SWA and Airtran to start codeshare!

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Got this email from Akron Canton airport that reports SWA and Airtran will begin codesharing in April 2013

Code sharing and double points on Southwest
Beginning February 25, 2013, you will be able to book single-ticket connecting itineraries that include flights on both Southwest Airlines® and AirTran Airways. This will be available for flights booked after April 14, 2013. Code sharing opens more flight options all over the country! How does this work?

In 2011, Southwest Airlines acquired AirTran Airways. Since then, we have been hard at work integrating our two airlines to provide a top-notch, seamless travel experience for our valued Customers. By continuing to add destinations to our combined route map and working tirelessly to refine our business processes while keeping Customer Service a top priority, we’re making great strides every day toward becoming one airline.

Though AirTran Airways is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, the two are still operating as separate carriers and the bulk of our integration efforts to date have been behind the scenes. However, we are excited to begin connecting our networks in the first quarter of 2013. Once fully implemented, you will have the ability to purchase flights across both Southwest and AirTran networks in a single itinerary.

All AirTran planes will eventually integrate into the Southwest brand forming a single network, reservation system, and loyalty program. Combined, Southwest and AirTran serve 97 destinations in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Our plan is to have AirTran completely integrated into Southwest Airlines by the end of 2014.

 

[DebbieB]

Got this email from Akron Canton airport that reports SWA and Airtran will begin codesharing in April 2013

Code sharing and double points on Southwest
Beginning February 25, 2013, you will be able to book single-ticket connecting itineraries that include flights on both Southwest Airlines® and AirTran Airways. This will be available for flights booked after April 14, 2013. Code sharing opens more flight options all over the country! How does this work?

In 2011, Southwest Airlines acquired AirTran Airways. Since then, we have been hard at work integrating our two airlines to provide a top-notch, seamless travel experience for our valued Customers. By continuing to add destinations to our combined route map and working tirelessly to refine our business processes while keeping Customer Service a top priority, we’re making great strides every day toward becoming one airline.

Though AirTran Airways is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, the two are still operating as separate carriers and the bulk of our integration efforts to date have been behind the scenes. However, we are excited to begin connecting our networks in the first quarter of 2013. Once fully implemented, you will have the ability to purchase flights across both Southwest and AirTran networks in a single itinerary.

All AirTran planes will eventually integrate into the Southwest brand forming a single network, reservation system, and loyalty program. Combined, Southwest and AirTran serve 97 destinations in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Our plan is to have AirTran completely integrated into Southwest Airlines by the end of 2014.

So if you have one SW flight and one AT flight, do you have to pay bag fees?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Debbie we will have to wait and see

. It was not mentioned but the fact that is says "All AirTran planes will eventually integrate into the Southwest brand forming a single network, reservation system, and loyalty program. Combined, Southwest and AirTran serve 97 destinations in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Would lead me to think that as long as SWA does not charge and AA will intergrate into SWA there should not be a charge.

 

[jayhawk74]

So if you have one SW flight and one AT flight, do you have to pay bag fees?

From what has been posted on the SWA employee website if the flight was purchased from SWA, or it has at least 1 leg flown on SWA, then there will be no charge for the 1st two bags. However if the flight is purchased via SWA then there will be no advance seat assignments on the AirTran flights. In that case seats will be assigned at the AirTran gate.

 

[My 2 princesses]

SWA FB page had posted this earlier this week and they too said that as long as one leg is via SWA, then your bags are free!