lowdown on Southwest vs Airtran

[3kidz4dis]

We have always flown Southwest but for our trip in May their fares are high....$120.00 BWI to Orlando....so I checked into Airtran and they are $67 plus $15 per bag and I noticed that it is $6.00 per person to get a seat assigment and they charge $75 to cancel a reservation unlike Southwest.

I guess I am wondering if I should just wait for the southwest fares to come down although I am not thrilled with paying extra to get an "A" seat assigment.

Am I missing anything between these 2? should I wait for Southwest or is Airtran a good choice? Thanks!

 

[ancestry]

We really like Air Tran for the most part. My only "complaint" with them is that they frequently change their flight times and flight schedules. If Air Tran is a good price and a good savings for you then I would suggest booking with them as long as you are some what flexible on the flight times as they do have a habit of changing a lot. If they change your flight time by more than a few minutes they usually allow you to select a different flight without charging a change fee. They have allowed me to change flights any time that my original flight has changed by more than 30 minutes -- although others have reported that they only allow this when the original flight has changed by more than 2 hours.

 

[sters]

Do you get an assigned seat on Air Tran? My beef with Southwest, especially now that they charge a pre-boarding fee that is very expensive for a family, is the energy you have to invest to get seats together. I might consider Air Tran on our next trip.

 

[pearljim]

I believe the SWAir pre-boarding fee is optional, not a requirement.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

You can pay for a specific seat assignment. Or wait till you check in and a seat assignment will be assigned to you by Airtran at no charge.

Do you get an assigned seat on Air Tran? My beef with Southwest, especially now that they charge a pre-boarding fee that is very expensive for a family, is the energy you have to invest to get seats together. I might consider Air Tran on our next trip.

 

[ancestry]

You do not have to pay for a seat assignment on Air Tran. HOWEVER, if you choose to not purchase the seat assignment in advance you should be prepared for your group to be split up. Chances of you being seated together without paying for the seat assignments are slim. When traveling with adults or my older children we usually pass on the seat assignment fees. However, when I travel with my younger two children I always pay the seat assignment fees as they would not handle having to sit by strangers for multiple hours very well.

 

[wdwnomad]

If you book AirTran through kayak.com you don't have to pay for seat assignments. Since you are flying into and out of BWI where AirTran has multiple flights a day to Orlando I wouldn't worry about if the flight times change. If they change it to a time that doesn't work out for you just call them and ask to be put on another flight. It is really simple. I have done it many times and never had a problem. Another advantage AirTran has over Southwest is they participate in Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) at every Disney resort, if you are staying on Disney property. Southwest does participate but only at the value resorts.

With all that said, I would book AirTran even with their baggage fees. I have used both airlines and normally go with whoever is cheaper.

 

[maciec]

I always use Airtran out of BWI and they have changed our flight times once by 5 minutes. Since I learned about Kayak, we never pay for our seats. I have flown SWA and they are great also, but I don't like the idea that I don't have an assigned seat. I guess it's a control issue for me.

Don't forget though with Airtran you have to pay $15 for each checked bag also. So add that into your cost as well.

 

[sters]

I believe the SWAir pre-boarding fee is optional, not a requirement.

If the majority of people leaving Orlando pays for this and i want a prayer of sitting with my family, then it is no longer optional. It becomes a hidden fee.

 

[freewill]

How comfortable are the AirTran seats as compared with Southwest? I'm 6 feet and worried about the leg room.

Thanks

 

[TDC Nala]

Airtran seats appear to have less legroom than Southwest's. Compare on www.seatguru.com

On Airtran you do have the option of upgrading to business class.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

If the majority of people leaving Orlando pays for this and i want a prayer of sitting with my family, then it is no longer optional. It becomes a hidden fee.

Rest assured - the majority is not doing this.

I flew 1/1 on a completely full flight and I was A25 with EBCI. A30 did NOT buy it - so at most 15 people paid for it.

Out of 4 flights with EBCI, not one had more than 20 people who paid the fee.

It is such a convenience for me NOT to have to be at guest relations, by a computer, or on the phone to check in at 24 hours. So I will probably continue to buy it.

 

[3kidz4dis]

If you book AirTran through kayak.com you don't have to pay for seat assignments. Since you are flying into and out of BWI where AirTran has multiple flights a day to Orlando I wouldn't worry about if the flight times change. If they change it to a time that doesn't work out for you just call them and ask to be put on another flight. It is really simple. I have done it many times and never had a problem. Another advantage AirTran has over Southwest is they participate in Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) at every Disney resort, if you are staying on Disney property. Southwest does participate but only at the value resorts.

With all that said, I would book AirTran even with their baggage fees. I have used both airlines and normally go with whoever is cheaper.

If you book with Kayak, does that limit the ability to have Airtran move you to a more expensive flight if your flight time is changed since you are not dealing with Airtran directly?

 

[3kidz4dis]

If you book AirTran through kayak.com you don't have to pay for seat assignments. Since you are flying into and out of BWI where AirTran has multiple flights a day to Orlando I wouldn't worry about if the flight times change. If they change it to a time that doesn't work out for you just call them and ask to be put on another flight. It is really simple. I have done it many times and never had a problem. Another advantage AirTran has over Southwest is they participate in Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) at every Disney resort, if you are staying on Disney property. Southwest does participate but only at the value resorts.

With all that said, I would book AirTran even with their baggage fees. I have used both airlines and normally go with whoever is cheaper.

when you use the resort check in, do you have to use DME? We usually rent a car and drive ourselves back to the airport....also does using Kayak prevent you from having Airtran change your flight to a more expensive flight without a charge if the flight gets changed since you did not book with them directly?

 

[wdwnomad]

when you use the resort check in, do you have to use DME? We usually rent a car and drive ourselves back to the airport....also does using Kayak prevent you from having Airtran change your flight to a more expensive flight without a charge if the flight gets changed since you did not book with them directly?

No, you don't have to ride the DME bus back to MCO if you used RAC. All Disney Resort guests can use RAC.

Also, using kayak does not change the way you book/change your flights. You actually do book them directly with Airtran. Kayak is more of a "search engine" of prices. When you search for your flights one of the results will be the prices from the Airtran site. You click on that price/link and Airtran's site will load and you book from there.

 

[snowbunny]

If the majority of people leaving Orlando pays for this and i want a prayer of sitting with my family, then it is no longer optional. It becomes a hidden fee.

Not so. If you don't mind sitting somewhere other than the first 10 rows of the plane, there will be plenty of open seats.

 

[Chelley00]

If you book AirTran through kayak.com you don't have to pay for seat assignments. r.

This.

 

[3kidz4dis]

I am a little nervous about that if our flight schedule is changed all the surrounding flights are not non stop but the difference in price makes it worth a try...I will book and keep my fingers crossed Thanks for the help!

 

[kemommy]

How do you avoid paying the seat assignment fees on Airtran flights through Kayak? I do not see how to actually book a flight on this site, only to search it. Am I missing something? I am not logged in, do I need to be logged in to purchase?

Thanks

Bev

 

[npmommie]

How do you avoid paying the seat assignment fees on Airtran flights through Kayak? I do not see how to actually book a flight on this site, only to search it. Am I missing something? I am not logged in, do I need to be logged in to purchase?

Thanks

Bev

when you go to Kayak and do your search, when the Air Tran flight comes up you click on select,and a little box will open up with sites to choose from , one will be Air Tran, you click on Go and it redirects you to the Air Tran site and you book directly through them. and when you get to the seat choice it comes up $0