Upset with Airtran Airlines Concerning Land/Sea Trip

[nickspace]

On our last DVC trip we were bumped on Airtran and given free air tickets for a future trip. We have been planning a land/sea trip during Christmas week with a stay at VB. I have been waiting to see when Airtran would publish their schedule for that time and was told that the dates I wanted to fly were not black out dates. Well today the dates I needed were published on their web site so I quickly called Airtran just to be told that these dates were not available. This really upsets me!!! We have had problems with Airtran before and I have been very forgiving but my patience is running out. There are other options for consumers and Airtran may now be on my blackout list unless this is resolved.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Sorry that you can't use the tickets as you wish.

Airtran is now the only carrier to fly to MCO direct from DAY, so we do like to use it.

Bobbi

 

[JWG]

Not available as in really not available or not available as in all "free" or reduced fare/frequent flier options are sold out or not available as in "blacked out"?

I guess that doesn't really matter. Sorry to hear about it.

 

[Doug7856]

I've had my share of problems with AirTran. The good news is that Southwest as bought AirTran and the airline should begin the merger as a single airline in early 2012.

 

[DebbieB]

When you take a bump, you are better off requesting a dollar voucher rather than a "free ticket". As you found out, those "free tickets" are hard to use, they come out of the same pool as frequent flyer tickets.

 

[quirty30]

I feel your pain. I have a bunch of A+ credits I wanted to use for our December trip, and just like you, waited patiently for our dates to be released, only to discover we couldn't use them.

My saving grace was finding a great cheap fare on United out of O'Hare (less than $200 a person RT.) We live just a few miles from O'Hare and its so much more convenient for us to fly out from there. On Airtran, I have to drive to Midway (30 miles) or Milwaukee (60 miles.) In the winter, I figure O'Hare is a much better option. I'll probably use my A+ credits to visit a friend in Denver sometime in the fall.

I hope you find a reasonably priced alternative like I did : )

 

[Starr W.]

When you take a bump, you are better off requesting a dollar voucher rather than a "free ticket". As you found out, those "free tickets" are hard to use, they come out of the same pool as frequent flyer tickets.

Yep, I've had gate agents on various airlines tell me go for the $$ voucher over the "free ticket".

I personally will miss Airtran, as we use our A+ rewards to upgrade to business class. Best way to fly to Orlando imho.

It will take probably more than a year for SWA/AT to full integrate(went through the DL/NWA one and luckily it took forever for them to do it, and I was able to book my upgrade to HI last year via NWA site just before the switch).

 

[Chuck S]

Since this really isn't a DVC specific topic, I'm moving thois thread to the Transportation Board.

 

[jekjones1558]

My beef with Airtran is that every single trip I have booked with them they have changed flight times by a significant amount and/or changed a non-stop to a flight with stops. I like that in MSP Airtran flies out of the smaller terminal and it often has the cheapest flights. But I no longer use them. OP, I learned years ago about how vouchers works, so I understand your frustration. Hope you find a way to use your free tickets.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you are bumped and did not volunteer then in almost all cases the airline must pay you money at your request..

 

[zurgswife]

Lesson as others have pointed out for those who are offered bumps in the future....ALWAYS make sure that you get a $$$ voucher. As the "free" tickets are typically part of the Frequent flyer pool and there are very limited seats available.

I'm sorry to hear you can't find a seat...if they aren't blacked out then maybe try calling back to see if seats opened up.

 

[Minnesota!]

If you are flexible in your dates....these can be great! We got 4 of them last year b/c AT messed up. I called them and said "what dates can we use these" and went with those. Honestly, I would never expect to be use them at a holiday time...they only want customers willing to fork over the $$$$..

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

When you take a bump, you are better off requesting a dollar voucher rather than a "free ticket". As you found out, those "free tickets" are hard to use, they come out of the same pool as frequent flyer tickets.

I agree with this 100%! Take cash, not ticket vouchers.

 

[tinka-belle]

Airlines have been pulling this for years. They promote "no blackout dates" but fail to mention that the frequent flyer or free voucher seat inventory is just never alotted to peak travel days. It's not just Air Tran, most airlines do this. The general public is unaware that "no blackout dates" can still mean no available seats or a much higher points/miles charge at peak times.