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Seven Easy Answers Regarding the Future of Southwest with AirTran

September 28, 2010 at 9:34 AM | by | Comment (1)

For frequent flyers of Southwest and AirTran alike, yesterday's big announcement brought up many questions. Both airlines may be low-cost carriers, but the way they run things and what they do and don't charge for isn't in sync...yet.

So how will this all go down in the end? Well, when Southwest is done with it, AirTran will be no more; there's no branding merger like what's going on with the United/Continental deal. In the end, everything will be Southwest. But what about certain AirTran policies, like checked baggage fees? For answers to this and six other big questions, we turned here for the answers, and got them:

Q: AirTran currently charges to check your first two bags. Will Southwest adopt this?
A. No. Say goodbye to paying $20 for the 1st checked bag and $25 for the 2nd, since Southwest will lump AirTran into its successful "Bags Fly Free" policy, where your first two bags are cool.

Q. AirTran assigns passengers seats onboard the aircraft, where Southwest does the "cattle call" approach of open seating. Will Southwest now assign seats?
A. No. Although many people would love to see this change happen, it just won't. Southwest is folding AirTran into their policies, so you can expect open, unassigned seating on all planes.

Q. AirTran charges a $75 change free, while Southwest currently does not. Will they?
A. No. Again with the no fees. AirTran used to charge this flat rate if you made any changes after booking. Southwest is cool with letting you change your mind for free, within certain limits.

Q. AirTran has both coach and business classes onboard, while Southwest operates only coach class. Will Southwest add a business class option?
A. No. Southwest says: "Upon full integration, it is our intent to have a consistent product offering." That includes one class of service. We wonder if this will turn businessmen away from flying them, but probably not if they've got enough frequent flyer miles and if Southwest is the most convenient airline for them.

Q. AirTran has their A+ Rewards program while Southwest has Rapid Rewards. Will they stay separate?
A. No. Although no details have yet been released on how exactly the A+ miles will translate to Rapid Rewards, rest assured that it will happen. We'll keep our ears open for more on this as they make the decisions. In the end, it will only be Rapid Rewards.

Q. AirTran has flights out of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, while Southwest is not able to. Will they keep these flights?
A. No. Southwest must pull all of its flights once the takeover of AirTran closes, because Southwest is not allowed to operate from DFW. But hello—Southwest has their HQ in Dallas and as many flights as one could need nearby, at Dallas' Love Field.

Q. Is there a definite date set for the full melding of AirTran into Southwest?
A. No. Southwest's buyout of AirTran is first subject to government approval. We can't be creating any monopolies around here anymore. That said, they do hope to close the deal within two years. Until that time, Southwest and AirTran will operate like normal.

Are you happy or sad to bid AirTran goodbye for a bigger Southwest? Let us know in the comments!

[Photos: Wikimedia, keetsa, Photoshop: Jaunted]

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Great, but.....

Few mergers are great but this may be the exception. But I hate the cattle call boarding! Please, please eliminate this Southwest. But also please "no board by classes" which really hurts less frequent fliers. This system, which assigns a high boarding priority to frequent fliers, makes sure that infrequent fliers will become more infrequent (carry-on luggage space is generally gone and bags end up getting sent with the checked baggage).
nandlr on October 3, 2010 at 2:07 PM #Permalink

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