Problem checking in on line with Air Tran

[DANAW]

We leave tomorrow for Disney on Air Tran. According to the Air Tran website, I can check in and get boarding passes on line. I was hoping to also have our seats assigned at this point.
When I tried to do this, I got a message saying they were unable to process my request, and I should check in at the airport. I did try to do it 2 hours before the actual 24 hour mark...could that be why it didnt work? I am not going to be near a computer at the 24 hour mark, which is why I tried a little early.

 

[riaesq]

This has happened to us twice. It meant DH had to go thru extra security- wanding and patdown. It was annoying but just a minor inconvenience. Probably someone in your party has a name similar to one on a no-fly list. There is another recent thread here on just this topic- someone's child also wasn't allowed to check in online...I am sure someone can post a link to it as I don't know how.

 

[CarolA]

Yes, it has to be 24 hours. Your two hours are a problem Try again later.

Now it's not a foolproof system. My boyfriend and I flew AirTran in August. Going down checking in on line was no problem. Going back we couldn't check in on line (and both of us fly enough that we know we aren't on any lists so it's just AirTran)

 

[dudspizza]

The two hours before is definitely a problem. 24 hours means 24 hours. If you are 24 hours and 1 minute before take-off, you can't check in. Try again later. If you still get the message, it means someone has been randomly chosen for extra screening. It has happened to us before. A minor annoyance, but you have to finish at the airport. Airports are required to randomly select passengers for this extra screening. Make sure to get to the airport plenty early and you will be fine. I would personally call Airtran reservations to see if your seats have been assigned and/or see if you can make sure they are together. If you have your seats, the checking in at the airport is simple and you won't have to be there that early.

Duds

 

[wdwnomad]

I would try calling AirTran to see if they can reserve your seats over the phone. I wasn't able to check in online in September. I called their reservations line and the person I spoke with was able to help. She said they normally don't do that but since we were traveling with small children they would do it. Don't know if helps in your case but it might be worth a shot...

 

[riaesq]

Oops, sorry, I jumped the gun and missed the part about the extra 2 hours
Yup, we stood at the CR in November minutes before the 24-hour mark with the clerk's finger on the keyboard for SW. Not until the exact 24-hr mark could the confirmation go thru.

 

[jekjones1558]

We are going in March on an AirTran rate that says "seats not assigned." Does that mean that I can't check in online 24 hours ahead--that I must check in at the airport?

 

[CleveRocks]

If you have paper tickets for AirTran (like you would get if you booked it through WDTC), you CAN'T check in online AT ALL, and have to wait to get to the airport to get seat assignments. That's AirTran's stated policy. I happened to get a very nice agent on the phone who probably would have gotten in trouble for what she did, but she assigned seats to me for both flights about a month in advance.

 

[DebbieB]

We are going in March on an AirTran rate that says "seats not assigned." Does that mean that I can't check in online 24 hours ahead--that I must check in at the airport?

You should be able to do it at 24 hours. I've flown Air Tran 3 or 4 times, everytime but once I checked in at 24 hours and got good seats. The one time I waited to get to the airport, we were in the very last row.

 

[jekjones1558]

That's good news, Deb! Thanks! I really hesitated to book the cheaper airfare because it said you couldn't choose seats, so I will be very happy to be able to checkin before going to the airport.