Know absolutely nothing about Air Tran--give me a quick education please

[faulks family]

We are going to WDW the first week of October and usually fly SW. I believe, however, that SW now knows it is fall break for many of us in middle TN that week, so the fares are crazy high! We can fly each of us (there are 5) for about $310 RT right now from Nashville to Orlando. (The drive to the Nashville airport from our house is about 1 hour.) My husband just figured out that we could drive to Huntsville (about a 2 hour drive from our house) and fly Air Tran for about $180 RT per person. So we are looking at $1760 total from Nashville vs. about $900 total from Huntsville.

How does Air Tran compare to SW? Is that monetary savings worth it? I really could use some advice...please give me any you can offer. Thanks!

 

[Missytara]

For me, it is worth the couple of extra dollars to go Airtran, even though SW now does participate in RAC.

I don't like the hassle of being somewhere near a computer at the 24 hour mark, just to get a boarding number. I like picking my seat.

Now, I cannot verify this year, because SW has not released my time periods yet, but last year, even with the $6.00 seat fee and the $15.00 baggage fee, AT was still $50.00 less last year at the same time.

 

[Inkmahm]

I never fly SW because I always seem to get better flight times and prices on Airtran out of Milwaukee. For an extra hour travel to save that much money, I'd definitely fly Airtran.

 

[scrawny]

Now for us it is just the opposite, we get better fares and times going out of BWI with Air tran and we like being able to pick our seats and not having to be checked in 24 hours early and line up like a cattle shute. but it all boils down to personal preferences.

Good luck!

 

[naf917]

I have flown AirTran and SW in the past and usually book with the airline that I get the better deal with. I found that lately I have been getting better deals with Airtran.

The only bad think I found with Airtran is they tend to adjust their schedules more than other airlines. So I constantly check the times to see if it has changed.

 

[Missytara]

Now for us it is just the opposite, we get better fares and times going out of BWI with Air tran and we like being able to pick our seats and not having to be checked in 24 hours early and line up like a cattle shute. but it all boils down to personal preferences.

Good luck!

Me too; I fly out of BWI and it has been cheaper the last few years, even with all the little fees.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I agree with scrawny. You'll be just fine with Airtran.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We will be flying AirTran for the first time in Oct. They have just started flying out of Grand Rapids on May 1. I am so excited to be able to fly nonstop to Orlando.