I have flown Airtran numerous times, and had never had problems, other than trying to get through ATL during that big flood they had last year. Even though it was a weather delay, Airtran still made it right and gave us vouchers. The aircraft are all newer, with XM in the seats. Just because they were formed out of the remains of Valujet, I wouldn’t hesitate to fly them. That Valuejet crash could have occured to any airline, as they all were all doing the same thing years ago.
If that bothers you, then you must be one step away from Rain Man. Nearly every major airline in existence has had a crash, they happen. So unless you will only fly Southwest or Qantas, you will just have to accept that.
As many of you know, America West purchased US Airways but took the name of the latter as the airline’s name due to better name recognition.
In a similar fashion but for a different reason, ValuJet (only one “e”) purchased AirTran and took the name of the later. The reason was not better name recognition but to help erase the name of ValuJet due to the 1996 crash of ValuJet 592 in the Everglades. (Actually, if you want to be technical, the holding company of ValuJet purchased the holding company of AirTran.)
I fly Airtran out fo BBG occassionally since the start of ops here in this area. No Complaints…other than the FA never gives me her number…damnit! And here I thought I was a chick magnet!.