FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Clinic Thread: Paid seat selection discussion

Sep 25, 2009, 3:16 am

#335

JAXBA

Join Date: Mar 2009

Location: JAX

Programs: Ex-BA/AA/CP/LY staff, BA Executive Club Blue, IHG Diamond, Marriott Silver, Chick-fil-A Red

Posts: 3,584

Okay FT - nine pages later, here are some answers for you. I will do my best to explain this new policy tier by tier, cabin by cabin - and hopefully dispel some myths that have already started. Please note that I am posting in an unofficial capacity - the information I'm using is publicly available on BA's travel agent site here: http://speedbirdclub.com/reservation...ng/newseatpol/ . It is also available at http://www.britishairways.com/travel...g/public/en_us. I have basically taken the wording from the travel agent website, removed some technical jargon and then added a breakdown of how the changes affect each cabin/tier/special passenger type. Well, here goes..

Quote:

British Airways' Seating Policy

Our policy divides passengers into three groups – those who can choose their seat at check-in, those who will be allocated a seat before check-in opens, and finally those who can choose their seat when they make their booking.

Who can choose their seat at the time of booking [without a fee]?

Customers who have booked in F, A, J, C, W, Y ;
All customers who travel in First;
Customers travelling on a corporate deal ticket
Premier, Gold and Silver Executive Club members and oneworld equivalents of Emerald and Sapphire
Customers travelling with infants

These customers will be able to choose their seat at the time of booking and change their seat at any time until they have checked in. However, Silver cardholders and oneworld Sapphire cardholders, customers travelling on a corporate deal ticket, and customers holding a booking in W and Y will from 07 October, will only be able to book exit row seats in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus between 10 and 4 days before departure. This must be done via the British Airways call centre and they will be charged a £50 or $75 for booking these seats.

Paid Seating

For bookings made from 07 October 2009, general paid seating can be requested by most customers from time of booking up until online check-in opens -24 hours before their flight, subject to availability.

Paid seating is not available on flights operated by BA Cityflyer, those operated by any British Airways franchisee or alliance airline, or any flight operated by a codeshare partner.

Certain customers are not eligible for paid seating, for example Skyflyers Solo (children travelling alone) and those customers travelling as part of a specialised group.

To request seating, customers should contact the call centre after booking their flights. Paid seating is not yet available online but will be at a later stage.

Prices

Code:

Cabin                  Paid seating charge, per person, per sector  
                       GBP   USD  
Domestics              £10   $15 
Euro Traveller         £10   $15 
Club Europe            £20   $30 
World Traveller        £20   $30
World Traveller Plus   £20   $30 
Club World             £60   $90
First                  Nil   Nil

Prices quoted are correct as at 23 September 2009 and are subject to change. This fee will be converted into the local currency where applicable.

Exit row seats

Premier or Gold Executive Club cardholders (& oneworld equivalents of Emerald), are still eligible to request Exit Row seating for themselves and any companion(s) without charge at the time of booking.

In addition, customers wishing to request an exit seat in World Traveller or World Traveller Plus can do so from 10 days to 4 days before their flight, subject to availability. Exit row seats are situated either next to or immediately behind the emergency exit door. In the unlikely event of an evacuation customers will be expected to assist in the opening of the emergency door.

CAA Requirements for sitting in exit rows:
In accordance with CAA requirements, the following categories of customers cannot be allocated an exit seat.

Customers who are either substantially blind or substantially deaf, to the extent that they might not readily understand printed or verbal instructions given.
Customers who are unable to understand and carry out instructions given in English.
Customers who are unable to reach, open, lift and throw out the exit door in an emergency.
Customers who because of physical stature, age or sickness have difficulty in moving quickly.
Children under 16 (whether accompanied or not) and infants.
Customers who are travelling with anyone who would require their assistance in the event of an emergency.

When requesting an exit seat customers will be asked to verify their eligibility.

