Why I'm Really Going to Miss AirTran

[keishashadow]

Months ago I booked a connecting flight home to PIT from MCO for 10/8. Was really surprised to be able to use reward credits to book 1 seat (even though it was a connecting flight). The schedule had been out for months & I had expected the seats would be picked by the time I booked.

Happier still to be able to use a business class upgrade via a voucher I had received for a less than stellar flight experience. Note the voucher date would've been expired by 3 months, but they honored it!

today! Was checking other flight dates & found the flight time changed a whopping 14 minutes. I called the reward desk & they changed our reservations, no questions asked and we kept the same seats. We now leave MCO an hour later & get home an hour earlier.

The reservationist noticed that my one paid fare had dropped (again) and issued me a credit, enough to cover 2 bags per person now.

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

 

[dioxide45]

We will miss AirTran for many reasons. It is downright depressing.

 

[keishashadow]

We will miss AirTran for many reasons. It is downright depressing.

me too! Really wanted to give the reward employees a shout out, they deserve it for going the extra mile for myself and many others

 

[bytheblood]

I will miss the really low prices.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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

Well, I know absolutely they're keeping the pilots - and at least according to one I met in Las Vegas, the pilots are happy . While some flights would be consolidated, Southwest should now be serving airports they didn't before - so they'll need more personnel. It would make more sense to train experienced people on new systems than to downsize or hire new people.

 

[keishashadow]

Well, I know absolutely they're keeping the pilots - and at least according to one I met in Las Vegas, the pilots are happy . While some flights would be consolidated, Southwest should now be serving airports they didn't before - so they'll need more personnel. It would make more sense to train experienced people on new systems than to downsize or hire new people.

that's a start in the right direction. I don't know if either airline's pilots have a union or not that might impede things via senority issues, etc.

 

[aubriee]

I will miss the really low prices.

Well, I know absolutely they're keeping the pilots - and at least according to one I met in Las Vegas, the pilots are happy . While some flights would be consolidated, Southwest should now be serving airports they didn't before - so they'll need more personnel. It would make more sense to train experienced people on new systems than to downsize or hire new people.

We'll sure miss them too. As of Nov 23rd, Air Tran will no longer be flying out of DFW, so our time of low airfares is over. Southwest can't fly out of DFW. My Air Tran flight for this past May was $149.40, for Sept it is $219.40. For my Nov/Dec trip I round up going with American Airlines for $277.00. Southwest (out of Dallas Lovefield) for that time was over $600.00 and Delta and Continental were both over $300.00. What's worse is that American is now going to be the only airline that has direct/nonstop flights to Orlando now that Air Tran is leaving DFW. So we get to pay alot more for airfare plus lose our nonstop flights. Thanks Southwest!

 

[Dan Murphy]

We will miss AirTran for many reasons. It is downright depressing.

I will miss the really low prices.

I echo these thoughts.

 

[Traveliz]

I am in the will miss AirTran camp too.

LOVE the Business Class upgrades...and for me so easy to accumulate points to get these for free (the Airtran Visa, erewards and one emiles).

LOVE the prices and availability.

I know the SW people really love SW but I have never flown them - the closest SW flight around here is three miles and expensive airport parking. I just don't see me with them but we will see what happens once the switch is over. I am thinking maybe Delta for me.

Liz

 

[SDSorority]

I'm happy SW is acquiring AT.

I luv SW. And I don't luv AT, but I will when the merge is over.

The last AT flight we took was baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad. They charge to check bags, the seats were cramped. I had to check my carry-on after boarding because there wasn't room in the overhead compartment since EVERYONE ELSE didn't want to pay to check their bag either ($$)... but at least they did that for free. Good thing there wasn't anything in there that I NEEDED during the flight. I'm not a tall person (5'6'') and I felt VERY cramped. DH is 6'1"... I can't even imagine how he was feeling. He had to sit with his knees apart the whole time. At least the crew was super nice- that was the ONLY good thing about the flight. The passengers were... well... really rude to each other! It was pretty strange.

But in any case, I'm sure that was just a fluke. SW is a great company, and I'm sure the AT folks will be well cared after!

 

[Traveliz]

I'm happy SW is acquiring AT.

I luv SW. And I don't luv AT, but I will when the merge is over.

