Transferring Airtran A+ points question

[TaraPA]

Has anyone here transferred A+ Rewards points? My son has 2 that will expire 3/21/12. I need 2 more to book a flight for spring, so for $19 each I figured it's worth transferring them - $38 is cheaper than any fare they offer, so to me it's a win-win. HOWEVER - there's no guarantee that the flight I want has any seats left to book with points - so in that case, I'd be losing the $38 if I can't use them. My question is this: The points in his account expire 3/21/12....once I transfer them to my account, do they still expire 3/21/12 - or do they then expire 1 year from the date of transfer?

If they expire a year from date of transfer then it's a no-brainer for me to do it, for $38 I get enough points for a free ticket, and I will book at least 6 of them in 2012, one of them will be bound to have availability for a rewards booking. If they still expire 3/12/12 then I'm takig a risk that the flight I want to book even has availability for a rewards ticket.

I called Airtran just now but the current wait time is 22 min. & it's quicker for me to ask here!

 

[TaraPA]

I answered my own questions!

I went ahead & transferred 2 points from my son's account to mine for $38. The expiration date stays the same - 3/21/12.

Of course now the flight I want has no rewards seats left, but that's ok, I have a few other flights I need to book by 3/21, hopefully they will have availability. If not, being out $38 isn't the end of the world, lesson learned!

 

[Inkmahm]

I answered my own questions!

I went ahead & transferred 2 points from my son's account to mine for $38. The expiration date stays the same - 3/21/12.

Of course now the flight I want has no rewards seats left, but that's ok, I have a few other flights I need to book by 3/21, hopefully they will have availability. If not, being out $38 isn't the end of the world, lesson learned!

Why not use 4 credits to upgrade to business class and get free luggage out of the deal besides a better seat? That's what we do with our A+ rewards credits. We only ever use them for upgrades to business class. You can request the upgrade certificate before the credits expire and then use it in the future.

 

[TaraPA]

I've done that in the past a few times too when I had 4 points expiring. I only travel with carry-ons so the luggage fee savings don't apply to me with the upgrade.

I know I need at least 4 more tickets for myself for next year, so I figre I'll just wait & try for a free one, rather that do the upgrade. The only 2 points I have now that expire soon are the transferred ones, the other 6 I have are good til fall. So I'll probably just let those expire, because I'll earn 2 more points on the March flights I just booked, which will still leave me with 8 to use by October. IF the merge with Southwest doesn't change that for me!

 

[Traveliz]

I've done that in the past a few times too when I had 4 points expiring. I only travel with carry-ons so the luggage fee savings don't apply to me with the upgrade.

I know I need at least 4 more tickets for myself for next year, so I figre I'll just wait & try for a free one, rather that do the upgrade. The only 2 points I have now that expire soon are the transferred ones, the other 6 I have are good til fall. So I'll probably just let those expire, because I'll earn 2 more points on the March flights I just booked, which will still leave me with 8 to use by October. IF the merge with Southwest doesn't change that for me!

You can donate them to Give Kids the World rather than let them expire. I have done that a few times.

Liz

 

[TaraPA]

You can donate them to Give Kids the World rather than let them expire. I have done that a few times.

Liz

OMG really?!?! That is awesome! I had no idea! Is it an option on the Airtran website under My Account? I will definitely do that - then the $38 spent to transfer them to me won't seem like it's wasted

 

[Traveliz]

OMG really?!?! That is awesome! I had no idea! Is it an option on the Airtran website under My Account? I will definitely do that - then the $38 spent to transfer them to me won't seem like it's wasted

Under my account, then buy or extend and scroll down to donate - it's actually for Make a Wish and there are a couple of other options too.

Liz