Saving Money on Airtran

[mainelyj]

Ok, now I try to save money when I can when I travel. I need your opinion on something. I have plenty of $25 off coupons for airtran. I need a flight from Tampa to Maine in November. Way #1 = I can take a late flight from tampa, to baltimore, then to maine for about 189, plus fees. I can use 1 $25 off coupon for each of us. Saving only $25 person.

OR, I can book the same flights, but separately, Tampa to Baltimore at $109 and use $25 off coupon for each of us. The book Baltimore to Maine at $49 and use $25 off coupon. This way I will save $50 per person, plus the flights booked this way is cheaper than way #1.

By the way only 2 people are traveling.

Please do not flame for this - but my son has a tournament in Tampa he is attending. So, we are trying to save money where we can.

What would you do???

Thanks.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

No flames here. I would say if they're going to make you connect in Baltimore anyway, why not save more $?

The only way this might backfire would be if for some reason you missed your connection and it's the airline's fault, you may be stuck in Batimore and they probably wouldn't owe you any more than getting you to Maine eventually.

There was just a long thread about this. I will try to find it.

Maybe a frequent flyer could give a good reason not to.

 

[mainelyj]

These are the same flights. Every now and then I check prices individually for each leg and it always was cheaper to book the whole thing at once. I can not believe the same flights cost less if booked separately.

Go figure. I am a little concerned if I miss the connection in Baltimore due to leaving late from tampa. But even if I do, do you think they would put me on the next available flight from Baltimore to Maine??? Or will they say since I booked each leg separately, they will blame me and say I should not have booked it this way.

Airlines are funny and can go either way?

thanks.

 

[crashbb]

No flames here. I would say if they're going to make you connect in Baltimore anyway, why not save more $?

The only way this might backfire would be if for some reason you missed your connection and it's the airline's fault, you may be stuck in Batimore and they probably wouldn't owe you any more than getting you to Maine eventually.

There was just a long thread about this. I will try to find it.

Maybe a frequent flyer could give a good reason not to.

Actually, they would not owe him anything at all. Including getting to Maine (or, for that matter, back home to Tampa - though it sounds like it is a one-way trip).

If you miss the connection in Baltimore, you are considered a no-show and your forfeit your Baltimore-Maine ticket in its entirety. So, the airline will only put you on another flight if you buy another ticket (and will not refund the money you spend on your original ticket). If you buy a single, connecting ticket, the airline has to get you to Maine (and may, or may not, have to pay costs associated with the delay).

That would be the major danger.

Also, if the times of either flight are changed, you do have the right to change the time of the other flight without paying the change fee. So, if you can no longer make the connection (say the first flight is moved 4 hours later), you're stuck with having to move your first flight to another flight that would still allow the connection. Whereas, when booked as a connecting flight, you'd be able to change either of your flights to make it work.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

These are the same flights. Every now and then I check prices individually for each leg and it always was cheaper to book the whole thing at once. I can not believe the same flights cost less if booked separately.

Go figure. I am a little concerned if I miss the connection in Baltimore due to leaving late from tampa. But even if I do, do you think they would put me on the next available flight from Baltimore to Maine??? Or will they say since I booked each leg separately, they will blame me and say I should not have booked it this way.

Airlines are funny and can go either way?

thanks.

I don't know how it all works to be honest. There are soooo many nonstops from Philly on SWA, Airtran and USAirways we've never had a need to connect. Even last year to Phoenix was non stops.

Here's the thread about missed connections and the airline's obligations.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2259782

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Actually, they would not owe him anything at all. Including getting to Maine (or, for that matter, back home to Tampa - though it sounds like it is a one-way trip).

If you miss the connection in Baltimore, you are considered a no-show and your forfeit your Baltimore-Maine ticket in its entirety. So, the airline will only put you on another flight if you buy another ticket (and will not refund the money you spend on your original ticket). If you buy a single, connecting ticket, the airline has to get you to Maine (and may, or may not, have to pay costs associated with the delay).

That would be the major danger.

Also, if the times of either flight are changed, you do have the right to change the time of the other flight without paying the change fee. So, if you can no longer make the connection (say the first flight is moved 4 hours later), you're stuck with having to move your first flight to another flight that would still allow the connection. Whereas, when booked as a connecting flight, you'd be able to change either of your flights to make it work.

All very good points!

I think the only airline that doesn't mind no shows is SWA. You just lose your seat but can still use the cancelled funds for up to 1 yr from purchase date.

 

[mainelyj]

Since the weekend we are coming back to Maine from Tampa is also Thanksgiving week, I think I will just book the whole segment together. Kayak says both flights run on time only 40% of the time. I also only have a 35 minute layoff between flights. It is not worth it to chance a problem with 2 separate bookings.

Thanks a bunch fo your help.

 

[crashbb]

I don't know how it all works to be honest. There are soooo many nonstops from Philly on SWA, Airtran and USAirways we've never had a need to connect. Even last year to Phoenix was non stops.

Here's the thread about missed connections and the airline's obligations.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2259782

In that case, the poster's son had purchased a single, connecting ticket - thus the airline had obligations. In this case (two separate tickets), the airline has no obligation. The Baltimore airport is the airport of departure for the second ticket - they have no obligations about you getting to your airport of departure.

 

[NancyIL]

You could also have a headache with checked bags if you buy two tickets. I suppose they would check them to your final destination, but technically they could charge you a checked bag fee for each flight.

 

[griergirl2]

Unless you have a coupon I don't know about, the $25 coupons are for flights to or from Florida. In that case, you could only use them in and out of Tampa, not for the Baltimore stretch.

 

[mainelyj]

OMG - very good point. That settles it - will book the entire segment in one booking.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

OMG - very good point. That settles it - will book the entire segment in one booking.

Don't you just love the Disboards?
You get help with everyday decisions for free!

 

[mainelyj]

Don't you just love the Disboards?
You get help with everyday decisions for free!

That is exactly what I was thinking last night. Where can you get almost immediate responses to your vacation questions.

I love this forum.