EAL757 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 2586 times:
I flew AirTran when they were ValuJet--ValuJet was fine by me, but AirTran sounds pretty cool too. As far as "what the heck is that" when referring to their name...there are others with names that make less sense: United, for example...a company with little if any unity; JetBlue...I like 'em, but what the heck does the name mean? Delta? ...it may have a history of the river delta or something but they're a metro Atlanta based international carrier--what the heck does Delta have to do with anything!? ...but who cares, we still like 'em all right? I like the name Delta - it's cool; I like JetBlue too--and I like AirTran--if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
However, JetBlue's paint scheme is ugly--that could use a change.
EAL757 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2532 times:
Jeremy, it'll never happen, but you just made me jump in my seat--I'd be the happiest person on the planet if it happened! If we could only get them to rename as Eastern and then buy even one 75 and paint it with the big "757" on the tail! --geez, chills I seem to be getting just thinking about it!!
EAL757 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2504 times:
WidgetBoi, Luv2fly...respect to both of you - good points! Luv2fly - you do make a very good case for AirTran as it's own entity. As much as I loved/love Eastern, I will admit, they were the first carrier (then ValuJet) I flew on after Eastern's demise...and I liked 'em from the start.
Does anybody know if any of ValuJet's original DC-9's (-30's right?) were from Eastern?
EAL757 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2439 times:
has ValuJet/AirTran flown anything other the DC-9's/717's and of course the A320s on lease? ...didn't they have 732s for a little while or am I mistaken?
WidgetBoi From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 1432 posts, RR: 21 Reply 10, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2412 times:
ValuJet flew DC-9-21/31/32s and MD-81s and as far as I know, AirTran has flown 737-200s, DC-9-31/32s, 717-200s and of course the RyanAir-operated A320s.
DCA-ROCguy From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 4402 posts, RR: 37 Reply 13, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2299 times:
I've long thought that the name AirTran sounds like a cargo airline. I think "Liberty Airlines" would sound good--the turquoise-green 'a' on the tail could convert to a Statue of Liberty silhouette. And low fares mean liberty to fly for lots of people who otherwise couldn't afford it.
Eastern Airlines would be good too--as long as they don't let Frank Lorenzo or Charlie Bryan anywhere near it!
NWA Man From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 1828 posts, RR: 13 Reply 17, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2209 times:
Valujet has way too many negative connotations - in fact, that's why they changed the name to AirTran in the first place. And while changing their name to Eastern or Liberty might sound like a nice idea, AirTran has developed far too much positive brand and product recognition to change its name.
The only possible reason I could see to change the name would be brand confusion with ATA, but I think the aforementioned positives of the AirTran name and AirTran's momentum (new aircraft, recognizable livery, recognition for value, etc) would preclude such a switch.
Akjetblue From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 790 posts, RR: 6 Reply 21, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 2077 times:
I'm surprised no one else saw this, but if there was to be a "change in name" why not choose one that is close to something the passenger already knows and associates with AirTran?
Something that says "you're not on a puddle hopper that bounches up and down with the 'spinny' things on the wings."
Something that says "getting you from point A to point B."
WidgetBoi From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 1432 posts, RR: 21 Reply 22, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 2062 times:
While I'd have to agree that it would be beneficial to pick a name already associated with AirTran, I doubt that JetConnect would ever be chosen because it sounds too regional.
EAL757 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 2053 times:
JetConnect and ValuTran sound like some UK charter or LCC operators : ) ...but hey, that's an opinion and it's worth about $.02!
I really like AirTran--there's no reason to change it. Shoot, American Trans Air is pretty dumb--didn't they change officially to ATA Airways or something? ...which makes even less sense
JBirdAV8r From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 4459 posts, RR: 22 Reply 24, posted (9 years 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 2052 times:
AirTran has great brand recognition, especially in the eastern US. Why mess with success? "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
I got my head checked--by a jumbo jet
25 Elwood64151: are there pictures available of ValuJet MD-80s? I believe there are, but they *might* be in AirTran colors by the time the photos were taken... Valuje
26 WidgetBoi: I think the MD-81s were disposed of long before the merger jeremy
27 Jaydavis: There is some confusion with ATA and even AirTransat in Canada with the AirTran name. Plus, there should be nothing "regional" in the name, such as Ea
28 Srbmod: AirTran comes from combining the words "air" and "transportation". If AirTran were to rename, here are some suggestions: National Airlines (It would b
29 Grrtvc: I agree, it isn't broke don't fix it. But for some reason when I think AirTran, I think of going down the aisle in the grocery store that has all the
30 Jaydavis: It would be cool if they came up with some new "hip" word that started with an A so they wouldn't have to repaint the tails.......they could use a fir
31 EAL757: I say stick with AirTran...I agree with earlier posts that anything denoting a region (ie Eastern, Southern etc.) just doesn't do it these days. I alw
32 Grrtvc: Oops... I some how deleted "west" off my suggestion. I meant to say Atlanticwest Airlines.
33 BR715-A1-30: Photo copyright Michael Carter. Does anyone besides me see that this pic was obviously taken in 1995-1996, yet there is a building in the background t
34 FL1TPA: Hi all. AirTran TPA employee here. I like our name brand image as is; but as Jaydavis points out there can be confusion between similar airline names.
35 7E72004: I think they should use Eastern or Midway
36 GSPSPOT: Airtran is just fine. It's just a matter of marketing and consumer education to differential from other airlines with (sort of) similar names.
37 Srbmod: Valujet actually considered changing their name to Atlantic Airlines (or Airways) after the 592 crash and the restart of ops. Rumor also had it that V
38 Tommy767: IMO, it should be renamed as Eastern Airlines. AirTran really is a boring and dulled out name, but the airline has a solid product. Wow. Only if I cou
39 7E72004: Even if they did use the Eastern name, i think we would see a brand new livery
40 Dutchjet: AirTran will not be changing its name, it was a miracle that this airline survived the negative publicity of the 592 crash and somehow successfully pu
41 Jmc1975: It's needs to be called "Eastern" without question. AirTran has, does and always will sound like it was named after a deceased Chinese patriarch.
42 PHLBOS: As it has been already stated by a few; the name should stay as AirTran. They have been successful for the last few years, overcame the ValuJet stigma
43 AirTran737: The name isn't going to change. People know and recognize the "Big A' and that's what we want. It took a lot for us to reinvent ourselves after 592 an
44 InnocuousFox: You guys need to get over this "Eastern" fetish. It's a word, people. It doesn't bring anything back any more than deciding to change the word "wall"
45 GSPSPOT: As much as I feel nostalgic for Eastern Airlines, I think it would be a mistake to bring that name back. It has too many negative connotations. It fai
46 AGrayson514: How about Trans American, like from the movie 'Airplane'? Actually, that wouldn't be a bad name, though maybe Trans America would be better. But perso
47 PIT757: How about changing the name to Pterodactyl Airlines for all you Flintstone fans out there. In all seriousness they should keep the name Air Tran. The
48 Aa757first: I agree now they should keep AirTran, but before the merger/buy out/name change I think Southern Atlantic would have done the trip. Remember Northwest
49 Airways6max: AirTran isn't the catchiest name around, but if it sells, why change it?
50 Flyboy36y: Air Tran should rename itself LTA since its the end of DELTA. LTA could stand for Low-cost Travel Airlines....
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