Southwest and AirTran Merger: Southwest Finally Connecting Its Flights With AirTran

Southwest Airlines has finally begun to connect its flights with those of subsidiary AirTran -- more than 20 months after Southwest closed on its deal to acquire its one-time rival, The Democrat and Chronicle reported.

With this link, customers will be able to book single-ticket itineraries that include fights on both Southwest or AirTran, according to The Democrat and Chronicle.

For instance, if a passenger is flying from Akron-Canton, and wants to go to Salt Lake City, The Democrat and Chronicle reported, he/she can buy a single ticket that includes an Airtran flight to Denver, and a connecting Southwest flight from Denver to Salt Lake City.

Although the airlines' merger closed in the spring of 2011, these itineraries had never been possible before.

Southwest told The Democrat and Chronicle that it began testing linking itineraries with AirTran in the five-city initial phase beginning Jan. 26. The test, which included Atlanta; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Fort Myers, Fla.; Louisville; and Norfolk, Va., was successful, indicating that Southwest begin expanding the linked itineraries, the airline told The Democrat and Chronicle.

In the next phase, which will begin on Feb. 25, AirTran and and Southwest will connect their flights options in 39 more cities. Southwest added it is "on pace" to fully connect all of the airlines' destinations, including international -- 97 total -- by the end of April, The Democrat and Chronicle reported.

"Connecting the networks is a priority in 2013 and a major milestone as we work to combine our two Companies," Bob Jordan, Chief Commercial Officer at Southwest Airlines and President of AirTran, said in a statement issued to The Democrat and Chronicle. "With a connected network, we can offer customers more itineraries, more destinations, more low fares, and a taste of what's to come once the integration is complete."
AirTran's brand will eventually disappear, around 2015, as it combines its operations with Southwest's, The Democrat and Chronicle Reported.

There is one complicated aspect of this merger -- the baggage fee policies for these two airlines are different. Southwest charges no fee for two checked bags, but AirTran does charge, The Democrat and Chronicle reported.

Southwest told The Democrat and Chronicle that customers will get Southwest's checked baggage allowance on any itinerary involving a Southwest flight, but for other fees, Southwest will honor the regulations of the airline through which the flight was booked.