Not happy with Air Tran

[keishashadow]

Boarding sooner was not why I chose to upgrade to business class. I was using a new 22" Vera Bradley rolling duffel as a carry on. No way was that bag going underneath that plane. Twice in the last two years I've had to check my carry on, because there was no available space in the overheads. Not once, but both times my bags disappeared. The first time I never got it back, the second time it took two days for them to find it and when I finally got it back, it was filthy and stained. I moved to seat 12D only after I saw it was a priority seat in zone 1 and had called and confirmed that they would honor it. The fact that I had to waste some A+ rewards credits to upgrade to first class just to guarantee I could take that bag on, then the fact that they wouldn't refund the $15.00 bag fee I had payed earlier that morning was just the icing on the cake.

oh, you should've mentioned vera luggage to begin with

i understand as i carry the messenger bag as my 'personal item'...i also carry a small white garbage bag to stow it in before it gets shoved under the seat in front of me to keep it clean there's a reason they make most luggage black

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hmmmmm.....

Neither AirTran's own seating charts, nor those shown on seatguru indicate the locations of windows. There seems to be no way to know which rows actually have windows.


Anyone know more about this?

Yep. While I see someone has already provided specific information for AirTran's planes, how they found it:

Go to seatguru.com. Find your airline. Find your plane. Roll your cursor over the specific seat in which you're interested. A green, yellow, or red (or two-color) box will appear telling you, respectively, the good, iffy, or bad (or mixed) features of that particular seat. For example, a bulkhead seat might be half green/half yelllow - it's good for the extra legroom, iffy for the narrower seat because the tables are in the armrest and there's no underseat storage (both because, well, there's no seat in front of you ).

 

[aubriee]

This is very interesting. We have a couple of flights booked with the free Kayak seat. Booked in to what is considered "boarding zone 1". I can understand them not providing boarding zone 1 to those that got the seat for free. In the past those front several coach rows were always zone 5, 6 or 7. The front to back window to isle system is what they have used. To think about it though, how many people are really coughing up $15 per seat for the priority zone 1? I am sure if you wait until the 24 hour check in mark to select one of those same seats, you probably also don't get zone 1. So in reality, most of those seats are unassigned until check in and most people sitting in those seats are also boarding in zone 5, 6 or 6. So I don't expect overhead space to be at a minimum for our flight in less than two weeks.

It wouldn't be if everyone would use the space over their own seats to store their carryons, but they don't. Many people who have seats in the back of the plane just stick their carry ons into the first overhead they come to. I know on my flight last Sunday people who were in those first few rows of coach (boarding zone 7) had to check their carry ons, because the overhead bins above their heads were already full, before they got on. I saw people boarding with not only a carry on and a personal sized item, but with multiple additional bags. If I hadn't upgraded to first class, I would have had to check my Vera Bradley carry on, even though it was legal size and fit wheels first into the bin. What bothered me was that I had called to make sure that they would honor the boarding zone 1 for seat 12D that is advertised on their web site, but received a boarding zone 7 assignment. Then after upgrading to first class, they refused to refund the luggage fee I had paid earlier that morning.

 

[simzac]

This thread is just another reason airlines should charge for carryons. That would drastically reduce the amount of stuff being carried into the cabins. JMO

 

[Lewisc]

It's being nice at least one airline (Spirit?) specifically states bags that have to be gate checked due to full bins will be charged.

OP i understand your frustration & Im not an AT cheerleader (just cancelled a flight booked for Oct that changed drastically & not about to deal with losing a whole day of a short trip)

i do know when AT has a good idea they're going to run out of room in the overheads on full flights they (as most airlines ive patronized) make repeated announcements in the boarding area offering to check carryon's free of charge

It's not to be 'nice', they just don't have the option to of bags sitting in the aisle.There is absolutely no need to pay for business class upgrade to check a carryon if you're worried your bags won't have a place to rest.

 

[seashoreCM]

It's being nice at least one airline (Spirit?) specifically states bags that have to be gate checked due to full bins will be charged.

