Trans Air has great rates from LAX to LGA.
Has anyone flown them? If so, how was it?

On the long haul flights they are great. The upside is they use New 757 jets, have firm but comfortable seats and they show movies. Downside is the legroom and no meals.

Just so everyone is on the same page, do we mean ATA (American Trans Air) or AirTran? Totally different airlines.

Undoubtedly,the poster is referring to AmericanTransAir.AirTrans does in fact list LAX as an origin/destination.However,it is actually a codeshare operated by RyanInternationalAirlines out of Wichita,Kansas.Flying AirTrans LAX to LGA would mean a connection via ATL...

I think you're right, BeachBoi, but since the original poster didn't mention a connection or nonstop I thought it wise to ask. You CAN buy an AirTran ticket from LAX to LGA, regardless of which carrier is actually operating the service.

Does ATA do this route nonstop?

ATA is America Trans Air. They are a CHARTER airline that masquerades as a regularly scheduled carrier. Some folks get lucky and have good experiences with them but mine was horrible - 13 hours to reach Denver from NYC and 14 hours coming back. I heard countless horror stories from other travelers who had come in from differing locations and even had a friedn recount his experience of gettign stuck in France for two extra days (at his own expense!) waiting for them to find a plane they could fly back in. As a charter airline, they're at the bottom of the pecking order for take-off and landing rights (= delays) and have few if any backup aircraft. Also.... if they have a major delay or cancellation they have no reciprocal arrangments like the schedule carriers do - they can't fly you howm on some other airline- you have to wait for them.

AirTran is an entirely different story - they are a very good scheduled discount carrier and I've had many good experiences flying with them. They just tarted service to LA and Las Vegas and I would definitely fly with them.

Dan....No....1-stop in Indianapolis....I still would rather fly LAX to JFK nonstop. or Newrak if need be......

I've never had any problems the 5 times I've flown ATA from DFW to Midway. If you were flying out of Denver you probably got caught in the "United First, and everyone else can F themselves." I think their situation is improving as they move more and more into scheduled rather than charter service.

Jet Blue from Long Beach to JFK is another option.

My parents did Airtran and loved it. You can also "upgrade" for $30 to first class. They said it was great!!

Have fun

This is just a reminder to all the people saying how good of an airline AirTran is.

Remember the ValuJet (now AirTran) crash into the Florida Everglades on May 11, 1996 killing all 110 on board? The crash was caused by the illegally loaded oxygen generators that created an intense fire in the cargo hold of the ill-fated DC-9.
Soon after the crash, ValuJet bought the also troubled discount airliner AirTran. The AirTran - ValuJet merger was an attempt to hide ValuJet's troubled past by using another airline's name in hopes of erasing the stigma associated with the very high profile ValuJet moniker.

Don't be deceived guys!!!
I don't care how cheap the are, I just won't fly them.

I also refuse to fly Airtran. I have flown ATA 3 times without any problems. Flights were on time.

Good point about AirTran, GenXer. I just saw a documentery about that Valujet crash on the Discovery Channel.

From enjoylife's original post, it seems as if he/she is inquiring about American Trans Air.

I am not referring to ATA. I am referring to Trans Air.

I'd like to retract my comments on AirTran.
I've recently flown AirTran for a business trip, and I had a great experience. If I have to fly AirTran again, I would not hesitate.
They now have one of youngest aircraft fleets in the nation, made up completely of Boeing 717s and they are expecting a delivery of brand new Boeing 737s this summer.

Intrigued by TinaToadster's comments on upgrading to first class for $30; any details on how that works? We fly AirTran in early June. I now see that this is a relatively "old" discussion, if they still do the first class upgrade, let me know.

Thanks,

Mary

I'm more interested in finding out what airline the OP was actually asking about-- since, when I listen to LAX's radio station listing the airlines flying there, I hear no mention of "Trans Air" other than "American Trans Air"-- that is, ATA....

Boy, we should have left this thread dead.

Mary.....from the website...
http://www.airtran.com/info/bclass/index.jsp......and please note it is Business Class, not First Class....Air Tran IS a low fare carrier,excellent value,but definitely not First C......and not designed to be.

marymarra, this excerpt is from AirTran.com: Business Class upgrades are available in advance at the airport on the day of your flight for $35.00 over the full one-way coach fare for nonstop flights ($50 for Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco) and for $70.00 over the full one-way fare for connecting flights ($85 for Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco). They are not available for use with discounted fares.