No price adjustments on Airtran?

[Michelina]

I am very disappointed with Airtran. I booked flights from BWI to MCO on the 16th which was the last day of their fare sale for Travel 1/1/04-1/6/04. $339.00 for 2 tickets which I thought was a decent price. Today while browsing their website I see the exact same flights are now $291.00. I called to see if they would adjust the price I paid or at least give me credit for future travel which is what Delta and US Air have done in the past. The reservation agent said "No, we don't do that."
Has anyone else ever run into this with them? Was there any recourse?
Thanks for listening

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Michelina
I am very disappointed with Airtran. I booked flights from BWI to MCO on the 16th which was the last day of their fare sale for Travel 1/1/04-1/6/04. $339.00 for 2 tickets which I thought was a decent price. Today while browsing their website I see the exact same flights are now $291.00. I called to see if they would adjust the price I paid or at least give me credit for future travel which is what Delta and US Air have done in the past. The reservation agent said "No, we don't do that."
Has anyone else ever run into this with them? Was there any recourse?
Thanks for listening

If that is their rule, then there is no recourse.

 

[Firedog]

I ran into the same thing last year. The difference was on about $14, but we had five tickets. They said the only thing to do would be cancel the current reservations, and book the new, cheaper ones, but that there was a $50 cancellation fee, per ticket. So...

 

[princess crazy]

It clearly states on their website that you can't do this and they also tell you this if you call the 800 # to book. As the previous poster said they will tell you that you can cancel for $50/ticket and rebook.

Years ago when we flew them for the first time it was all a part of my comparing and checking-- and yes they have good fares but I also had to take into consideration that I would'nt be able to get a lower fare if the prices went down. That did'nt bother me but then I thouroughly check things out before I buy or purchase anything-- You really do have to ask all the ???'s before you book something for the first time. Not all airlines are the same. With that being said they are a pretty good airline in my opinion for a pretty good fare compared to others. But, it also depends on where you're flying out of and the convience to you also. For us Airtran is the cheapest airline to fly out of our hometown so I book them everytime when it comes to Disney and if the price goes down after I book well then I have to take the risk of waiting to book later to see if the fares will go down or book now and be assured of my seats and flight.

Actually the fare price of $339 is a pretty great price--we can't fly out of our hometown for any less than a little over $200/person and this time our tickets were $229.50 each so I would say you got a pretty good deal! I know though anytime you can save $$$ it's a good feeling and I too feel let down when my fares go down after I book but as I said that's just a risk I have to be willing to take.

 

[mcnuss]

For some reason, people think that the airlines are under some obligation to adjust the price of tickets if the price goes down. I do not personally understand the logic of this. You have bought a non-refundable ticket. When you bought it, you bought it at the best price available at the time. In contract terms, the offer was made, you accepted, made consideration in the form of payment: deal closed, no refunds. It is one of the risks (the others being changes to your seats and flight times) you take when you buy a ticket way far in advance, and why I always caution against this unless you are traveling at peak or holiday times.

My advice is 1) know the airline's policies before you buy and 2) don't keep running the numbers after you buy bc you'll just make yourself nutty!

 

[skiwee1]

I called about this last year and was told the same thing. Meanwhile we had to cancel our flight altogether as my mother didn't want to fly with the SARS stuff going around. I called Airtran and the lady was very nice and gave me the entire amount on credit to be used in a year. We decided to fly this coming trip and with using the credit and good deals we got 4 tickets instead of the original 3. The lady also didn't charge us anything for canceling. We received our full credit.

 

[Lewisc]

Well said. How would you like it if the airline called you up and said the price of tickets went up and asked you for a price adjustment?

Airlines have different policies and people really should check BEFORE buying tickets.

Originally posted by mcnuss
For some reason, people think that the airlines are under some obligation to adjust the price of tickets if the price goes down. I do not personally understand the logic of this. You have bought a non-refundable ticket. When you bought it, you bought it at the best price available at the time. In contract terms, the offer was made, you accepted, made consideration in the form of payment: deal closed, no refunds. It is one of the risks (the others being changes to your seats and flight times) you take when you buy a ticket way far in advance, and why I always caution against this unless you are traveling at peak or holiday times.

My advice is 1) know the airline's policies before you buy and 2) don't keep running the numbers after you buy bc you'll just make yourself nutty!