I kinda doubt that charging more for an involuntarily checked bag compared with the same bag permitted to be carried on will stand up in court and also any sensible credit card agent will rule in his office in the cardholder's favor should the dispute end up there first. Contract of carriage notwithstanding.

That is unconscionable and/or capricious (you'll need an Ll.D. to understand this detail).

An airline may not charge one passenger who has followed the rules more on the spot depending on the behavior of other passengers.

A lot of airlines pledged not to charge for carry-ons and in so doing painted themselves into a corner regarding managing of carry-ons and managing checked baggage charges.

 

[Lewisc]

Enforcing (and in some cases lowering) size restrictions so only bags that fit in the bins wheels in will reduce some of the issues.

Airlines didn't make a legally binding commitment with Senator Schummer.

Major airlines don't want the complaints that result from charging to gate check bags necessitated by full bins. They don't want the resultant delays. No reason why an airline can't allocate bins on a first come first served basis. Many black Friday sales have limited quantities. The store has extra stock that will be sold at a higher price after the limited quantity has been sold.

No reason why an airline can't charge or tell the passenger to leave his bag behind.

Disney has a limited number of discounted rooms available. Customers who don't make their reservations early enough pay a higher room rate. Different customers pay different prices for the same service all the time.

edited to add We're both missing the big picture. Carrryon bags contain items that shouldn't be in checked bags. Electronic items. Jewelry. Medicine. Passengers may not think to, or have time to, remove those items prior to the FA grabbing the bag and giving you a claim ticket.

 

[bsusanmb]

I LOVE Airtran for two reasons....only direct flight from Harrisburg PA to MCO, one in and one out...finally, no driving to Phila for a direct flight, and the tickets are very cheap when they have sales....now, here I am 60 years old, look younger though due to good genes, but have bilateral knee replacements. That means that each and every time I travel, I am frisked...and I am have to ask the person to please grab my belongings so no one steals them, or have my poor husband grab them along with his, and the two grandchildren we travel with ages 2 and 4...and all their gear. UGH.
I can't stand carrying all that stuff, carseats, strollers, diaper bag, toys in a carryon, and dvd players...but we have to. Fortunately we can gate check the strollers and car seats, but we have had a stroller and a car seat destroyed...but still, I am happy that we have this airline in our whistle stop airport in the capital city of PA...and I do pay to check luggage because it is too much to carry. We have tried to do carry on luggage, and have an Owner's Locker in Orlando for all of our necessities that are liquid etc...but it is just TOO much and we hold everyone up. I am happy to pay for a seat so that I know where I am sitting and that we are seated together. Living in a small town, don't mind all the rules and all the rude people who hog up the overheads...just happy to get to WDW in 2 hours rather than 8 with layovers!

 

[keishashadow]

Enforcing (and in some cases lowering) size restrictions so only bags that fit in the bins wheels in will reduce some of the issues.

Airlines didn't make a legally binding commitment with Senator Schummer.

Major airlines don't want the complaints that result from charging to gate check bags necessitated by full bins. They don't want the resultant delays. No reason why an airline can't allocate bins on a first come first served basis. Many black Friday sales have limited quantities. The store has extra stock that will be sold at a higher price after the limited quantity has been sold.

No reason why an airline can't charge or tell the passenger to leave his bag behind.

Disney has a limited number of discounted rooms available. Customers who don't make their reservations early enough pay a higher room rate. Different customers pay different prices for the same service all the time.

edited to add We're both missing the big picture. Carrryon bags contain items that shouldn't be in checked bags. Electronic items. Jewelry. Medicine. Passengers may not think to, or have time to, remove those items prior to the FA grabbing the bag and giving you a claim ticket.

airlines still depend on repeat customer loyalty; despite many who look solely for the no-frills lowest fares...many of the same ones who refuse to pay to check their bags & try to bring it all aboard with them.

if i became aware that a specific airline started charging for carryons or is considering a potential black friday melee to secure an overhead item, i'll take my business elsewhere & would venture that many others would too.

it's the airlines' responsibility to keep the cabin safe, including loose carryons that won't fit in the bins. Certainly, not a stretch to expect a non-confrontational atmosphere to secure one's allowable, personal items.

until the airlines step up & force every customer to do the box test @ the gate or leave the oversized luggage behind/check it (whatever); a certain element will keep dragging multiple over-sized bags. It doesn't matter whether result of blatant disregard for the rules or ignorance, if it's a problem' the airlines need to fix it...not turn it into a game of chance with a bin space being the kewpie doll.

