Comments on: AirTran vs. Midwest: Save the Cookie or Save a Buck?

By: Quench water coolers

Quench water coolers — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:11:06 +0000

Airtran doesn’t have enough power already in the number of planes and flights, NOW AirTran has announced that they have ordered 15 Boeing 737 aircraft. They already have too many planes and they go out to buy more?

By: D. T.

D. T. — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:14:12 +0000

I’ve never actually flown airtran (and don’t intend on), but I’m a Milwaukeean, and like Midweest.
Midwest has superior service, good food, plenty of room, and decent rates. I can’t say much about Airtran, and am fine that way.

By: laidbackzach

laidbackzach — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:54:59 +0000

Just a note for those who don’t know Airtran’s plans for expansion: Airtran has 65 more planes coming in by 2012 and probably about available gates for about 10-20 of those. Do you know what that means? Yes, they need a new hub (why not MKE), Midwest and Airtran share alot of similarities, plus Midwest has 13 gas hogs (MD-80′s) that need to be replaced right off the bat. For those who think Airtran plans on cutting and running, get real, they need gates and an established business with old planes just makes sense. I do have a feeling some smaller markets could be cut, but more destinations will be added (that means lower fares and more jobs for MKE).

By: luvmidest

luvmidest — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:15:43 +0000

This completely sucks. I hate mergers. I fly a lot and feel very comfortable with Midwest. From time to time I have had to fly Delta or Airtran. By the way you all know what Delta stands for? Don’t Expect Luggage To Arrive! It’s true, it never does. Somehow it’s always lost! I don’t like traveling without Midwest unless it’s a chartered flight. Previous posters are right, if you have flown with Midwest and Airtran there is no question as to which is better. I really wonder what will happen IF Airtran buys them out. Will they take the mentality and model of Midwest or will they stay the same? Well I guess that’s only guessing for now, so I will wait and see. What a bummer!

By: Walter

Walter — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:53:55 +0000

I am making my vacation plans for 2008. As per the local newspapers, I can now see the handwriting on the wals. MIDWEST WILL BE SUCCESSFULLY BOUGHT OUT, by somebody. It may take me three days to drive to Florida, rather than 3 hours to fly, but at least I will be comfortable, and have access to food service along the way, rather than fly in AirTrans’ cramped three by three seating, and no food service at all. BTW, if one wants to fly in the BUSINESS CLASS seats of AirTran, it would cost me over $400 to fly in that class. Midwest never charges nearly that much, unless you book your flight at the least minute. GOODBYE MIDWEST, it was a nice ride!

By: rebecca

rebecca — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:58:35 +0000

This past June was my first time flying Midwest Airline. I was a little hesitant because a co worker suggested the airline and I have to say they are the best. I have had the Delta, US Air, American, Southwest, Airtran experiences and they just dont come close to Midwest. The service and food was fantastic and they get an extra star for the yummy cookies.The gourmet food was reasonably price and it was delicious. I really hope Air Tran does not buy out Midwest because I dont think they could match the service of Midwest

By: Krayston

Krayston — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:16:59 +0000

and I might add, the only reason JetBlue ranks ahead of Midwest is that more people know about JetBlue since their hub is in New York.

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:02:33 +0000

Here is what I predict for the Midwest AirTran merger. AirTran will be successful in buying out Midwest. After the merger, AirTran stocks value plunges. Air Tran expands ome flights out of Milwaukee, the eliminate short distance flights to places such as Madison, Green bay, etc. They eliminate all of the on board services that Midwest now offers. Support for the downtown Midwest Airlines Center ends. AirTran finds out that they cannot adequaltely fill the airliners that are a part of their expanded service plans, and drastically cuts back on service, and eventually pull most of their departures out of Milwaukee, as they now have what they wanted so badly, Midwest out of their way, and have aquired Midwests no longer available Boeing 717′s. Milwaukee will then be without any First Class quality air carrier. Hedge fund operators will have made their profits, from the deal.

