I just got back from a JAX - SEA RT that was booked using Airtran VDB's. WN metal.

The process went as you described...a FL supervisor will retire the VDB and put an equivalent amount of credits in your A+ account. You are then responsible for converting the A+ credits into RR miles and booking your flight on WN.

This was an ongoing process for me...by the time the conversion was authorized, there was no space for reward travel on WN. One of the WN customer service supervisors was very generous in opening up space for us on the needed flight. We booked approximately 3-4 months before our travel date.

This was my first WN transcon. It was OK. We paid the $12.50/seat for early boarding which was worth it. Got to sit where we wanted and luggage arrived OK.

WN allows 2 bags free. This is 2 bags per passenger..not 2 bags/ticket. If you are travelling with a companion, you can check 4 bags. It was nice being able to check the rollaboards.

The new WN cabin scheme is of dubious value. The most charitable observation is that the overhead bins appear to have more space.

When we arrived in SEA, it was raining and our luggage was quite wet. The WN service rep told us that there was nothing that she could do since it rains alot in SEA. She also invited us to check the bag interior to see if anything was damaged. Gimme a break.

Sunday departures on WN from SEA are a mess. Full of cruise ship passengers. It took us 1:40 from arriving at the check-in line until arriving at the departure gate. Leave lots of time or find another day to fly. The check-in line wraps around the terminal (counters not visible from the line) and, at one point, is adjacent to the security line. When we were there, there was no one from WN directing traffic and many WN passengers inadvertently returned to the check in line while thinking that they were going to security. WN eventually sent someone back to clear this up.

Would I do it again? It wasn't terrible but I would still rather be flying FL metal.