtran people didn't tell me anything. The woman at the gate in Indy didn't even give me a proper gate check receipt for our bags. So, essentially, I was stuck in Orlando without my carry on bags, which, since they were carry on, didn't have the same proper identification that I have on my bags that I intend to check, since I intended to hand carry them. So, it was very stressful for me in Orlando, and I didn't find the Airtran employees particularly helpful or reassuring.

 

[aubriee]

I am wondering how they are at MSP and MCO. I bought a rolling duffel that is a total of 60.5, according to Eddie Bauer's website. When I measure, I swear I come up with 62 or 63, because I am including the wheels....... I am not going to chance it this trip..... Airtran is 61 inches or smaller while most are 62 or smaller.... that 1 inch can make them some money in a hurry!

I have a large (not the extra large) llbean rolling duffel that I've used for several years now. No one has ever questioned it. For some reason flying out of DFW Dec 4th the Air Tran agents were measuring any bag that looked even close. The web site says my duffel is 15"x30"x13", so 58". It has cross straps to tighten everything down and I'm sure glad I used them that morning. That bag was no where near full, so I had used the straps to flatten it. The Air Tran agent said it barely made it at 60". The bag doesn't stand well alone and she was counting the lean where it tilted against the wall and the buldge at the bottom where stuff dropped down to the end of the bag.. No way was that bag even close to 60". There were several people complaining that morning and demanding that their bags be remeasured.

 

[aubriee]

I wish more airlines would do this. Though I like to think they are doing it so those of us who have a regulation sized bag don't end up having to gate check it, beause someone hogged a bunch of space with their beast of a carryon.

When they were measuring bags at DFW Dec 4th it was only the checked bags they were measuring, not the carryons. We saw alot of huge carryons and people with more than a carryon and a personal items getting on the plane, despite the gate announcement that the plane was overbooked and each person would be allowed only one item in the overhead fitting wheels first and one item that fit beneath the seat. I was surprised at the number of people who just completely disregarded that announcement, walked stright onto the plane loaded down, and then proceeded to stuff several items in the overhead. Nothing was said to any of them. I was so glad I had paid for those $15.00 seats that guaranteed me boarding zone 1. My little 20" carry on easily fit in the overhead wheels first and my small duffel easily fit underneath the seat in front of me. I knew all my bags were within the guidelines, so was surprised when they measured my checked duffel, but then allowed passengers to board with 3-4 items.

 

[keishashadow]

I am wondering how they are at MSP and MCO. I bought a rolling duffel that is a total of 60.5, according to Eddie Bauer's website. When I measure, I swear I come up with 62 or 63, because I am including the wheels....... I am not going to chance it this trip..... Airtran is 61 inches or smaller while most are 62 or smaller.... that 1 inch can make them some money in a hurry!

i've had no issues @ MCO, last flight w/them 3 months ago

rolling duffels can be more forgiving if you pack them loosely & smush them before measuring

in PIT i was hit with oversize charge (used credits i had thankfully) on suitcase that had flown with them the month before with no issue

I wish more airlines would do this. Though I like to think they are doing it so those of us who have a regulation sized bag don't end up having to gate check it, beause someone hogged a bunch of space with their beast of a carryon.

I think of Airtran as the strict moms and dads of airlines. At least when I have flow on them they seem to crack the whip. Multiple announcemnts prior to boarding that each family member, even children, have to hold their own passes. Multiple announcements on the plane to put your luggage up and quickly move out of the aisle.

Then there was the guy who, while we were waiting to take off on the runway at Atlanta, decided he needed to use the potty. All of a sudden the captain was on the intercom, telling us how busy Atlanta was and how it could be a bit of a wait to take off. And that there was no way the plane was moving until everyone was in their seats with their seatbelts on!!!! I thought it was kind of funny.

we're getting brandy new mommies & daddies after SWA takes the helm, we'll see if they're still disciplinarians then.

always giggle to see the multiple bags of junk folks lug on flying home from Orlando - akin to fall of saigon

 

[jgates]

Without reading thru all 5 pages (so this may have been mentioned), the fault I would find with AT would be not 'grabbing' the people for the upcoming flights.

I experienced this at LV about a year or so ago. The line was awful & there were people checking in for flights that were over 4 hours later. (Really people? I'm assuming they lost all their gambling budget!). We were there at 2 hours or even slightly over & it actually came down to where we were close to getting cut-off.

HOWEVER, the agent (This was AirTran also), when it got to be a 'crunch' time, stopped the line - made a broadcast for any passengers on Flight## to Milwaukee who had not checked in - step to this window. They stopped all other boarding & processed those passengers first to ensure they all made it & their bags made it. I would not be surprised if many of the other passengers checking in ahead of the OP were actually on considerably later flights & were just being 'extra-careful' early, thereby actually causing delays for the earlier fliers. And even arriving 2 hours plus ahead myself, there were at least 20 people for my flight considerably further back in line behind me - and they didn't just show up at the last minute either! So in my situation the airlines did a very pro-active measure to make sure everyone got where they needed to go.

 

[delilah]

Without reading thru all 5 pages (so this may have been mentioned), the fault I would find with AT would be not 'grabbing' the people for the upcoming flights.

I experienced this at LV about a year or so ago. The line was awful & there were people checking in for flights that were over 4 hours later. (Really people? I'm assuming they lost all their gambling budget!). We were there at 2 hours or even slightly over & it actually came down to where we were close to getting cut-off.

HOWEVER, the agent (This was AirTran also), when it got to be a 'crunch' time, stopped the line - made a broadcast for any passengers on Flight## to Milwaukee who had not checked in - step to this window. They stopped all other boarding & processed those passengers first to ensure they all made it & their bags made it. I would not be surprised if many of the other passengers checking in ahead of the OP were actually on considerably later flights & were just being 'extra-careful' early, thereby actually causing delays for the earlier faliers. And even arriving 2 hours plus ahead myself, there were at least 20 people for my flight considerably further back in line behind me - and they didn't just show up at the last minute either! So in my situation the airlines did a very pro-active measure to make sure everyone got where they needed to go.

I think something like this should have been done, and that is why I think there was not any supervisory type person at the check in counter at that particular time of day.

I had drawn an analogy between my office and the situation at the airport. I am a doctor, and, if for some reason, I am running behind, the patients who are waiting or just coming in, are informed of that, and are given the option to wait, or reschedule. One of our nurses is sick, and will be out for an indeterminate time, and we have a sign posted that we are short staffed, and can't do nurse only type visits, like BP checks. When there is only one doctor in the office, we post a sign that the doctor can't see drug reps. It is inconvenient, I know, for the people involved, but, at least they know what's going on. It is common courtesy. It would have been common courtesy for one of the airline employees to call for those on our flight to check in before those for later flights. Actually, there were a number of parties boarding the plane even after we did (and, incidentally, there was room in the overhead bin above our seat where our bags could have fit had we been allowed to bring them aboard). We got to the gate about 6:45, and the plane didn't actually leave until about 7:15. So, we were really not all that late. I just feel that communication could have been improved.