Air Tran experiences?

[Cream Soda]

I've never flown w/ them before but since they had the cheapest ticket for my short notice of 2 weeks in advance, I pretty much went w/ them (cheapest delta flight was like 70 bucks more).

Just wondering what to expect. Are they good or bad or just plain? I noticed they have wifi on every flight, so at least that much is good.

[Kaisha]

Typically have to pay extra for wifi access on most modes of transportation.

[Headspace]

About average. Haven't flown with them in a few years though.

[_chuchu]

Was plain, but I had no complaints. Was a while back

[kuronosan]

Nice prices but horrible customer service experience. One time I had no baggage to check in and I was at the airport 15 minutes before my flight left. They refused to let me board the flight even though I had proper ID and nothing to check-in.

They didn't offer to put me up at a hotel or anything, and the manager actually told me that they wouldn't refund my ticket or help me and that I was on my own. When I asked if they even had a later flight they could put me on they pitched a fit telling me that they didn't do things like that.

Long story short, I finally got put on another flight, but I had to stay overnight in the airport. This was when I was about 19 years old. I don't know how they are now, but it was a negative enough impression where I simply never wanted to fly their airline again.

[Rafbacca]

Nice prices but horrible customer service experience. One time I had no baggage to check in and I was at the airport 15 minutes before my flight left. They refused to let me board the flight even though I had proper ID and nothing to check-in.

They didn't offer to put me up at a hotel or anything, and the manager actually told me that they wouldn't refund my ticket or help me and that I was on my own. When I asked if they even had a later flight they could put me on they pitched a fit telling me that they didn't do things like that.

Long story short, I finally got put on another flight, but I had to stay overnight in the airport. This was when I was about 19 years old. I don't know how they are now, but it was a negative enough impression where I simply never wanted to fly their airline again.

There is a reason you're supposed to be at the airport at least an hour before your flight. If you don't claim your seat on time they release it so the next person on standby or that purchases an emergency ticket it can get it. All airlines have rules on tickets that have a time limit of when your seat is guaranteed. Being late is your fault. I do agree however that you should have been offered standby status on the next available flight.

Most airlines board 30 minutes before scheduled departure time. Based on what you post about being there 15 minutes before flight left then you're actually 15 minutes late for boarding, at which no airline is obligated to give you a seat. you forfeited it by being late. I saw this happen When I was flying back from Vegas this past weekend, some jackass rolls up to the gate 3 minutes before departure demanding to be let on the plane. This after all seats were filled and plane door was closed. He only made himself look like an ass.

As for Air-Tran, my brother flies on them a few times as he lives in Atlanta. Basically no problems, best he could offer was they were cheaper than other airlines on the flights he took.

[Roranora]

Very plain, but only tolerable at worst, in 5-6 flights with them.

[Cream Soda]

Alright thanks. I'll be sure to make it earlier than 15 mins before departure.

[Aksannyi]

They're fine, I've never had any problems with them.

[Tekki]

2-3 trips with them...Very very average. Nothing good nothing bad. I pay the extra for Delta flights when I can.

[kuronosan]

Yes, I understand the entire "be there on time" idea guys. Really the problem wasn't so much that they wouldn't let me on the plane, the problem was how they treated me after it left.

[toonces]

Alright thanks. I'll be sure to make it earlier than 15 mins before departure.

Check-in Requirements — Ticket Counter

AirTran Airways recommends that passengers arrive at the airport 120 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of their flight. Due to security requirements, passengers and their baggage will not be accepted at the ticket counter less than 45 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of their flight (some smaller airports may accept baggage up to 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time). See AirTran Airways' Contract of Carriage for specific airport check-in requirements.

Cheap Flights are cheap for a reason, try to be there 30 to 45 minutes (even if you aren't checking in a bag... airlines are the biggest douches out there.. play above their rules if you don't wanna get jiffed .. have fun on your flight.. if the plane sucks just take a nap .

PS: the 30 -45 if is a national flight, didn't remmeber if you mention that. International def do the 120 minutes. No point of being cool and be at the airport last minute..when most likely you gonna be ready 3 hrs before your flight anyways.

[toonces]

Yes, I understand the entire "be there on time" idea guys. Really the problem wasn't so much that they wouldn't let me on the plane, the problem was how they treated me after it left.

Yeah good companies would accommodate you on their next flight and you had to wait a day. sucks.

[BarthelloSylph]

Nice prices but horrible customer service experience. One time I had no baggage to check in and I was at the airport 15 minutes before my flight left. They refused to let me board the flight even though I had proper ID and nothing to check-in.

They didn't offer to put me up at a hotel or anything, and the manager actually told me that they wouldn't refund my ticket or help me and that I was on my own. When I asked if they even had a later flight they could put me on they pitched a fit telling me that they didn't do things like that.

Long story short, I finally got put on another flight, but I had to stay overnight in the airport. This was when I was about 19 years old. I don't know how they are now, but it was a negative enough impression where I simply never wanted to fly their airline again.

Yea, you're an idiot.

[travOtaku]

As a poor college kid, I typically only fly Airtran (or Allegiant Air, which is even more of a discount airline) because they are the cheapest. With the advent of kiosks, I hardly ever have had to deal with anyone rude or unhelpful.

On the airplane the experience is pretty average like everyone else said. Sometimes, depending on where you are flying, they host a raffle type game where you can buy tickets and hope to win the grand prize of 50% of the cash deposited into the pot, along with various other souvenier prizes. I typically just spend my time either sleeping or reading a book, and don't interact much with the flight attendants and the other passengers, and I have never been dissatisfied with what I paid for.

I don't expect the flight attendants to want to turn my pages for me when I'm reading, or to lay me back and feed me grapes, though I do expect for them to not just completely ignore me if I need something, and they meet those expectations.

I would say that you are not going to be disappointed not spending the extra 70 bucks to fly on Delta.

[Lbelle]

I've flown both Airtran and Southwest many times. Airtran lost my bags more times than SW has, but Airtran has music you can listen to in the seat thing which I thought was kinda cool.

I always fly SW now though since they generally always have the cheapest tickets. You should try them next time, they're extremely easy and have a great boarding system at the airport which I like a lot too.

[kuronosan]

Yea, you're an idiot.

Yes, because basing my entire persona on something that happened almost 10 years ago is good logic.

You, sir, are retarded.

[ertyu]

I'm currently in new york on business and got put up in business clas, so I don't think I can ever go back to coach again, but I would always do Southwest over AirTran anyday. Southwest is a lot friendlier and their check in system rewards those who are early. Very painless experience and they have never had a plane crash :O

[Elites]

Only airliner I ever went on was Emirates, and I'm not sure how they are compared to other airliners but uh that was one amazing experience.

[Cream Soda]

if the plane sucks just take a nap .

I usually pull an all nighter the night before just for this reason.