I just found out about my Grandmother's upcoming 80th birthday in early August. I'm likely going to be flying to NJ for a weekend for the party, and for a variety of reasons I'd like to fly into the Atlantic City airport. Apparently, Air Tran is the only airline flying into the airport (understandable as it is a small airport.) Anyone have any experiences with them? I may just fly into Philly, if they are a bad airline.

They're a discount airline, but they've always gotten me where I'm going.

They used to be called ValuJet.

I've used them a bunch of times and never had any problems

They're a discount airline, but they've always gotten me where I'm going.

They used to be called ValuJet.

Are they really any worst when it comes to it's product than the "full-service" carriers (at least AirTran has in-flight radio you can listen to)?

no problems with AirTran

Are they really any worst when it comes to it's product than the "full-service" carriers (at least AirTran has in-flight radio you can listen to)?

Well, to be honest haven't flown AirTran in years, but probably not much difference anymore. They all act like discount carriers (save JetBlue and Virgin from my experience).

A couple of years ago, I flew them almost every week for work with no real issues. As mentioned best part is built in XMRadio.

Noticed this on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirTran_Airways) that i thought was interesting:

As of September 2008, AirTran's average fleet age was 3.8 years.

I've used them a bunch of times and never had any problems

Ditto.

Thanks everyone. Guess I'm going to give them a try (assuming my vacation request is approved tomorrow.) The XMRadio does sound very nice.

Noticed this on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirTran_Airways) that i thought was interesting:

Wow. That's ridiculously young

SI

I flew round trip from Atlanta to Atlantic City back in November 2007, the only time I've flown Air Tran, had no issues at all.

I flew round trip from Atlanta to Atlantic City back in November 2007, the only time I've flown Air Tran, had no issues at all.

I'll be having a 3 hour lay over in Atlanta both ways. Only downside to the flight as I prefer to fly non-stop when possible, but it still seems worthwhile.

Wow. That's ridiculously young

SI


They were hammered so hard with bad publicity due to poor maintenance of their fleet as well as those crashes that occurred fairly near each other back in the late 1980s or early 1990s or whenever it was that they had to seriously turn around their image. I believe they changed to the Airtran name, fired alot of their board, and implemented better policies for maintenance and plane age at that time.

That said, I still never got over my irrational fear to not fly them so can't really give any other feedback on whether or not they are good however.,

Isn't this the airline that changed their name from ValuJet?

About the only negative I've had with AirTran versus other airlines is that when flying in & out of Atlanta (because it's a Delta hub) their gate assignments are pretty shitty, like on the ass end of the airport instead of the easiest to reach after clearing security. They're almost in a different county than the rest of Hartsfield (or that's how it feels when you're rushing to make a flight).

Support staff on the ground (ticket agents, baggage people, etc) are maybe a little lower quality too but you can get suckitude from nearly every airline now so I'm not sure that they're all that much worse overall. One thing I will say is that we had several problems with them with checked at the gate luggage back in the day; i.e. baby strollers & the like. They seem to have a knack for damaging that sort of thing but these days I'm not sure whether that's even something you're allowed to do anymore between security & new restrictions on luggage amounts, so it may not even be an issue.

but you can get suckitude from nearly every airline now so I'm not sure that they're all that much worse overall. .

QFT

love airtranny

It's my understanding that all their planes are the new 717s. They look like old MD-80s, but they're brand new. I took the family on them once, and the trip was without incident. I would fly them again.

love airtranny

Motto: A surprise in the skies?

SI

Thanks everyone. Guess I'm going to give them a try (assuming my vacation request is approved tomorrow.) The XMRadio does sound very nice.

I can't remember if they provide the headphones.

About the only negative I've had with AirTran versus other airlines is that when flying in & out of Atlanta (because it's a Delta hub) their gate assignments are pretty shitty, like on the ass end of the airport instead of the easiest to reach after clearing security. They're almost in a different county than the rest of Hartsfield (or that's how it feels when you're rushing to make a flight).


QFT.

That's really my only problem with Airtran. Not only are you often on the furthest terminal from the airport entrance, but the gate is usually at either far end of that terminal.

However, it's worth it for the difference in cost for me not to be a lazy fuck and walk another couple hundred yards.

My first experience with Air Tran was awful - got stuck in LaGuardia for almost 10 hours while other flights left for Atlanta ahead of us, etc. etc. Passengers irate, almost ready to riot. And New Yorkers to boot. 4 flights of New Yorkers stuck at one gate in LaGuardia for 10 hours. Not pretty.