British Airways has the sole discretion to determine whether a customer meets the requirements to sit in an exit seat. If the customer does not meet the requirements, they will be assigned an alternative seat. The additional amount paid for an exit seat will be forfeited and will not be refunded.

If after the date of requesting an exit seat customers become unable to fulfil the requirements to sit in an emergency exit seat then they should contact British Airways. They will be eligible to apply for a refund if they contact British Airways at least 48 hours before their flight.

Exit seats can be pre-assigned at a cost of £50 or $75 per person per sector. This fee will be converted into the local currency (other than the US and UK).

Refunds

A paid seat request cannot be guaranteed, as it may need to be changed for operational, safety or security reasons, even after boarding the aircraft. In the event that British Airways has to change a customer’s seat, British Airways will endeavour to seat them in a suitable alternative. (British Airways will look to seat the party together in the first instance, and then if possible in their choice of window seat, middle seat or aisle seat. If customers have paid for an exit seat British Airways will look to seat them in another exit seat.) If British Airways are unable to offer then a suitable alternative seat as set out above they are eligible to apply for a refund. Customers have 14 days after the last flight in their itinerary to apply for a refund. Refund applications should be submitted online at ba.com/paidseating. Paid seating is non-refundable in all other circumstances.

Additional needs customers and those travelling with infants

Some of our customers need to be seated early because they have special seating requirements.

Customers with additional needs and those travelling with infants will also be able to choose their seat at the time of booking.

Unaccompanied minors and some specialised groups need to be seated before check-in opens. This will take place approximately 3 days prior to departure.

We will also endeavour to sit customers travelling with young children (aged 2-11 years) together at this time, if they have not already chosen our paid seating option.

Online Check-in

Most customers will be able to choose their seat from all those that are available when check-in opens. This is 24 hours before departure of the flight online at ba.com.

ALL unsold seat numbers will be available for free through OLCI. There will not be a fee to choose preferred seats at check-in. If an exit row or bulkhead in WT/WTP is open, it's yours for the taking.

Now, as promised, a breakdown of the changes from current policy, tier by tier, cabin by cabin. As I started typing this out, it got unwieldy so I have switched to listing all the possible outcomes and then matching them up to each category.

So, comparing the new policy to the current policy you can get;

(a) No change from current policy.
(b) Gain of ability to arrange advance general seating for a fee.
(c) Gain of ability to arrange advance general seating for a non-status TCP (who are not on same PNR), for a fee.
(d) Gain of ability to arrange advance exit row seating for a fee.
(e) Loss of free advance exit row seating in WT/WTP.

Code:

BA Premier/BA Gold/oneworld Emerald.................. (a)
BA Silver/oneworld Sapphire.......................... (c), (e)
non-FQTV/BA Blue/oneworld non-status/oneworld Ruby... (b), (d)

First (F/A/Z)........................................ (a)
Club World/Club Europe
  Fully Flex (J/C) & Corporate Deal fares............ (a)
  Restricted (D/R/I/U)............................... (b) Note: Cannot book CW upper deck until OLCI.
World Traveller Plus/World Traveller
  Fully Flex (W/Y) & Corporate Deal fares............ (e)
  Restricted (E/T/P/B/H/K/M/L/V/S/N/Q/G/O/X)......... (b), (d)
Euro Traveller/Domestics
  Fully Flex (Y) & Corporate Deal fares.............. (a)
  Restricted (B/H/K/M/L/V/S/N/Q/G/O/X)............... (b)

Travelling with Infants.............................. (a)
Travelling with Children............................. (b)
Additional needs (Wheelchair, Blind, Deaf, etc.,).... (a)

I hope this makes it somewhat clearer. I will do my best to answer any further questions that there may be but this should cover everything that's already been asked.

My own opinion on these changes is that there will not be too many takers on the option of paid advance seating. Some, yes, but not enough to really clog up the seat map and cherrypick everything. I do however sympathise with Silvers/Sapphires over the loss of free advance exit row selection.

Again, please note that this was not posted in an official capacity but as a service to fellow FTers.