New Airtran fee?

[Inkmahm]

I checked my mother in online for her flight today on Airtran. After asking if we wanted to update to Business class, the next screen asked if she wanted to pay an additional $5 for priority boarding (I think that's what they called it.) She would board as group 2 instead of general boarding. I said "no" and finished the check in. She is group 3 for boarding (although I know she will really be group 1 as she is in a wheelchair.) Airtran calls the groups to board so fast that I really don't see moving from group 3 to group 2 as being worth $5.

Is this something Airtran added recently? I've never seen this $5 option before.

 

[Inkmahm]

No one else has noticed this fee?

 

[ancestry]

Yes I've noticed it. I believe it started shortly after they started charging for luggage. The supposed benefit is that you get to board early enough that you are basically guaranteed overhead bin space for your luggage. On a full flight if you are the last to board (zone 7 or 8) often there is no space left in the bins for your luggage and you end up being forced to have it checked.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not as a separate fee, but then I've never actually reserved an AirTran flight - but if you look at the seating chart, there are some seats in coach that are $6 to reserve in advance, and some that are $13 to reserve in advance. The $13 seats allow the passengers to board in zone 1 - so if you were given the option to get one for only $5 more, that's a bargain

 

[Pinnie]

Yeah, it's been around for a bit. Last week when I flew them, I really needed to make a tight connection and I really wanted to keep my carry on stuff with me and not gate check it. When I went to print up my boarding pass, I noticed I was in zone 7 and the potential for not having bin space by that time was high. I ended up paying the extra $5 so I could board in zone 2.

pinnie

 

[Inkmahm]

Interesting. I guess I never noticed it before because when DH and I fly, I reserve exit row seats and then upgrade us to business class in most cases. When I didn't upgrade us was in March when we flew with my nieces, mom, etc. We checked our luggage in at the resort and got our boarding passes there. I never saw the check in screens so I never saw the $5 option.

 

[kifuller4]

does anyone know if you have a person in your party with a disability, does only that person get to board first or everyone in the party. We are going with my cousin who has MS and walks with a cane. Will she be able to board early? My DD are 6 and 8... does that give us any kind of priority?

TIA

 

[Donut23]

Yes, it's a brand new fee. Most of the legacy airlines have picked it up as well.

 

[kaytieeldr]

does anyone know if you have a person in your party with a disability, does only that person get to board first or everyone in the party. We are going with my cousin who has MS and walks with a cane. Will she be able to board early? My DD are 6 and 8... does that give us any kind of priority?

TIA

I would expect only the person who needs the extra boarding time and possibly one person to assist them would be allowed to preboard. It's highly unlikely a person who uses a cane would need boarding assistance from multiple family members including young children - so, no, no priority.

If the entire party wants to be assured of having space for their carry-on luggage, the entire party should (a) pay the Zone 1 early boarding premium or (b) bring ONLY what will fit under the seat in front of each respective passenger.

 

[Daddio]

This fee was introduced in February of this year. Since the introduction of checked baggage fees af few years ago, overhead bin space has become a premium commodity.

David

 

[Inkmahm]

does anyone know if you have a person in your party with a disability, does only that person get to board first or everyone in the party. We are going with my cousin who has MS and walks with a cane. Will she be able to board early? My DD are 6 and 8... does that give us any kind of priority?

TIA

My mom is in a wheelchair when we travel. We always board early as it takes awhile to get her wheeled down to the plane and then the transport chair put together to be checked at the door. We all go with her (usually there is 5 or 6 of us traveling at a time.) In March, we flew Midwest to MCO and Airtran home.