Airtran Seating

[hildarumpole]

Did you actually click through the Kayak link to AirTran's website? Not just looking at the fares on Kayak? Clicking through performs an additional search of the fares and likely would have indicated that a lower fare was available and taken you to that fare on AirTran.com. The lower price and free seats would have been yours. Kayak also includes all fees and taxes in their quotes, so while their prices may seem higher, they usually are not since the end price you pay is the same. This doesn't explain a price that is double though.

For those booking a reward flight, you should also attempt a booking through Kayak, but then after logging in at AirTran.com click on the Reservations tab and do a reward search. Complete the reservation and the seat selection is also free. We just did this last night when booking a round trip rewards flight for with 16 credits.

Yep, I clicked through the Kayak link to AirTran's website and got the higher price. When I went directly to AirTran's site, the lower fare came up as a Web Special. Maybe that rate isn't available if you go through 3rd party booking sites.

 

[Anal Annie]

Yep, I clicked through the Kayak link to AirTran's website and got the higher price. When I went directly to AirTran's site, the lower fare came up as a Web Special. Maybe that rate isn't available if you go through 3rd party booking sites.

I always check both ways before I book just to be sure but 99% of the time the webfare is available thru kayak.com so I book that way to save paying for the seat assignments.

 

[aubriee]

We flew Air Tran out of MCO to DFW Sunday night (12/20/09). There were several families upset that they were not seated together and were trying to demand that Air Tran move people around to accomodate them. Finally the gate agents got a little short with them and simply told them that if they had wanted to sit together then they should have paid for their seats, as they were not asking anyone to move, because they had bigger problems to deal with. The flight was not only full, but over booked. They were begging for anyone willing to fly out the next day. At first they offered two round trip tickets, plus a night's paid lodging, and meal vouchers. When not enough people took the offer they started loading us. Once most of us were loaded they were still begging for three people to fly out the next day and offered three round trip tickets, a night's lodging, and meal vouchers. When people were still hesitating, the FA announced that 'this plane is not moving until we get three people willing to to fly out tomorrow night'. She finally got the last three volunteers they needed and they then brought on an Arab family. The dad immediately started complaining that the three had to sit together. You could tell the FAs were at the very end of their patience. They told the man that their concern was to get the family on the plane, since they had to make a connecting flight, but no way were they going to be able to sit together and they should have prepaid for their seats if it was that important that they sit with their five year old. By that time everyone's patience was exhausted, as we were late taking off and tired of hearing how some of us had to agree to fly out the next day. No one was offering up their seats and that last family was not seated anywhere near each other. Instead they were seated in the seats that the last three people who volunteered to be bumped were seated in. All three were solo flyers so their seats were scattered around the plane.

 

[crashbb]

We flew Air Tran out of MCO to DFW Sunday night (12/20/09). There were several families upset that they were not seated together and were trying to demand that Air Tran move people around to accomodate them. Finally the gate agents got a little short with them and simply told them that if they had wanted to sit together then they should have paid for their seats, as they were not asking anyone to move, because they had bigger problems to deal with. The flight was not only full, but over booked. They were begging for anyone willing to fly out the next day. At first they offered two round trip tickets, plus a night's paid lodging, and meal vouchers. When not enough people took the offer they started loading us. Once most of us were loaded they were still begging for three people to fly out the next day and offered three round trip tickets, a night's lodging, and meal vouchers. When people were still hesitating, the FA announced that 'this plane is not moving until we get three people willing to to fly out tomorrow night'. She finally got the last three volunteers they needed and they then brought on an Arab family. The dad immediately started complaining that the three had to sit together. You could tell the FAs were at the very end of their patience. They told the man that their concern was to get the family on the plane, since they had to make a connecting flight, but no way were they going to be able to sit together and they should have prepaid for their seats if it was that important that they sit with their five year old. By that time everyone's patience was exhausted, as we were late taking off and tired of hearing how some of us had to agree to fly out the next day. No one was offering up their seats and that last family was not seated anywhere near each other. Instead they were seated in the seats that the last three people who volunteered to be bumped were seated in. All three were solo flyers so their seats were scattered around the plane.

