Airtran Question

[Traveliz]

What kind of coupon are you talking about?

I just booked yesterday, I wish I had read this site beforehand, I would have used Kayak.
I did not pay for seats, we have connecting flights, it would add another $120 to our roundtrip costs!
I plan on trying to check in at the 24 hour mark. If that doesn't work, I will ask nicely for someone to switch so the kids are at least in eyeshot from me.

If that doesn't work I'll loudly remind my children to hold the barf bag close in case they get sick again this time....or to stop scratching that rash they have....(just kidding.....kind of)

You only pay once for the flight - not for each leg so you might want to rethink.

Liz

 

[DVCBELLE]

What kind of coupon are you talking about?

I just booked yesterday, I wish I had read this site beforehand, I would have used Kayak.
I did not pay for seats, we have connecting flights, it would add another $120 to our roundtrip costs!
I plan on trying to check in at the 24 hour mark. If that doesn't work, I will ask nicely for someone to switch so the kids are at least in eyeshot from me.

If that doesn't work I'll loudly remind my children to hold the barf bag close in case they get sick again this time....or to stop scratching that rash they have....(just kidding.....kind of)

Airtran puts out $25 off coupons every once in a while - you need to sign up for their netsavers email to get them. When they go out - someone will probably post on this board they are out.

 

[aanderson5]

I have heard, on this board, of situations where children were indeed seperated from their parents and no one was willing to switch seats with them. This is why I paid the $6 for our upcoming trip.

Airlines are no longer including everything in the cost of the airfare. This allows you to pick and choose what is important to you. Whether it means sitting with your party or checking luggage. This is part of the reason your flight was cheaper. It is really not fair to expect someone else who paid for a seat to switch. What if 10 families decided they didn't want to pay and tried to switch seats while boarding the plane. What a nightmare.

I know all the hidden costs can be expensive but I agree with other posters who suggested picking at least 3 seats to ensure a parent is with your small children. Have a great trip.

 

[aanderson5]

What kind of coupon are you talking about?

I just booked yesterday, I wish I had read this site beforehand, I would have used Kayak.
I did not pay for seats, we have connecting flights, it would add another $120 to our roundtrip costs!
I plan on trying to check in at the 24 hour mark. If that doesn't work, I will ask nicely for someone to switch so the kids are at least in eyeshot from me.

If that doesn't work I'll loudly remind my children to hold the barf bag close in case they get sick again this time....or to stop scratching that rash they have....(just kidding.....kind of)

Just so you know, you only have to pay the fee once. Not for each leg of you trip. You will have to pay again for your return trip but not for connections.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If that doesn't work I'll loudly remind my children to hold the barf bag close in case they get sick again this time....or to stop scratching that rash they have....(just kidding.....kind of)

No. Please, just - no. Please don't attempt to coerce your fellow passengers this way. If sitting with other members of one's party is important and the airline charges for seat assignments, please just pay the fee.

 

[duffy]

No. Please, just - no. Please don't attempt to coerce your fellow passengers this way. If sitting with other members of one's party is important and the airline charges for seat assignments, please just pay the fee.

I totally agree. Just pay if you're so concerned!!

 

[JoyG]

Joking people. Joking.

 

[JoyG]

Airtran puts out $25 off coupons every once in a while - you need to sign up for their netsavers email to get them. When they go out - someone will probably post on this board they are out.

Thanks! I'll be on the lookout!

 

[serene56]

24 hours before your flight-- airtran will release available seats-- (always in the back)
check in for your flight at taht time so you can grab those seats.

I prefer to get as close to the front as possible so for that reason its better for me to pay for seats.

You dont pay for seats each way-- it will cost you 6 bucks for the whole fare.

 

[Inkmahm]

24 hours before your flight-- airtran will release available seats-- (always in the back)
check in for your flight at taht time so you can grab those seats.

I prefer to get as close to the front as possible so for that reason its better for me to pay for seats.

You dont pay for seats each way-- it will cost you 6 bucks for the whole fare.

