AirTran Seat Fees

[dioxide45]

I noticed this myself the other day and it has been mentioned on FlyerTalk. AirTran is now charging a premium to preselect rows 12 though 15 of coach. $13 fee now gets you those seats, they also board in zone 1 when in the past these were usually zone 5 or 6. Still no charge if you go through Kayak. If you have already selected seats you can go in and change them to move further forward on the aircraft.

 

[aubriee]

I noticed this last week. Usually the first four rows are blocked out until 24 hours out. Now only the first two rows (10 & 11) are blocked. For my upcoming May trip, I had already booked a seat in row 15 through Kayak, but last week when I noticed this, I moved my seat to row 12D at no charge and also noticed there was a comment about these seats now being in Boarding Zone 1. Usually my favorite seat in row 15 is in Boarding Zone 6. It will be nice not having to look for space in the overhead bins.

 

[SuzyQue]

I posted about this last week too. When I originally booked through Kayak, the first open seats were over the wings. I later went on to see what was available and when I clicked on the select/change seats, it showed ??? for my seat selections. And now I could choose out of row 12 so I did, still showed $0 for my charge. Now I just need to call and make sure by departing flight is still a go, it shows --- instead of a price on AirTrans site, but I can still buy it off Kayak.

 

[Inkmahm]

i just checked and row 12 is $15 for our Airtran flight in April. I already paid $20 for better exit row seats. I wouldn't pay $15 just to sit a few rows more forward or to get on sooner.

 

[dioxide45]

i just checked and row 12 is $15 for our Airtran flight in April. I already paid $20 for better exit row seats. I wouldn't pay $15 just to sit a few rows more forward or to get on sooner.

It could you very well be $15, I was posting based on what was posted on FlyerTalk. I didn't get to see it for myself, and likely won't since we use Kayak.

 

[dioxide45]

I posted about this last week too. When I originally booked through Kayak, the first open seats were over the wings. I later went on to see what was available and when I clicked on the select/change seats, it showed ??? for my seat selections. And now I could choose out of row 12 so I did, still showed $0 for my charge. Now I just need to call and make sure by departing flight is still a go, it shows --- instead of a price on AirTrans site, but I can still buy it off Kayak.

I missed that in the other thread. I did activly post in that thread. Going back and looking, I saw you were able to move up to row 12, which was previously unavailable for selection.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I was surprised the other day to find out that when you book through Kayak that you don't have to pay the $15 fee either.

 

[Charleneluvsdisney]

I booked row 14 today through Kayak, and didn't know there would have been a $15 charge for those seats! I actually got the last 3 at $89 and was in a panic because the last seat I booked went up to $120, but then it said sweet deal - and it went back to $89. I was using the $10 little debbie coupons and had to book them separately, so my savings would have been lost if I had to pay the higher price for the last ticket!

 

[loveswdw]

Have any of you flown yet with not paying the seat fee through Kayak? I'm just afraid once I get to the airport they'll say, nope, sorry you didn't pay for your seats so you just have to take what's left. Does Kayak have a special contract with them or something?

Oh yeah, maybe a stupid question but we always fly SWA...is the $15 baggage fee per way or roundtrip? Thanks!

 

[DVCBELLE]

Have any of you flown yet with not paying the seat fee through Kayak? I'm just afraid once I get to the airport they'll say, nope, sorry you didn't pay for your seats so you just have to take what's left. Does Kayak have a special contract with them or something?

Oh yeah, maybe a stupid question but we always fly SWA...is the $15 baggage fee per way or roundtrip? Thanks!

The baggage fee is one way.

I have flown without seat assigments - by the time I realized that I should do it there were no seats left together so it seemed silly to pay to have seats that weren't together. I checked in 24 hours ahead a time and had no trouble selecting 4 seats together. This might be a problem on your way home if you don't have access.

If you get to the airport and don't have assigned seats you will have to take what is left and they don't guarantee you are with your kids.

If Airtran comes out with a coupon between now and your flight - you can apply that to your reservation.

Or if there has been a price drop - call and ask for the credit and then apply the credit to your seat fees.

On the way there you should be fine as long as you check in ahead of time - it is on the way home that you might worry about!

ETA: I see I misunderstood your question...I have flown a lot booking through Kayak. My whole family went on a trip in Nov and all 13 of us got our seat assignments through Kayak - and had no problems!

 

[loveysbydesign]

The baggage fee is one way.

I have flown without seat assigments - by the time I realized that I should do it there were no seats left together so it seemed silly to pay to have seats that weren't together. I checked in 24 hours ahead a time and had no trouble selecting 4 seats together. This might be a problem on your way home if you don't have access.

If you get to the airport and don't have assigned seats you will have to take what is left and they don't guarantee you are with your kids.

If Airtran comes out with a coupon between now and your flight - you can apply that to your reservation. REALLY...that's great to know!

Or if there has been a price drop - call and ask for the credit and then apply the credit to your seat fees.

On the way there you should be fine as long as you check in ahead of time - it is on the way home that you might worry about!

wow..thanks for the info!

 

[DVCBELLE]

wow..thanks for the info!

I almost forgot - I am pretty sure they don't release the last 3 rows of the plane for seat selection. That is why if you check in at the 24 hour mark you should be able to get seats together.

For the coupon - you can only apply it for seat fees after the fact not off your price.

And don't forget - seat selection is always free if you go through Kayak!

 

[Missytara]

Have any of you flown yet with not paying the seat fee through Kayak? I'm just afraid once I get to the airport they'll say, nope, sorry you didn't pay for your seats so you just have to take what's left. Does Kayak have a special contract with them or something?

Oh yeah, maybe a stupid question but we always fly SWA...is the $15 baggage fee per way or roundtrip? Thanks!

I booked our flights through Kayak and still had our seats. May guess is that they are advertising free through Kayak, so it is kinda like a perk.

The baggage fee is one way.

 

[Missytara]

I have flown without seat assigments - by the time I realized that I should do it there were no seats left together so it seemed silly to pay to have seats that weren't together. I checked in 24 hours ahead a time and had no trouble selecting 4 seats together. This might be a problem on your way home if you don't have access.

On the way there you should be fine as long as you check in ahead of time - it is on the way home that you might worry about!

This is an issue if you plan on using RAC. The family in front of us last December did this. They checked in online the night before, selected seats, and when they got to the RAC counter, they were essentially locked out of the system, because they had already checked in.

I also told them if they had booked through Kayak.com, they would not have had to pay for their seats... or go through checking in ahead of time.

They were grateful for the info, for their next trip, but disappointed they had to take their luggage back to the airport themselves.

 

[DVCBELLE]

This is an issue if you plan on using RAC. The family in front of us last December did this. They checked in online the night before, selected seats, and when they got to the RAC counter, they were essentially locked out of the system, because they had already checked in.

I also told them if they had booked through Kayak.com, they would not have had to pay for their seats... or go through checking in ahead of time.

They were grateful for the info, for their next trip, but disappointed they had to take their luggage back to the airport themselves.

I didn't realize that would happen...yes that would stink!

Another reason why I LOVE Kayak!

 

[Missytara]

I didn't realize that would happen...yes that would stink!

Another reason why I LOVE Kayak!

Yeah! They were pretty shocked, but didn't really think about the fact that RAC is really almost like curbside check-in. It is just that it is away from the airport.