As for valuables, the option is there to put them in a personal item & make it small enough to fit under seat in front of you.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Yeah, isn't that weird! Some of AirTran's rows don't have a window! We were in the very last row one time, and I thought, "at least I can look out the window while I wait to get off the plane". Nope--no window!

Oh.no...you mean there are rows without windows!!! Crap..I think we have seats in row 14 for our trip!! And I paid for all 7 of us to sit together!
How can I tell which rows have no window?

 

[loveysbydesign]

Checked my ressie and we are in rows 27 and 28...does anyone kow if there are windwos in theses rows?

 

[a1tinkfans]

I never heard of that before. Maybe you can call and ask about your flight and the window/s for your seats?

 

[Lewisc]

The CEO of Spirit has said their customers have no loyalty and only book if Spirit offers the lowest fare. Spirit continues to look for ways to reduce costs and increase fees.

I'm not going to take the time to check, Spirit might be the only airline that says they'll charge to gate check a bag if the bins are full. Spirit's new policy on carryon bags should solve this issue.

My point is customers who are forced to gate check a bag should take the time to remove items that don't belong in a checked bag.

Carriers that want to enforce size restrictions should make sure their restrictions are low enough to exclude bags that only fit in the bin lengthwise. This makes enforcement easy and should limit the number of flights where some bin bags don't fit.

 

[keishashadow]

Checked my ressie and we are in rows 27 and 28...does anyone kow if there are windwos in theses rows?

read post #14 & #22 in this thread, it's very easy to check on seatguru before you book. If you're not happy with your current ones, you can change them on AT as long in same category originally picked no upcharge.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

On my last Airtran flight from MCO to ATL, the attendants were following the rules about carry on luggage.

They told one fellow with a definitely oversized bag that he had to check it and he got upset. I boarded after him so I don't know the resolution but he did get on the plane without the bag.

And another woman who had a carryon, purse and 3 WDW bags was told she had to consolidate into just the carryon and personal item or she'd have to check a couple of things. She managed to get 2 WDW bags and her purse together and the 3rd bag stuffed into her carryon. I watched her while I was waiting to board.

Too bad the attendants aren't always that strict. It sure would help alot.

 

[bonjoe07]

Does Airtran still offer non-stop? I am waiting to reserve non-stop at a very cheap price (hopefully)
Thanks

 

[NancyIL]

Does Airtran still offer non-stop? I am waiting to reserve non-stop at a very cheap price (hopefully)
Thanks

Yes, but where are you flying?

 

[MissRoseDarrensAngel]

Airtran was good on my to Disney with my mother and my sister's 2 kids on the way there. 1 adult sat with 1 kid, the other adult with the other kid.

On the way back, the passes were issued at the resort but we didn't pay attention to them initially, with me in 1 seat, my mother in another, and the kids in front of her.

My mother was able to get a fellow passenger to switch with her so she could sit with the kids. Good thing the passenger she switched seats with looked the age to have grandkids herself, and understood my mother's request.

 

[seashoreCM]

The CEO of Spirit has said their customers have no loyalty and only book if Spirit offers the lowest fare. .

I don't think that individual and family fliers ever had or ever will have loyalty as defined or imagined by this CEO.

Companies some years ago often had an "official airline" for example Allegheny might have been the official airline of Procter and Gamble or Pan Am might have been the official airline of IBM. The company's travel department always booked on that airline and then it looked as if the particular employee doing the traveling had loyalty.

 

[bonjoe07]

Yes, but where are you flying?

We are going to Orlando from Minneapolis August 24 and coming back August29. We go every year but this time I dont see any non-stops and non at a very low price! (last yr we got $65.00 flights one way)