Just geard SW bought Airtran...hope this helps my budget!

[FINFAN]

We need to fly into Sarasota a lot and SW does not go there but Airtran does...would LOVE if SW took over and we had no luggage fees since it we fly there to move DD in/out of college!

 

[Marionnette]

We need to fly into Sarasota a lot and SW does not go there but Airtran does...would LOVE if SW took over and we had no luggage fees since it we fly there to move DD in/out of college!

Good news for you. Not so good news for others. We have both southwest and airtran in our closest airport. They service many of the same cities from there. Chances are good that there will be fewer flights from my home airport to those cities now. And prices will rise with the loss of competition.

 

[mrsklamc]

Yup. Prices are going to be going up here too. Especially to Orlando.

 

[mantaz]

This means we are finally getting southwest at Atlanta Hartsfield airport. I am excited by the possibilities! We'll see what this brings.

 

[FINFAN]

I agree the prices for the flights will go up...heck, our usual fligth from Chicago -Sarasota is up $48 per person one way already on the Air Tran site, however, if the no change fee is implemented, I am willing to go with the increase, AND if the luggage fees are dropped. Now, as to the AT price I see otday, that has jumped the equivalent of 3 bags and if there are STILL fees...then that pretty much puts thsoe rates right there with every other carrier and NO budget airlines.

 

[mom2aredhead]

We're losing Continental, the biggest airline at Newark Airport (EWR) since they are being taken over by United. However, Southwest is going to start flying out of there because they purchased some of the "slots" from Continental. They have not announced the routes/destinations yet.

Now they'll also be at LaGuardia and Atlantic City as part of the AirTran deal. I'm hoping that the addition of a low cost carrier like Southwest in this area will help stabilize the fees that were going to rise when we lose Continental.

 

[mistysue]

I have to say I had a mini panic attack when I opened the email to mentioned it this morning. We fly airtran because it is $99 to a number of places, but Southwest is usually at least double. (and the airport they use is over an hour away) I'm hoping the price meets somewhere in the middle rather than just going to the higher rate!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Less competition is NEVER good for the consumer.

I am expecting fewer flights & higher prices.

If JetBlue is smart they'll make a bid for PHL.

 

[gracie1]

I had switched from usairways to airtran to save some money. I am not a SW flyer at all, so back to usairways for me.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

Good news for you. Not so good news for others. We have both southwest and airtran in our closest airport. They service many of the same cities from there. Chances are good that there will be fewer flights from my home airport to those cities now. And prices will rise with the loss of competition.

Yup. Prices are going to be going up here too. Especially to Orlando.

Yup to both of you! Southwest and Airtran are the only airlines that offer non-stops to MCO from my airport. No competition, increased fares, no thanks!

 

[Green Tea]

I had switched from usairways to airtran to save some money. I am not a SW flyer at all, so back to usairways for me.

Just my curiosity....Why do you refuse to fly Southwest?

 

[mom2val]

I won't fly Southwest for fear of their "fat police". I am scared to death of being singled out for being fat. When I fly it's with my dh and dd. We buy 3 seats side by side. I have no problem fitting with my family. I would die though if I was singled out. I will never get on a Southwest plane.

 

[mrsklamc]

I thought all airlines did that.

 

[wmharley]

My #1 destination, and that of my extended family, is from MCO to San Juan. MCO really only has Airtran, Spirit and Jetblue flying. There is AA but they are 1-stop to Miami. I live closer to Tampa, but Tampa has AA from 6am, which won't work for me.

I always take JB due to the baggage policy and snacks and price. Now that SW will take over Airtran, if they institute the baggage rates, I'll consider flying them, although I HATE 737s. But what is better for me is that JB announced this month they will fly from Tampa next year. So I now have some increased competition and pricing. woot.

 

[Smile4Me]

While I agree no competition is bad, I look at it as a promising opportunity. I can live with a little bit higher prices, but no baggage fees! I hope it doesn't mean less flights, because then you are putting people out of jobs. Hopefully as Southwest takes over they just extend their brand to the AirTran planes and keep them in the air.

