seat selection charges on first class award
Nov 21, 2014, 11:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Louisville, KY, USA
Posts: 2,583
seat selection charges on first class award
I am flying EWR-BCN via LHR on an AA first class award. The LHR-BCN flight has European business class but no first class seats.
There is no charge for first class seat assignments. BA charges $33 for an advance seat assignment in business class. Since I am on a first-class award, I feel entitled to free assigned seats on all segments.
I plan to call BA and ask it to waive the $33 charge. Any suggestions as to how I might approach this?
There is no charge for first class seat assignments. BA charges $33 for an advance seat assignment in business class. Since I am on a first-class award, I feel entitled to free assigned seats on all segments.
I plan to call BA and ask it to waive the $33 charge. Any suggestions as to how I might approach this?
Nov 21, 2014, 11:43 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: IAD/DCA, USA (MD Suburbs)
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, HH Diamond, Fairmont RIP, Hertz Plat, BA Gold
Posts: 1,622
As a US Platinum that makes you OneWorld Saphire which should give you free seat assignments on BA. Since you used an AA award, your US platinum number might not be in the reservation. You can use the BA Manage my booking to add your US Airways FF number. It might take 24 hours to match up, but once it does you should be able to select seats on the LHR-BCN flight. You can also use the Finnair sight to add your number if the BA Site gives you any problems. You needn't make any phone calls to BA. It should all happen automatically, and you can select the seats online.
Nov 22, 2014, 1:22 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 158
I do think this is mad. I recently booked my mum a 'Club Europe' ticket from GLA to DUB (via LHR). For the GLA-LHR sector it booked her into J class so allowed her to select her seat for free, but on the LHR-DUB sector, it booker her in I class so she had to pay for a seat reservation (if she choose one). I believe, similar to luggage, that if you're allowed it on one leg, you should be allowed it on your full ticket. It's not a great customer experience in my view.
Nov 22, 2014, 2:32 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,348
If you are oneworld Emerald or Sapphire, make sure your number is in the booking in MMB as you can then choose seats for free from time of booking in all cabins (oneworld Ruby from 7 days before).
If you don't hold oneworld status, you can choose your seats for free from 24 hours before at check-in. The advance seat selection fee will not be waived, even if you have a First flight somewhere on the booking.
If you don't hold oneworld status, you can choose your seats for free from 24 hours before at check-in. The advance seat selection fee will not be waived, even if you have a First flight somewhere on the booking.
Nov 22, 2014, 4:05 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,008
Nov 22, 2014, 5:15 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 2,962
EI have multiple direct flights every day (and FR go from PIK) - personally, either route would be significantly more preferable to going so far out of the way and adding a second flight!
Nov 22, 2014, 5:42 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 158
seat selection charges on first class award
Scots_Al - my mum lives in Scotland and I live in London. We are going to DUB together and my mum preferred to come via LHR and for me to join her on one of the sectors. She loves flying so it was all the more exciting for her to have 4 flights rather than 2 - perhaps I should get her signed up to here! It all worked out fine since I am a GCH and in her LHR - DUB sectors, I called BA and they've put my mum next to me free of charge. But you're right, it is a very mad routing! 😃
Nov 22, 2014, 5:46 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: GLA
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 2,962
Scots_Al - my mum lives in Scotland and I live in London. We are going to DUB together and my mum preferred to come via LHR and for me to join her on one of the sectors. She loves flying so it was all the more exciting for her to have 4 flights rather than 2 - perhaps I should get her signed up to here! It all worked out fine since I am a GCH and in her LHR - DUB sectors, I called BA and they've put my mum next to me free of charge. But you're right, it is a very mad routing! 😃
I think you should sign her up!
