Southwest or AirTran do you have a preference?

[NEWEARS2006]

I booked with AirTran. I am not familiar with them at all. Flying from Detroit. Does anyone have any experience using them that could help me with how I get my boarding pass and checkin?

 

[erikthewise]

Airtran online checkin is 24 hours in advance. At that time you may select a seat, or you may find one has already been assigned to you, in which case you can change to any available seat. You can print a boarding pass, but you can also get one at the checkin desk or a kiosk.

 

[Pinnie]

I booked with AirTran. I am not familiar with them at all. Flying from Detroit. Does anyone have any experience using them that could help me with how I get my boarding pass and checkin?

Watch your flights...they have been known to change them around in DTW.

pinnie

 

[taimgxe]

Southwest is my airline...! The fares, the frequency of flights, the ontime record, the friendliness, and all the things aforementioned.

We fly out of Houston Hobby. I have gotten fares as low as $59.00 to Florida. I was so upset when I didn't snag the $44.00 to Tampa back in June. $44.00!!!!!! from Houston...! which could have been use to fly during August and September.

 

[antmaril]

We are traveling out of Detroit on Airtran for the first time in January. I have never flown them before, but the rate was fantastic and it's non-stop. Southwest doesn't fly non-stop to Orlando from Detroit and, of course, their rates for January aren't out yet, so I decided to give Airtran a try. We usually go Spirit, but their rates were outrageous - laughable really. They will probably go down when it gets closer, but I want to make PLAN!!

I will keep watching the Airtran flights because I've heard they change quite a bit. We will check in on-line 24 hours prior to get a seat. We don't have little ones with us, so where we sit is not a huge deal.

 

[HappyLawyer]

Unless i come upon another airline that allows 3 checked bags, in addition to your carry on and one personal item,
SW for me

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

The only require the Birth Certs. for children under the age of two that are flying for free.

They required birth certificates for both of my DD's 3 and 9 months. Both had their own paid tickets. Not sure if this has changed, but i doubt it with the current flying situation.

 

[cruiserkaren]

Southwest, hands down.

 

[katiedid0801]

Another vote for Southwest-bigger planes, confirmed flight times, more direct flights, the nicest flight attendants flying, good ontime record, the ability to pick my seat companion(s), and usually the lowest fares. I fly a lot for business, was an AA gold card holder and now fly Southwest exclusively by choice!

 

[disneyldwjr]

They required birth certificates for both of my DD's 3 and 9 months. Both had their own paid tickets. Not sure if this has changed, but i doubt it with the current flying situation.

Interesting, did you buy youth fares/infant fares for them?

 

[cgcw]

We've flow both in the last month.

AirTran from Chicago to Atlanta and then Atlanta to Savannah. The hardest park was the 3 hour layover in Atlanta. It was long.

Just returned this week from Orlando - direct flight from Chicago. I much prefer direct flights as it seems like we get there quicker.

Both airlines were on time with their departure and arrival times. SW was a bit earlier on both legs than expected.

SW did seem much more casual. It seemed to me that even though the fasten seat belt light was on, no one really cared and/or it wasn't enforced. There was a man who got up to use the restroom as we were landing and no one bothered to comment. It made me just a little uncomfortable thinking if there was a problem with our landing that he could have put the rest of us in harms way if he went flying. But, fortunately, it didn't happen.

My kids enjoyed the snacks on SW. The little airplane shaped crackers kept my DS6 busy for a while. They also gave him a coloring book which he's "keeping forever". It did seem like the flight attendants were a bit more casual on SW -- adding a bit of humor into the emergency procedures. It's nice to have a break in the same old, same old.

If I had to pick one over the other, I'd say SW would be our choice before AirTran. Not because of any problems, just a preference.

They required birth certificates for both of my DD's 3 and 9 months. Both had their own paid tickets. Not sure if this has changed, but i doubt it with the current flying situation.

No one asked for any identification for my 6 & 11 year old. I did not bring birth certificates with us, so it would have been a problem. I flew alone with them to Orlando and never thought to bring them.

 

[gottaluvdis]

We've flown SW to Florida at least twice a year since DD9 was 13 mos old and never once were we asked for her birth certificate. I never carry one for her for domestic travel. She has a passport, but I've only used it for our cruise. It certainly would be a problem if they all of a sudden asked for her birth certificate because I simply don't carry it - one more thing to get lost. I have a photo ID of her in my wallet that was taken at school for the Ident-A-Kid program, but that's all they'd get if they asked for ID from her.

