If charging more for exit rows, etc... at check-in qualifies you as a low-cost carrier, then Quantas, Singapore Air, NW and DL are low-cost, and AirTran is not??? No, I didn't think so.
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AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings (NYSE: AAI), is a low-fare airline designed for business travelers, offering Business class, new planes with XM Satellite Radio and EasyFit Overhead Bins, assigned seats, and our accommodating frequent flier program A+ Rewards. AirTran Airways' mix of low fares and an affordable Business Class with excellent customer service and one of the world's youngest all-Boeing fleets has continued to strike a chord with the public.
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That is from AirTran's website. They call themselves a "low-fare" carrier. Take that how you want it, but i know that AA, UA, DL/NW, and CO certainly don't consider themselves "low-fare."
I think the "a-la-carte" phrase they've adopted is probably a good umbrella term for all the airlines lately. I think the lines between "low-cost" and not is very blurred right now.
However, for those of you like myself who run to wikipedia for everything, this is a list of low-cost carriers in the US. check the entire list out
here:
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- AirTran Airways Domestic Routes and International
- Allegiant Air Domestic Routes and International Charter
- Frontier Airlines Domestic, Mexico, Alaska and Costa Rica Routes
- Go! Hawaiian Islands Only
- Horizon Air Domestic, Canada, and Mexico Routes
- Island Air Hawaiian Islands Only
- JetAmerica Domestic Routes
- JetBlue Airways Domestic, Caribbean, and South America Routes
- Southwest Airlines Domestic Routes
- Spirit Airlines Domestic, Caribbean, and South America Routes
- Sun Country Airlines Domestic, Mexico, and Caribbean Routes
- Virgin America Domestic Routes
- USA3000 Airlines Domestic, Caribbean and Mexico Routes
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