Finnair Plus - seat selection with BA ticket

I had a BA ticket which included a code share LHR-HEL operated by AY. Has anyone managed to get seat allocations work for code shares or non AY tickets that seat allocations are chargeable. My ticket was in Y and I have a BA gold card, but I could not see any place to do allocate a seat # in AY's "my booking" or BA's "manage my booking".
Over the phone an AY person told me advance seat selection is only available on finnair flights for finnair tickets! this is despite having a gold card and booking class Y. Quite pitiful if it is true. I rebooked on BA straight away.

This is definitely a big drawback. I've had the same experience on HEL-MAN, AY metal, AA flight number.

I couldn't even imagine that seat selection wouldn't be available, but this indeed was the case. The AY phone agent manually put in my seat as "on request", though, and it shows in the reservation, so I hope that I get it when checking in 36 hours prior to departure time. Without an exit row seat, a three-hour flight on an Embraer is inhumane.

It's funny how airlines make a big fuss of all the advantages of codesharing but forget to mention these "small details".

I have booking (HEL-LHR-JFK-LHR-HEL) made using ba.com that has AY operated BA code share. Outbound is Y and W class, return I and J class. I got two booking references, one for BA and one for AY. Using the AY ref, I was able to select seats for my AY operated flights (Finnair MMB) without having any status for BA. I have not registered my (soon to expire) AY Gold, but current 5 TP shy BA Bronze.

Welcome to FT, temppa!

Strange that it worked so well for you. I wasn't able to do the same. That's actually why I called AY in the first place, to get their booking ref for the reservation so I could look the res up at the AY website.

Just checked again, and it still doesn't work. The AY site finds the booking but doesn't let me choose seats. Besides, it wants me to add security data (which I have filled in at AA.com already) and when clicking the link, it takes me to the form but won't let me fill in any of the fields.

I have booking (HEL-LHR-JFK-LHR-HEL) made using ba.com that has AY operated BA code share. Outbound is Y and W class, return I and J class. I got two booking references, one for BA and one for AY. Using the AY ref, I was able to select seats for my AY operated flights (Finnair MMB) without having any status for BA. I have not registered my (soon to expire) AY Gold, but current 5 TP shy BA Bronze.

Welcome to FT, temppa!

The key might have been that you obviously had WT+/CW booking with BA and your AY segments HEL-LHR-HEL were therefore booked in full fare economy = "Y fare class", which should qualify for free seat selection regardless of FF status on the booking.

The key might have been that you obviously had WT+/CW booking with BA and your AY segments HEL-LHR-HEL were therefore booked in full fare economy = "Y fare class", which should qualify for free seat selection regardless of FF status on the booking.

This did not work for me and I had WT+ on BA long haul which books into Y for the HEL<->LHR part. If I have a finnair flight on the reservation then I have two reservation numbers (one with BA, one with AY) but neither of them will bring up anything to assign seats in the AY "my booking" page. I'm not even sure where the button would be - since there is no grayed out "choose your seat" button, just a blank space where the seat number would be for the AY flights (in my case on BA flight numbers).

I've bought tickets on AA.com with Finnair and Flybe segments, using both AA and AY flight numbers. I've called the AY office in the US and they've always gladly assigned me seats. Once that's done, the seats will show up in my reservation. You'll need to give them your travel dates and name as they can't locate you with a Sabre PNR.

I'd call back if I were you.

This is really poor if it doesn't work, even manually over the phone..especially as the other way around it works fine (AY code on BA metal, no issues selecting seats on ba.com). Clearly an issue that should be raised with AY, maybe you should ask to speak to a supervisor..

This is really poor if it doesn't work, even manually over the phone..especially as the other way around it works fine (AY code on BA metal, no issues selecting seats on ba.com). Clearly an issue that should be raised with AY, maybe you should ask to speak to a supervisor..

