AirTran discontinuing Gulfport-FtLaud service. Aargh!!

All: I%26#39;ve been simmering all week. Have to vent lol!After trying to book flights in March or April from Ft Laud to Gulfport for about an hour with no success on the website, I bit the bullet and called the 800 number for AirTran.

Customer service informed me that it wasn%26#39;t my computer, that they are discontinuing service between Gulfport and Fort Lauderdale as of 01/05/09. I%26#39;m not an economist , but can the Gulfport/Biloxi area afford NOT having a full plane of people arriving to the area. We flew there in October on a Sunday and there was not an empty seat on the plane. We flew home on Wednesday and there were maybe 10-12 empty seats.

Disappointed, sick of the two full days to get to and from Vegas. We really enjoyed staying in Biloxi, and I really can%26#39;t understand how a tourist /gambling area can afford a 10% drop in visitors in this day and age.

Hoping maybe someone in here has another idea of how to get there from Ft Laud without flying thru Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, or New Orleans. Once you change planes, etc. you might as well go to Vegas. Car rental prices in New Orleans are 60% higher than Gulport rates, so that really doesn%26#39;t make sense to spend an extra hundred to drive from New Orleans to Biloxi.

Someone needs to give Gulfport and Air Tran a bailout I fear lol.

Okay , all vented, lol. Mark

AirTran discontinuing Gulfport-FtLaud service. Aargh!!

Hey Mark,

I agree with you, as on the Air Tran flights from Atlanta are always packed. I wonder if Atl-Gulf Port is still happening? There is always Delta from Atl but they are pricey! Have you checked for Delta, Fort Lauderdale-Gulf Port?

Is AirTran still offering service from any other city near you that would be close enough to drive? Have you checked the fairs for Delta?

I agree to that this area can not handle any more devastation and needs all the help it can get, in getting folks to the area.

We are about to head down there driving on 12/25 for 5 days (Biloxi/New Orleans) but it is also nice to jump a quick 50 flight down there for the weekends when I desire.

Good luck!

Vicki

AirTran discontinuing Gulfport-FtLaud service. Aargh!!

I have been going to Biloxi for the past 9 years from Tampa to New Orleans. I fly Southwest which has 3 NS flights everyday. I am going at the end of January and they had a special so the entire cost of the RT was $115. I did always track Airtran and found them at least $100 and upto $200 more per RT from Tampa.

SWA has a ';Ding'; program and will run specials at times.

I have found cars to be cheaper in NO. I normally use Alamo. If you play with various codes and coupons (google ';Alamo code coupon discounts';) you can play with various combinations to get a cheap car. On my last trip a got a midsize for 3 days and the total bill with all the taxes was $63. I have one now booked for 3 days at $85. Sometimes the price will drop as you get closer to your rental day. There is no charge to make a reservation. I make one, when I find a cheaper one, I make a new one and then cancel the ';old'; one.

Before the fuel crunch, I was flying RT and with a car for as low as $150. It is a little tougher now but the deals still show up. Also with SWA Rewards program, I earn a free RT ticket in about every 14 to 16 months.

The 100 mile drive is about 1.5 hours, but currently the flight leaves Tampa just before 7AM and I will be at a slot machine by 9:30 AM. I flyback at either 3 or 5 PM. Airtran out of Tampa left at I think between 1 and 3 and come back at around 11am.

Love Vegas but hate the 5 hour flight and the res-eyes coming back.

SWA just ';dinged'; me with $55 one ways between Tampa and New Orleans on selective flights in Jan %26amp; Feb.

Need to book by Monday night, Dec 15th 8:30 Central