Need help from all Airtran experts

[Jenwdwfan]

I booked my flight down on 6/24/09 some time ago and have been waiting for Airtran to open up the schedule for 6/30/09. Well, it finally comes up, but the only fare available from Orlando to Harrisburg PA is $304.00 and yes, this is one way. I'm now worried. Since Airtran is new to Harrisburg I'm not very familiar with the way they do rates. Did I miss out and am now stuck with this fare? Is it possible it will come down? If so what do you think the chances are? I got my fare from Harrisburg to Orlando for $79.00. The fares flying home from Orlando are 79.00 up to 6/28/09. I'm so confused and stressing. Hoping anyone out there has some reassuring thoughts!

Thanks in advance!

Jen

 

[Traveliz]

I use Airtran from Central Illinois frequently.

I have found the price fluctuates right up til the end. At this point you are WAY early to book (in my opinion).

I often watch a bit and see where the low price is - although I do know what is the lowest they have gone here and when it nears there I jump on it.

I booked a one way from Orlando to here on Monday for today and it was only 106.00 -- it had been all over the map prior to now. I wouldn't recommend waiting that long however we have a college student there so we have to work with her schedule.

Liz

 

[may_baby06]

you can keep checking online. They usually lower their fares. We are from Harrisburg and i checked to see the prices but being that it was really new it was $109 and we could fly out of baltimore cheaper so thats what we did. Now the flights out are around $78. I would wait a little bit and just keep checking.

 

[Jenwdwfan]

Thank you for the responses so far. I plan on checking every day! I'm just confused as to why on 6/28/09 the fares are at $79.00 but for the days following they are only offering $304.00 fares. It almost seems like because it's getting closer to July 4th they won't offer anything lower and that concerns me. I booked the flight down because it's such a good rate and it's tough to get anything that low out of Harrisburg.

Any other thoughts are much appreciated!

Jen

 

[cbrfan]

Not sure when AirTran released those dates, but they typically have sky high fares when first released. They come down later on and then go up and down after that. I agree with the PP that you should book the trip down if it's what you're willing to pay and wait on the return trip. But being that close to the holiday I would jump on whatever fare is in your price range for the return and then call for the credit if the fare goes down even further after you book. Sure, it may (or may not) cost you the $15 pp phone fee, but, technically, they don't have to give you anything back.
Also, AirTran does change their schedule quite a bit so don't book based solely on flight times or for a non-stop. Be aware that times may change and non-stops may get changed to a layover. But AirTran is very easy to work with if they change your flight. You'll be allowed to pick from any available flight of your choosing, even if it's a more expensive flight or departs a day earlier or later than you originally scheduled at no additional charge. If you don't find anything you like, they'll refund your money. Just check your flights frequently and jump on the chance to switch to a better flight if the situation arises. As with travel on ANY airline, don't plan anything must-do or non-refundable on your arrival or departure day in anticipation of a flight change, delay or cancellation.

 

[Jenwdwfan]

This actually gets more bizarre, now the dates b4 and after 6/30/09 have the $79.00 fare and the same fare is available if you book through travelocity, however Airtrans site still doesn't have anything other than the $304.00. I called Airtran and their answer is basically those fares just haven't loaded yet, but will. What??? I questioned how this is possible as the fares are loaded for all the dates surrounded it but that one, same response, just haven't loaded it yet.

Oh, and while I guess it's possible they could change the time or make it a layover, there is actually only 1 flight a day to and from Orlando, so not sure how much room there is for changes, and obviously no option for me to change to. Airtran is brand new to Harrisburg and this is all they offer.

I just don't understand how the fare is available elsewhere but not on airtran. Weird!

Jen

 

[bookwormde]

PHL does not have web fares for late June either.

The web fares are only out through 6/26 (matching SW’s dates) just be patient and in a month or 2 (maybe sooner) the web fares should show up for the return flight.

bookwormde

 

[bzzelady]

Same thing happened to me-the June 14th schedule has been there for several weeks but the June 25th schedule was not posted until early yesterday morning, but with the sky high fares only. This afternoon, the lower fares appeared and I booked this evening. I got $59 from Philadelphia and $79 on the return

Thought about using MDT (Harrisburg), but didn't want to drag my butt to the ME bus for that early flight coming back
If Air Tran messes with the schedules or adds stops for either of my flights , I may call them and try to change airports as I have nonstop flights right now going from PHL.

 

[cbrfan]

This actually gets more bizarre, now the dates b4 and after 6/30/09 have the $79.00 fare and the same fare is available if you book through travelocity, however Airtrans site still doesn't have anything other than the $304.00. I called Airtran and their answer is basically those fares just haven't loaded yet, but will. What??? I questioned how this is possible as the fares are loaded for all the dates surrounded it but that one, same response, just haven't loaded it yet.

Oh, and while I guess it's possible they could change the time or make it a layover, there is actually only 1 flight a day to and from Orlando, so not sure how much room there is for changes, and obviously no option for me to change to. Airtran is brand new to Harrisburg and this is all they offer.

I just don't understand how the fare is available elsewhere but not on airtran. Weird!

