AirTran Airways: A Brief History
AirTran Airways is an American-based budget airline company with main hubs located in Atlanta, Baltimore and Orlando, operating national and coast to coast flights across the USA. Originally, the airline began when the AirTran Corporation bought a small carrier named Conquest Sun in 1994. Within its first year, the company had grown successfully, and by 1995, AirTran Corporation decided to let AirTran Airways become independent. It wasn't until 1999, when a new management team was hired, that the newly formed airline started to experience such great profits and expansion; in 2000, the company was able to report a $30 million profit for the previous year. By 2001, the airline had grown to offer passengers flights to 56 cities, operated 700 daily flights and employed over 9,000 staff serving almost 20 million passengers every year. In 2010, Southwest Airlines bought the airline for a reported $1.4 billion and it remains an integrated section that is still in operation today.
Travelling with AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways offers two seating classes on their Boeing 737-700 flights: Business and Economy. Economy Class with AirTran Airways is similar to that of other airlines in that it offers passengers the possibility to select their own seats at an extra charge otherwise the seats will be pre-assigned by the airline. GoGo WiFi is on-board all AirTran flights however you need to register beforehand to access it when on the plane. All flights are supplied with access to XM Satellite Radio so that passengers can listen to a choice of over 100 channels of music, sport, news and entertainment. Food is unavailable on AirTran flights although all soft drinks are free (except the premium brands.) There is a choice of spirits and beers available.
Even though AirTran is a budget airline, it does offer a Business Class at a cost of between $49-$130 for an upgrade. Seats in this section are wider and have more legroom. Unlike Economy, there are no fees for baggage, and passengers are offered priority boarding and complimentary cocktails.
Children under the age of 2 years of age can travel for free on an adult's lap on all AirTran Airways flights.
Check-In and Baggage Information
AirTran Airways offers an online check-in service which allows passengers to download and print their boarding passes at home instead of waiting in line at the airport. Check-in is available online until 24 hours before flight departure. If passengers prefer to check-in at the AirTran check-in desk, it is important that they arrive at least 90 minutes before the departure time -- check-in closes 45 minutes before departure. Customers are restricted to one carry-on item and a personal item such as a purse or handbag. Carry-on bags must fit in the overhead space or underneath the seat in front. For checked luggage, the fees are $20 for the first bag, $25 for the second and they must not exceed the maximum weight allowance 23 kg. If passengers have more than two bags, an extra charge of $50 will incur up until the 9th bag, after which the charge will be increased to $110.