Why tell us the ethnicity of the family that came on? Why not also tell us the ethnicities of the three that three people that got off of the plane? It had nothing to do with the story, whatsoever.

That notwithstanding, that illustrates what some of us tell posters - if you are going to try to go stand-by or take a very short connection (not sure if the family did any of these things, but they clearly didn't have regular tickets for that flight), you risk sitting in middle seats spread across the plane. One's willingness to accept this needs to be considered before deciding on flights.

 

[Anal Annie]

OK, so dumb question here. What happens to any checked luggage that these people who gave up their seats may have had? Wouldn't it pretty much have already been loaded onto the plane by then?? I could see that being a BIG hassle. You say "Yeah I'll get off the plane", you take your vouchers & then realize your luggage just flew off without you!! I would think this would only work out for someone flying with just carry-on luggage.

 

[crashbb]

OK, so dumb question here. What happens to any checked luggage that these people who gave up their seats may have had? Wouldn't it pretty much have already been loaded onto the plane by then?? I could see that being a BIG hassle. You say "Yeah I'll get off the plane", you take your vouchers & then realize your luggage just flew off without you!! I would think this would only work out for someone flying with just carry-on luggage.

It depends.

They definitely prefer to use volunteers with only carry on baggage, but that doesn't always happen.

If the flight is to your final destination, they will often send you luggage on your original flight and it waits for you there. As long as your luggage is ticketed all the way to your final destination, they may still do this.

Other times (especially if you are now flying out a day later), they may have to pull the luggage. Obviously, this takes a long time, and the airline would prefer not to do it.

 

[ppony]

This trip is the first time I've had to deal with this paying to choose your seat no matter what. Until now, the only time I've HAD to pay for a seat was a premium seat within 24 hours of departure. We flew on Sun Country. Unfortunately, I had a TA book my flight. But she did NOT tell me that it was a possibility that my 2 yo could be split up from me or my DH not to mention my 9 year old as well. I asked her about it and she said they'd seat us together but of course, there are NO guarantees unless you pay for that guarantee and IMO, that is wrong when talking about children at least under 12. Though I'm sure you guys all realize how different that would be parting a wife and husband as opposed to a mom (or dad) and their toddler. If airlines are going to force families to pay to keep their children by them then they NEED to say that up front. I was not told up front and actually no where on the booking site did it say anything about it until AFTER booking. At least then. A local news station did a piece on the "hidden" fees you should be watching for after my giving them a heads up on it. It is NOT about the $ families have to pay because like it or not, it is VERY different to split up adult travelers and young children w/ their parents. It's about the possibilities of being parted from children. Just the possibility is immoral IMO. So it is a fee families don't have a choice in.... UNLESS they know up front about it and can (for the time being) shop other airlines. Yes, I did pay to have all 4 of us seated together. I think it was $8 a seat each way. Until I'm forced into it though, which I'm certain will come, I will not patronize an airline that finds it acceptable to part a child from the parent. Period.


PS
I think some people that travel more and also airlines forget that this isn't exactly the way it has always been, so people traveling only every couple years wouldn't have given this a thought. The family mentioned in a previous post that was upset about being separated and the gate people getting short with them is unfortunate. It's possible they knew about it, but it's even more possible they didn't. These changes the airlines make don't exactly get front page billing nor a flashing light on their website to draw attention to MORE FEES. You just end up stepping in it so to speak. So as a PP said that people need to suck it up and pay, I ask you to understand, not everyone KNOWS about this. It's IMO pulling a fast one adding things on quietly and leaving it up to people to stumble on.