 

[Charleneluvsdisney]

Gee, I am a loyal Southwest customer because of their policy of allowing to re-book at a lower price without penalty. I know I will never have to worry about a lower fare coming up and not being able to take advantage of it (I have taken advantage of this a few times). Do they have to do this? NO, but is it great customer service YES! and Southwest chooses to offer it to help out their customers and it obviously makes me happy. I think it is a smart move as I only fly their airline and I do go to Orlando 2 times a year. I am dissapointed that AirTran does not do this and actually came over to this board to post my upcoming dilemma (if you want to call it that)

I won 2 round trip tickets on Airtran anywhere they fly through a contest on a radio station. The problem is that I need 3 tickets. I can book at any price for the 2, but was looking for a sale price for the 3rd. ticket. We go to Orlando every March and the dates/times that I need are pretty high at this point. I was hoping to book all three and then recieve a credit or something if the price went down. Now I am not sure what I am going to do. Even though I am getting 2 free tickets, I do not want to pay through the nose for the 3rd.

I will keep watching for sales, but the other alternative is that I think I will send my husband on Southwest for a guaranteed cheap flight and me and my son will take the 2 free tix on Airtran.

 

[mcnuss]

Originally posted by Charleneluvsdisney

I won 2 round trip tickets on Airtran anywhere they fly through a contest on a radio station. The problem is that I need 3 tickets. I can book at any price for the 2, but was looking for a sale price for the 3rd. ticket. We go to Orlando every March and the dates/times that I need are pretty high at this point. I was hoping to book all three and then recieve a credit or something if the price went down. Now I am not sure what I am going to do. Even though I am getting 2 free tickets, I do not want to pay through the nose for the 3rd.

I will keep watching for sales, but the other alternative is that I think I will send my husband on Southwest for a guaranteed cheap flight and me and my son will take the 2 free tix on Airtran.

I think the way to look at paying a high fare for the third ticket is to average the cost of it across the 3 of you, in which case it will look pretty cheap.

Also, SW is not always a guaranteed cheap flight. Many airlines match their prices - though not their policies - on the same routes. So, for instance, when I go to Chicago, I fly United for the same price, or often less, than SW bc they compete on that route.

 

[Charleneluvsdisney]

I know - how cheap can I be!!!!!!!!! I was just more dissapointed that I wouldn't get a credit for future use if the price went down. We usually go twice a year, so Airtran probably would have gotten repeat business from me if I had the credit.

Oh well, I will make it work somehow, I have even thought of selling the voucher on Ebay as it doesn't have anything attached to it other than a redemption #. My name is not on it anywhere.

 

[mcnuss]

But what if what you get for it does not cover the cost of two purchased tickets?

 

[Charleneluvsdisney]

I don't think I would have a problem as there are numerous airline tickets currently going for over $250 for one round trip ticket. But you never know, as I didn't see anything out there for Airtran to compare to. We have never paid more than $99 each way on Southwest, so as I see it, the potential to scoop up 3 free tickets is there along with a direct flight instead of a lay over with Airtran.

Either way I can't complain - I still won 2 free tickets to bring my expenses down for my upcoming trip!

 

[Lucky'sMom]

I booked 5 tickets at $150/each (a great deal) but a day or two later the price went to $140/each. With taxes and other fees it amounted to a $100 difference for the 5 tickets. I called them to see if I could the lower price. The agent put me on hold, talked to her manager, and then gave me a $100 credit for future travel reserved under my confirmation number. This just happened about a month ago. ( Pittsburgh to Orlando)

 

[Snurk71]

Lucky'sMom - was this Airtran who gave you a credit?

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Yes, this was Airtran.

 

[Charleneluvsdisney]

Thanks for the info! I think I will call and find out if that will work for me.

 

[welovedis]

Lucky's mom-you were indeed lucky as that is the first time I have heard of them giving a credit due to a fare change.

I fly them lots now and have had good experiences each time we have flown. I like them better than SWA because AirTran flies out of our airport--if we fly SWA we have to drive an hour to Buffalo and then pay to park our van for the length of the trip-adds up! Also I don't care at all for SWA and their "cattle call" type of boarding. With AirTran you can choose your seats starting 24 hours before your flight. Plus they offer the $35 business class upgrade at the airport if you want to upgrade.

Overall, I've been very happy with AirTran. I agree with the other poster who said that once the tixs are bought, stop checking-just enjoy the fact that you will be on your vacation before you know it! Have a great trip !

 

[mcnuss]

It's possible that you got the credit bc the change was within 24 hours. There is some rule now about tickets not being "final" for 24 hours - I think it's an FAA reg that came about a few years ago when everyone was screaming about the airlines' unfair practices.