AirTran Airways Offers Holiday Travel Tips.

Business Editors/Travel Writers

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 2003

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI), offers passengers and their families travel tips to ensure a smooth travel experience this holiday season. AirTran Airways expects peak passenger loads on Saturday, December 20, 2003, continuing through Monday, January 5, 2004.

AirTran Airways welcomes all passengers during the busy holiday season and will have additional airline employees on hand to assist passengers. "We look forward to bringing people together this holiday season," states Robert L. Fornaro, president and chief operating officer. "AirTran Airways is committed to delivering a safe and efficient travel experience," states Fornaro. AirTran Airways offers the following travel tips to holiday travelers:

-- Pack smart. Please place your medicine, jewelry, cameras,

undeveloped film and other valuables in your carry-on baggage.

-- Travel with as few bags as needed. Remember you are allowed

one carry-on bag and one personal item. A personal item is

defined as a purse, briefcase, diaper bag or laptop computer

bag. Per FAA regulations, both the carry-on bag and the

personal item must fit underneath the seat in front of you or

in the EasyFit overhead bins.

-- Please do not wrap gifts. Wrapped gifts may have to be

unwrapped during security screenings. Consider shipping gifts

ahead of time. Do not carry wrapped gifts you have received

from others.

-- Allow sufficient time. During the busy holidays, anticipate

possible slowdowns caused by heavy traffic, crowded airport

parking lots, and busy ticket counters and security

checkpoints. We recommend passengers arrive at the airport a

minimum of 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure.

-- Be aware of items which cannot be carried onboard. Security

requirements prohibit passengers from taking certain items in

their carry-on bags, which include: knives of any length,

cutting instruments (any kind) including carpet knives, box

cutters and folding or retractable blades regardless of blade

length or composition. Straight razors are prohibited but

disposable razors, i.e., Gillette or Bic, are allowed. For

more information, visit http://www.tsa.gov.

-- Identify your baggage inside and outside the bag. Place a

baggage tag with your name, home address and telephone number

on the outside of your bag. It is also a good idea to put your

home address, telephone number, destination address and

telephone number inside your bag.

-- The Transportation Security Administration recommends that you

leave your baggage unlocked as it may be inspected during the

security screening process. Visit http://www.tsa.gov.

-- Baggage may be checked at the airport no more than four hours

prior to departure time and no fewer than thirty minutes prior

to departure at most cities - for individual airport times,

please check our Contract of Carriage on

http://www.airtran.com.

-- Check-In for your flights up to 24 hours prior to departure

with our Online Flight Check-In on airtran.com. You will be

able to print your boarding passes, select your seat

assignment, and print a receipt from your PC.

-- You will need ID. AirTran Airways' security procedures require

that all travelers 18 years of age and older show a

government-issued photo ID, such as a valid driver's license,

a passport or military ID. If you do not have one of the

above, you may show two forms of non-photo ID, at least one of

which must be issued by a local, state or federal government

agency such as the following: birth certificate, Medicare

card, voter registration card, Social Security card. You must

have your ID out and available at the security checkpoint and

also during the boarding process.

-- In addition to your ID, you must bring one of the following

documents to go through the security screening checkpoint:

        --  boarding pass issued by Online Flight Check-In at
            airtran.com

        --  boarding pass issued by ByePass Kiosk

        --  boarding pass issued at ticket counter

-- If you do not have one of the above listed documents, you must

go to the ticket counter prior to going through the security

screening checkpoint.

-- Only ticketed passengers may proceed past the security

screening checkpoint. If you are assisting a passenger with

disabilities or a child traveling alone, please check with the

AirTran Airways' ticket counter.

-- Due to heightened security measures, passengers may experience

the following.

        --  Increased number of uniformed law enforcement and security
            personnel

        --  Reduced access points to secured areas at airports

        --  Towing of unattended vehicles near the terminals

        --  Searches of aircraft passenger and cargo compartments

        --  Random searches of airline personnel, equipment,
            passengers and bags

        --  Heightened awareness of unattended bags

        --  Requests for ID and receipt/itinerary for travel

-- At the airport security checkpoint, remember IN, OUT and OFF

for a smoother process.

        --  Put metal IN your carry-on bag. This includes jewelry,
            loose change, keys, cell phones, pagers and PDAs.

        --  Take OUT your laptop computer. Place it in a bin, separate
            from its carrying case.

        --  Take OFF your outer coat. Place it in a bin.

-- Once you arrive at the gate, stay close to the departure gate.

Board when your row number is called. You may be selected for

additional security screening during the boarding process.

-- Ensure that the name on your itinerary matches the name on

your identification.

-- Once on board, relax and enjoy a safe and comfortable flight!

AirTran Airways wishes its customers and employees a safe and happy holiday season.

AirTran Airways is one of America's largest low-fare airlines - employing more than 5,600 professional Crew Members and operating 508 flights a day to 45 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport by passenger volume, where it is the second largest carrier operating 188 flights per day. AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings (NYSE:AAI), is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 717 and has the youngest all-Boeing fleet of any airline. In 2004, the airline will begin taking delivery of new Boeing 737-700s. For reservations or more information, visit airtran.com (America Online Keyword: AirTran).