Airtran Question

[disneynewbee]

I tried going through Kayak for a flight to San Antonio in March and although the Airtran screens showed $0 for allowing me to pick my seats, the $12 still showed up on CC statement. Anyone really not end up paying for the seat assignment?

My mom used it for our flights to Disney for this Oct and it didn't charge her. It was for 6 seats so we would definately noticed.

 

[kevgraub]

I tried going through Kayak for a flight to San Antonio in March and although the Airtran screens showed $0 for allowing me to pick my seats, the $12 still showed up on CC statement. Anyone really not end up paying for the seat assignment?

That's weird (and kind of troubling!)

I just double checked our credit card statement again, and we were charged exactly what it showed when I booked, which did not include seat fees.

On our return trip (which I booked before I knew about kayak.com) my pricing was:

Fare price: $384.16
Taxes/fees: $177.24
Seat fees: $42.00
Total Price: $603.40

For our trip to WDW (which I did through kayak.com) my pricing was:

Fare price: $384.16
Taxes/fees: $103.04
Total Price: $487.20

In both cases, the charges that showed up on our credit card were exactly the same as what my receipt from Airtran showed.

Now, this was done back at the very end of March, maybe they have changed something?

 

[cbrfan]

I'm thinking they may have caught on to the "glitch" in their system.

 

[Goofy4]

you check in 24 hrs prior to flight time you can pick your seats then..

I just checked in (at the 24 hour mark) and I did not have the option to choose seats; they simply gave me the assignments and I printed the boarding passes.

We have 2 of 4 seats together, but they did not give our kids the 2 together. Now, I don't suppose it will be a problem for us to switch, but it is interesting that they didn't put the kids together.

From what I can tell they back-filled the empty seats in the main section first before filling the blocks that they hold. I would think that being one of the first to check in (of those not having paid for the seat) I would get a better selection.

We'll probably be flying Southwest in the future.

 

[kevgraub]

I just checked in (at the 24 hour mark) and I did not have the option to choose seats; they simply gave me the assignments and I printed the boarding passes.

We have just paid the $6 per person, so I've never had to change seats at check-in. However, my understanding is that they will assign you seats automatically, but that you can then go in and change those assignments to any open seats that are available. So, unless the process has changed, you would not have been given the option of choosing your seats, but there was a link somewhere on the page that would have allowed you to change the selection they gave you.

 

[TDC Nala]

At 24 hours they assign anyone who didn't already choose a seat to an empty seat. If you check in online, you have the option to change that seat to another open seat if you wish. You have to go through the "seating change" option to try and book a different seat.

 

[Goofy4]

At 24 hours they assign anyone who didn't already choose a seat to an empty seat. If you check in online, you have the option to change that seat to another open seat if you wish. You have to go through the "seating change" option to try and book a different seat.

Well, if it is/was there, they are hiding it from me. I don't see a "Seating Change" option now or on my screen prints. About the only thing I can do is reprint my passes.

Maybe I'll try to put my kids in their assigned separate seats, and we'll see what happens

 

[disneynewbee]

I just checked in (at the 24 hour mark) and I did not have the option to choose seats; they simply gave me the assignments and I printed the boarding passes.

We have 2 of 4 seats together, but they did not give our kids the 2 together. Now, I don't suppose it will be a problem for us to switch, but it is interesting that they didn't put the kids together.

From what I can tell they back-filled the empty seats in the main section first before filling the blocks that they hold. I would think that being one of the first to check in (of those not having paid for the seat) I would get a better selection.

We'll probably be flying Southwest in the future.

Wow that's not good. I used kayak to get my seats but my sister booked before we knew about it and she has 4 kids ages 8,4,3, and 2. She's thinking she gets to pick seats at the 24 hr mark if that's not the case she's probably going to have to fork out the money for the seat assignments.

 

[ParrotBill]

I didn't realize at check-in time you can select seats. This should be interesting (fingers crossed).

I've been amazed the last 2 trips in watching what seats are being selected. There were no available seats together at our 10-day point and all of the 'middle' seats are gone, leaving aisle and window seats. Strange.

This happened to us too. I asked Airtrain to investigate. If you see all middle seats unavailable, CALL and complain. This is not supposed to be happening.

I ended up paying to select our seats and we were not together because of the middle seat problem. No refund of the seat fees, no help getting it fixed. I paid so I could assigned the seats together on all the other legs of the trip. We had to negotiate with others ourselves on the flight even though we'd paid and tried to get seats together.

It was easy because I was able to offer the person who got the middle seat to move to the aisle seat I had in another row.

If you end of with any children in isolated seats, stand your ground when you board. Be polite but insist your child needs to be seated next to you. They WILL ask people to move around if nobody offers to do so first.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Wow that's not good. I used kayak to get my seats but my sister booked before we knew about it and she has 4 kids ages 8,4,3, and 2. She's thinking she gets to pick seats at the 24 hr mark if that's not the case she's probably going to have to fork out the money for the seat assignments.

While the poster who said that has not been back - I am pretty sure that was due to user error - Airtran will assign you seats and then you tell them you want another seat. My husband is flying tomorrow and he was able to pick his seat today...

 

[shoes99]

If you look at www.seatguru.com, and put in AirTran, you will notice that they only fly two type of aircraft.

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/AirTran_Airways/AirTran_Airways_Boeing_717-200.php

The 717-200 does not have a middle seat 'b' in their aircraft. If Airtran is not sure what type of aircraft they will use for your flight, they will block off the middle seat "B", just in case their aircraft changes ...
Its easier to add available seats than to subtract and cause more problems for travelers.

