AirTran set to become the first airline with fleetwide Gogo Inflight Internet access

by Scott Carmichael on

AirTran is the newest airline to bring inflight Internet access to the skies. The airline chose the Gogo Inflight to outfit their planes, which is the driving force behind airborne Internet service on United Airlines, American Airlines, Virgin America and Delta.

What makes the Airtran announcement special, is that their entire fleet will be equipped with the service by mid-summer.

That means all 136 AirTran planes will allow you to get online just in time for your vacation.

Gadling took Gogo Inflight for a spin last year on Virgin America, and as far as I am concerned, the service is the biggest thing to hit the skies since online check-in. Speeds are great, and at $9.95 for flights up to 3 hours, getting online is quite affordable.

Inflight Internet access was just one of the ideas submitted by AirTran passengers on their site “everyflight.com“. Some of the other submissions included “hungry squirrels”, “mojitos” and “remote control cars”. I can see why Internet access won.

Galley Gossip: A question about Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, and other airlines who may be hiring flight attendants

by Heather Poole on

Dear Heather,

I was hired with Southwest Airlines earlier in the year, but I was informed today that Southwest will no longer be having any training classes in 2009. Now I’m going to try for AirTran Airways. I had an interview and told them I successfully interviewed with Southwest Airlines last August however they aren’t having any training in 2009 and I’m ready to move forward with my flight attendant career. I hope it doesn’t hurt me that I told them that. What do you think?

Leesa

Dear Leesa

Southwest is an amazing airline. People absolutely love them, passengers and crew alike. I mean what’s not to love about an airline that treats their employees like family, an airline that knows how to have fun, and more importantly, an airline that can lay claim to employing the rapping flight attendant (whom I’ll be interviewing soon!) Many years ago I wanted to work for Southwest Airlines, and always thought that I would work for Southwest, and even got a letter inviting me to interview for them, but then the airline I currently work for hired me first. Obviously I’m a huge fan of Southwest, even when I wind up in group C. The fact that you got hired to be apart of their family says a lot about you!

I’m sure you’re extremely disappointed about the training class being cancelled. I know I would be. So I logged onto twitter.com (click here to follow me on twitter) and sent a quick tweet to Southwest Airlines. I asked them if you’d be called back when classes resume or if you’d have to go through the interview process again. Five seconds later Southwest responded, “Yes, unfortunately she will have to go back through the interview process again.”

Honestly, I’m sure you’ll have no problem impressing them twice. That said, I also think that moving forward and interviewing with AirTran Airways was a great idea! Don’t worry about telling AirTran about Southwest, I’m sure that’ll only make them want you more knowing that an airline with an amazing reputation already showed interest in you.

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Before I started working for a major US carrier, I worked for a discount airline called Sunjet International Airlines for about three months. It was a lot of fun and gave me a taste of what flying was all about. The great thing about working for a smaller airline is you’ll be able to really get to know your coworkers, which in the long run will make all the difference in the world. Because at an airline, regardless of the kind of trips you get stuck working, if the crew is good the trip will be good. And you’ll be more than just an employee number. Who knows, by the time Southwest calls you back to flight attendant training you may not even want to leave AirTran. Stranger things have happened!

Speaking of strange things happening, did you know that there’s been talk in the past about AirTran and Southwest merging? For real! Can you imagine? But then if you were already a flight attendant you’d know not to listen to airline rumors.

I’m glad you haven’t given up on your dream of becoming a flight attendant, even in this tough economy. I do recommend the job to anyone who is interested and can actually land an interview. It is a wonderful job to have when times are good, but right now unfortunately many airlines are furloughing flight attendants in order to survive.

If you get another interview with AirTran, Leesa, make sure to check out this AirTran Interview Forum for the latest information of what to expect at your interview. If something happens and for whatever reason you don’t end up working for AirTran, make sure to check out flight attendant career.com There you’ll find a list of other airlines who may be hiring.

Good luck and keep in touch!

Heather Poole

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Photos courtesy of (Southwest) Allysdad, (flight attendants) AirTran Airways website

More on Muslim family kicked off of AirTran flight for questioning

by Jamie Rhein on

Yesterday, not long after Scott posted about the American family who are Muslim were removed from an AirTran flight at the Ronald Reagan International Airport in Washington D.C., I heard an interview on NPR with Atif Irfan, one of the family members.

Irfan explained in more detail what happened to create the misunderstanding. Because there were nine of them, the family had booked the last rows of the plane so they could all sit together. As they were walking down the aisle, he and a sister-in-law were discussing which part of the plane was the safest. His wife recalls that a “couple of girls” who heard their conversation thought they were talking about doing some sort of terrorist act. Federal marshals escorted them off the plane for questioning.

As Irfan explained, the men in the family have beards and the women have head coverings, but other than that they were wearing western style dress. He also said they had three small children with them. Usually, he is very careful about what he says as to not alarm people, but this time they weren’t thinking much about their conversation.

What amazes me about this story is not that the family was questioned, but that after the FBI cleared the family and asked AirTran to allow the family to fly, AirTran refused. Who did AirTran think the FBI were? Certainly the FBI had badges and obvious credentials. If the FBI aren’t listened to, that’s startling? Maybe there was a snafu in communication.

Irfan, by the way, has nothing but good things to say about the FBI who did get the family on a US Airways flight. AirTran has since offered restitution in a free flight home and reimbursement for the family’s US Airways flight and an apology.

After listening to Irfan, I was reminded about the importance of civility. For the family who, from what I can tell, stayed calm and collected throughout their experience, bravo. I’m wondering just how many other passengers would have behaved so well? It’s also a reminder that passengers do listen to conversations. What you say could be held against you.

By the way, Atif Irfan was born and raised in Detroit and now is a lawyer who lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

Latest deals on Travelodge UK hotels, AirTran airfares

by Alison Brick on

A few good travel deals have shown up on our radar that you might want to jump on today.

Travelodge UK has already started a summer sale on its UK and Spain hotels. That means prices are a mere £9 for select dates from May 5th to September 6th, 2009. The comparable lowest price for their hotels in Spain is €10. That’s cheaper than a hostel, right? These prices are limited, but the next price up (£19) isn’t too shabby either.

Or else, if you’re flying within the US, get a $25 coupon for your next flight on AirTran Airways, when you sign up for their Net Escapes emails. If you’re considering it at all, you should just go for it–the offer expires today, January 2nd. The $25 coupon is good for travel on AirTran through April 30, 2009. By signing up for their Net Escapes emails, you’ll be notified of their sale fares and special offers.

Paranoia strikes again – Muslim family kicked off their Airtran flight

by Scott Carmichael on

Here we go again. Another family traveling for the holidays has been kicked off their flight after a fellow passenger observed them mentioning the word “safety”. That’s right, not “bomb”, “terrorist” or “hijack”.

Just your average family of 9 trying to figure out where they wanted to seat.

Someone on board managed to get the attention of 2 federal air marshals, who then contacted their superiors in Washington. The family was then kicked off the plane, questioned by the FBI and of course, cleared of any wrongdoing.

The TSA then decided that the threat was so credible, that all 104 passengers would have to be re-screened, and that all their bags would have to be inspected again. To me, this means that they admit they may have done a crappy job during the first screening.

As if that wasn’t enough, Airtran then refused to transport the 9 passengers and simply refunded their tickets. It took some effort by the FBI to find alternative flights for the family.

Good job Airtran, keeping us safe from people trying to find a decent seat on your flights. In their defense, AirTran did let the family know that they were free to fly with them in the future, which I’m sure they are really thrilled to hear.

(Via: NBC Washington)