AirTran Airways A+ Rewards - Orange County and Mexico City

Haven't seen any mention here of AirTran's startup in June of nonstop service to Mexico City (from Orange County and San Antonio) and from Orange County to San Francisco and Las Vegas. MEX is, I think, the first foreign non-leisure destination that they have ever gone to.

They are some very odd moves. I have read that introducing a US airline in a foreign country required a patient, consistent marketing message to be put out. How could they start up with AirTran and then kill the name, change it and the entire service offering shortly after starting up in Mexico City??

These moves seemingly have nothing to do with AirTran's network and everything to do with SWA's.

Or, is this a harbinger of a solution to the problem cited in these boards of how to get the Southwest boarding and service method into foreign markets? Could AirTran be a longer-lived international service subsidiary, with assigned seating, etc.?

Or, is this a harbinger of a solution to the problem cited in these boards of how to get the Southwest boarding and service method into foreign markets? Could AirTran be a longer-lived international service subsidiary, with assigned seating, etc.?

I think you might be on to something here. WN doesn't have infrastructure in place to do international travel, but AirTran sure does.

FWIW, AirTran has also applied with DOT to serve DEN-CUN & AUS-CUN.

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2012-0007-0001

These moves seemingly have nothing to do with AirTran's network and everything to do with SWA's.

Or, is this a harbinger of a solution to the problem cited in these boards of how to get the Southwest boarding and service method into foreign markets? Could AirTran be a longer-lived international service subsidiary, with assigned seating, etc.?

Not sure all these decisions have been taken. I can't envision any SWA painted planes having two-class service. But I also don't think they will/can operate internationally without assigned seating. That favors the FL reservation platform.

I'm sure this has to do something with WN's codeshare agreement with Volaris (Y4). Y4's main hub is stationed at MEX, so I'm sure they want to tie into their route network a little more easily.

Not sure all these decisions have been taken. I can't envision any SWA painted planes having two-class service. But I also don't think they will/can operate internationally without assigned seating. That favors the FL reservation platform.

SWA has two problems at the moment. One is the fact SWA has no capability to fly International yet. That's through a operational point of view as well a reservation point of view. Both will come over the next couple of years. This is even after SOC(single operating certificate). Once they check all the boxes neccesary to get approval then you will see SWA metal flying International. The reservation system they have can't do International as well as assigned seating. Something that is required to do on International flights.

The second problem is a good one to have I guess is the fact that the International portion of Airtran's operation is very profitable for them. SWA doesn't want to wait to get SWA side of the house up to speed in the International markets. Especially knowing it will take a couple years to get SWA side going. So hence why Airtran will be doing all the International flying until sometime late 2014. What that means for passangers is any International market that Airtran fly's will be a Airtran flight, with Airtran flight crews and Airtran airplanes. Business class and all. There is one piece of the puzzle that is missing and that is the code share. SWA is still working on that a hope fully that will be done soon.

I know all these new cities Airtran will be flying out of over the next few months are weird but they were put there with the code share in mind. Hope that helps.

The reservation system they have can't do International as well as assigned seating. Something that is required to do on International flights.

Viva Aerobus operates flights from the US to Mexico and they don't have assigned seating.

From Vivaaerobus' FAQ (http://www.vivaaerobus.com/us/knowbeforeyougo/frequentlyaskedquestions.htm)

One class, free seating and boarding. Additionally, VivaAerobus operates a first-come-first-served boarding system that allows you to choose where you wish to sit once you are on board. This policy encourages passengers to board in the aircraft early and avoid customer related delays. We have boarding priority procedures to allow some passengers to board easily such passengers with special needs or families with children.

Does this requirement to have assigned seating on international flights only apply to US Carriers?

AFAIK, there is NO requirement to have assigned seating on international flights. This is really a reservations system issue more than anything.

Good discussion. But I am still wondering about the wisdom of floating the AirTran marketing message in a big city, Spanish language, Mexican media campaign and then having to change it to Southwest in one or two years?

I say this realizing on my many past flights to Mexico City that the Mexican passengers far outnumber the US passengers.

It is confusing enough in Atlanta with the dual identities and marketing messages, and glacially slow conversion process. There is actually a recent SWA press release celebrating Seattle as the very first city to have all of its flights re-done as SWA flights (including converting a small handful of AirTran flights on a still-uncertain basis, at the end of next summer and 15 months after the merger.)