AirTran seating question

[Our2Girls&Disney]

I booked RT flights on AirTran yesterday. I am not familar with Air Tran at all. The website prompted me to pay if I wanted to pick my seats, I was too cheap to cough up more money, but now I am wondering how seating works. If I don't pay for seat assignments, what do they do seat you anywhere on the plane? There are 4 in our party, can be separated? Just wondering if I should not be so cheap and pay the extra cash. TIA

 

[ccgirl]

I booked RT flights on AirTran yesterday. I am not familar with Air Tran at all. The website prompted me to pay if I wanted to pick my seats, I was too cheap to cough up more money, but now I am wondering how seating works. If I don't pay for seat assignments, what do they do seat you anywhere on the plane? There are 4 in our party, can be separated? Just wondering if I should not be so cheap and pay the extra cash. TIA

There are many threads about this. If you do not pay for seats in advance, you can check in 24 hours in advance and pick seats for free then. However, chances are there will only be middle seats left scattered around the plane. They will not move people around to accommodate you. If it is important to sit together, pay extra for the seats as most of the other travellers do. Some seats are only $6 each way. Those are the ones I pick.

 

[Ed J]

If you want to be sure you all sit together pay for seat assignments. We are flying AT in a few weeks, we paid for 2 seat assignments to be sure our child sat next to one of us. The remaining 3 will check in the day before, if we sit together great, if not no biggie.

 

[TaraPA]

You will definitely need to pay for seats ahead of time to get 4 together. I fly AT several times a year & even at 24-hour check-in, when you can pick for free, I've rarely, if ever, seen 4 seats left together. It's usually just random seats scattered about the plane, like the OP said, most often middle seats.

If I'm flying without the kids, just with adults, we don't pay the seat fees, and pick whatever is left at 24-hour check-in. I don't remember any of us ever being seated together.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

I was not concerned about the 4 of us seating together, just wanted to understand how the process worked. Thanks for the feedback!!!!

 

[crashbb]

I was not concerned about the 4 of us seating together, just wanted to understand how the process worked. Thanks for the feedback!!!!

By "not concerned about the 4 us seating together" do you mean:

A) You don't care if you are all sitting separately; or
B) You don't believe that Air Tran will split you up?

If it is A (and you don't mind middle seats and/or seats near the back of the plane), then I wouldn't worry about paying to pre-select seats. When I fly by myself (especially on a short flight) I often don't pay for seat selection. I do, however, watch the seat selection and will pay up if it looks like I'll get a middle seat at the back of the plane.

If it is B, then I suggest you re-read the posts in this thread!

 

[maxiesmom]

If you don't pay for seat assignments your family will most likely NOT be sitting together. And Air Tran will not make people to move so that you can sit together. If sitting apart is no big deal, you are all set. If it is a big deal you need to pay for seat assignments.

Also, you need to keep in mind that in the case of the plane being oversold, people who didn't pay for seats are usually the first bumped from the flight. Just something else to keep in mind.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Yes, I understood 100% that if I did not pay, we would be split up. No worries, I opened the wallet and paid the fee just for piece of mind, but for the record my kids are old enough to sit alone so that was not a concern. Thanks again.

 

[duffy]

Ha, ha, I think a lot of people were hoping you'd say you expect the airline to seat you all together, just so they could jump all over you!!

 

[ccgirl]

If you don't pay for seat assignments your family will most likely NOT be sitting together. And Air Tran will not make people to move so that you can sit together. If sitting apart is no big deal, you are all set. If it is a big deal you need to pay for seat assignments.

Also, you need to keep in mind that in the case of the plane being oversold, people who didn't pay for seats are usually the first bumped from the flight. Just something else to keep in mind.

I always forget to mention that.

Yes, I understood 100% that if I did not pay, we would be split up. No worries, I opened the wallet and paid the fee just for piece of mind, but for the record my kids are old enough to sit alone so that was not a concern. Thanks again.

Love that piece of mind with AirTran. I really enjoyed flying with them. I was very nervous given the negative postings on this board but really liked them. They board in zones. Depending on which boarding zone you have there may not be any overhead space available. Since they charge for bags, people tend to bring the biggest possible bag that qualifies as a carry on. I did see quite a few bags having to be gate checked for free because there was no more room. People were scrambling to take things out of their carryon they didn't want checked. I did find the seating more cramped than other airlines. Have a great trip.

Ha, ha, I think a lot of people were hoping you'd say you expect the airline to seat you all together, just so they could jump all over you!!

Probably.

 

[leebee]

I bought seat assignments for AT but there isn't anything available for my BWI-MCO leg. I am hoping we don't get bumped, unless we can still get to MCO that night (there's another flight through ATL) AND there's compensation!!

Does AT "block" seats like some other airlines, then release them 24 hrs. in advance?

 

[ccgirl]

I bought seat assignments for AT but there isn't anything available for my BWI-MCO leg. I am hoping we don't get bumped, unless we can still get to MCO that night (there's another flight through ATL) AND there's compensation!!

Does AT "block" seats like some other airlines, then release them 24 hrs. in advance?

Sometimes. I would call. Did you still get charged for the seat assignments even though they did not let you choose?

 

[crashbb]

I bought seat assignments for AT but there isn't anything available for my BWI-MCO leg. I am hoping we don't get bumped, unless we can still get to MCO that night (there's another flight through ATL) AND there's compensation!!

Does AT "block" seats like some other airlines, then release them 24 hrs. in advance?

From what I understand they do. Also, some people have reported luck by calling and trying to pre-select seats (the phone agents have been able to select seats that didn't seem available on line).

You could also keep checking on-line, in case people cancel or upgrade.