Southwest Airlines Now at Hartsfield (credit, living, move to)

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

It will be interesting to see how the SW AirTran merger will go, as well as the other mergers in the airline industry. I know the Delta Nortwest merger had some very serious problems to deal with.

It still does. The AFA union vote starts Wednesday.

[J2rescue]

Originally Posted by noah

Its a great experience for many but there is definitely a crowd that doesn't like it. Still, there is a reason they are the #1 airline in the U.S. by passengers before the merger.

Quite frankly many of the other airlines are charging extra for you to reserve specific seats.

They are #1 by domestic passengers. I've never flown them but it looks like they carry a ton of people on short routes almost like a regional carrier.

[samiwas1]

I am happy to see SouthWest arrive in Atlanta, but pissed that it means they are taking over AirTran and doing away with everything AirTran.

Anyone who travels even monthly on AirTran will gain Elite status fairly soon. This means no bag fees, automatic Business Class upgrades, quicker checkin, etc. And then there is the reserved seating.

Having been AirTran Elite for almost four straight years now, having to give all of that up for not even being able to reserve a seat really grates on my nerves. I almost ALWAYS, even if at an extra cost, upgraded to business. The general flying public these days is just atrocious, and having to sit in some cattle stampede to get the better seat is just something I do not want to deal with. I don't like not even having an option for an upgrade.

What, besides "no bag fees", makes SouthWest the best airline? Someone mentioned not charging for seats??? AirTran only charges for specific seats if you want a "premium" seat (exit row, extra leg room, front row, etc). And never, on any other airline, have I ever paid to reserve a seat (or had to stand in line to find one). What else does SouthWest do?

As someone mentioned before, I might suck it up and sly SouthWest somewhere they fly non-stop on a short flight, but in no way will I subject myself to possibly ending up in a middle seat for a cross-country flight.

Oh well, I have a couple of more years I guess before losing it.

[misschealsi]

Ive used southwest in the past and while they advertise lower prices, I hated waiting in line for a seat. What is the purpose of that? With the merger does this mean that southwest will still operate airtrans aircrafts? So that there is still the possibility of having a business or first class seat or an actual reserved seat.

[flyonpa]

SW will re-paint all of Airtrans' jets Both the 737 & 717's Biz class will be removed from the AT jets. You can 'buy' yourself to the front of the SW line wither getting a Full Fare Ticket. Or buy $10 for Early bird check in.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by misschealsi

Ive used southwest in the past and while they advertise lower prices, I hated waiting in line for a seat. What is the purpose of that? With the merger does this mean that southwest will still operate airtrans aircrafts? So that there is still the possibility of having a business or first class seat or an actual reserved seat.

Nope. This is explained on the merger website:

Q: What about assigned seats?
A: As you know, Southwest does not assign seats. AirTran does offer seat assignments including Business class and Coach. Upon full integration, it is our intent to have a consistent product offering. It is our intent that seat assignments would not be part of that product.

Q: What about dual class service?
A: As you know, Southwest offers one class of service. AirTran offers Business class and Coach. Upon full integration, it is our intent to have a consistent product offering. It is our intent that dual class service would not be part of that product.

But, fear not...not all is lost...
"The new travel opportunities are expected to generate excitement for each carrier’s members and contribute to the transaction’s revenue synergies."
Can you tell this was written by a corporate drone? Is it impossible for a corporate wowzer to write something without using the word "synergy"??

There is no excitement here.

[Merin]

I am glad the full integration won't be until 2012. I usually fly business class on AirTran however that isn't a deal breaker for me( unless I am traveling over 5 hours ) I won't be flying Southwest because I would like an assigned seat and at least one amenity. AirTran offered assigned seating and business class. Jetblue and Frontier are nice carriers with only one class or service, but they have Direct TV. Southwest will indeed cause fares to drop, and I am happy this will possibly bring more business to Atlanta. Looks like I will be back on Delta, or Frontier if I am traveling west.

[JayMcFly]

Originally Posted by smoking357

Southwest is buying AirTran. (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Southwest-Airlines-to-buy-apf-591140265.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=& ccode= - broken link)

I like AirTran, but I won't miss their bag fees.

Anyway, who flies? Who willingly subjects themselves to that police state and nude cancer scans?

Well, if you do fly, this is good news for you.

I always wondered by Southwest was not Hartfield. Very interesting Merger. United & Continental just merged as well. Too many mergers can be a bad thing though.

[FlyiMetro]

So service has already started? Has any flyers notice a change in Deltas prices yet??

[tomno00]

SW does not offer as great of deals as peole think.... Severl times, I've noticed they are actually priced higher that the big airlines.