Though the gate crew were unusually professional in the face of a mob of angry idiots, it really was the result of the airline's screwup.

That said, they granted us free round trip tix to anywhere in U.S. good for the next year. We used them and had best vacation of our lives. So, 50/50 experience for us.

I'll be having a 3 hour lay over in Atlanta both ways. Only downside to the flight as I prefer to fly non-stop when possible, but it still seems worthwhile.

Isn't it incredibly expensive to fly to AC?

Isn't it incredibly expensive to fly to AC?

Yes, it's pretty pricey. Most people like to fly into Philly and just rent a car for the short drive over.

I have family in Atlanta, and they have used AirTran several times over the past couple of years to travel between here and there without incident.

Live in ATL, wife works for an unnamed ATL airline that is not Airtran and I've flown them a few times for business. Never any problems, in fact, better than my experience on United. Really, if you just need to get where you are going and don't need to feel like you are flying your personal gulfstream, quite a few of the low cost carriers will do.

One thing though, I'm not sure if they have free beverage service though I could be wrong. I seem to remember the cashless cabin (they had it before most) and certain things costing some loot. But then again, I was on business and probably didn't care.

Isn't it incredibly expensive to fly to AC?

Actually, it is almost 100 dollars cheaper than any other flight I can find from New Orleans to Philly. Of course, this is the only option that includes a "discount" airline. The Air Tran flight is about 300 dollars from New Orleans to AC with the 1 stop in Atlanta.

Actually, it is almost 100 dollars cheaper than any other flight I can find from New Orleans to Philly. Of course, this is the only option that includes a "discount" airline. The Air Tran flight is about 300 dollars from New Orleans to AC with the 1 stop in Atlanta.

Yikes. Guess it just depends on where you're coming from then.

My first experience with Air Tran was awful - got stuck in LaGuardia for almost 10 hours while other flights left for Atlanta ahead of us, etc. etc. Passengers irate, almost ready to riot. And New Yorkers to boot. 4 flights of New Yorkers stuck at one gate in LaGuardia for 10 hours. Not pretty.

Though the gate crew were unusually professional in the face of a mob of angry idiots, it really was the result of the airline's screwup.

That said, they granted us free round trip tix to anywhere in U.S. good for the next year. We used them and had best vacation of our lives. So, 50/50 experience for us.

Airtran tends to have one gate at most airports they service other than Atlanta where they are based. This means that:

1) Almost all of their flights go through Atlanta
2) If there's a delay anywhere along your route, you're pretty much screwed.

For example, say you're flying to New York but the Airtran plane currently in New York is having a mechanical problem. Even though your plane in Atlanta is perfectly fine, you can't go anywhere until the NY plane leaves.

For any other airline, this isn't a problem. They just go to an open gate. Airtran doesn't have that option and as a result, the delays pile up, especially if there's weather in Atlanta.

In summary, cheap prices, but don't fly them if you're on a schedule.

Airtran tends to have one gate at most airports they service other than Atlanta where they are based. This means that:

1) Almost all of their flights go through Atlanta
2) If there's a delay anywhere along your route, you're pretty much screwed.

For example, say you're flying to New York but the Airtran plane currently in New York is having a mechanical problem. Even though your plane in Atlanta is perfectly fine, you can't go anywhere until the NY plane leaves.

For any other airline, this isn't a problem. They just go to an open gate. Airtran doesn't have that option and as a result, the delays pile up, especially if there's weather in Atlanta.

In summary, cheap prices, but don't fly them if you're on a schedule.

I know AirTran is slowly building up a supporting hub at Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

About the only negative I've had with AirTran versus other airlines is that when flying in & out of Atlanta (because it's a Delta hub) their gate assignments are pretty shitty, like on the ass end of the airport instead of the easiest to reach after clearing security. They're almost in a different county than the rest of Hartsfield (or that's how it feels when you're rushing to make a flight).

Support staff on the ground (ticket agents, baggage people, etc) are maybe a little lower quality too but you can get suckitude from nearly every airline now so I'm not sure that they're all that much worse overall. One thing I will say is that we had several problems with them with checked at the gate luggage back in the day; i.e. baby strollers & the like. They seem to have a knack for damaging that sort of thing but these days I'm not sure whether that's even something you're allowed to do anymore between security & new restrictions on luggage amounts, so it may not even be an issue.

True, but at least there is a smoking lounge near the Air Tran gates... not that EF really cares about that. :)