What will you miss about AirTran?
Aug 26, 2014, 8:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,638
What will you miss about AirTran?
Since the days of FL are "rapidly" coming to an end, what do you/will you most miss about AirTran?
I will miss:
I will miss:
- BC upgrades for A+Rewards Elites
- BC upgrades using A+Rewards credits
- Business Class
Aug 26, 2014, 9:08 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
I have been missing the Ginger Cookies for a while now.
My number 1 will be Free Upgrades.
My number 1 will be Free Upgrades.
Aug 26, 2014, 11:05 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Orlando
Programs: AirTran Elite, Southwest A-list
Posts: 46
Seat assignments
Reserved Exit rows
Upgrades.
Reserved Exit rows
Upgrades.
Aug 26, 2014, 12:32 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 622
Miss so far
1) Business Class upgrades
2) Atlanta centric direct options
3) Airtran chosen Snacks in BC such as Milano cookies, shortbread cookies , and the kettle chips. Not to mention the FUJI water.
4) Exit row assignments for elites. And even for non elites, it is cheaper than paying $40 for EBCI.
5) Competence by the customer service and the discretion/freebies some AirTran agents used to give you.
1) Business Class upgrades
2) Atlanta centric direct options
3) Airtran chosen Snacks in BC such as Milano cookies, shortbread cookies , and the kettle chips. Not to mention the FUJI water.
4) Exit row assignments for elites. And even for non elites, it is cheaper than paying $40 for EBCI.
5) Competence by the customer service and the discretion/freebies some AirTran agents used to give you.
Last edited by saneman; Aug 27, 2014 at 10:10 am
Aug 30, 2014, 12:02 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: Marriott/SPG Gold
Posts: 73
Still remember my first 4 credit upgrade... thought that I had found some sort of odd loophole. Worth every penny 
So definitely
1) business class upgrades,
2) 4 credit upgrades
3) the old snacks
Having Fat Tire added on when they switched to WN beverages was one OK addition to ease the transition.
So definitely
1) business class upgrades,
2) 4 credit upgrades
3) the old snacks
Having Fat Tire added on when they switched to WN beverages was one OK addition to ease the transition.
Aug 30, 2014, 1:31 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: My opinions are my own and not that of my employer(s)
Posts: 1,411
Last minute walk up fares that usually beat other airlines by a bunch if open seats were available.
Last edited by traveller001; Aug 30, 2014 at 12:56 pm
Aug 31, 2014, 12:21 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta Platinum, WN A-List Preferred, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 296
1. Existence of biz class
2. Biz class complimentary upgrades for Elites
3. Reserved seating/free exit row seating for Elites
4. Quality snacks served in a basket, not a box
5. Water served in bottles, not a can
6. Non-stop flights out of ATL
7. Reasonable/competitive fares out of ATL
8. Ease of making Elite status
9. Free stand-by for Elites
10. XM radio
2. Biz class complimentary upgrades for Elites
3. Reserved seating/free exit row seating for Elites
4. Quality snacks served in a basket, not a box
5. Water served in bottles, not a can
6. Non-stop flights out of ATL
7. Reasonable/competitive fares out of ATL
8. Ease of making Elite status
9. Free stand-by for Elites
10. XM radio
Sep 3, 2014, 4:45 pm
#10
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
Last minute fares on RDU-ATL. Delta would never cooperate if I was within 2 weeks so Airtran was my go to when I had to get to Atlanta last minute.
Sep 3, 2014, 10:38 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
Last minute Award flights.
I was once stuck in MSY booked on WN to go to DEN. NW lied to me and told me DEN was closed. I could see flights landing and taking off at DEN because MSY has free WiFi.
After waiting several hours I went to the WN counter and demanded a refund check and got one.
I had already re-booked on FL with a connection through Atlanta using Credits and although I arrived many hours late the hotel was able to get my suit ready for an important meeting the next morning
That was when I lost faith in WN.
I was once stuck in MSY booked on WN to go to DEN. NW lied to me and told me DEN was closed. I could see flights landing and taking off at DEN because MSY has free WiFi.
After waiting several hours I went to the WN counter and demanded a refund check and got one.
I had already re-booked on FL with a connection through Atlanta using Credits and although I arrived many hours late the hotel was able to get my suit ready for an important meeting the next morning
That was when I lost faith in WN.
Sep 5, 2014, 9:30 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: AA GLD Skymiles DM MM, a+ rewards lifetime elite, AS, Marriott plat, PC plat, HH gold
Posts: 1,275
Low Fares
717-200 2x3 Y seating
Easy Upgrades
XM
717-200 2x3 Y seating
Easy Upgrades
XM
Sep 9, 2014, 11:02 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,677
Basically what I will miss about Airtran is.....Airtran. I could get upgrades easily, fares were usually good, booze flowed freely, I would get out my ear buds and rock with HAIR NATION. This was especially good on a night flight and then upon arrival I'd be ready to hit the town. Airtran rocked. I think WN made a grave error, because WN is basically old news. The new paint will not help much, although I understand how they think it will. One cannot build an airline on "hype" and free bags. The bloom is off the rose. Bring back the A train!
Sep 10, 2014, 1:15 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: My opinions are my own and not that of my employer(s)
Posts: 1,411
Basically what I will miss about Airtran is.....Airtran. I could get upgrades easily, fares were usually good, booze flowed freely, I would get out my ear buds and rock with HAIR NATION. This was especially good on a night flight and then upon arrival I'd be ready to hit the town. Airtran rocked. I think WN made a grave error, because WN is basically old news. The new paint will not help much, although I understand how they think it will. One cannot build an airline on "hype" and free bags. The bloom is off the rose. Bring back the A train!
Hopefully WN might someday reconfigure to really monetize BS even if it only means more legroom and free drinks versus 2x2 seating Airtran had.
Sep 10, 2014, 8:14 pm
#15
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,621
I already miss having one more kind of credit card I can open and get free travel on Southwest. Not to mention the ability to transfer 20 points per year to other family members to top off their awards.
I will really miss the ability to convert Southwest points to Standard Awards and to extend the life of those awards repeatedly via the AirTran transfer. That one will hurt!
I will really miss the ability to convert Southwest points to Standard Awards and to extend the life of those awards repeatedly via the AirTran transfer. That one will hurt!