Philly to MCO...SW or AirTran

[njmomboys2]

Any opinions on which is better from Philly to MCO......looking for reviews and opinions...especially on seat assignments..how does it work..customer service?

we are a family of 4 and would prefer sitting 2 and 2..since my sons are 12 & 7...thanks

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

We're also a family of 4 and are flying USAIR. We got a great rate for April and were able to pick our seats right then and there.

 

[Michelina]

We always fly Airtran from PHL to MCO because of the two passenger rows (it's just DH & I). SW has all three x three seating, Airtran is two and three.
I also like being able to confirm seats the day before the flight rather than do the SW line up in A, B, or C corrals. We've always had great service from AT, never any problems. We're using them again in May. Not sure when you are going but they are running a great spring air sale right now.

 

[SydSim]

Me, I prefer SWA. There are pros and cons to either airlines. One con for me about Airtran is that most of it's PHL to MCO flights have a stop, which makes the trip much longer (for me. I hate layovers). I don't understand the fascination with knowing where your seat is beforehand - but then again, I didn't find out the sex of my baby beforehand either I have always had A boarding passes for SWA, so I was able to pick my seat before I saw my butt in it To me, there's more to choose from when I do it that way. I do like the option of upgrading to business class at the gate on Airtran-took advantage of that once from Kansas City.
So, for me, plenty of non-stop flights, great fares (and the ability to change fares to a lower fare if it becomes available, without a penalty - AND get either a refund or a credit for the difference) and choosing my seat when I get there makes SWA the best choice for me.

 

[mrslur]

[QUOTE(and the ability to change fares to a lower fare if it becomes available, without a penalty - AND get either a refund or a credit for the difference) and choosing my seat when I get there makes SWA the best choice for me.[/QUOTE]

AirTran does this, too. I just did it today when my flight back dropped $35. I have a credit to use sometime in the next year. We're AirTran fans. Their non-stop times have always fit our schedule well so that hasn't been an issue for us.

 

[helenk]

Airtran generally has great customer service, but like a previous poster indicated the lack of non-stop flights has really turned my away from them. Also just like USair and other carriers they do change their flight times around quite a bit and eliminate flights as well. You book the flight you like because of the time the flight leaves etc and the next thing you know you are getting to Disney 2 hours later than you wanted or leaving earlier than you wanted.
With SW, once they release their schedule it very rarely changes, if something comes up and you can not take your trip as planned you can cancel with SW without a penalty fee, and you have a year to use the credit.
We have been lucky with SW, we have always gotten A boarding passes and had no problems getting seats together.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I was just pondering this same ?. We flew SW this past May but I'm open to AT as well since they also have great prices. However I do not like the idea of flight times being changed. I know it doesn't happen very often with SW, I wonder how often it does happen for AT?

 

[SydSim]

[QUOTE(and the ability to change fares to a lower fare if it becomes available, without a penalty - AND get either a refund or a credit for the difference) and choosing my seat when I get there makes SWA the best choice for me.

AirTran does this, too. I just did it today when my flight back dropped $35. I have a credit to use sometime in the next year. We're AirTran fans. Their non-stop times have always fit our schedule well so that hasn't been an issue for us.[/QUOTE]

Oh, I wasn't aware that Airtran allowed this without penalty. Do they also credit the difference back to your CC if you haven't changed anything about the flight like SWA does?

 

[DeadHead]

Personally, I have travelled both USAIR and AirTran from PHL to MCO, I would use AirTran hands down. Their fares are normally much lower than USAIR, and I found their customer service from PHL to be much better. An added advantage on using AirTran is that the TSA checkpoint at Concourse D is always much shorted then USAIR" TSA checkpoint at concourse B/C.

 

[NJDad18]

We have flown all three airline (SW, Air Tran and USAir). No problems at all with SW or Air Tran. We've had some problems with US Air, but if they have the best price, I'll still fly with them. Each time we've had a problem with US Air, I wrote to their customer service and each time we have received a voucher for our next flight. The first time the voucer was $125pp and the next time it was $150pp.

 

[dsnymomof4]

We usually fly Airtran out of Philly, but I just booked a $49 flight on Southwest for April. My concern with the seat assignments isn't knowing where the seats are ahead of time, but rather that all 6 of us will be seated together (or at least close). I think that concerns most people who are flying with children.

 

[puffkin]

AirTran does this, too. I just did it today when my flight back dropped $35. I have a credit to use sometime in the next year. We're AirTran fans. Their non-stop times have always fit our schedule well so that hasn't been an issue for us.

I know you are able to do this by phone, but is there a way to do it through the website? My fare dropped this morning, but til the customer service agent picked up the lower rate was gone. If I could have done it through the web (like Southwest) I would probably of gotten it. I just couldn't figure out how to do it through the site (or if it is possible) and had to call.

 

[REL1203]

I am having this exact same dilema... But out of Dulles (Wash DC). If I fly SW, i have to leave at 7am, early for a flight, but get there at 9am... if I fly AirTran, i can leave at 11 and get there at 1. I have never flown AT, and have flown SW alot... There the exact same price. Return flight is the exact same time as well, around 4pm on both... I dont know which to choose.

 

[mrslur]

I know you are able to do this by phone, but is there a way to do it through the website? My fare dropped this morning, but til the customer service agent picked up the lower rate was gone. If I could have done it through the web (like Southwest) I would probably of gotten it. I just couldn't figure out how to do it through the site (or if it is possible) and had to call.

I did it over the phone and had no trouble getting through. Using the credit can be done online.