Don't fly AirTran
AirTran sold my seat out from under me today for my trip from Buffalo to San Francisco...I made my annual trip back to southwestern Ontario this weekend to attend Oktoberfest in Kitchener, and to see the 'Riders. Jodie and I flew through Buffalo airport to save some bucks - Buffalo is about a 90 minute drive from Jodie's home in Caledonia, Ontario.
Last night we checked in early at the Holiday Inn Express, right next to the Buffalo Airport so I could get to the airport early for my 6:20am flight. And I got here early - about 5:15am! Check-in was easy, and my boarding pass told me in bold to be at the gate ten minutes before departure.
Unfortunately, there were about 500 people in front of me in line for security, which took until almost 6:10am. The other travellers in line with me were anxious about missing their flights but when they asked to be shortcutted to the front, they weren't given permission. Finally I got my shoes scanned for weapons and I sprinted down the terminal to my gate.
When I got to the gate, I was politely told "Sorry sir, you're too late for your flight" by a man as he scanned the ticket of another passenger.
I pleaded, "But it's 6:10!"
The guy, "But your seat has already been sold. When you weren't here at 6:10, we sold it to someone else."
I pleaded, "But it's still 6:10!"
So now I'm riding "standby" on their 1:53pm flight. That means that they've overbooked me on that flight and I only get to ride if they shaft somebody else.
Don't fly AirTran, they don't value your time.
