AirTran Seat Selection vs. No Selection

[tfc3rid]

Since airlines are nickel and diming on everything I had this question with respect to AirTran and its operations... My friends have booked flights on AT in October but did not pay the extra for seat selection... However, does this mean that upon airport check in they are more likely to be bumped from the flight, since they are competing with people with seat assignments?

 

[Inkmahm]

I don't know that anyone can answer that. Logic tells me it might be true though so I have assigned seats for my 3 future Air Tran trips booked. I like being able to book the exit row in advance.

 

[LeslieG]

I wouldn't wait to check-in at the airport. You can go online 24 hrs. before flight to check in and select your seat assignment. I don't pay for assigned seats and have never had a problem, at least at the 24 hr. mark.

 

[wdwchamp]

Since airlines are nickel and diming on everything I had this question with respect to AirTran and its operations... My friends have booked flights on AT in October but did not pay the extra for seat selection... However, does this mean that upon airport check in they are more likely to be bumped from the flight, since they are competing with people with seat assignments?

I booked my tickets with AAA, and I was assigned seats at no charge. I doubt I will be bumped unless I don't check-in early enough. If I want a exit row I would have to pay $20 extra. I don't know if Air Tran still has this policy, if there are available business class seats on flightday then you can upgrade between $40 to $60 per flight segment. I would rather upgrade to business class for the extra seat comfort. Since my flight is a non-stop, it is almost worthwhile since I paid $88 for my flight to MCO from IND and business class is over $300 for that same segment.

 

[nhl66pens]

As the previous poster stated, I would at least use the 24 hour advance check in. I paid for the reserved seating because we're travelling with my DD 6 and I wanted us to have a fun experience together for the whole trip. That said, when they changed my itinerary, they only reserved seats on one of the flights and I had to call to get them to reserve the return flight.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

We are flying AirTran in about five days and we booked these flights a little over a week ago! With this close of a booking, the seating left was under FIVE seats (three of us flying) so we wanted to take ZERO chances and chose three seats.

Similar to what you said, I would rather 'have' a seat assigned even though they overbook of course. Ultimately, we hope at check-in at the airport that we get bumped to exit row! It happened last year, who knows if we will have any luck.

Good luck with everything, it sure seems like a lot of AirTran posts on this board lately LOL.

M

 

[PoppyGirl]

Here's my question about the seat selection: suppose you pay the fee to select your seat and then you get reassigned to another flight when AT cancels the flight you originally booked...how can they guarantee your seat that you paid for originally when you are now on an entirely different flight with other people who picked those seats???

So, I didn't pay for it--figured they are going to change my flight at least a couple of times in the next 6 months.

 

[LoveToDisney]

I wouldn't wait to check-in at the airport. You can go online 24 hrs. before flight to check in and select your seat assignment. I don't pay for assigned seats and have never had a problem, at least at the 24 hr. mark.

So, you can still pick your seats during online checkin for free since they have started charging for advance seat reservations? Just want to make sure this policy is current. Anyone?

Also, can anyone tell me how much leg room AirTran has compared to SWA jets? We are tall and have enough leg room in SWA new leather seats. Not sure what AirTran has.

Thanks!

 

[danielle.st]

Here's my question about the seat selection: suppose you pay the fee to select your seat and then you get reassigned to another flight when AT cancels the flight you originally booked...how can they guarantee your seat that you paid for originally when you are now on an entirely different flight with other people who picked those seats???

So, I didn't pay for it--figured they are going to change my flight at least a couple of times in the next 6 months.

if the seats you originally chose are taken on a new flight, you can choose new ones on the new flight without paying any more than you have already paid.

 

[Andrea from PA]

If you reserve the seats & are bumped & your chosen seat is not available on the new flight you MUST CALL AirTran. They do not refund the seat fee automatically nor could I choose new seats on-line.

Also be aware in the reassigned flight you may not be able to have the seats together.

AirTran & the schedule changes have driven me crazy...but I LOVE my $55 rate

 

[Silvermist]

We are flying out Sunday on Airtran and we did pay for the seat assignments since we have 2 kids with us. We booked Airtran because we heard and read that they didn't so bumps very often. We are staying in a hotel by the airport and plan on being there by 8:30 am since our flight leaves at 10:33 am. Should I be worried?

 

[LIFERBABE]

There were 5 of us last month on Airtran and I did not book seats. I checked in online 24 hrs and our seats were already together!

Cant sit in the exit row with kids, but we were 1 row in front of the exit row.

I like Airtran, even with all the schedule changes (which they all do). Once we were onboard, we had free XM and headphones, a WHOLE can of soda, and a pack of pretzels.

They are very nice and I always receive great service when I call about the changes or anything else.

They also waived the change fees for us 1 year after I had a death in the family and I have flown them ever since.

