When will Airtran be no more? Stop releasing schedules?

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Im debating whether to book with Spirit tonight since they have coupon that is expiring.....or wait for Airtran to release their schedule for late August....or will SW finally take over....which right now SW doesn't have any nonstop out of DTW...so I imagine when they take over that will not change. Not sure what to do? suggestions?

 

[keishashadow]

good question, until SWA releases the appropriate information nobody really knows. I've called AT a few times and was told that there is no official determination (i bemoan the merger as competition is good in my small market)

I did find it interesting that during a search on SWA for flights to SJU a pop-up directed me to AirTran's website. The warning was there that change fees, etc. do apply for those bookings.

Spirit issues lots of coupons/specials in our area, can't say i'm fan based upon travel with them this summer that was greatly delayed due to 2 different planes having equipment failure.

 

[Nancy F]

I hate that AirTran was sold to SW. I really don't want to fly with SW, but I have close to $700.00 credit with AirTran due to my April flight going down in price. May have to lose it if AirTran goes out before I can fly in Dec. I like to upgrade to business which SW doesn't offer. Not going to get me as a customer. I'll pay for my bags to sit where I want. And in comfort.
Nancy

 

[keishashadow]

I hate that AirTran was sold to SW. I really don't want to fly with SW, but I have close to $700.00 credit with AirTran due to my April flight going down in price. May have to lose it if AirTran goes out before I can fly in Dec. I like to upgrade to business which SW doesn't offer. Not going to get me as a customer. I'll pay for my bags to sit where I want. And in comfort.
Nancy

I'd like to think that SWA would honor the credits or give adequate notice to use any credits.

there are many of us with AT branded CCs with lots of rewards that don't expire for 2 years from date of issuance. I'm still earning them so it'll be interesting indeed to see how that plays out. I'm not a fan of chase (and i doubt they offer the credit line type of card I have anyway) so i sure don't want to be flipped over from current barclays. Hopefully, they'll continue to carry the card in some form with their policies in place.

 

[Nancy F]

I'd like to think that SWA would honor the credits or give adequate notice to use any credits.

there are many of us with AT branded CCs with lots of rewards that don't expire for 2 years from date of issuance. I'm still earning them so it'll be interesting indeed to see how that plays out. I'm not a fan of chase (and i doubt they offer the credit line type of card I have anyway) so i sure don't want to be flipped over from current barclays. Hopefully, they'll continue to carry the card in some form with their policies in place.

I was told that they probably will honor AirTrans credits. But I don't want to fly SW. So I may give up my credit. Or fly with them once just to use it. I hate to sit three across. I can't understand why they wouldn't keep the Airtran planes the way they are. Cheaper than changing them and they could begin to offer Business class.
Nancy

 

[keishashadow]

only the smaller AT planes have the 2 + 3 seating configurations but i agree, always happy to see them when traveling with DH only

 

[Stupid_Judy]

I was on the phone recently with AT (they were very accomodating & professional) and I asked if they had any insight into when an actual changeover would happen. I got the standard "no official information has been released, for now it's business as usual."

Another AT fan here, who will be very sad to see them go, if they do.

 

[NotUrsula]

I was told that they probably will honor AirTrans credits. But I don't want to fly SW. So I may give up my credit. Or fly with them once just to use it. I hate to sit three across. I can't understand why they wouldn't keep the Airtran planes the way they are. Cheaper than changing them and they could begin to offer Business class.
Nancy

SWA doesn't want to offer Business Class, because they don't want to be in the business of managing upgrades and/or assigning seats. It messes up the target turnaround times.

As to it being cheaper not to change the configuration, not at all. They can earn back the cost of the extra seat itself and the labor to change them out in just a couple of days' operations. More butts in seats equals more money over time, because very few passengers actually pay to sit in BC on domestic flights; most of them get there via point upgrades.

 

[Stupid_Judy]

SWA doesn't want to offer Business Class, because they don't want to be in the business of managing upgrades and/or assigning seats. It messes up the target turnaround times.

As to it being cheaper not to change the configuration, not at all. They can earn back the cost of the extra seat itself and the labor to change them out in just a couple of days' operations. More butts in seats equals more money over time, because very few passengers actually pay to sit in BC on domestic flights; most of them get there via point upgrades.

Very true. Not what I want to hear, I'm also a fan of AT Business Class, but, very true.

