Why I'm Really Going to Miss AirTran

[kristenrice]

Wish you could give them to me. I think you can donate them though to Make A Wish. I did that once when I had one that was going to expire.

Although I would wait to see what Airtran/SW decides to do with leftover credits etc before making any decisions.

Liz

When we first flew AT, I signed my family up for the A+ program. My DD's each accumulated 4 credits which were about to expire. I had a trip with my BFF planned for October 14. Since the credits expired October 25, I called and asked if I could use DD#1's 4 credits to upgrade my flight and DD#2's credits to upgrade my friend's flight. They said, "Absolutely! That's a great way to keep them from going to waste!" This was back in 2009 so things may have changed, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. I think all you do is get a voucher code when you redeem the points...then apply them when you want to do the upgrade. I don't see why you couldn't give your code to someone else.

 

[JB2K]

I really hope SWA finds a new home for the AT employees.

Well, since many employees are unionzied (Machinists, etc.), in cities where both SWA and AT offer service, it will depend-upon the merged seniority lists (in other words, those who have been with their respective companies the longest will get the job).

And, while you may have great AT workers where you are, that's not the case, elsewhere (as I know @ STL, SWA consistently gets the best employees of all the major carriers).

 

[JB2K]

I've never found Southwest to be cheaper, even including the bag fees that Air Tran and American charges. In fact, Southwest has always been ALOT more expensive. I always check their fares every time I'm searching for airfare, but have yet to purchase through them. They are always at least $100.00 higher than any other airlines that fly out of Dallas.



Southwest will be taking over Air Tran and will be stopping service from certain airports. Dallas is one of those. I don't think anyone in Dallas is happy right now with the situation. Air Tran and American were the only two airlines that had nonstop/direct flights to Orlando. They were able to keep each other in check. Now with Air Tran no longer flying out of Dallas after Nov 22nd, American can charge whatever they want. I fly to Orlando at least four times a year and usually pay $148.00-$198.00. For my upcoming Nov 26th-Dec 4th flight I am paying $277.00 on American. However, I was happy to get that, because except for a couple of days there where they dropped the price, it had been running over $300.00 and that same flight is now $387.40. At the time I bought the $277.00 flight on American, Southwest was running $610.00. That flight now is $549.30 with a layover in Houston. Delta is $300.30 with a layover in Atlanta and Continental is $451.30 with a layover in Chicago. My $277.00 American flight is direct/nonstop to Orlando. Again Southwest is at least $100.00 more than any other airline out of Dallas, plus I'd have to fly out of Lovefield as they can't fly out of DFW.

With Southwest pulling Air Tran out of Dallas, we have lost our cheap airfares, the ability to choose our seats beforehand, our A+ Reward points that made it so easy to upgrade to first class, and the only airline that now has nonstop flights to MCO is American, who can now charge whaterver they want, since Air Tran won't be around to keep their prices in check. I refuse to fly Southwest, but if I did, I'd also have to change airports from DFW to Lovefield.

For the sake of accuracy, the closing of flights at DFW is not a Southwest policy -- it's a Wright Amendment policy (which was put in place specifically to keep Southwest from growing beyond the states which surround Texas).

 

[Christine9125]

When we first flew AT, I signed my family up for the A+ program. My DD's each accumulated 4 credits which were about to expire. I had a trip with my BFF planned for October 14. Since the credits expired October 25, I called and asked if I could use DD#1's 4 credits to upgrade my flight and DD#2's credits to upgrade my friend's flight. They said, "Absolutely! That's a great way to keep them from going to waste!" This was back in 2009 so things may have changed, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. I think all you do is get a voucher code when you redeem the points...then apply them when you want to do the upgrade. I don't see why you couldn't give your code to someone else.

You have to pay $19 per credit to give them to someone else on AT, just did it with our kids.

 

[Traveliz]

When we first flew AT, I signed my family up for the A+ program. My DD's each accumulated 4 credits which were about to expire. I had a trip with my BFF planned for October 14. Since the credits expired October 25, I called and asked if I could use DD#1's 4 credits to upgrade my flight and DD#2's credits to upgrade my friend's flight. They said, "Absolutely! That's a great way to keep them from going to waste!" This was back in 2009 so things may have changed, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. I think all you do is get a voucher code when you redeem the points...then apply them when you want to do the upgrade. I don't see why you couldn't give your code to someone else.

Thanks for the info on that - I didn't realize you could switch them around (without fee) among your family. I might have to do that.

Liz

 

[Christine9125]

Thanks for the info on that - I didn't realize you could switch them around (without fee) among your family. I might have to do that.

Liz

If we can do this, I will need to ask airtran for my $38 back I had to pay

 

[Dan Murphy]

I also paid a small fee to transfer A+ rewards from my wife to me, as hers also were expiring. This was a few months ago.

 

[keishashadow]

Well, since many employees are unionzied (Machinists, etc.), in cities where both SWA and AT offer service, it will depend-upon the merged seniority lists (in other words, those who have been with their respective companies the longest will get the job).

And, while you may have great AT workers where you are, that's not the case, elsewhere (as I know @ STL, SWA consistently gets the best employees of all the major carriers).

i know several FAs who 'used to' work @ USAir before they dumped the PIT hub. Whatever their motives they spoke very disparagingly about the discount lines in general, although in their opinion AT was a notch up the food chain from SWA. Who can forget this winner's comments not fired, received an unspecified suspension

http://aviationnewsdaily.com/2011/0...ended-over-rant-about-ugly-flight-attendants/

You have to pay $19 per credit to give them to someone else on AT, just did it with our kids.

fyi, if you have 8 credits you can just book a flight leg for anybody
instead of paying the transfer fees, can also purchase them if short.

kristenrice - as far as i know, only AT elite members are able to transfer credits fee free to other's accounts

 

[kristenrice]

If we can do this, I will need to ask airtran for my $38 back I had to pay

I also paid a small fee to transfer A+ rewards from my wife to me, as hers also were expiring. This was a few months ago.

Just to clarify...

What I did was call AT and asked to redeem DD#1 and DD#2's A+ credits for BC upgrade vouchers. The credits were due to expire in about 2 weeks, but they told me that once I redeemed them for the vouchers, the vouchers would be good for 1 year. I gave one of the voucher numbers to my friend and she used it to upgrade herself from DTW=> MCO. I used my own credits (voucher) to upgrade myself. On the way home, I used the other voucher (from DD#2) and I upgraded myself.

The credits were not transferred from my DD's to me or my friend...it was the vouchers (not actual paper vouchers, just codes) that were "transferred". I did not pay any fees and I am not an elite member. Like I said, I have no idea if they would still do this...heck...I'm not even sure they were supposed to do it in the first place. I'm just relaying my experience.

 

[Traveliz]

Just to clarify...

What I did was call AT and asked to redeem DD#1 and DD#2's A+ credits for BC upgrade vouchers. The credits were due to expire in about 2 weeks, but they told me that once I redeemed them for the vouchers, the vouchers would be good for 1 year. I gave one of the voucher numbers to my friend and she used it to upgrade herself from DTW=> MCO. I used my own credits (voucher) to upgrade myself. On the way home, I used the other voucher (from DD#2) and I upgraded myself.

The credits were not transferred from my DD's to me or my friend...it was the vouchers (not actual paper vouchers, just codes) that were "transferred". I did not pay any fees and I am not an elite member. Like I said, I have no idea if they would still do this...heck...I'm not even sure they were supposed to do it in the first place. I'm just relaying my experience.

Worth a try if I get to that point. Thanks.

Liz