Charge for seat assignment & lousy customer service

ComplaintsTravelCheapoAir.com

Complaint

0
M Fricke
Country: United States
I made reservations (first experience) on CheapOair for travel for two without making a seat assignment.  I followed a link in the email confirmation the next day to request one, and was presented with the option of paying $11.95 for an "enhanced" service which included a small graphic of the aircraft outline with seats color coded as to availability (like I've seen for FREE on other websites), or continue with the "standard" selection.  I chose the latter, and another pop-up asked if I was SURE I did not want the enhanced version.  Again - no.  I was then presented with the option of REQUESTING either an aisle or window seat and promised a response within 48hrs.  I called their customer service number and after 33 minutes on hold was connected with a somewhat frazzled rep who took care of the assignments for me.  I don't know if this is a new industry trend or unique to CheapOair, but I won't be back unless I can be assured I can make a seat assignment without paying extra for privilege.

Comments

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  • deleted post
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      Gloria replies to deleted post
      Noooo that is for the seats, what you are talking is the insurance that is 35.00 + 9.99 upgraded
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      debra replies to deleted post
      Wish I had read this before.  I got the $11.95 charge also because I did not want to sit away from my daughther.  I will not be booking again with CheapOair.  It should be enough you are paying so much for international travel for two on an airline.
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      Len replies to deleted post
      | 1 reply
      Typical rip off - you select seats for what is normally free everywhere else - a complete fraud and customer service in India - I will run the other way from this fraudulent site.
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        Julie Mulligan replies to Len
        I just had this experience trying to buy tickets, on United, from Anchorage, Alaska to Belize for Christmas! After paying over $9,000 for 5 tickets, one of which is just from Houston, TX & back, I was then going to have to pay an additional $159.00 per seat! Thats when I put my foot down & said just cancel the tickets & I will fly some other airline! Agent, in India, said wait let me see what else I can do! Was still going to make me pay for the seats with the fare discounted! I said NOPE! Cancelled reservations he is supposed to be rebooking all 5 tickets, discounted, without the additional charge! These airlines are getting away with highway robbery! I’m not for more government regulations but the airlines have gotten way out of hand just like big pharma!
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      Len replies to deleted post
      | 1 reply
      Pure BS - call it what u want but is total rip off
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        Minh replies to Len
        Totally true. I booked 3 tickets and they only had 3 seat left. Why do I have to pay to choose the only remaining seats? Those are mine by default
  • 0
    ChrisW
    I just finished booking tickets and went to book seat assignments--no seats, but there was a SEAT LEGEND that unfortunately did not explain what all the symbols meant.  As I was on hold going on 20+ minutes, trying to get info on seat assignments--I noticed I had been charged over $23.00 more than my negotiated price.  I changed strategy and got back in the Customer Service que for BILLING and was told that it was a SEAT ASSIGNMENT charge.  So, if there is no such thing, wht did the agent say that and then he tried to "book" seats for me that had $ signs on them (pay to sit option) that I would have to pay an extra fee for!! All the time I had a very hard time understanding him--the only way I can describe it was that I must have called Pakistan or New Delhi! He became annoyed with me and repeateldy told me he could refund the $23 but I would be forced to call the airlines to book my seats. Wonderful Customer Service---so not. I am so not pleased right now and its late and I have to get up and go to work in the AM.
  • 0
    aRTie
    | 5 replies
    Instead of paying the seat assignment charge, once the transaction is complete
    go to the airline and pick your seat assignments for free.  That's where you
    can also find out that CheapO is charging you a service fee of $28 to make your reservation.  To save time and money, once you find the flight on CheapO that you want, just go to the airlines's web site to make the reservation.
    • 0
      George replies to aRTie
      Thank you for your suggestion to book seats with the airline directly. We just did and had no fees. Thanks!
    • 0
      Esther replies to aRTie
      Thank you!!!
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      Miranda replies to aRTie
      I found this out the hard way. I had selected my seats with cheapo air, paid the price, then later when I called the airline to see if they truly did confirm my seats, they told me there is no cost for seat selection through the airline. It is free. Cheapo air scammed me. I also checked the airline's cost for the flight I booked and it is about the same for what I paid cheapo air. Next time I will just book through the airline and eliminate the shady middle man. Lesson learned.
    • 0
      Julie Mulligan replies to aRTie
      | 1 reply
      This was an agent that I called direct at United Airlines!
      • 0
        Julie Mulligan replies to Julie Mulligan
        The agent, directly at United, was the person telling me I had to pay extra for the seats! Not someone from Thumper, that originally made the reservation with!
  • 0
    SeanTrip
    | 2 replies
    I was charged for seat assignment (travel assist) WITHOUT any notice in advance. Cheapoair really sucks will never use their service.
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      traveller replies to SeanTrip
      | 1 reply
      cheapoair sucks big time. I have not got any notice that I will be charged to seat selection. Bigtime cheaters
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        Tuesday replies to traveller
        one should open eyes before selecting
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    Ggg
    I didnt ask for seat  but  cheap oair charged me for it.
  • 0
    Mathieu
    I tried to select my seat, but I simply can't do it online. There are no buttons or hyperlinks taking me to a seat selection tool. Nevertheless, I did log on to the airline company website, and entered the reservation number along with my name, and it told me that since the flight has been booked through an external website, I can't select my site using the airline's website, unless I use the airline's online check-in 24 hrs before departure. So that's what I'll do. I'll log on to my airline's website again 24 hrs before departure to try and select my seat.
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    Shana
    | 1 reply
    I booked with One Travel and got cheapoair tickets somehow through them as they must be interconnected.  They did not give me seat assignments.  I have a multi-city destination and would have liked that service.  When I called the airlines, I was told $28 to book a window seat and $89 to book an isle seat.  Unbelievable.  They also told me since I didn't book with them I have to wait until the day of and go to the airport and get my seat right before I get on the plane.  I am concerned there will not be any good seats left or any seats at all.  I will never fly with cheap o air again.  The name says it all!!!
    • 0
      Mark replies to Shana
      How did it work out for you? Where there still seats on the day of the flight?
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