 

[DebbieB]

I read somewhere that they don't expect full integration until 2014. They have started to shift routes, SW is taking over some of AirTran's Atlanta routes in February.

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=airtran_acq

 

[Nancy F]

I read somewhere that they don't expect full integration until 2014. They have started to shift routes, SW is taking over some of AirTran's Atlanta routes in February.

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=airtran_acq

I hope it does take that long. Not looking forward to changing airlines. And I'm NEVER going to want to fly Southwest. I'll pay more to be comfortable.
Nancy

 

[jessa07]

Don't know if you have any sort of airline loyalty, but most of the time, I've found Delta is cheaper than SW out of DTW, and they have nonstop flights.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Don't know if you have any sort of airline loyalty, but most of the time, I've found Delta is cheaper than SW out of DTW, and they have nonstop flights.

No loyalty here..whatever is cheaper!! Unfortunately right now Delta is at $300 round trip

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I was interested in trying Southwest (I normally fly Airtran and upgrade to business class whenever I can) until I saw the boarding mess in the Minneapolis Airport. It looked like a rush to the gate with people pushing and shoving. They were in the gate next to the one I was flying out of.

Now I'm not so sure I want to try them. I may start flying more with Delta.

 

[vacationclub]

I was interested in trying Southwest (I normally fly Airtran and upgrade to business class whenever I can) until I saw the boarding mess in the Minneapolis Airport. It looked like a rush to the gate with people pushing and shoving. They were in the gate next to the one I was flying out of.

Now I'm not so sure I want to try them. I may start flying more with Delta.

That's funny you say that, because some people have claimed that what you witnessed is much more orderly than normal airlines where there is supposedly "pushing and shoving". Either way, people have to squeeze into a plane one way or another. SW's method just doesn't give you a seat assignment...you're on your own...every man for himself. SW is fine if you are on time to your gate and either pay for EBCI or deal the the silly 24 hour internet refresh.

I was on a SW plane from Vegas a few weeks back. We were late leaving because another 12 passengers were still arriving late on another plane coming in. We waited for them...but too bad for them since they all had to find a single center seat when they finally got on. No matter if they paid for EBCI or even Business Select, they were all stuck in middle seats all over the plane. And, it was a bunch of younger kids heading to Buffalo for a hockey tournament, so the chaperons had no idea where the kids were on the plane from LAS to BUF for 4 hours and 15 minutes.

 

[TaraPA]

They just announced today that they are pulling out of our airport as on Aug. 12th. The article says they are discontinuing service in 5 airports, but it didn't name the others. Grrrr.....

 

[stargazertechie]

I was interested in trying Southwest (I normally fly Airtran and upgrade to business class whenever I can) until I saw the boarding mess in the Minneapolis Airport. It looked like a rush to the gate with people pushing and shoving. They were in the gate next to the one I was flying out of.

Now I'm not so sure I want to try them. I may start flying more with Delta.

Honestly it's not that bad, and chaos is the exception, not the norm. I've always had wonderful experiences, and out of any airline I prefer southwest- I feel that their flight attendants are the friendliest, the planes are actually comfortable (leg room-wise) and you can't beat the price.

 

[mom2brooke76]

They just announced today that they are pulling out of our airport as on Aug. 12th. The article says they are discontinuing service in 5 airports, but it didn't name the others. Grrrr.....

Here is a list of the cities:

Airports that will lose AirTran service as of August 12 are in Allentown and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Lexington, Kentucky; Sarasota, Florida; Huntsville, Alabama; and White Plains, New York.

That was from this article:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/20/us-southwest-idUSTRE80J1PQ20120120

 

[mom2brooke76]

Honestly it's not that bad, and chaos is the exception, not the norm. I've always had wonderful experiences, and out of any airline I prefer southwest- I feel that their flight attendants are the friendliest, the planes are actually comfortable (leg room-wise) and you can't beat the price.

I have to agree with this. I fly SW monthly, half of the time with my dd, 7. When flight times don't work we will occasionally fly Delta, United, or US Airways, and honestly the SW boarding system is the best out of all of these in my opinion. You are assigned a boarding letter (A, B or C) and a number when checking in for your flight. The better the letter/number, the earlier you board and the better selection of seats. I find the boarding to be very organized as they line people up by letters and in number order.