Okay, I've got a credit...now what (AirTran)

[Dis_Dreamin]

I noticed that my return flights went down by 70 dollars for my upcoming April trip. Called, got the credits for each ticket. $140 total credits...Yay!

Now, how do I use them?
a) if BC seats are available for one of our flights (down or back), I would like to upgrade @ 24 hrs. Do I do it on the phone after checking in, before checking in, is it available online with credits? What about seat assignments...at least to use some of the credits if BC isn't available.

b) if not, I guess I'll be looking for a quick trip sometime in the next 9 months since they expire in November.

What happens to them if the SW/Airtran merger complete before I use them? Pure speculation of course.

[lincat]

If you are as unlucky as we were here in Huntsville, AL you will no longer have service with AirTran at your airport. Huntsville now has the highest airfares in the nation and none of the other airlines offer a non-stop flight out of Huntsville. It is also an hour and a half to the nearest airports, either Birmingham or Nashville. Hope your outcome is better.

[PatMcDuck]

I had an Air Tran credit that expired in October, and I was getting nervous about it. It was interesting, because it was from both me and my son, and was over $200. It LOOKED like I could use the whole credit myself, or even that I could use it to buy a ticket for say, DH, for example? It was tied to my A+ account number. I am not 100% SURE about this, but I made a trial reservation and it seemed like this was possible? I ended up using it on a one way flight for me and my son after all, though.

I cancelled SW flights that I had (points returned to my account, no problem there), and booked on Air Tran just to get rid of this credit ASAP. I was getting worried that it would not be honored by SW, if SW gets out of Philadelphia by October.

[ccgirl]

Originally Posted by Dis_Dreamin

I noticed that my return flights went down by 70 dollars for my upcoming April trip. Called, got the credits for each ticket. $140 total credits...Yay!

Now, how do I use them?
a) if BC seats are available for one of our flights (down or back), I would like to upgrade @ 24 hrs. Do I do it on the phone after checking in, before checking in, is it available online with credits? What about seat assignments...at least to use some of the credits if BC isn't available.

b) if not, I guess I'll be looking for a quick trip sometime in the next 9 months since they expire in November.

What happens to them if the SW/Airtran merger complete before I use them? Pure speculation of course.

Don't forget, you can use them for baggage fees. That's what I did with my credit. I had to do it over the phone so not sure if seat upgrades are the same.

[Dis_Dreamin]

Thanks for everyone's replies so far.

Originally Posted by ccgirl

Don't forget, you can use them for baggage fees. That's what I did with my credit. I had to do it over the phone so not sure if seat upgrades are the same.

.

For this trip, very short one, we are looking at only carry-on bags. no bags to check, so no need for baggage fees, but I do know we can use them for that as well. Obviously, we probably won't know if we need to check anything for sure until the night before we leave while packing. I know I won't at least. I can pack for a week in my 19" gym bag and know it can be stowed easily in the overheads. :D

Does everything have to be done over the phone to use the credits? For instance, we won't know if there are available BC seats to upgrade to until we are checking in...would we check in online first, then if offered upgrades decline, then call to do the upgrade?

Anyone else have experience with this?

[Dis_Dreamin]

Originally Posted by lincat

If you are as unlucky as we were here in Huntsville, AL you will no longer have service with AirTran at your airport. Huntsville now has the highest airfares in the nation and none of the other airlines offer a non-stop flight out of Huntsville. It is also an hour and a half to the nearest airports, either Birmingham or Nashville. Hope your outcome is better.

Sorry to hear that. So far, it looks like AirTran is taking over more non-stop routes from IND to MCO. Used to be daily non-stops on SW, but now they are limited to just Saturday/Sunday dates.

I don't expect the credit to carry over to SW either. That's why I'm asking how I can utilize them for this trip if possible. Baggage Fees so far, I could use some to move further forward in the plane, I know I can get Business Class upgrades when checking in (if there are any available at the 24 hr mark), but don't know how that works with a credit since it appears I have to call in to use the credit, but plan on checking in online.