 

[Marionnette]

While I agree no competition is bad, I look at it as a promising opportunity. I can live with a little bit higher prices, but no baggage fees! I hope it doesn't mean less flights, because then you are putting people out of jobs. Hopefully as Southwest takes over they just extend their brand to the AirTran planes and keep them in the air.

I envision cutbacks in certain markets. For instance take pit to mco. I chose a random date. Airtran has a flight departing pit for mco at 7:50 and southwest has one leaving at 7:20. Do you really think that those two flights will be around after the take over? We wont just see reduced flights. Baggage handlers will be laid off. So will reservation clerks. And personnel that service the gates and planes. But Im sure that usair is happy to see the competition absorb another competitor.

 

[bumbershoot]

I won't fly Southwest for fear of their "fat police". I am scared to death of being singled out for being fat. When I fly it's with my dh and dd. We buy 3 seats side by side. I have no problem fitting with my family. I would die though if I was singled out. I will never get on a Southwest plane.

It can happen on ALL airlines.

The ONLY airline that hubby has ever been made to feel uncomfortable was on Jazz (a Canadian airline).

DH is approx 5'11" and is a bit over 300, and he doesn't even have to wear seatbelt extenders on most airplanes anymore (not on SW), and he's NEVER been asked to buy a second seat, even though he's built like a sumo. Then again, he contorts himself in his seat so he doesn't touch others, but ticketing/gate agents don't know that...

He wasn't asked to buy a second seat even when he did have to use the extenders on most airlines...

I wouldn't worry about this, unless you're worried about it for ALL airlines...

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Whether this is good or not is ENTIRELY dependent on your market.

Dallas has 2 airports - DFW and DAL. Due to some odd anti-compete things, SW ONLY flies out of DAL (the smaller airport). AirTran and American fly out of DFW. It has already been announced that SW will NOT be flying out of DFW. Period. SW does not have permission to fly in and out of DFW, so that's the end of that. More available gates at DFW once AirTran is gone, so American should be pleased.

This means that for the Dallas market, AirTran is just out of the picture. SW already flies to Orlando, but due to those wonky regulations there are NO non-stop flights to Orlando. Taking away the non-stop AirTran flight from DFW DOES NOT benefit me, it just knocks one airline out of competition! The restrictions on flights in and out of DAL mean that the routes SW might gain will still be governed by those rules. The flights can't go non-stop to a LOT of destinations.

SW fares have been higher than American and AirTran lately, so now I get to pay more AND stop going to and coming from Orlando? Um, I don't think so! We'll be back on American, paying whatever they feel like charging.

A lot of people on SW's FaceBook page seem to think SW will just step in and fly ALL of AirTran's routes. There is NO TELLING what routes they will fly, what markets they will keep or cut, whatever. Until it is fully implemented I think it is too early to be all excited. Due to the regulations in place here, I am not going to be excited for a LONG time. The regulations on flights in and out of DAL are slated to be repealed in 2014.

 

[mom2val]

It can happen on ALL airlines.

The ONLY airline that hubby has ever been made to feel uncomfortable was on Jazz (a Canadian airline).

DH is approx 5'11" and is a bit over 300, and he doesn't even have to wear seatbelt extenders on most airplanes anymore (not on SW), and he's NEVER been asked to buy a second seat, even though he's built like a sumo. Then again, he contorts himself in his seat so he doesn't touch others, but ticketing/gate agents don't know that...

He wasn't asked to buy a second seat even when he did have to use the extenders on most airlines...

I wouldn't worry about this, unless you're worried about it for ALL airlines...

No i just am scared based on that film director that got singled out. I don't use an extender . I'm a size 24.

 

[kaytieeldr]

No i just am scared based on that film director that got singled out. I don't use an extender . I'm a size 24.

Okay, he bought two seats, then flew standby and got put on a flight where there was only one seat available. That's not a situation in which you're likely to find yourself, ever. Anyone concerned about Southwest's Customer of Size policy - which is really very reasonable, including a refund of the second fare if the flight isn't full! - can read about it on the airline's website.