This is an known problem and some other AY/BA related challenges with e.g. boarding pass printing. I'm having AY Platinum card.
When my HEL-LHR and LHR- e.g. GIC flights are on BA code and bird is Finnair from HEL-LHR I'm not able print the boarding pass in Helsinki for LHR-GIC flight. Once you check in baggages at airport, the system actually realizes that you fly and then counter is able to print your boarding pass, not before that.

Also the seat selection is not possible for AY flights when checking in on BA sites.

I have discussed about this with Finnair staff on airport and they say BA system is so old/inflexible that is is not possible. Finnair system would support these actions.

This is an known problem and some other AY/BA related challenges with e.g. boarding pass printing. I'm having AY Platinum card.
When my HEL-LHR and LHR- e.g. GIC flights are on BA code and bird is Finnair from HEL-LHR I'm not able print the boarding pass in Helsinki for LHR-GIC flight. Once you check in baggages at airport, the system actually realizes that you fly and then counter is able to print your boarding pass, not before that.

Also the seat selection is not possible for AY flights when checking in on BA sites.

I have discussed about this with Finnair staff on airport and they say BA system is so old/inflexible that is is not possible. Finnair system would support these actions.

Is their old system the reason why BA has their own check-in in HEL?
If I book an avios+money flt thru ba.com in C, the system always automatically seats me also for the AY flight, usually gives me seat 2A, but I can then go to AY MMB and change it.

So it must be only the economy seats that are a problem?

Is their old system the reason why BA has their own check-in in HEL?
If I book an avios+money flt thru ba.com in C, the system always automatically seats me also for the AY flight, usually gives me seat 2A, but I can then go to AY MMB and change it.

So it must be only the economy seats that are a problem?

This is a very good point and when thinking back I've done the same on BA/AY bookings where the HEL-LHR has been on AY metal with BA code. Very hard to understand for AY to blame the "old BA system" if this is a class of service related issue..

!

The key might have been that you obviously had WT+/CW booking with BA and your AY segments HEL-LHR-HEL were therefore booked in full fare economy = "Y fare class", which should qualify for free seat selection regardless of FF status on the booking.

Will have exactly same situation in 2 weeks. HEL-LHR-DFW in EcoY and EcoWT+, SEA-LHR-HEL in BusI and BusJ. All flight with BA code.

I have discussed with Finnair today and was told that after rewened seat pre-selection it is not possible to pre-select the seat even having Finnair Emerald card. Business passangers have have a couple of rows reserved for pre-reservation.

2 alternatives between HEL-LHR route:
1) Book the BA flight with BA code
2) Book the first leg with AY code.
This alternatives gives an other problem, if being in the same booking code. Once you check-in online, the system does not give you the connecting flight BA boarding pass. If you them go to BA pages and try to check-in in order to boarding pass, the system shows that you have already check-in and does not give yo eather the boarding pass. If you start with BA check-in, it does not allow you to do that eather because connecting flight is not your first leg. The solution that most often works is that once you check-in bags, the system "really believes that you fly", I was told by one of the counter ladys, and by that time they are able to give you the connectiong flight boarding pass.

Somehow I feel disapointed when as AY member I try to use AY birds insted of BA birds with emerald status and the value is ignored (even not having AY ticket because of connectiong non AY-codeshare flight).

This is really poor if it doesn't work, even manually over the phone..especially as the other way around it works fine (AY code on BA metal, no issues selecting seats on ba.com). Clearly an issue that should be raised with AY, maybe you should ask to speak to a supervisor..

I just did something that is related to this. The SPBanker Family is taking vacation time in Florida soon. I booked AA tickets HEL-JFK-MIA and then MCO-JFK(stopover)-LHR-HEL. HEL-JFK is obviously AY5. I was able to reserve seats through AA on the flights they operate. I was not able to select seats on HEL-JFK either through AA or AY agent. However, when I entered my AY+ Plat number to the reservation, I was able to see it on the AY page AND select seats on HEL-JFK. I guess if I wanted now credit the miles to some other program I could change the FF number to whatever I wanted, and this would not obliterate my seat selections.

