Southwest and Airtran baggage discrepancy

[AnOtHeRdIsNeYfReAk]

I booked my flights on Southwest's website, but I just noticed the flights are actually Airtran. I know they have merged and I thought the policies would be the same. My itinerary says to visit the Airtran counter to check bags. The issue with this is, Southwest's website says 2 bags can be checked for free, but according to Airtran's site, each bag has a $25-$35 fee. Does anyone know which is which?

 

[JanaDee]

I booked my flights on Southwest's website, but I just noticed the flights are actually Airtran. I know they have merged and I thought the policies would be the same. My itinerary says to visit the Airtran counter to check bags. The issue with this is, Southwest's website says 2 bags can be checked for free, but according to Airtran's site, each bag has a $25-$35 fee. Does anyone know which is which?

If you are flying AirTran flights, you pay for luggage.

If you are flying Southwest flights, 2 bags per person are free.

 

[MusicMicha]

If you booked on SW site you follow those baggage rules. We had the same thing in June and paid no baggage fees to Airtran. You will still check in at Airtran.

 

[medic5399]

If you are flying AirTran flights, you pay for luggage.

If you are flying Southwest flights, 2 bags per person are free.

NO! It only matters what website you booked it on! If you booked at southwest.com then the bags are free even if it's an Airtran flight. If you book a SWA flight on Airtran.com then you pay $$.

 

[kristenrice]

Yes your bags will be free on AirTran if you booked through Southwest. The downside is that you cannot select your seat assignment until you check in 24 hours before your flight. At that point, you can select your seat assignment from whatever is left. Folks who booked with AirTran are given the option to purchase seat assignments when they book their tickets so there may not be a lot of great seats left.

 

[jimandami]

Also be aware that if your itinerary is mixed (ex: flight to MCO is AT and flight home is SW, even if both booked on SW website), you typically cannot use RAC when you fly home. You will need to put your bags on ME and check them at the airport. We learned this the hard way last December. I think if both your flights are AT it isn't a problem.

 

[rlduvall]

The downside is that you cannot select your seat assignment until you check in 24 hours before your flight. At that point, you can select your seat assignment from whatever is left.

I don't mean to correct you - it's seems like so many live to do that around here. BUT, this May the second leg of my return flight was AirTran which I had booked through SW. I was able to purchase EBCI for the first part and then pay another $10. to reserve a seat on the AirTran portion of the flight - all through the SW website several months out. Of course, adding $22.50 per person for one-way travel negated alot of the luggage fee savings they are always touting.

 

[DebbieB]

FYI - at most airports they have already merged the AirTran and Southwest counters. The self service kiosk monitors say both AirTran and Southwest. Starting with 11/2/14 flights, you can only book through the Southwest site. AirTran's last flight is 12/28/14. Then the longest and most confusing airline merger in history will be over.