 

[maxiesmom]

This trip is the first time I've had to deal with this paying to choose your seat no matter what. Until now, the only time I've HAD to pay for a seat was a premium seat within 24 hours of departure. We flew on Sun Country. Unfortunately, I had a TA book my flight. But she did NOT tell me that it was a possibility that my 2 yo could be split up from me or my DH not to mention my 9 year old as well. I asked her about it and she said they'd seat us together but of course, there are NO guarantees unless you pay for that guarantee and IMO, that is wrong when talking about children at least under 12. Though I'm sure you guys all realize how different that would be parting a wife and husband as opposed to a mom (or dad) and their toddler. If airlines are going to force families to pay to keep their children by them then they NEED to say that up front. I was not told up front and actually no where on the booking site did it say anything about it until AFTER booking. At least then. A local news station did a piece on the "hidden" fees you should be watching for after my giving them a heads up on it. It is NOT about the $ families have to pay because like it or not, it is VERY different to split up adult travelers and young children w/ their parents. It's about the possibilities of being parted from children. Just the possibility is immoral IMO. So it is a fee families don't have a choice in.... UNLESS they know up front about it and can (for the time being) shop other airlines. Yes, I did pay to have all 4 of us seated together. I think it was $8 a seat each way. Until I'm forced into it though, which I'm certain will come, I will not patronize an airline that finds it acceptable to part a child from the parent. Period.


PS
I think some people that travel more and also airlines forget that this isn't exactly the way it has always been, so people traveling only every couple years wouldn't have given this a thought. The family mentioned in a previous post that was upset about being separated and the gate people getting short with them is unfortunate. It's possible they knew about it, but it's even more possible they didn't. These changes the airlines make don't exactly get front page billing nor a flashing light on their website to draw attention to MORE FEES. You just end up stepping in it so to speak. So as a PP said that people need to suck it up and pay, I ask you to understand, not everyone KNOWS about this. It's IMO pulling a fast one adding things on quietly and leaving it up to people to stumble on.

Every airline lists what fees they charge very clearly on their web sites. It is the consumers responsibility to know exactly what they are getting for their money. Those fees are not hidden by any means. Children well under the age of 12 can fly by themselves without an adult, so sitting away from an adult on the same plane isn't seen as a problem by the airlines. Or by many people.

Charging for things like seat assignments keeps costs down for those people who don't care where they sit. Same with charging for checked bags. It is not about the airlines trying to cheat or get one by flyers. It is about making it as cheap as they can for people to fly but still trying to stay in business.

Honestly, it sounds like you should be angry with your TA more than the airlines.

 

[ppony]

Every airline lists what fees they charge very clearly on their web sites. It is the consumers responsibility to know exactly what they are getting for their money. Those fees are not hidden by any means. Children well under the age of 12 can fly by themselves without an adult, so sitting away from an adult on the same plane isn't seen as a problem by the airlines. Or by many people.

Charging for things like seat assignments keeps costs down for those people who don't care where they sit. Same with charging for checked bags. It is not about the airlines trying to cheat or get one by flyers. It is about making it as cheap as they can for people to fly but still trying to stay in business.

Honestly, it sounds like you should be angry with your TA more than the airlines.

I think my anger is marked squarely where it belongs given how they dealt with me and this issue. It's not that I wasn't angry w/ my TA for assuming though. I told them such. It's an ETHICAL issue IMO. It's not how I would run my business and I DO operate a sole proprietorship so I'm fully awares.
Those fees though were NOT listed as such prior to purchasing. The gal from the news even went through the site prior to her news story and didn't find it either. She went through all the way leading up to actually providing a credit card for purchase as well as having called them. that info is there NOW though but only listing "companion" which IMO, my child is not my companion. They are IMO, deliberately sidestepping saying children which honestly they shouldn't because they're just digging an unhappy grave not deliberately pointing this out.
Your argument that consumers need to know is valid yes, but how are you supposed to know what to look for when you don't know what you need to be watching out for. As I said, in this case, it wasn't clear upfront. I may not be as gifted as some are an be able to think out all of the scenarios or what COULD be different and to be wary of.
I'm quite aware of WHY airlines have fees so please don't assume I'm not. I travel quite a bit for my business w/o my family and I'm not uneducated. And anyone that thinks most business don't try to be deceptive to some degree, needs to take a new look at the business models operating out there. They most certainly are trying to be quiet about add ons and the news story was quite pointed in that fact.

Children under 12 might fly fine w/o parents but would ANYONE put their 2 year old next to a stranger?!?!?!? That is exactly where I was and I drew the line. I threw out that age (12) as an arbitrary number that I would personally NOT dip below if I owned a business that had to deal with these issues. Can anyone honestly say that a 2 year old should sit separately from a parent and be okay with it?