It is not the most elegant solution, but seems to work.

Great to hear that seat selection works with AA tickets.

I have just been struggeling, again, with BA ticket seat selection for tomorrow.
-HEL-LHR AY bird; can print the boarding pass only for first leg,
-LHR-ORD BA bird; cant print the boarding pass at all because BA pages says this is not yor first leg
- ORD-DWF AA bird; cant even internet check into the flight because the first leg is not operated by American Eagle, AmericanConnection, British Airways, Iberia or Japan Airlines.

Great OW synergy?
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Also, even I have the business ticket, the seat selection in AY bird was not possible before check-in and they were not able to select the seat eather in customer service. The CS person mailed me earlier that with code share flights it is not possible for economy tickets but for business yes. It seem not to be working. I called AY CS yesterday and they are checking out the situation.

I just did something that is related to this. The SPBanker Family is taking vacation time in Florida soon. I booked AA tickets HEL-JFK-MIA and then MCO-JFK(stopover)-LHR-HEL. HEL-JFK is obviously AY5. I was able to reserve seats through AA on the flights they operate. I was not able to select seats on HEL-JFK either through AA or AY agent. However, when I entered my AY+ Plat number to the reservation, I was able to see it on the AY page AND select seats on HEL-JFK....

Isn't this just because of the "peace of mind" concept? It is an AY operated flight and their seating policy would apply to AA-tix too. Or was there another reason that made you expect to be able to reserve seats? (like being in C,D,Y, B, H, G, A or X?)


...
I guess if I wanted now credit the miles to some other program I could change the FF number to whatever I wanted, and this would not obliterate my seat selections.
...
I think I have read about a similar situation on another forum (BA perhaps, not sure), and where the pax was kicked out of the reserved seats as soon as he altered the FF# back to a non-elite card.
I have no idea how AY will handle the situation though. Maybe we can persuade you to try it out for the benefit of FT community? ::D

Great to hear that seat selection works with AA tickets.

I have just been struggeling, again, with BA ticket seat selection for tomorrow.
-HEL-LHR AY bird; can print the boarding pass only for first leg,
-LHR-ORD BA bird; cant print the boarding pass at all because BA pages says this is not yor first leg
- ORD-DWF AA bird; cant even internet check into the flight because the first leg is not operated by American Eagle, AmericanConnection, British Airways, Iberia or Japan Airlines.

Great OW synergy?
...

Well, I have had great OW synergy between AY and other airlines. But it seems strange, since AY and BA have been working together for quite a while, that they can't get it to work.
IIRC you can't print the BP even if the flight is BA sold and BA operated on CPH-LHR route, for example. So there is definitely some trouble on some BA routes, regardless of who is operating the flight.

As for your 3.rd leg, it seems you there have the list of airlines that BA works well with... Did they form a sub-alliance?

I just suffered a similar fate booking thru AY first but did so with an AY agent who seated me on all AY metal. I paid for exit seating on AY 5 on return.
AA was another story....despite being AA MM I could not select my seat on AA metal ORD>CDG...finally had to brow beat AA cust service before I got a 'decent' seat.
AA blamed AY..but I think different !

I had a reply from finnair about seat reservations when travelling on finnair with non finnair tickets (eg BA ticket for HEL-LHR + LHR-EZE with HEL-LHR flown in a finnair aircraft).

At the moment it is not possible to reserve a seat if you are holding an electronic ticket issued on another carrier stock than Finnair.

We aim at making travelling with Finnair as pleasant and possible, and we always try to offer you the best service. We gladly accept feedback to pinpoint any areas requiring improvement.

I wish you pleasant flights.

so no advance seat reservation even for BA gold card holders on a Y ticket.

To no surprise I now always choose BA for the HEL-LHR segment.

so no advance seat reservation even for BA gold card holders on a Y ticket.


Also when Finnair aircraft and BA ticket, no pre-reservation for AY Emerald. But if Finnair aircraft, AY ticket, pre-seat booking possible for AY cardholders.