AirTran Airways A+ Rewards - Travel on FL between MKE and SFO

I will be traveling MKE to SFO on Mondays and SFO to MKE on Fridays every week from 8/10/09 until the end of the year. If you’ve flown this nonstop route on FL recently, I’m interested in your thoughts and observations regarding the following:

(1) how full have the flights been?

(2) is business class usually full?

(3) are elite upgrades to business class typically still available at the gate, or do you recommend using rewards credits to upgrade early?

(4) any experience with the Thursday night red-eye (regarding load factor and BC upgrades)?

Thanks!

I will be flying that route next month, so I am also curious about the upgrade success.

Walked up to the the GA 50 minutes before the flight to ask when she would begin processing elite u/g (I'm familiar with the 40-minute rule). She responded ..."in about 10 minutes..." but then proceeded to check inventory and advised me that BC was full. I asked if that was typical, and she responded that it was on the longer flights.

At least the FL 737 has 31" of seat pitch in coach compared to 30" on the 717 (been flying those to LGA for several months), but the 32-33" on WN is looking all the more appealing on a flight of this length.

I am booked on FL through the end of the month, and will post my u/g experience for those who are interested.

Walked up to the the GA 50 minutes before the flight to ask when she would begin processing elite u/g (I'm familiar with the 40-minute rule). She responded ..."in about 10 minutes..." but then proceeded to check inventory and advised me that BC was full. I asked if that was typical, and she responded that it was on the longer flights.

At least the FL 737 has 31" of seat pitch in coach compared to 30" on the 717 (been flying those to LGA for several months), but the 32-33" on WN is looking all the more appealing on a flight of this length.

I am booked on FL through the end of the month, and will post my u/g experience for those who are interested.

I am definitely interested, as I am on FL from MKE to DEN, BOS and SFO in the next few weeks. I'm on the redeye return from SFO...I wonder if BC upgrades are any better on that flight.

Were you on the 8:30 departure MKE-SFO this morning? If so, it looks like you're using the gogo service in-flight.

As for the seat pitch compared to Southwest, you'd have to go to Midway instead. For me, it's not worth the hassle to gain a few inches of legroom.

I will be on the 11:52am return this Friday and next, then the Thursday red-eye the two weeks after that (and am also curious as to overall load factor / upgrade success on the return segment).

Yes, I am on the 8:30 MKE to SFO today and am using the gogo service. I've used it about 6 or 7 times with the elite code (I don't think I'd pay for it unless I had a work-related crisis that required me to be online).

For me it's not so much the legroom, as the ability to open my laptop completely and work effectively.

My workaround in that situation would be to book exit row seating for the $20 fee; I have never seen them all taken since that program began.

AirTran will then give you back the $20 if the upgrade goes through.

I just flew SEA MKE on the red eye and the flight was completely full.

The inflight wi-fi is great. The signal is very strong. My flight from MKE-SEA last night had some mechanical difficulties and we left 20min late. The flight attenenats gave us all free wi-fi because of the delay.

On your return flight, make sure that you get to the airport in MKE early. I have never seen the C concourse that busy before.

I'm on the redeye return from SFO.


Just pull out your AirTran Visa Hoss, and spring for the $99.00 upgrade. :D We've all done it on the LAX flight, so join the crowd

Just pull out your AirTran Visa Hoss, and spring for the $99.00 upgrade. :D We've all done it on the LAX flight, so join the crowd

Yeah, I may have to do that. Or, I might be cheap and reserve exit row seats as a backup in case the free upgrades don't pan out. That way, at least I have more legroom (which is important to me) for just $40 r/t instead of $198. We'll see.

Flight 343 (SFO to MKE, 11:52am departure) on 8/14/09 was also full, with no BC seats available for gate upgrade.

On a separate note, I was disappointed to see the red-eye (flight 352) fall off the schedule in September. Does anyone know if that flight is considered "seasonal"?

On a separate note, I was disappointed to see the red-eye (flight 352) fall off the schedule in September. Does anyone know if that flight is considered "seasonal"?

Yes, AirTran added extra frequencies from MKE to both SEA and SFO for the summer.

Traffic to SEA and SFO weakens significantly this fall and AirTran doesn't need that much capacity in those markets.

Yes, AirTran added extra frequencies from MKE to both SEA and SFO for the summer.

Traffic to SEA and SFO weakens significantly this fall and AirTran doesn't need that much capacity in those markets.

True blue. I wonder if they will keep those flights around in the winter. They are scheduled to end on December. Which is when I fly to Milwaukee. I could sure use a non stop flight Either that or I will have to fly Southwest

True blue. I wonder if they will keep those flights around in the winter. They are scheduled to end on December. Which is when I fly to Milwaukee. I could sure use a non stop flight Either that or I will have to fly Southwest

I think MKE - SEA is year round and timed for connections from the East Coast and ATL.

I think MKE - SEA is year round and timed for connections from the East Coast and ATL.

That's correct. As of now, FL is going to try to keep MKE-SEA through the winter, with some feed from ATL (which won't have nonstop SEA service during the winter).

We'll see if FL is able to follow through on its plan.

That's correct. As of now, FL is going to try to keep MKE-SEA through the winter, with some feed from ATL (which won't have nonstop SEA service during the winter).

We'll see if FL is able to follow through on its plan.

If Midwest reinstates non-stop MKE-SEA, AirTran will probably make the route seasonal again.

MKE-SEA has traditionally been very weak during the winter months so we'll see how things go this year. In any event, there is only room for one carrier on the route in the off-peak months (if the route is even viable in the first place).

For those keeping score on the upgrades - flight 342 MKE to SFO on 8/17/09 was full with no elite upgrades available this morning. In fact, I wasn't offered the option to pay for an upgrade when I checked in online Sunday morning.

The elite lane at the C Concourse in MKE is working well - and TSA is monitoring eligibility (the group behind me was turned away).

For those keeping score on the upgrades - flight 342 MKE to SFO on 8/17/09 was full with no elite upgrades available this morning. In fact, I wasn't offered the option to pay for an upgrade when I checked in online Sunday morning.

The elite lane at the C Concourse in MKE is working well - and TSA is monitoring eligibility (the group behind me was turned away).

Thanks for the updates on MKE-SFO.

As far as the elite line, I also had a similar experience. They are doing a good job at making sure people use the correct lines.