 

[paults]

we use both now and when we travel we use the one with the lowest price at that time.

 

[DaisyD]

No contest! Airtran all the way! I don't do cattle calls. I like to have good customer service, on time flights, and new planes. SW is the worse run airlines I've ever flown. We will pay more to fly Airtran then SW. Heck, I'd rather walk then get on those planes!

 

[DonnaL]

Another vote for SW here........we've been flying SW exclusively to MCO from PHL for the past few years (a couple months after they began servicing PHL) and we have a regional airport practically in our backyard (no kidding) but it's only serviced by USAirways and Delta (no thanks on both) so we cheerfully make the 2 hour drive to PHL to fly our favorite!!! No doubt about it.......SW has the BEST customer service in the industry and also a pretty good on time reputation. Assigned seating......not a problem.....I'd rather get on the plane and CHOOSE where I WANT to sit as opposed to having an assigned seat .....sitting somewhere I'd actually rather not sit. Who needs assigned seating???

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Southwest...
I hate the cattle call of not having a guaranteed seat, however, the benefit of being able to book at a lower rate and receiving a credit on future airfare greatly outweighs that in my eyes!
Go for Southwest... I don't think you will regret it.

 

[keishashadow]

We were loyal AT customers until:

1) they slashed the # of flights out of Pitts to the bare minimum (few direct now).

2) last flight in June, changed the departure times over 8 hours over the course of at least 5-6 changes (w/o notifying us grrr)

3) lost my luggage & denied responsibility, poa replacing cell phone chargers, disney trading pins, etc....thank goodness another customer called me months later to report they had my bag. Can you say vouchers?

Trying SW for return flight in Oct.
Pros:
1) got a decent rate, ablility to change tix

2) flight leaves @ a convenient time (hope they don't tweak it). '

Cons:

1) still confused over line a/b/c business, 24 hour checkin...no boarding passes to print out?

2) preboarding issues (how many people does it take to fly w/a toddler? or "who wants a seat saved?"). Cannot believe people save seats on a plane.

 

[DaisyD]

Another vote for SW here........we've been flying SW exclusively to MCO from PHL for the past few years (a couple months after they began servicing PHL) and we have a regional airport practically in our backyard (no kidding) but it's only serviced by USAirways and Delta (no thanks on both) so we cheerfully make the 2 hour drive to PHL to fly our favorite!!! No doubt about it.......SW has the BEST customer service in the industry and also a pretty good on time reputation. Assigned seating......not a problem.....I'd rather get on the plane and CHOOSE where I WANT to sit as opposed to having an assigned seat .....sitting somewhere I'd actually rather not sit. Who needs assigned seating???

Airtran doesn't assign your seat. You get to chose your seat. You have two choices depending on your ticket. You can chose it when purchased or 24 hours in advance of the flight. I will take choosing my own seat any day over fighting for any seat on SW.

 

[CarolA]

No contest! Airtran all the way! I don't do cattle calls. I like to have good customer service, on time flights, and new planes. SW is the worse run airlines I've ever flown. We will pay more to fly Airtran then SW. Heck, I'd rather walk then get on those planes!

You may not like SW, but

On time stats for June from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (Your tax dollars at work)

AirTran On Time 71.53% of the time
Southwest On Time 75.22% of the time.

Think SW has AirTran on that stat hands down.

 

[katiedid0801]

Trying SW for return flight in Oct.
Pros:
1) got a decent rate, ablility to change tix

2) flight leaves @ a convenient time (hope they don't tweak it). '

Cons:

1) still confused over line a/b/c business, 24 hour checkin...no boarding passes to print out?

2) preboarding issues (how many people does it take to fly w/a toddler? or "who wants a seat saved?"). Cannot believe people save seats on a plane.

Pro #2-one of the greatest things about SWA, once they announce their schedule it is set-no changes in flight times!
Con #1-You can print out a boarding pass at home, or get one once you get to the airport. It won't have a seat number on it, but rather a boarding group (a, b or c). If you check in online or in person at the 24 hour mark you are practically guaranteed an a (the first group to board after preboarders).You can check in then get or print the pass later too. Really an easy system to use-I am a "no assigned seating" convert!