Tell me all about AirTran!!!

[keishashadow]

We checked-in at the airport both times. We did get seats together, and the flights were overbooked.

...and you didn't volunteer to get bumped? Tag envy aside, tag!

 

[Wendy*Darling]

we fly airtran a lot too. I always get the tickets from our TA because TAs can assign your seats when you buy the ticket. We still check in online too but at least our seat are already assigned and we know we are together. Our TA picks them when we book it and then checks at 1 week and again at 2 days before our flights to be sure they haven't changed plane types and dumped the assigned seats. A couple of times she's emailed to say the plane seating configuration changed but that Airtran had already reassigned us and we were all together.

We've found service to be consistent and good (not great...but good). They don't always run completely on time but the delays are not usually all that bad. When they have been bad it's been weather related so not their fault.

 

[keishashadow]

we fly airtran a lot too. I always get the tickets from our TA because TAs can assign your seats when you buy the ticket. We still check in online too but at least our seat are already assigned and we know we are together. Our TA picks them when we book it and then checks at 1 week and again at 2 days before our flights to be sure they haven't changed plane types and dumped the assigned seats. A couple of times she's emailed to say the plane seating configuration changed but that Airtran had already reassigned us and we were all together.

We've found service to be consistent and good (not great...but good). They don't always run completely on time but the delays are not usually all that bad. When they have been bad it's been weather related so not their fault.

Our AAA TA is not permitted to book using AirTran - so, we book direct online. The inconvenience factor (tracking down an internet connection/printer the day before) vs. the great sale fares; is a no brainer...just wish the AS Mo had been a teeny bit more helpful.

 

[Tramps_Lady]

We flew air tran to WDW, flight down was a connecting flight out of Atlanta. Dont know if taking off and landing was more difficult at Atlanta, but seemed to be a rougher ride than our direct flight home. Also, our flight was delayed due to engine trouble on the way down and we lost half a day at MGM park. Air tran gave us vouchers , however, for seven dollars off each of our lunches at the Atlanta airport, and vouchers for twenty five dollars off our next flight. So I have to say that they did well in the reparation department, although I would rather have been at MGM!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

...and you didn't volunteer to get bumped? Tag envy aside, tag!

It was the day after Christmas, and then the day after New Years. lol, we had places to be. I think they ended up re-routing people through ATL, but the voucher they gave out wasn't anything great.

 

[keishashadow]

It was the day after Christmas, and then the day after New Years. lol, we had places to be. I think they ended up re-routing people through ATL, but the voucher they gave out wasn't anything great.

You're a brave soul flying on those days - yikes, bet it was busy @ airports. It's tough to cash in AirTran's vouchers on direct flights anyway, seems as though they hold the seats open until the bitter end.

 

[puffkin]

We had good service on Airtran in June (only used USAir to MCO before).

Printed boarding passes right at 24 hour mark, had choice of seats for party of 6. Curbside was busy when we got to airport (PHL) but it looked like a big tourist group was there. Inside, there wasn't much of a wait at all. Flight took off about 15 minutes late due to some paperwork issue. Pilot was very good at updating us. Plus, we got a whole can of soda on both flights which impressed me. No problems with baggage delays on either end. Flight time was changed by about 2 hours but it worked into our favor.

Coming home, lines were long both curbside and inside at checkin, but moved very quickly. We didn't have our boarding passes, but we were through the line in under 15 minutes. Again, entire party seated together, no problem. Flight left about 10 minutes late. This flight time only changed by 5 minutes from when I booked 6 months in advance.

We will definitely use Airtran again if the price is right.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

You're a brave soul flying on those days - yikes, bet it was busy @ airports. It's tough to cash in AirTran's vouchers on direct flights anyway, seems as though they hold the seats open until the bitter end.

I've done it twice, lol. The other time was on US Airways, it was a Friday morning, every flight was overbooked. They offered 2 round trip tickets and $500 for each seat given up. Sounds great, but then they tell you they can't get you to Orlando till Monday afternoon. Our flight alone was oversold 40+ people (it was a 9:30a) and the two before were oversold 20+ each. It was quite a busy day! lol

 

[meandtheguys2]

We LOVE AIRTRAN and tend to use them almost exclusively!!! Never have we ahd a problem with any type of schedule change...we fly Akron/Canton to Orlando and Ft Lauderdale.

We are flying out of Akron/Canton in January. Can you tell me about parking there? After reading about the schedule changes, I am totally paranoid about this airline/flight now. I need to stay off the Dis!

Thanks a bunch!

Michelle

 

[keishashadow]

I've done it twice, lol. The other time was on US Airways, it was a Friday morning, every flight was overbooked. They offered 2 round trip tickets and $500 for each seat given up. Sounds great, but then they tell you they can't get you to Orlando till Monday afternoon. Our flight alone was oversold 40+ people (it was a 9:30a) and the two before were oversold 20+ each. It was quite a busy day! lol

Interesting - too bad they didn't offer accommodations too , we're currently booked on the last direct flight out of MCO - always makes me apprehensive, in case we're running late or flight is overbooked. Like to think they'd bump single travelers or adults as opposed to family groups.

