AirTran Airways A+ Rewards - Suggestions? Go for 16 A+ credits or wait till Southwest takes over?

Hi all,

I'm looking to fly BWI to Montego Bay and back in Jan 2013.

I have over 100k Southwest points and will have companion pass soon. AirTran flies direct between BWI and Montego Bay but of course the rewards programs for SW and AirTran aren't merged yet.

Given the timeframe of my flights would you guys recommend pushing hard to get AirTran credits to use for an award flight when the schedule opens up for Jan 2013 or do you think by Jan 2013 we'll be able to use SW points to book AirTran flights? Thank you!! :cool:

Can't really say. But I can tell you one thing -

Unless I'm going totally crazy, A+ rewards just disappeared off of the points dot com website. A harbinger...

http://www.ajc.com/business/southwest-airlines-launches-service-1347000.html

"In the second quarter, the company aims to allow frequent fliers to convert AirTran credits to Southwest points and vice versa, said Southwest's chief marketing officer Dave Ridley."

http://www.ajc.com/business/southwest-airlines-launches-service-1347000.html

"In the second quarter, the company aims to allow frequent fliers to convert AirTran credits to Southwest points and vice versa, said Southwest's chief marketing officer Dave Ridley."

Excellent. That brings up two questions:

1) Does anyone have a rough idea of when AirTran will open up their schedule for Jan 9-13, 2013?

2) What are the odds of getting an award flight on AirTran for BWI-Montego Bay? Award spots are capacity controlled on AirTran, right?

I'm wondering what to do here as well. I currently have 14 A+ credits, all from the AirTran CC. February 28 is the last day to transfer AMEX MR points to A+ and I'm wondering if I should use 3,000 points to get 2 more A+ credits. I don't really have any upcoming plans for an AirTran flight and assume that the 14 credits will transfer to some amount of Southwest RR points in the near future, but when?

Unless you have very flexible travel times/dates, I wouldn't even try.

Airtran's rewards flights are extremely limited, almost never allow for reward redemption on weekends.

Even weekday flights oftentimes aren't open to reward travel (I tried to book some again two days ago). It's confusing, there were midweek flights for $105 but I couldn't use my credits.

Unless you have very flexible travel times/dates, I wouldn't even try.

Airtran's rewards flights are extremely limited, almost never allow for reward redemption on weekends.


I have to disagree with this statement. I've booked several weekend trips using reward redemptions. :confused:

I have never had a problem redeeming either.

I have to disagree with this statement. I've booked several weekend trips using reward redemptions. :confused:

While coach might be limited BC for 16 credits each way has been fairly good.