First off, let me say I am an FL loyalist only b/c of the Elite program. I like the upgrades. If it weren't for that, I'd fly Delta (since I live in ATL).

Here's my situation:
On 2/6, we were flying from ATL-MBJ thru MCO. We booked the 8:45am flight in order to get to MBJ two hours earlier than the non-stop that left ATL at 12:20. It gets to be around 8:30am and they still haven't boarded the flight. Gate agents announce that they can't board it because one of the 3 FAs hasn't showed up yet and they don't know where she is.

Our connection time in MCO originally was 50 minutes. Concerned that we wouldn't make our connection, I asked the gate agent if they could call dispatch and tell them to hold the MCO-MBJ flight for 20 minutes (something WN routinely does). She says she can't do that.

The FA finally shows up around 8:50am and they start to board the flight (why couldn't they just board the flight with 2 FAs and wait on the third for takeoff? I have no idea? FAA rule?) She isn't even running, just taking her time and looks to be in a bad mood. The GA makes an announcement for all passengers going to MBJ that they've been bumped to the 12:20 flight because we won't make our connection; come get your new boarding passes.

Because I am now arriving two hours late, I have to call my hotel in Jamaica (long distance, $3.99/minute) to make new ground transportation arrangements, and pay a $200 penalty for canceling my original ground transport arrangements.

I view this as an involuntary denial of boarding, and one not due to the weather, ATC, or even mechanical. AirTran's form of compensation for this is a $25 voucher and a $10 meal voucher "customer care kit". I asked for a supervisor who comes down and he says that AirTran is actually doing me a favor and won't give me denied boarding compensation.

Should I try to follow up with AirTran or the DOT?