AirTran Airways Offers Summer Travel Tips; Automated Online Flight Check-In System Reduces Lines and Wait Times at Airport.

Business Editors/Travel Writers

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 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 summer. As the Memorial Day holiday weekend is the traditional start of the busy summer season, AirTran Airways expects peak passenger loads today Friday, May 23, 2003, continuing through Tuesday, May 27, 2003. The busiest days for travel will be Friday, May 23, 2003, and Monday, May 26, 2003.

AirTran Airways welcomes all passengers during the busy summer season and the airline has hired an additional thirty summer employees to assist passengers. "We look forward to bringing people together this summer," 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 tips:

-- Be prepared. Check-In for your flights up to 24 hours prior to

departure with our new 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.

-- Avoid the lines. Check-in for your flights using our new

ByePass kiosks located at the airport where you may print your

boarding passes, select your seat assignment and print a

receipt.

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

-- Allow sufficient time. During the summer, anticipate possible

slowdowns caused by heavy traffic, crowded airport parking

lots, and busy ticket counters and security checkpoints. We

recommend that passengers arrive at the airport 90 minutes

prior to scheduled departure time.

-- 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. Ice picks and scissors are also

prohibited.

-- 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.

-- Keep baggage unlocked. The Transportation Security

Administration suggests that passengers keep their checked

baggage unlocked so that locks do not have to be broken should

the bag require a search.

-- Baggage check-in. 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 (forty-five minutes for

Hartsfield Atlanta and Denver and forty minutes for Washington

Dulles International Airports, respectively).

-- 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.

-- Get your boarding pass early. In addition to your ID, many

airports require that you have a boarding pass to go through

the security screening checkpoint: More information on

specific airports can be found under travel tips at

http://www.tsa.gov. To get boarding passes early, passengers

may visit http://www.airtran.com and use Online Flight

Check-In before leaving for the airport.

-- Assisting other passengers. If you are assisting a passenger

with disabilities or a child traveling alone, please check

with the AirTran Airways' ticket counter personnel.

-- 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 the name on your boarding pass matches the name on your

identification.

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

Additional helpful information is available on the Transportation Security Administration's Web site for travelers at www.tsa.gov.

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

AirTran Airways is one of America's largest low fare carriers, with 488 flights a day to 43 destinations. The airline also is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 717, the most modern, environmentally friendly aircraft in its class. For more information and reservations, visit airtran.com.