AA, otoh, treated me horribly and I will ride a segway to WDW before I ever fly them again.

 

[Andrea from PA]

If you already paid for the seat assignment, just go on-line or call & be sure you still have assignment in area you want.

I think the biggest problem with the schedule/assigned seat changes is the auto method in which it is done -- As long as you double check BEFORE the 24 hour check-in you'll be fine. Once the 24 hr check in starts then you are competing for seats with folks who didn't "Pay" for the privilege of keeping their kids with them.

 

[horseshowmom]

Since airlines are nickel and diming on everything I had this question with respect to AirTran and its operations... My friends have booked flights on AT in October but did not pay the extra for seat selection... However, does this mean that upon airport check in they are more likely to be bumped from the flight, since they are competing with people with seat assignments?

In February, I took several people to a conference in Orlando (used Northwest although I prefer AirTran, but AT only has one direct flight a day from the airport I use to MCO, and it didn't fit our schedule). When I saw how many seats were booked, I paid the extra fee because I was afraid we might get separated (and several of these people had never flown before).

I was really glad I paid it. When we got to the airport, our plane had been changed due to mechanical difficulties, and we were put on a smaller plane. A lot of people were bumped who had not paid for seat assignments (I overheard the discussions in the waiting area). Although we did have to get new boarding passes, they put us together, and it worked out fine for us. Others were very upset though (they had to wait for a few hours for the next plane).

Here's my question about the seat selection: suppose you pay the fee to select your seat and then you get reassigned to another flight when AT cancels the flight you originally booked...how can they guarantee your seat that you paid for originally when you are now on an entirely different flight with other people who picked those seats???

While it was on NW and not AT, please see my response above.

We booked Airtran because we heard and read that they didn't so bumps very often. We are staying in a hotel by the airport and plan on being there by 8:30 am since our flight leaves at 10:33 am. Should I be worried?

I have never been on an AT flight that had to bump anybody (and I've been on a lot of them). That's not to say that it never happens, but it must happen less than other airlines, because almost every other flight that I've been on (on other airlines) has requested volunteers to be bumped.

I like Airtran, even with all the schedule changes (which they all do). Once we were onboard, we had free XM and headphones, a WHOLE can of soda, and a pack of pretzels.

They are very nice and I always receive great service when I call about the changes or anything else.

AirTran is my favorite airline. I love the newer planes, the free XM, and the option of upgrading to business class (first class).

Also, they have AirTran U which has made it easy for my DD to accompany me on trips as her college schedule allows. She generally can't plan as far out as I make my reservations, but if it works out that she can miss some classes, she can fly standby very cheaply with AirTran U.

 

[Inkmahm]

I have never been on an AT flight that had to bump anybody (and I've been on a lot of them). That's not to say that it never happens, but it must happen less than other airlines, because almost every other flight that I've been on (on other airlines) has requested volunteers to be bumped.

I REALLY like hearing that! I fly mostly on NW and Midwest (well, untill they eliminated most flights to Florida.) Now I have most flights booked on NW and Air Tran. My recent flights on either NW or Midwest have ALL been overbooked. That's since earlier this year. It's been terrible flying on 100% full planes all the time and even being the one they wanted to involuntarily bump just because I was flying on a FF ticket (that was NW). I've only been on two Air Tran flights earlier this year and neither of those were overbooked. I very much hope that is the norm.

 

[Patti_C]

I payed for seats on our flight, then our flight got changed to have a stop in atlanta, do i have to pay for more seating assignments on the last leg of the flight?
oops, didn't mean to hijack this thread, meant to start a new one.

 

[encinc]

I payed for seats on our flight, then our flight got changed to have a stop in atlanta, do i have to pay for more seating assignments on the last leg of the flight?
oops, didn't mean to hijack this thread, meant to start a new one.

Nope. We had the same thing happen to us, and we were automatically assigned seats on our new flights. You might want to check to make sure that you do have seats on both legs. If you don't, a quick phone call to airtran should fix that up.

 

[LCrawford]

Thanks for posting this question. I bought my tickets through AAA and hadn't thought of the extra cost to pick seats. I am going to call my agent!

 

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

ALWAYS fly Airtran to WDW and other spots DD and I go for cheerleading around the country. Every trip to WDW we fly the non-stop from Buffalo and I always take the $60 upgrade to business class at the airport. DD loves flying up there...she thinks she is a queen on her way to the best vacation ever!!!! In case the business class seats are already booked though...I always pay the $6 per seat at time of booking for seat assignments. I don't mind that cheap piece of mind!!

 

[sherreis]

Has anyone bought seats in advance and then changed them if more seats opened up at 24 hrs? When I decided to purchase seats (so the kids could sit with us) we got row 25.