Can AA Gold request advanced seat assignment on BA flights?
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
As a followup, I was able to chose a seat online at BA.com, but only for myself, not for the rest of my family who don't have status but who are traveling on the same itinerary as I am. I called BA and they said they were unable to give the rest of my party seats until 24 hours ahead.
Should I try again? I did speak to a supervisor... and even though there are children traveling with me, they said no.
Should I try again? I did speak to a supervisor... and even though there are children traveling with me, they said no.
If they are in a different booking reference to you , then you can choose seats for others as long as prepared to pay for it. If there are children travelling ( as in those classed as children which is ages 2-11 ), then if seats are not chosen, they will allocate seats automatically 3 days beforehand and ensure that the children are seated by an accompanying adult
#17
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT PRO, AGR, Strawberry (Nordic Choice), Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 4,248
Not sure if this is the most recent thread on this topic, but it is certainly relevant.
I'm AA GLD flying BA in WT NYC-LHR-DEL-LHR-NYC. I'd like to select exit rows. How much will it cost me and how long in advance can I do it?
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I'd also add that I'd be interested in knowing how likely it is that exit row seats would be available at T-24 for free (or must one still pay then as a OW Ruby?). I am happy to pay if really necessary to guarantee it.
I'm AA GLD flying BA in WT NYC-LHR-DEL-LHR-NYC. I'd like to select exit rows. How much will it cost me and how long in advance can I do it?
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I'd also add that I'd be interested in knowing how likely it is that exit row seats would be available at T-24 for free (or must one still pay then as a OW Ruby?). I am happy to pay if really necessary to guarantee it.
Last edited by JY1024; Jan 14, 2013 at 8:44 pm Reason: Merged consecutive posts from same member
#18
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
That's a negative, ghostrider. Unfortunately, you have to wait until 24 hours before departure to select seats. You can pay to select seats, though. Just go to BA.com, look up your reservation, and you should find the option for seat selection.
FWIW, I have selected exit seats in the past as PLT.
FWIW, I have selected exit seats in the past as PLT.
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
in World Traveller, I think that exit rows will not be available as freebies
If you go in now you can see whether exit rows can be selected albeit not free
#20
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
salut0, you will be able to select seats for free 7 days before departure, however exit rows are available for free only to OW EMDs. You will need to pay for them. If I am not mistaken SPHs (AA PLTs) can select and pay for exit rows 14 days before departure. As AA Gold you may have a shorter window but do check to see if you can pay for them 14 days before departure.
#21
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT PRO, AGR, Strawberry (Nordic Choice), Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 4,248
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Thanks for the replies. Two more issues: does being on AA code share numbers affect this (as long as I can get the Amadeus record locator which I am able to bring up on mmb at ba.com), and which seats in WT have in seat power?
Thanks for the replies. Two more issues: does being on AA code share numbers affect this (as long as I can get the Amadeus record locator which I am able to bring up on mmb at ba.com), and which seats in WT have in seat power?
#22
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,646
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Thanks for the replies. Two more issues: does being on AA code share numbers affect this (as long as I can get the Amadeus record locator which I am able to bring up on mmb at ba.com), and which seats in WT have in seat power?
Thanks for the replies. Two more issues: does being on AA code share numbers affect this (as long as I can get the Amadeus record locator which I am able to bring up on mmb at ba.com), and which seats in WT have in seat power?
Just to add to what has been said, exit rows for international flights are indeed not available for free for AA PLTs or GOLDs. When I was PLT, I was able to select exit rows for free, but ONLY for intra-Europe flights.
There is no power on WT seats, AFAIK.
Regarding your question about availability of exit rows at check-in time, yes it is possible. But it is also possible they are gone by check-in time. I don't know about you, but I if REALLY have to be on an exit row seat, I will make sure I do have one, paying for it if necessary.
#23
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 879
I have award travel later this year, AA to LHR connecting to BA. The AA desk sent an email to BA and got my seats #s 8 months in advance. Just got the email this morning with confirmed seats on BA. The AA agent said all you have to do is ask them to email BA for seat assignment, takes about 48-72 hours.