The last AT flight we took was baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad. They charge to check bags, the seats were cramped. I had to check my carry-on after boarding because there wasn't room in the overhead compartment since EVERYONE ELSE didn't want to pay to check their bag either ($$)... but at least they did that for free. Good thing there wasn't anything in there that I NEEDED during the flight. I'm not a tall person (5'6'') and I felt VERY cramped. DH is 6'1"... I can't even imagine how he was feeling. He had to sit with his knees apart the whole time. At least the crew was super nice- that was the ONLY good thing about the flight. The passengers were... well... really rude to each other! It was pretty strange.

But in any case, I'm sure that was just a fluke. SW is a great company, and I'm sure the AT folks will be well cared after!

You know they are using the Airtran planes - so I am not sure your seat size issue will be resolved.

Liz

 

[bytheblood]

We'll sure miss them too. As of Nov 23rd, Air Tran will no longer be flying out of DFW, so our time of low airfares is over. Southwest can't fly out of DFW. My Air Tran flight for this past May was $149.40, for Sept it is $219.40. For my Nov/Dec trip I round up going with American Airlines for $277.00. Southwest (out of Dallas Lovefield) for that time was over $600.00 and Delta and Continental were both over $300.00. What's worse is that American is now going to be the only airline that has direct/nonstop flights to Orlando now that Air Tran is leaving DFW. So we get to pay alot more for airfare plus lose our nonstop flights. Thanks Southwest!

We also fly out of DFW....or DAL. Even with bag fees, Southwest is not always the lowest fare. American has become highway robbery as of late.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

I knew SW bought AT but I thought AirTran would still exist, no? or is it just stopping service from certain airports?

 

[yxjames]

AirTran will not exist anymore as it is being implemented into the Southwest family. That means AirTran's bases - ATL, MKE, BWI, MCO will be Southwest's. Pilots, flight attendants, rampers, CSRs will be part of Southwest. AirTran recently held a hangar party down here to commemorate the event.

 

[Missytara]

I will also miss Airtran. Besides SW, they are the only airline that offers non-stop flights from BWI and PHL, which are both near my home.

I have always loved their customer service and their staff; flight attendants have been especially helpful.

I refuse to give SW one dime of my money. The entire boarding process stinks and having to check in at the 24 hour mark or paying extra to check-in at the EBCI is annoying to say the least.

I don't mind purchasing my seat ahead of time; what is the big deal.

Unfortunately, I am going to be flying other airlines, that won't have non-stop flights to MCO.

 

[Traveliz]

I will also miss Airtran. Besides SW, they are the only airline that offers non-stop flights from BWI and PHL, which are both near my home.

I have always loved their customer service and their staff; flight attendants have been especially helpful.

I refuse to give SW one dime of my money. The entire boarding process stinks and having to check in at the 24 hour mark or paying extra to check-in at the EBCI is annoying to say the least.

I don't mind purchasing my seat ahead of time; what is the big deal.

Unfortunately, I am going to be flying other airlines, that won't have non-stop flights to MCO.

I know people seem to love their boarding process but my thought process has always been the same as yours. I am really hoping to avoid SW as well.

Liz

 

[Missytara]

I know people seem to love their boarding process but my thought process has always been the same as yours. I am really hoping to avoid SW as well.

Liz

Thank you, Liz, you made my day.......

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

My one-and-only experience with an AirTran Airways flight was poor. Various things happened (schedule change, change in baggage fee rules after I booked, delayed departure) that could happen with any airline. However, the AirTran people who handled these situations did so unprofessionally and incompetently, making everything worse and leaving a very bad impression. I fly frequently, so I don't expect everything to go perfectly, but I'm accustomed to airline employees who know how to do their jobs.

I'll admit that this could have been a fluke, and that perhaps I dealt with the only half dozen substandard employees in the whole AirTran company.

I just hope that Southwest trains all AirTran employees in Southwest's high standards, and that the former AirTran employees embrace Southwest's culture of excellent passenger service.

 

[Christine9125]

I will miss AT, They are the only ones with a non stop from Dayton Ohio and we have not heard what SW will do since they are currently not in Dayton at all

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I will miss AT, They are the only ones with a non stop from Dayton Ohio and we have not heard what SW will do since they are currently not in Dayton at all

One of the big reasons that Southwest is absorbing AirTran to expand into routes and airports not currently served by Southwest.

Chances are very good that you'll continue to have service from Dayton, except that the planes will be painted in Southwest colors and the tickets will be sold with Southwest policies, such as two free bags per passengers and no reserved seats.