Philly Airport-AirTran or Southwest??

[barbnjmom]

I just read that SW will be making nonstop flights out of Philly beginning in May to Orlando.

I have been considering Airtran due to fares but now SW is slightly even lower....any thoughts or preferences????

Will be going in Aug. 21-28

 

[doombuggy]

I have taken Airtran to Orlando twice and had no problems. I bumped up to "business class" the last time i went down & it was great! Only an extra $35!

I have never flown SW, as they have not started here in Philly yet.

 

[zurgswife]

Since the prices are identical I'd pick southwest....I've flown Airtran out of PHilly a number of times and it is just OK...I'm planning on using Southwest in Dec...

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

We have been happy with Air Tran and plan on using them again this summer.
I prefer to pick out our seats before leaving for the airport. I understand that Southwest uses some kind of A, B, C, etc. system to determine who gets on in what order. Then you just grab available seats. This is my understanding anyway, and I don't care for the idea. I want to be sure we sit together and Air Tran allows me to do this from home via their web site check in.

 

[Disneyhappy]

If prices are similar, I would go with Airtran only because you can get seat assignments prior boarding. I love Southwest for their prices (out of BWI), but now that they are in Phila, competitors like US Air ansd Airtran have dropped their prices. With Southwest, we would get to the airport extra early and have one of the first set of boarding passes and still end up sitting towards the back of the plane because familes ith small children get to board first, regardless of boarding pass #. Well, you can imagine that any flight to Orlando is mostly filled with kids.

 

[Lou256]

I'm also flying out of Philly on SW 6/20. Is it true they do not give seating assignments until you get there. I'm a little concerned, because I would want to sit with my wife and son ( age 7 )

Lou

 

[Lewisc]

Not true, they don't give out seat assignments at all. It's open seating. When you check in your boarding pass has a letter (A, B or C) Each group lines up, boards the plane and selects whatever available seat they want.

Works out better than it sounds.

Originally posted by Lou256
I'm also flying out of Philly on SW 6/20. Is it true they do not give seating assignments until you get there. I'm a little concerned, because I would want to sit with my wife and son ( age 7 )

Lou

 

[Lou256]

Lewisc,

Are you saying that at the time of boarding, if three seats are not available, I will have too sit in a seperate seat, I'm a little uncomfortable with that scenario. Is it like a mad rush to get a seat, because I'm sure everyone else has the same concern.

 

[Disney Ron]

You arrive early and stand in line for a boarding pass(A,B,C). Once you get one you stand in another line to board.

Southwest boards people with disabilites and families with small children first. After that they go to the "A"'s and load them first and so on. If you get there early and get in line you will have no problem getting seats together.

I really like flying SW.

BTW, my first post ever on the DIS!

Disney Ron

 

[mep319]

All I know is I can't bother to stress about seating! You really should check USAir...their fares have dropped dramatically and they certainly have many more flight times to choose from. Just made ressies for two trips and the prices are as follows.......

6/13-6/17...just DD and myself....

$313.40 total for 2 seats. $128.38 base price per ticket...I know you can do better at SW but the times were less than desireable. This is an outbound flight at 8:05am arriving 10:36, returning flight 4:40pm returning 7:04.

8/17-8/24/04....3 tickets....$350.11!!!! TOTAL! $116.70 base price per seat. I was soooo happy. Taxes and all for 3 people only $350! Departing 6:20 am (DH is crazy and wants the 1st flight) arriving 8:36 am. Outbound flight of 4:40pm arriving 7:04.

Take a look you might be surprise...and they assign seats!

 

[Lou256]

mep319 - I already have ressies on SW for 6/18, can't really beat the fares - $79.00 each way. I'm sure I am making too much out of this. ( I hope

Also, isn't it great what competition can do, US Air had a monopoly on Philly, now they seem to charge much less for the same flights they were killing us with. Amazing!!!

 

[mep319]

Did you not see my post????? I got it for $58 one way in August and $79 in June....If you don't have ressies look at USAir better flight times and assigned seats.

 

[Lou256]

Ummm.......yeah I did, did you not see mine. I already have ressies for 6/18. I just wanted too know about SW 's boarding policies.

Go Birds!!!!

 

[mep319]

Wasn't necessarily speaking to you directly...I was speaking to those who don't have ressies...Guess I wasn't too clear Folks just assume USAir is more expensive....and even if it was a couple of dollars more I'd rather pay it for more time selections....and my seats are assigned!

 

[MICKEY IS COOL]

Personally, Id book with Southwest, ive flown with both but the service on SW seems to be more persoanllized.

 

[shelly3girls]

Lou256
Check your flight on SW, they recently dropped prices so you may be able to get a voucher. We just booked $117/ round trip total for a June trip. We just booked yesterday.