Several days before the AA agent said it couldn't be done until 24 hours prior to flight. I guess I just needed someone willing to do the extra work.
Several days before the AA agent said it couldn't be done until 24 hours prior to flight. I guess I just needed someone willing to do the extra work.
#24
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,522
I have never seen power ports in WT on any BA aircraft. Only in WT+, on the 744 and 777.
If I were you, and considering the amount of hours you'll be seated in a WT seat, I'd pay the $75 for reserving those exit row seat. Also, when you go to MMB on ba.com, are you offered an upgrade to WT+? If that's in the $/£ 200 range, I'd definitely consider taking it. Those are a good deal.
BA's status-based access to exit row seats works pretty well:
I have had a LAX-LHR flight booked on BA for travel in April since mid-last year, when I was AA GLD. No free advance seat selection possible at all. Then, after my status changed to PLT (OW Sapphire) , I could select any seat in WT except the exit rows for free, and then as EXP (OW Emerald) the exit rows were available as well. Booked myself in 29A, which will save me the £250 or thereabouts upgrade to WT+ or the change fee to switch to an AA flight where I could apply an SWU.
@elkhornne: That only works for tickets issued on AA stock that have a BA segment, not for an all-BA itinerary like the OP has. And did you request and get exit seats or standard seats?
In his case, BA and their policies control the whole thing. I tried to have AA book me into the exit seats by calling them with no luck.
If I were you, and considering the amount of hours you'll be seated in a WT seat, I'd pay the $75 for reserving those exit row seat. Also, when you go to MMB on ba.com, are you offered an upgrade to WT+? If that's in the $/£ 200 range, I'd definitely consider taking it. Those are a good deal.
BA's status-based access to exit row seats works pretty well:
I have had a LAX-LHR flight booked on BA for travel in April since mid-last year, when I was AA GLD. No free advance seat selection possible at all. Then, after my status changed to PLT (OW Sapphire) , I could select any seat in WT except the exit rows for free, and then as EXP (OW Emerald) the exit rows were available as well. Booked myself in 29A, which will save me the £250 or thereabouts upgrade to WT+ or the change fee to switch to an AA flight where I could apply an SWU.
@elkhornne: That only works for tickets issued on AA stock that have a BA segment, not for an all-BA itinerary like the OP has. And did you request and get exit seats or standard seats?
In his case, BA and their policies control the whole thing. I tried to have AA book me into the exit seats by calling them with no luck.
Last edited by bhomburg; Jan 15, 2013 at 7:59 am
#25
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
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Thanks for the replies. Two more issues: does being on AA code share numbers affect this (as long as I can get the Amadeus record locator which I am able to bring up on mmb at ba.com), and which seats in WT have in seat power?
Thanks for the replies. Two more issues: does being on AA code share numbers affect this (as long as I can get the Amadeus record locator which I am able to bring up on mmb at ba.com), and which seats in WT have in seat power?
Just checked that you will be able to purchase exit row seats from 14 days to 4 days before the flight departs.
#26
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 879
Bhomburg,
I have AA from DFW to LHR, then BA to CDG. First on AA, then standard Club Ex on BA.
I have AA from DFW to LHR, then BA to CDG. First on AA, then standard Club Ex on BA.
#27
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SFO/OAK
Programs: AA EXP 3.4MM, BAEC, UAMP, Skyteam (<10k) HH Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz Gold, GE/TSA TT
Posts: 2,723
Back in 2010 I tried to do that for a colleague with whom I was traveling (as OW Emerald I got the exit row at booking for free) but could not get a similar seat for him with money. I called 3-4 times and failed. Then a non-status person was given the exit row seat next to me at checkin... very irritating, but that's BA!!
#28
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 208
That seems to be the case (worked for me on a flight at the end of 2012). However, even the BA telephone staff seemed confused about it (I got two different answers from them, one saying 7 days and one saying 24 hours)