FYI for Airtran Flyers About This Page:

[kimberlym322]

Just thought I would let you all know. Our flight for AT out of BWI to MCO has been changed for the 6th time in a few weeks. We called AT about it, they got smart with my sister. They told her they will continue to move flights around up until they take off (the flight...like if you are on a 10:15 AM flight they can move it around until they start boarding). I am so right now...use to love AT. Anyway...when my sister called they also told her that she could change the flight for free or get a full refund.

So to all AT ticket holders...find another cheap flight, book it and then call AT and get your money back. If everyone starts to do this maybe they will change. I also say wright a letter to know how mad and dissatissfied you are.

[chezp]

Sixth time? Unbelievable. What a nightmare for you.

[lauren-roxy]

That certainly is a lot of times to change a flight!!

[hildai]

Geez, SIX TIMES!!!!! We flew with them back in Feb and I thought they were great! They did make one time change, but it had worked in our favor (more Disney time) so I didn't mind.

I'm going to go double check the flight times for the tickets I just bought two days ago for our December trip!

[6fans4life]

That was pretty rude! They shouldn't have treated your sister that way! We were thinking of booking with AT b/c their flights are the least expensive for us (by a pretty good amount), but I'll have to rethink it, now...

[marisag]

I agree. Airtran has been a nightmare recently. My inbox is filled with notices for all my clients that Airtran has changed their flights. Aside from times changes- they have stopped flying from certain aiports, made non stops into stop overs etc. I am sorry to hear they were nasty with your sister. Good Luck!!

[Caldercup]

I'm sort of used to it with them -- if maximizing the number of seats and/or changing planes keeps my airfares so low, I'll continue to fly with them. I'll just keep a constant eye on the times and make adjustments to my plans or change flights. (If they change your flights to a time that won't work for you, they are obligated to try to accomodate you by rebooking a different flight without a price change.)

I do believe, that, if you were to cancel your flight with Airtran, you'd have to pay a cancellation fee. Anyone know for sure?
Eileen

[Dreaming of DisneyWorld]

They've made two changes on our itinerary. One added a layover, and the second we received no notification of the change. I check it weekly, now, to make sure it hasn't changed again. I'm so sorry for you and your sister! I hope everything works out!

[hockeyguysmom]

They have made 2 changes to our flights. The 1st time they moved our return flight from 4pm to 9am (we would loose our whole last day in the parks) so I called & was on hold for a long time. I got another non-stop at basically the same time we originally had. The rep on the phone said they are changing alot of their flights that were non-stop if they are not full to stop & pick up more people to save on gas. But if they add a stop or change your flight time you can cancel for free.

The 2nd change is that our flight down to 10 minutes earlier & coming home we leave 10 minutes later which either means 20 more minutes at WDW or more than likely 20 more minutes in the airports. I am checking daily to make sure they don't make any other changes. It has been about 8 yrs since we last flew with them & alot has changed since them. On a brighter note we paid $51 per person each way.

[WeRDisneyFanatics]

Originally Posted by Caldercup

I do believe, that, if you were to cancel your flight with Airtran, you'd have to pay a cancellation fee. Anyone know for sure?

We cancelled our flights with them for December after the second round of changes. They changed our flight down from a non-stop to a connection and we told them that didn't work for us and were given a full refund with no problem and no fees. At that time we were told if you are cancelling because of a change to the flight that doesn't work for you they don't charge a fee. I believe you have to ask for a refund before you accept the changes to your flight -- once you accept the changes they may charge you a fee if you then decide you want to cancel, I'm not sure.

[WeRDisneyFanatics]

I should add that our experience was a couple of months ago. It probably would be a good idea to call AirTran and confirm their refund policy before booking on another airline. With all the changes to flights lately, I wonder if AirTran has cracked down on the criteria under which they give a refund (like the change to your flight has to be by a certain amount of time).

[Pax]

Originally Posted by Caldercup

I'm sort of used to it with them -- if maximizing the number of seats and/or changing planes keeps my airfares so low, I'll continue to fly with them.

That's not all they're doing.

They are also pulling BAIT AND SWITCH games.

For example ... we were, after the first change of flights, on Flight #630, BOS-MCO nonstop (Jan03, 7:10am departure). The seats cost us $114 each.

They cancelled that flight, and moved us to a 6:30-ish flight with a layover in Atlanta. Simultaneously, they opened Flight #633, BOS-MCO nonstop (Jan03, 8:45am departure), the minimum seat price for which was $344. It was an identical aircraft model, as best I can tell.

Like I said: bait-and-switch. Suddenly, they weren't earning enough $$ per seat for a nonstop flight, and used a "close 630, create new flight 633" trick to bump the low-fare passengers to other, cheaper flights ... nevermind that they've had the use of our money since early June!

Luckily for them, they didn't protest when I specifically asked to be put on Flight 633. Otherwise, our state Attorney General's office would have been getting a telephone call, AND a formal written complaint.

And, the next major change that isn't just a small tweak to times? We're cancelling those tickets, and someone ELSE gets our [censored] money. If they try and charge us a cancellation fee for that? The state AG's office will get that call. It takes a lot to get me past the "complain loudly" stage, and into the "DO soemthing about it" stage ... but once I do, LOOK OUT ...

EDIT TO ADD: and it'll be a true REFUND, not a credit for future flights. If I have to go so far as to cancel our flights and completely reschedule / replan our trip there and back, I'll never do business with AirTran again, come Hell or High Water. (For example, I once demanded my money back at McDonalds, because after four tries, they couldn't get my burger right (I wanted a double cheeseburger, with only ketchup on it - not a difficult order. One mistake - eh, it happens. Two - okay, this is irksome. Three - I want a word with the manager. Four - give me my money back!) And no, I have never ever gone back to that particular McDonalds again.)

[Mickey28]

Not only did airtran change our times several times ( we were losing 4 hrs in the park by the time they were done) they put us on a different flight without any notice and we prepaid to pick our seats. On top of that, when they changed our flights they had someone sitting in between us. I called them, told them it wouldn't work for me, and they gave me a full refund with no problem. The only thing that I didn't like was that when I booked with them they charged my debit card right away but when it came time to give me back my money it took 5 days. Oh well, all worked out in the end and we will never book Airtran again. I've learned my lesson.

[kimberlym322]

Sad part is that on our reservations it is stated that we need a nonstop due to DNephews medical needs. They keep taking us off the nonstops and putting us on the layover ones. It makes me mad because all the flights that we have been put on right before they move them around us around the flight only has 1st class and about 15-25 reg seats left before it is full. Now if it was a few weeks before we were leaving and the flight was not full I can understand them moving things around but this started back when we still had over 100 days to go. And also I have never taken an AT flight out of baltimore or to Baltimore from MCO that was not full. So they need to stop pulling this BS.

I use to love AT and recomend it, but it will be a cold day you know where before I do it again. Hopefully my sister is on it and we just get the money back and drive.... LIKE I SAID TO DO FROM THE START!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[notjustamom]

BWI to MCO

Have you looked into flights on Southwest? They fly out of BWI. Good luck