Incorrect, you DO pay for seats each way. If you have a round trip flight and you want seats assigned, it will be $12 per person.

 

[Goofy4]

check in for your flight at taht time so you can grab those seats.

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.

 

[kevgraub]

Incorrect, you DO pay for seats each way. If you have a round trip flight and you want seats assigned, it will be $12 per person.

That is correct. Although remember folks, if you go through kayak.com to find your flight, you do not have to pay anything!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I am so gonna remember the kayak.com tip the next time I fly Airtran. Thanks!

Oh and for the OP, they did separate a family on my last Airtran flight - the Mom was frantic trying to get someone to switch seats either near her or her DD so they could be together.
I don't know how it ended up - I just heard the tail end of it as she was getting upset while talking with the attendant at the gate.

So, I'd go ahead and pay for at least 3 seats together so you won't have to worry about your little ones.

 

[annnewjerz]

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.

Funnily enough, the reason that the seating chart looks like this is (at least from PHL) an AirTran flight is booked on a Boeing 757 (3 seats on the right, 3 on the left). If the plane does not fill up enough, closer to the travel date they will switch to a smaller plane (Boeing 737).

In order to keep from having seating problems if they decide to use the smaller plane, on the side that would be two seats instead of three---they book the middle seat in every row of the one side of the plane to "reserve" it in case the plane is smaller. This forces parties of three that want to sit together to book on the right-hand side of the plane.

Does that make sense? I don't know if I explained it very well---but that's the reason!

 

[aprince2001]

We fly airtran every year out of Indianapolis because southwest is not a participating airline. When you check in 24 hrs prior to flight time you can pick your seats then. Coming home from disney we do not pick our seats and last year they called us to the desk at the gate to change tickets arround because they told us they would not let a child sit by themselves. Not sure what age they would let them sit alone but my daughters were 1 and 7 last year.

 

[aubriee]

We fly airtran every year out of Indianapolis because southwest is not a participating airline. When you check in 24 hrs prior to flight time you can pick your seats then. Coming home from disney we do not pick our seats and last year they called us to the desk at the gate to change tickets arround because they told us they would not let a child sit by themselves. Not sure what age they would let them sit alone but my daughters were 1 and 7 last year.

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.

 

[OzFan]

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.

What she said!

 

[wezee]

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.

I am so glad the FA stuck to her guns. I for one would not give up our seats, because a parent felt they could save a buck by playing the "But I have a small child card". The prices for Airtran are very reasonable and a $6 fee per child and/or parent is worth the peace of mind, knowing that your child is safe beside you.
Flame away if you must, but as a parent, I would be happy to know that I could get an assigned seat and keep my family together at any cost. Years ago when my son was young and all the seats were free, we had to just hope we could get seated together.

 

[thepwa]

disneylovinfamily - I totally get what you are saying. I feel the same way and think that the seat fee thing is ridiculous. I *refuse* to pay for a seat when it is just me traveling or if I am traveling with DH and/or my older children. However, when I travel with my youngest two, like I am doing on our upcoming trip, I bite the bullet and pay for the seat assignments.QUOTE]

Which is exactly why I don't think it is "ridiculous". It is a choice, and you have perfectly illustrated a reason why there is an offer to pay for seat selection.

If I can save $6 for not choosing a seat, I think that's great. Personally, I like sitting by a window, so I pay the $6 no matter what. But someone else who doesn't care where they sit, why shouldn't they save a few dollars?

What the ceiling is for choosing my own seat, I don't know. For example, United offers an extra fee for "more legroom". I;'m going to be on a five hour flight and the price is $59. I may or may not pay that.

We have to pay for food now. Great. I'm fine with that too. I can go a few hours with no food.

I know it is not what the flying public is used to, but it is not unheard of in other industries.

I also read that AirTran will start offering internet on flights. Another option I can choose. Why not just add the internet option into the total ticket? Not everyone needs or wants it, just like not everyone cares to choose their seat.

I'm fine with a la carte flying.

 

[savannahcat]

Although remember folks, if you go through kayak.com to find your flight, you do not have to pay anything!

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?