It's been my experience that if you tried to book those fares through Travelocity they wouldn't be able to process them. From what I've seen in the past, if you watch AirTran's site you'll see those $79 fares show up once they get everything loaded in. Actually, I just checked. They're posted now!!

 

[Jenwdwfan]

Thought about using MDT (Harrisburg), but didn't want to drag my butt to the ME bus for that early flight coming back

I so know what you are talking about, but MDT (Harrisburg) is 25 min from my house and PHL about 1 1/2 hours just couldn't face the drive so will wake up at 4:30am and make the best of it. I figure I can sleep when I get home

Just an update, Airtran finally loaded web fares for 6/30/09. I am so releaved!

Thanks to everyone!

Jen

 

[cbrfan]

Thought about using MDT (Harrisburg), but didn't want to drag my butt to the ME bus for that early flight coming back

I so know what you are talking about, but MDT (Harrisburg) is 25 min from my house and PHL about 1 1/2 hours just couldn't face the drive so will wake up at 4:30am and make the best of it. I figure I can sleep when I get home

Just an update, Airtran finally loaded web fares for 6/30/09. I am so releaved!

Thanks to everyone!

Jen

I don't how many tickets you're booking, but AirTran is running a promo right now to get free flight credits for purchasing gift certificates. If you're purchasing tickets anyway it's worth your while to purchase certificates and immediately use them to purchase your tickets. Check AirTran's site for more info or if you have any questions I can try to answer them for you.

 

[bzzelady]

I saw this on the site last night after I booked my airfare...if I had seen it before, I would have bought the certificates first and then made my airfare purchase.
I am seriously thinking about putting the money out now in gift certificates for my August and October airfares for the extra A+ Rewards

 

[cbrfan]

I saw this on the site last night after I booked my airfare...if I had seen it before, I would have bought the certificates first and then made my airfare purchase.
I am seriously thinking about putting the money out now in gift certificates for my August and October airfares for the extra A+ Rewards

We did that and it was well worth the upfront investment. It also makes it easier to decide to take an impromptu trip to visit the mouse - "Well, the airfare is paid for........".

 

[Melrosgirl]

I'm flying from Harrisburg to Orlando next month. I originally booked in September for $120 each way. The flight is now at $95 each way (something like that).

Airtran wants to charge me $20 a ticket to make the changes.

 

[cbrfan]

I'm flying from Harrisburg to Orlando next month. I originally booked in September for $120 each way. The flight is now at $95 each way (something like that).

Airtran wants to charge me $20 a ticket to make the changes.

The $20 is the phone fee. AirTran doesn't have a policy to issue a credit for a lower fare, they do it as a courtesy. Their official policy is that there is a $75 charge for the change. In your case, it wouldn't make sense to take the credit because of the 1st checked bag fee that went into effect after you booked. If you took the credit it becomes a new booking and you'd be subject to the first checked bag fee. You're farther ahead to stay with what you have. Unless you're only taking carryon luggage. Then you'd have a $10 credit toward a future flight ($25 price difference - $20 phone fee = $5 credit each way). I'd still stay with what you have just in case you or someone traveling with you needs to check a bag.

 

[Melrosgirl]

The $20 is the phone fee. AirTran doesn't have a policy to issue a credit for a lower fare, they do it as a courtesy. Their official policy is that there is a $75 charge for the change. In your case, it wouldn't make sense to take the credit because of the 1st checked bag fee that went into effect after you booked. If you took the credit it becomes a new booking and you'd be subject to the first checked bag fee. You're farther ahead to stay with what you have. Unless you're only taking carryon luggage. Then you'd have a $10 credit toward a future flight ($25 price difference - $20 phone fee = $5 credit each way). I'd still stay with what you have just in case you or someone traveling with you needs to check a bag.

That's what I told them. I told them to forget it. I'd end up with $100 credit when all was said and done, but since we're cruising, I'm not sure how much luggage I'll have, LOL, and the hassle of changing everything wasn't worth $100 (or $10 or whatever it would end up being after the fees.)

Besides no guarantee Airtran will be around next year so I could use my "credits."

Oh last year they did the same thing. Changed my times. I was able to cancel with NO FEES bc of the flight change. I then went online and rebooked the same flight which was cheaper.

 

[magicalfoursome]

Jenwdwfan,
I understand your frustration. I booked a flight from Philly to Orlando on AirTran for $59pp. I want an evening flight back on 7/2 and the rate is over $300pp!! I check the days before and after 7/2 and they offer fares of $99pp on all their flights including evening. I could take a $99 flight at 3:40 pm but I like to leave as late as possible to squeeze as much vacation time in as I can! I checked travelocity and they offered a $59 evening flight but the add-on charges are more than the flight!! I will keep checking AirTran everyday and wait for Southwest to open July.

 

[UtzigTravel]

I just called Airtran for our upcoming trip in January.

We had booked on 11/11/08, the day before the luggage charges.

Our rate dropped $224.00, so we got a credit for 224.00, no fees etc.. And the booking date did not change! So no luggage fees for us!