 

[cbrfan]

When you check in online you will be shown your seat assignment. Your seat number will be highlighted. Click on the seat number and it will ask if you want to change your seat. If you do, simply click on the seat you want. A word of caution for those traveling with others - keep in mind that others are selecting their seat at the same time you are and what may two seats together when you start your change may end up with someone besides your traveling companion in it before you can complete the change.

 

[paults]

It may have been because of the 1 y/o. This past Sept we saw a mom go off on a gate agent, who refused to move people around so she could sit with her five or six y/o. She just kept insisting that she couldn't believe Air Tran would seperate her from her child. The gate agent very calmly told her Air Tran didn't do it, she chose not to pay for an assigned seat for her child and no way was she asking people who did pay for their seats to change seats with her. Once she got on the plane she tried to bully the FA into demanding that someone change seats with her. She also tried to bully the couple who's assigned seats were next to her daughter. If she had been nicer someone might have accomodated her, but she was being very rude and demanding. No one spoke up and the FA said there was nothing they could do. That couple who paid for their seats had every right to keep them.

OK here's the deal, if I paid so my DW and I can sit together and this type of person approched me I would just say NO PROBLEM just give me the $12 for the 2 seats and $12 for saving them for you.

 

[Inkmahm]

If you end of with any children in isolated seats, stand your ground when you board. Be polite but insist your child needs to be seated next to you. They WILL ask people to move around if nobody offers to do so first.

No, they won't. And I'd politely but firmly insist that the poster should have paid the $6 per seat if it was SO important that they had to sit together. Once I have my seats that I want,I'm not moving.

 

[RMulieri]

If you end of with any children in isolated seats, stand your ground when you board. Be polite but insist your child needs to be seated next to you. They WILL ask people to move around if nobody offers to do so first.

Not neccessarily.On airtran especially people try to not pay the seat fee for their family and then flip out they are not together, airtran can ASK people if they are willing to switch, but really if somebody has pre-paid their seat they don't have to move for anyones child....I am sorry but if I have to pay for my family( including small children) to all be together than I am not moving for someone who didn't reserve a seat assignment to save some money.

 

[disneynewbee]

I really don't think it's fair for people to expect others to move so they can save a few bucks. I used Kayak but had I not known of it I would have paid for seats because I have 3 little ones and no way are they going to sit with strangers. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Either you pay up and sit with your kids or you chose not to and quite possibly pay a high price for that decision. To impose on others who chose to pay to be with their loved ones is just wrong. I also don't think it's fair for people with kids to assume just because a couple doesn't have kids they should just be kind and give up their seats they paid for, they paid for the seats for a reason, they want to sit together. Maybe one has a great fear of flying, maybe they want to start their vacation off with a nice chat on the plane. Pay for your tickets or use kayak, don't impose and bully to get your way.

 

[taliategan]

I would certainly pay the extra $ 6 when I am traveling with my children to assure that me or my DW were sitting with them on the plane. I would just factor that cost into picking the flight/airline so that I can still get the lowest fair with that cost figured into the calculation. The flight I am taking with AirTran in a few weeks is solo, so I did not request a seat. It makes little difference to me where I sit on the plane. Once I do have my seat assignments (which I believe I will get when I check in 24 hours before the flights), I will gladly change to accomodate another passenger. If I had paid for the seat assignment, I would change as long as it did not separate me or my DW so that a child was not sitting with one of us.

 

[gratton16]

I as well just booked my tickets and wish I would have looked on here before hand to see the information about booking through Kayak! This forum is great. I have been traveling to disney since I was six. I am now 35..and there is always STILL something new to learn on how to save some $$. Thank you to all of you who post here!

 

[ParrotBill]

"In the event air mask use is necessary assist your child first then fit your own mask."

Remind the attendant if your child is isolated that their first responsibility it to the safety of passengers, even 5 year old ones. Nobody will expect you to place your child's life in a stranger's hands.

I still say stand your ground, but stay polite and never raise your voice.

Folks this is not about being cheap. I paid for my seats and my child STILL got separated from her parents, and I did not get a refund. If anyone had tried to strap my child in a seat between strangers she would have freaked out and the plane would not have taken off. I would have seriously enjoyed my interviews on CNN and ABC about how the airline could not see to the safety of a child over the $6 profit of someone who prepaid for their seat vs. $6 for my prepaid seat.

Better sense prevailed and someone switched with us. She was probably a mom who could imagine that happening to her.

 

[cbrfan]

"In the event air mask use is necessary assist your child first then fit your own mask."

Remind the attendant if your child is isolated that their first responsibility it to the safety of passengers, even 5 year old ones. Nobody will expect you to place your child's life in a stranger's hands.

I still say stand your ground, but stay polite and never raise your voice.

Folks this is not about being cheap. I paid for my seats and my child STILL got separated from her parents, and I did not get a refund. If anyone had tried to strap my child in a seat between strangers she would have freaked out and the plane would not have taken off. I would have seriously enjoyed my interviews on CNN and ABC about how the airline could not see to the safety of a child over the $6 profit of someone who prepaid for their seat vs. $6 for my prepaid seat.

Better sense prevailed and someone switched with us. She was probably a mom who could imagine that happening to her.

I believe it's "Put on your own air mask first, then assist your child". In any case, you should always prepare your child for a possible separation. I know there was a lot of confusion when airlines first started charging for seats and the FA's were reluctant to ask people who hadn't paid to move. That issue seems to be pretty much resolved now, with the exception of a flight change or change of aircraft. In those cases, the prepaid seat assignment often gets cancelled and you need to rebook your seats. So it's imperative that you watch your flights if you require seats together. If you wait until you reach the airport, the odds of getting seats together are pretty slim.