Airtran / Kayak seat selection question

[Minniekins]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone knows if you can still book a flight on AT through Kayak, and not be charged a fee for seat selection? Last year, after reading here that I could do that, I booked our dw trip going through Kayak on AT, and got to select our seats at booking but was not charged the $6 fee that AT usually charges. That was great! Now I see that seat selection charges run $6 - $20! I hate the back of the plane, but that would add another $40 each way. Then I remembered about going through Kayak and now I'm hoping you can still go through them and then not be charged a fee for the seat selection. Does anyone know the answer to this? Thanks very much for any help!

 

[Lewisc]

Ancient history. Airtran found passengers who "hate" seats in a particular part of the plane, or who love seats in a particular part of the plane, are willing to pay extra.

 

[Minniekins]

I realize some don't mind the extras fees for whatever they want, and I don't mind the $6 so much as the $20 and would probably have to do the 6 one if I have to. It's just getting so that they have a fee for everything. First you have to pay for a ticket, and then wait, now pay for your assigned seat, and then, pay more for a different row. I thought that was the difference between coach and the business and first class sections, now it feels like they are sectioning up coach. Just makes their good deals seem less good as every little part of the trip has another fee, can't really just book a ticket anymore I guess. And just kinda creeps me out being the back, makes me more nervous, rational or not.

Regardless, I will still book with them. But I was glad to have the option pointed out to me last trip to book my AT flights through Kayak to avoid a seat selection fee. So, my question still is if any of our dissers who fly AT and book through Kayak know if Kayak still waives that fee when you go through them to book. I'd appreciate if anyone has any info on this. Thanks!

 

[Lewisc]

I thought I answered your question. Booking through Kayak no longer waives seat fees. Ancient history. You can do a search, I think it was at least 6 months ago.

Airlines like AT and Spirit like to offer unsupportable fares but hope to make enough money with fees to be profitable.

AT thinks they can offer lower fares to passengers who are willing to accept middle seats and risk not sitting next to other family members.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm not sure I understand the OP either. There's no waiting with AirTran, except upgrading to Business Class for a decent amount at check-in or the airport. The two different seat prices - $6 and $15 the last time I looked (about two weeks ago) are available at the time the passenger books the flight. No waiting. The higher price gets the passenger a combination of closer to the front of the plane and priority boarding. Not all the $6 seats are in the back of the plane; they start about halfway back. For the record, the back of the plane spends more time on the ground than the rest of the plane. It leaves the ground last and lands first.

So, my question still is if any of our dissers who fly AT and book through Kayak know if Kayak still waives that fee when you go through them to book. I'd appreciate if anyone has any info on this. Thanks!

Lewisc answered your question, but: the loophole or perk or whatever you want to call it has been closed - possibly due to the advent of multiple seat prices. Any AirTran passenger booking through Kayak must pay to select a seat.