Yes, I did tell my TA though they NEED to be aware of this fact and tell people from the get go. Not assume they will be seated together.

So I can and will choose to be angry with the airlines for choosing this way of business and go to another airline that at least now, does not practice this kind of business.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you travel quite a bit for business than I am truly shocked you didn't know you had to pay for your seats. Which is why I was trying to explain.

It is of course your call if you want to use a different airline. Hopefully you are aware that even booking on an airline that doesn't charge for seats doesn't mean that your party will all be seated together, or that your seat assignments won't change. Any airlines Contract of Carriage states they will get you from point A to point B on a given day. Things like seat assignments and flight times are always subject to change.

 

[ppony]

If you travel quite a bit for business than I am truly shocked you didn't know you had to pay for your seats. Which is why I was trying to explain.

It is of course your call if you want to use a different airline. Hopefully you are aware that even booking on an airline that doesn't charge for seats doesn't mean that your party will all be seated together, or that your seat assignments won't change. Any airlines Contract of Carriage states they will get you from point A to point B on a given day. Things like seat assignments and flight times are always subject to change.

I have until this trip, traveled on other airlines and unless I wanted a premium seat (which I do usually get and upgrade to first class when I can ), I never had to pay for my choice in seating ahead of time. I only fly though about 3-4 times a year so I'm not a jet setter, BUT enough to usually be able to see changes in polices. AND traveling solo just isn't that big of a deal as to where I sit. But yes, I'm aware of things changing. Gosh knows I've had flight times change w/ almost every flight. But I do expect to not be separated from my autsitic 2 year old child. I do not consider that an unreasonable expectation.

I wanted to add I won't be using that TA either anymore because THEY should have warned me in advance as well. I will look into my preferred airline's policy before hand now that I'm aware of it and knowing ahead of time is important. Why, you might ask, did I not use my referred airline? I wish i had. I used Sun Country because A: I wanted to use them or one other because they are small carriers and SC is my hometown airline. I was trying to patronize the little guy that prided itself on service (until their patron Petters was nabbed). And SC was the only of the 2 lines I wanted to fly on that had rates out for that time when I bought. My preferred line actually requires me to not do a on-stop, but I'm okay w/ it to be flying with them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

OK, so dumb question here. What happens to any checked luggage that these people who gave up their seats may have had? Wouldn't it pretty much have already been loaded onto the plane by then?? I could see that being a BIG hassle. You say "Yeah I'll get off the plane", you take your vouchers & then realize your luggage just flew off without you!! I would think this would only work out for someone flying with just carry-on luggage.

Since all luggage is (or is expected to be) scanned or x-rayed, it is now not uncommon to send luggage on an earlier flight than the passenger. It's always been possible for luggage to go on a later flight - as those of us with delayed luggage know .

But the possibility of being bumped, voluntarily or not, in either direction is more support for having a properly-stocked carry-on even on one's way home.

 

[aubriee]

We flew Air Tran out of MCO to DFW Sunday night (12/20/09). There were several families upset that they were not seated together and were trying to demand that Air Tran move people around to accomodate them. Finally the gate agents got a little short with them and simply told them that if they had wanted to sit together then they should have paid for their seats, as they were not asking anyone to move, because they had bigger problems to deal with. The flight was not only full, but over booked. They were begging for anyone willing to fly out the next day. At first they offered two round trip tickets, plus a night's paid lodging, and meal vouchers. When not enough people took the offer they started loading us. Once most of us were loaded they were still begging for three people to fly out the next day and offered three round trip tickets, a night's lodging, and meal vouchers. When people were still hesitating, the FA announced that 'this plane is not moving until we get three people willing to to fly out tomorrow night'. She finally got the last three volunteers they needed and they then brought on an Arab family. The dad immediately started complaining that the three had to sit together. You could tell the FAs were at the very end of their patience. They told the man that their concern was to get the family on the plane, since they had to make a connecting flight, but no way were they going to be able to sit together and they should have prepaid for their seats if it was that important that they sit with their five year old. By that time everyone's patience was exhausted, as we were late taking off and tired of hearing how some of us had to agree to fly out the next day. No one was offering up their seats and that last family was not seated anywhere near each other. Instead they were seated in the seats that the last three people who volunteered to be bumped were seated in. All three were solo flyers so their seats were scattered around the plane.

