AirTran a great Airline to fly with
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: Shamelessly Gold at Flying Burrito and AirTrain A+ Elite. Turkish Star Gold, 100k at Flying Eskimo
Posts: 739
AirTran a great Airline to fly with
Just a thread to collect your memories about this great little airline before the network shrinks completely and fades away in the LUV system...
2005 - December - 15th - FL236
First flight on AirTran from Atlanta to Chicago Midway.
I was delighted to fly on yet another airline and a new aircraft type with the Boeing 717-200. I was further surprised to see they were still providing earphones and free sat radio despite them being branded as a LCC. Well, I was accustomed to Ryanair in Europe.
Upon arrival in MDW, Captain said on the PA thanks for flying one of the few profitable airline in the US.
Well in my mind, I was glad I flew AirTran. Definitely way better than the hometown gorilla. I was preparing for the worst (again, Ryanair effect) and was pleasantly surprised. Now I have moved the ladder all the way up and I am glad to be Elite at Airtran (well while it still means something)
2009 - May - 05th - FL339
Was on a direct flight from ATL to Vegas. Had an IFSD while over Meteor Crater and diverted to Phoenix with a single-engine, limited flaps and therefore high speed landing. Fire trucks all around us upon touching down. That was thrilling.
Captain was great to keep us informed. Once on the ground, the employees were apologetic and tried to help us the best they could while Citrus was dispatching another aircraft from Atlanta. They really made their best to offset the inconvenience (despite the repeated verbal assaults from some couples of ill-behaved, over-entitled, discount-airfare flyers).
Please, share your fond memories of AirTran!
Minos
2005 - December - 15th - FL236
First flight on AirTran from Atlanta to Chicago Midway.
I was delighted to fly on yet another airline and a new aircraft type with the Boeing 717-200. I was further surprised to see they were still providing earphones and free sat radio despite them being branded as a LCC. Well, I was accustomed to Ryanair in Europe.
Upon arrival in MDW, Captain said on the PA thanks for flying one of the few profitable airline in the US.
Well in my mind, I was glad I flew AirTran. Definitely way better than the hometown gorilla. I was preparing for the worst (again, Ryanair effect) and was pleasantly surprised. Now I have moved the ladder all the way up and I am glad to be Elite at Airtran (well while it still means something)
2009 - May - 05th - FL339
Was on a direct flight from ATL to Vegas. Had an IFSD while over Meteor Crater and diverted to Phoenix with a single-engine, limited flaps and therefore high speed landing. Fire trucks all around us upon touching down. That was thrilling.
Captain was great to keep us informed. Once on the ground, the employees were apologetic and tried to help us the best they could while Citrus was dispatching another aircraft from Atlanta. They really made their best to offset the inconvenience (despite the repeated verbal assaults from some couples of ill-behaved, over-entitled, discount-airfare flyers).
Please, share your fond memories of AirTran!
Minos
#3
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In Exile
Programs: I fly for free.
Posts: 435
Gotta plead the fifth as an FL/WN employee. But this should be a good one.
Just wait till someone releases a book on all this...this is going to make the UNICAL guys over on their forums say "Jesus Christ, Im sorry I ever said a bad word about Tilton"
I will say this though: Thank all of you guys for flying FL, I feel your pain and if I ever meet any one of you who held Elite status I am buying the first round.
Just wait till someone releases a book on all this...this is going to make the UNICAL guys over on their forums say "Jesus Christ, Im sorry I ever said a bad word about Tilton"
I will say this though: Thank all of you guys for flying FL, I feel your pain and if I ever meet any one of you who held Elite status I am buying the first round.
Last edited by PA42; Aug 9, 2012 at 12:44 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: Shamelessly Gold at Flying Burrito and AirTrain A+ Elite. Turkish Star Gold, 100k at Flying Eskimo
Posts: 739
#5
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Delta Kryptonium Medallion, National Executive
Posts: 1,889
Gotta plead the fifth as an FL/WN employee. But this should be a good one.
Just wait till someone releases a book on all this...this is going to make the UNICAL guys over on their forums say "Jesus Christ, Im sorry I ever said a bad word about Tilton"
I will say this though: Thank all of you guys for flying FL, I feel your pain and if I ever meet any one of you who held Elite status I am buying the first round.
Just wait till someone releases a book on all this...this is going to make the UNICAL guys over on their forums say "Jesus Christ, Im sorry I ever said a bad word about Tilton"
I will say this though: Thank all of you guys for flying FL, I feel your pain and if I ever meet any one of you who held Elite status I am buying the first round.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: A+ Elite, Hilton Gold, OA and hotels, member
Posts: 256
Where do I find you for this free beer you mention? Or will it have to come from an FL stewardess in C?
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: Shamelessly Gold at Flying Burrito and AirTrain A+ Elite. Turkish Star Gold, 100k at Flying Eskimo
Posts: 739
That's going to be hard to meet you in Dallas flying AirTran... Just sayin..
#9
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In Exile
Programs: I fly for free.
Posts: 435
Thank you Captain Obvious.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: ATL
Programs: Shamelessly Gold at Flying Burrito and AirTrain A+ Elite. Turkish Star Gold, 100k at Flying Eskimo
Posts: 739
#11
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In Exile
Programs: I fly for free.
Posts: 435
Unfortunately drove a really long way down I-10 westward.
Now Im surrounded by people who know not what the godly taste of a Publix sub is.
Now Im surrounded by people who know not what the godly taste of a Publix sub is.
#12
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Does anyone remember when Airtran partnered with Wendys? I think it was 2006 or so. Large sodas at Wendys had a coupon on it and when you saved up enough, you could mail them in for a free ticket on Airtran. A friend of mine started going to Wendys and buying six large sodas to go. He had no problem with flat soda so he'd go home and put them in his fridge and drink them over the course of the week. Eventually, he saved up enough and got his round trip ticket!
...which he never used
...which he never used
#13
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Delta Kryptonium Medallion, National Executive
Posts: 1,889
#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: MKE
Posts: 2,161
It was great while it lasted. I took my last trip in December.
#15
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westchester Co, NY or Rio Grande Valley, TX or ???
Programs: BAEC G, WN A-, Hyatt G, HH G, MAR T, Hz PC, was [UA2P, FL A+Elite, BD G]
Posts: 2,271
Thanks PA42. Since you've joined FT you have been an unbiased and downright honest contributor to the forum. I for one have appreciated your candor. As FL unwinds its operations over the next year or two, perhaps we should plan a gathering of the FL loyal to finally meet, reminisce and say goodbye to our once favorite airline; an "UN-DO" if you will. @:-)