Air Tran - AirTran Airlines
Air Tran/AirTran Airlines Discrimination against White Customers. Ripoff! Atlanta, Georgia

While on a return flight to Houston from Pittsburg on a bereavement flight in mid January, we were stranded in the Atlanta, GA airport due to ice storms. We were flying Air Tran Airlines.

As we left the plane upon arrival, we were told by their Gate Attendant all flights were cancelled until at least the next morning and we would be there overnight. She told us all to line up at Customer Service Desk to get new flight arrangements and Meal and Hotel Vouchers. We waited in line, got our new flights (which ended up being cancelled several times). We were then told that NO meal vouchers or hotel vouchers would be issued. They "don't do that".

As we walked off, we heard the man behind us in line get his meal vouchers ($15). He was African American and we are white. I stood by and observed all the white passengers be denied meal vouchers and 5 other African American passengers receive vouchers. So... I stood BACK in line and when my turn came, asked the African American clerk (they all were of this race), why we didn't get vouchers. He said again, that NO ONE gets them, Air Tran doesn't issue them. I told him I had witnessed 6 people behind me get them (and I don't know how many BEFORE us), and therefore I wanted vouchers. He refused.

So, I went to another desk and asked for a supervisor. Finally got one of those and presented my case. He stated they "don't do that". I said, "Yes, you do, but obviously for certain people". He got aggravated and rude. Finally agreed to give me a hotel voucher. I called the 800 # on it and they stated it was only for discounted rooms, and that they were all full unless we could get to a hotel 20 mins away. Well, no taxis were running due to road closures, and I didn't feel like walking in the snow and ice. (We ended up sleeping in Delta's area where they gave us all pillows and blankets and we weren't even flying with them!).

I called the toll-free # for AirTran to try and get food vouchers, and the rep there said, Yes, they were supposed to give us vouchers for meals. Went BACK to desk again, stood in line, told them what the Rep said and again, they denied me. I went in the smoking rooms and heard other passengers say the same thing.

We even had an Air Tran captain/pilot state a few things that were so much against AirTran that I'm surprised he's still working for them. I can't repeat them here as they might upset some people. But his advice was to NEVER fly them again. Flight attendants also voiced unhappiness with how they are treated.

When we FINALLY got home 1 1/2 days later, I called and emailed Air Tran's office and explained what happened. I couldn't get through on the phone but return emails stated they do NOT discriminate and basically implied I was lying. I emailed back that I would contact an attorney for discrimination and was answered with "Good luck... Have your attorney contact our attorney".

So, we are waiting to see what will happen and if they will start treating passengers better. We will also pursue legal action for discrimination although I'm not quite sure how I will be able to prove it. Would it be my word against theirs? I wasn't able to track down any of the passengers who received meal vouchers as the airport was packed with stranded passengers.

In a nutshell... If you want cheap fares, be prepared to be treated cheaply. And a good suggestion would be to carry a video camera or tape recorder with you if you have to consult with any Air Tran employees so you will have proof if you need it.

We won't EVER fly with them again.

Company: Air Tran - AirTran Airlines
Country: USA
State: Nationwide
Site: www.airtran.com

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