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:55:23 +0000

If Air Tran is such a good airline, why is their stock so stagnant? They are forever approximately $3.00 per share behind Midwest. As per the July Consumer Reports magazine, Midwest ranked #2 behind Jet Blue, and AirTran ranked #10. These ratings are out of a group of the 18 surveyed Airlines. Consumer Reports surveys are unbiased surveys, as they are not influenced by any particular lobby group, advertisers, etc. AIR TRAN is a BUDGET “FLYING GREYHOUND, PACK EM IN” Airline, and Midwest is NOT. Comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges. They both serve different niches of travelers.

By: Tracy F

Tracy F — Tue, 29 May 2007 22:00:52 +0000

tod,walter, I think you guys are having two different conversations. We definitely need to do something about the pollution generated by flying, but I don’t think realistically we’re just going to stop doing it.

By: tod brilliant

tod brilliant — Fri, 25 May 2007 02:18:10 +0000

Walter, I bow to your $en$ibilitie$.

By: Walter

Walter — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:40:15 +0000

Tod, So we ship our mail and packages across and around the US, via Diesel exhaust belching tractor trailers. Ships are also diesel powered now-a-days. I think that we are getting off tack here. This forum is about saving MIDWEST AIRLINES. Whether you or I like it or not, AIRTRAN or MIDWEST will be with us either way, as will Northwest, United, Jet-Blue, and the rest. As long as we cruise around in gas guzzling pleasure boats, race around on our snowmobiles, run our snow blowers, out ATV’s, race our Indy and stock cars, non of which use anti pollution devices. Unless we revert to riding horses and stagecoaches, we will always be polluting the air in some manner, shape or form. Air conditioners cause pollution, heating your home generates polllution, generating electricity produces air pollution. So hop onto your non-polluting horse, and ride off into the sunset Tod, as you save our planet. In the end we will all die, regardless of what we try to do about it. LONG LIVE MIDWEST!!! Midwest offers QUALITY, AIRTRAN provides flying people moving cattle cars. Milwaukee and South east Wisconsin will suffer in the long run, if AIRTRAN is successful in it’s takever. “HOSTILE” takeover doesn’t mean friendly takover. AIRTRAN is in this for the $$$$$$ NOT to help the people of Milwaukee. They could care less, past their stock portfolio. AITRAN is promising more service increase to Kansas City’s airport, than all of the airlines serving Kansas City combined, offered in 2006. Airtran is makeing promises for kansas City, and Milwaukee, which will be impossible to keep.

By: Walter

Walter — Thu, 24 May 2007 23:37:23 +0000

By: tod brilliant

tod brilliant — Thu, 24 May 2007 20:47:38 +0000

Walter – we DON’T do our traveling. We use ships for mail. I know this sounds ‘back-to-the-stone-age’ but there are going to be some inconveniences encountered if we truly do give a damn and want to stabilize co2 and other contaminant PPM in the atmosphere.
Kato – From George Monbiot’s HEAT (FotE is the source + Tyndall Centre and you’ll have to extrapolate the auto-comparison from the numbers below as they include all auto-related activity):
Regarding ‘more efficient’ airplanes -
. . . in 2005 Friends of the Earth asked the Tyndall Centre to determine what impact (projected air travel) growth would have on greenhouse gas emissions. The results were staggering . . . If we tried to stabilize them at 450 parts, flying would produce 101 per cent of the carbon the entire (UK) economy was able to release. If carbon emissions were multiplied by 2.7, to take into account the full impact of aviation on the climate, the figure would be 272 per cent. The researchers assumed that the fuel efficiency of aircraft will improve by 1.2 per cent a year throughout this period. This could be optimistic.”
Further -
“Our moral dissonance about flying reminds me of something a Buddhist once told me when I questioned his purchase of unethical products. ‘It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you do it with love.’ I am sure he knew as well as I did that our state of mind makes no difference either to the expoloitation of workers or to the composition of the atmosphere. Thinking like ethical people, dressing like ethical people, decorating our homes like ethical people makes not a damn of difference unless we also behave like ethical people. When it comes to flying, there seems to be no connection between intention and action.”