Why tell us the ethnicity of the family that came on? Why not also tell us the ethnicities of the three that three people that got off of the plane? It had nothing to do with the story, whatsoever.

What I didn't mention and probably should have is that the husband was arguing that the family had to sit in the same row and he had to have an aisle seat because his wife and daughter could not sit next to another man. It appeared to be a cultural thing. However, by that time the FAs had had enough just trying to get them on the plane.

 

[dioxide45]

...At first they offered two round trip tickets, plus a night's paid lodging, and meal vouchers. When not enough people took the offer they started loading us. Once most of us were loaded they were still begging for three people to fly out the next day and offered three round trip tickets, a night's lodging, and meal vouchers...

Shoot, if they were offering two or even three free round trips, we would take the bump. I wouldn't care if I had to call in sick to work the next day. We took a voluntary bump a couple years ago and got a free one way, it was very easy for us to use.

 

[AmandaK]

Thanks to all of you for you info about the seating on Airtran. I just paid the extra money to reserve our seats. I really wanted my kids to have window seats and the $48 total was worth it. It is still cheaper than any other airline!

 

[disneybride96]

First of all, I think Airtran nickle and dimes you to death....but that is another arguement. So ...I was happy when I learned the little Kayak trick.

I booked two seats for my husband and myself, seats 15A and 15C on a Boeing 717. I was happy that our seats were together on the side with only 2 seats.

Apparently our plane was upgraded to 737 which added a seat 15B. Common sense would lead one to believe that our seats would be adjusted and we would still be seated together. No such luck. Great...a stranger sitting between us. Just a warning....even though you pay the money to sit together it is still not a sure thing with Airtran.

 

[maxiesmom]

Apparently our plane was upgraded to 737 which added a seat 15B. Common sense would lead one to believe that our seats would be adjusted and we would still be seated together. No such luck. Great...a stranger sitting between us. Just a warning....even though you pay the money to sit together it is still not a sure thing with Airtran.

It is not a sure thing on ANY airline. As long as they keep consolodating planes, seat changes will continue to happen.

 

[Anal Annie]

First of all, I think Airtran nickle and dimes you to death....but that is another arguement. So ...I was happy when I learned the little Kayak trick.

I booked two seats for my husband and myself, seats 15A and 15C on a Boeing 717. I was happy that our seats were together on the side with only 2 seats.

Apparently our plane was upgraded to 737 which added a seat 15B. Common sense would lead one to believe that our seats would be adjusted and we would still be seated together. No such luck. Great...a stranger sitting between us. Just a warning....even though you pay the money to sit together it is still not a sure thing with Airtran.

Being a family of 3, I always book us on the right side of the plane - something recommended to me by an Air Tran reservationist a long time ago. Reason being if they change plane type the 3 seats will still always be on the right side. Perhaps you should switch to booking on the right side? FWIW I am sure once you board the plane & the middle guy shows up you could he or she to switch with one of you. They likely do not want to get stuck in the middle any more than you want to be separated. I think what happened to you tho could happen with any airline if they change plane types.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Apparently our plane was upgraded to 737 which added a seat 15B. Common sense would lead one to believe that our seats would be adjusted and we would still be seated together. No such luck. Great...a stranger sitting between us. Just a warning....even though you pay the money to sit together it is still not a sure thing with Airtran.

Never known a computer to use common sense - merely logic. Logic = if passenger A chooses seat 15A and passenger B chooses seat 15C, in an equipment change keep each passenger in the chosen seat. The computer doesn't know who is traveling with whom. May I ask what stopped one/either of you from offering to change seats with the passenger between you?

 

[ppony]

Being a family of 3, I always book us on the right side of the plane - something recommended to me by an Air Tran reservationist a long time ago. Reason being if they change plane type the 3 seats will still always be on the right side.

OOO, good tip Annie! THANKS!