[PHXFlyer]

I think you mis-read the email: (emphases on your OP mine)

Originally Posted by jmb

3) airtran mistakenly told me that my flight could be rerouted to a nearby airport without a) change fees b) fare difference fees. when the agent learned this was not their policy, she made no effort to obtain it for me.

i will never fly airtan again

From the AirTran e-mail you posted:

Customers who have reservations on AirTran Airways to travel to and from Charleston, SC on or after December 4, 2009 will be given the following options:

1) Rebook travel to another AirTran Airways destination. We will waive the change fee; a difference in fare may apply.

It's right there in the e-mail. They will waive the fee but not any difference in fare.

AirTran made an operational decision to no longer serve Charleston. It's inconvenient, to say the least, but it happens sometimes. What you may want to do (if you haven't already requested a refund on this ticket) is find out which airlines fly the same route (you never mentioned what your starting point is) and call around. Sometimes when an airline completely discontinues service to a particular city other airlines will accept the ticket at face value for travel on the same dates. If you find an airline willing to do so they, or you, can call AirTran to have the ticket endorsed over to the new airline.

There's no guarantee but it's worth a shot. When you call the other airlines mention that you are a frequent flier on AirTran (even if you are not, since they have no way of verifying this) however this cancellation has disappointed you and you are now looking to take your business elsewhere. I know Northwest has or had a program called BUMP (Bring Us More Passengers) where they were trying to poach passenegers from other airlines by accepting same day tickets from any other airline if they could get you to the same destination. Although Northwest is being merged into Delta their reservations and operations are still separate. Try their reservations call center first. The number is 1-800-225-2525. Explain your situation and mention that you heard something about the BUMP program. Maybe they can help you out.

Good luck.