Have you ever used reward points to upgrade to business, we've got some due to expire & aren't sure whether it's worth it to use a combo of credits & cash for 1 person. Thanks.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Can they bump you if you have checked in?

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I think once you've checked-in, it is very very rare to be bumped.

 

[erikthewise]

Good to see so many responses to this thread.
We really like Airtran. We live in the Dayton area, from which Airtran flies daily nonstops to Orlando at great times. (currently 8:00AM from Dayton, return 5:50 PM from Orlando)

There are a couple minor disadvantages. No seat assignments until 24 hours before is a disadvantage for many, but an advantage for those like me who are sitting at the keyboard with fingers twitching exactly 24 hours in advance. I think there is a problem if your Airtran flight is postponed/cancelled; I've heard they don't cooperate well with other airlines in this situatiom, but this has not come up for me.

We've not had problems with schedule changes. Yes there have been some but they were either favorable or by less than 90 minutes.

Some big advantages: Airtran is making money, or at least not losing it, which makes a big difference in employee morale. Most of their planes are 717's, less than 7 years old and with 2-3 seating. This means that even if the plane is full, only 20% of passengers get middle seats. Fares are reasonable if you wait for a sale to buy. (We got $157/RT this year.) And of course for us the fact that it's nonstop from our primary airport is priceless.

When we first flew them in 2003, I bought two Business class upgrades at the counter (we are a family of four). I later discovered that the agent not only comped us the other two upgrades, but also all four upgrades for our return trip! I don't expect that will ever happen again, but it certainly made me a loyal customer.

 

[IluvMGM]

I used AirTran last year to go to Disney. Everything was fine on the trip to Disney. On the trip home the flight was delayed a few hours do to bad weather somewhere between here and there. That was annoying, but I guess I can't blame them for the weather! The only thing that did really bother me was when we finally made it on to the plane. I guess we were towards the back and when we got on, our overhead compartment was full of other people's bags. I think there was a large group of people sitting across from us, I don't know if they had more bags than were allowed or what. Anyway, so there was no room for my stuff and I told the stewardess about it. She was quite snippy and said, "You can out your bags anywhere." Perhaps that is the rule, I don't know. I always assumed that the overhead compartment above me seats, with me seat numbers on them were for my bags. Silly me. So I had to put my stuff in an open compartment down further. I would have liked to have my stuff near me in case I needed or something or even to just be able to keep an eye on it.

 

[safetymom]

One of the problems with boarding later in the process is that the overhead bin above your seat may be full. That is what happens when people bring too much on board.

BTW, that can happen on any airline. I see it all the time.

 

[cyndibelle]

let me tell you airtran is the best..we fly them all the time...and after this evening we wont change....we were getting all of our info together to get our transportation to and from disney so we pull our flight info...the date coming back was wrong....we almost had a heart attack..so we call airtran....the first guy tells us its going to be 300 for the difference in price of the ticket and then 50 bucks for each ticket..well that was 4 so another 200 freakin dollars...at this point i see all my mickey shopping going right down the toilet.....so then we talk to jill the supervisor...she helped us out..was so understanding...and in the end it cost us 80 bucks.... so i will take 80 bucks any day over 500....thank you airtran....you rock !!!!!

 

[Goofy22]

I also always use Spirit Air! This is the first time we are not using them to fly because when booking our flight they were soooooooooo outrageously priced!
They wanted like $2000 for 5 people so on this site I learned of USA 3000 and we heard alot of good things on them! They started flights to ORLANDO in May and we leave on Oct 26th! Can't wait airfare is very comparable to southwest and Airtran! I paid $652.00 for 5 roundtrip tickets! It's worth looking into! Only downfall is they do not fly daily only certain days in the month! But if you're flexible you could work around it by extending a few days or changing a few days! It worked for me we were originally going Nov 4th thru the 12th now we are going Oct 26th thru the 4th of November! I'll let you know what I think when I return in 6 1/2 weeks!

 

[mjh8955]

Just for the record, we bought 7 AirTran tickets and the sale rate came out two days later. I sent an e-mail to their website and they changed our tickets to the sale price (same flights) and we got a credit for $210. I have read several postings stating that AirTran does not give credits, but that is not true. I think it is more difficult to get a refund by calling, but e-mailing seems to work.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Wow, that's great that they were able to get the sale fare for you!!!

 

[Whitegloves]

OK, call me confused (which, incidentally, I usually am) but I am curious...
we booked through Disney and they sent 'paper' tickets. Do we have to print something out also? What exactly is the 24 hr. window? I haven't flown since around 1987-88.
Appreciate any help.
Smiles,
Diane =0)