Silver/Golds can no longer select Exit Rows in advance?
Feb 6, 2016, 12:27 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: BA Gold Guest List, Concorde Room Card, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 728
Silver/Golds can no longer select Exit Rows in advance?
Well this is very odd.
I have booked an upcoming Euro Traveller flight, where the exit row is shown as blocked, but unoccupied, on Expertflyer. It is also unavailable for selection on BA.com.
I just phoned GGL, who tell me that those seats are 'restricted', and they are unable to assign those seats, nor are they available to send a request down to seating - because 'it is the airport that have restricted them'. 'The airport', in this instance, is Heathrow. I suggested to the friendly lady on the phone that this could be due to the change to Amadeus, but she had no idea.
No exit row for me (or anyone), it would seem. Colleagues and other frequent flyers report the same issue.
I have booked an upcoming Euro Traveller flight, where the exit row is shown as blocked, but unoccupied, on Expertflyer. It is also unavailable for selection on BA.com.
I just phoned GGL, who tell me that those seats are 'restricted', and they are unable to assign those seats, nor are they available to send a request down to seating - because 'it is the airport that have restricted them'. 'The airport', in this instance, is Heathrow. I suggested to the friendly lady on the phone that this could be due to the change to Amadeus, but she had no idea.
No exit row for me (or anyone), it would seem. Colleagues and other frequent flyers report the same issue.
Feb 6, 2016, 12:32 pm
#2
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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This isn't curtain roulette is it? Are you within 3 days of travel?
If not they are just keeping space for the CE curtain which can often be after the exit rows these days. Nothing new at all in that. I have just done a dummy booking and I can select ET exit row as a BA Emerald on a flight which will only have a small CE cabin (MRS).
If there are seats selectable fore and aft of the exit row then I would agree that would be strange, and there is a well known issue with 10D if you are specifically trying to get that one.
If not they are just keeping space for the CE curtain which can often be after the exit rows these days. Nothing new at all in that. I have just done a dummy booking and I can select ET exit row as a BA Emerald on a flight which will only have a small CE cabin (MRS).
If there are seats selectable fore and aft of the exit row then I would agree that would be strange, and there is a well known issue with 10D if you are specifically trying to get that one.
Feb 6, 2016, 12:34 pm
#3
Original Poster
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This isn't curtain roulette is it? Are you within 3 days of travel?
If not they are just keeping space for the CE curtain which can often be after the exit rows these days. Nothing new at all in that. I have just done a dummy booking and I can select ET exit row as a BA Emerald on a flight which will only have a small CE cabin (MRS).
If there are seats selectable fore and aft of the exit row then I would agree that would be strange, and there is a well known issue with 10D if you are specifically trying to get that one.
If not they are just keeping space for the CE curtain which can often be after the exit rows these days. Nothing new at all in that. I have just done a dummy booking and I can select ET exit row as a BA Emerald on a flight which will only have a small CE cabin (MRS).
If there are seats selectable fore and aft of the exit row then I would agree that would be strange, and there is a well known issue with 10D if you are specifically trying to get that one.
Feb 6, 2016, 12:36 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ARN
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Posts: 1,533
Hmm, this must be a very recent change. I booked an emergency exit seat last Wednesday and I now see the same thing on that flight - all emergency exit seats are marked as occupied by BA but not in EF.
Let's hope it is BA IT screwing things up and not just the latest enhancement for BAEC members.
Edit: To clarify, my flight is months out and the curtain is nowhere near the exit row.
Let's hope it is BA IT screwing things up and not just the latest enhancement for BAEC members.
Edit: To clarify, my flight is months out and the curtain is nowhere near the exit row.
Feb 6, 2016, 12:39 pm
#5
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Mmm, may be an equipment change in brewing then, that's the other cause of this around day 15 or so. (Assuming your gold card isn't new or has fallen off the booking, but GGL would have spotten that [surely?!]) I can't see there is a change of policy, if it is, it is very patchy: I've also checked LYS and BOD and can readily select the exit row.
Feb 6, 2016, 12:51 pm
#6
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Don't forget exit row seats in ET are not reserved just for Gold. Silver can select them too, as can Bronze from 7 days before, and all passengers from OLCI.
I have checked some upcoming ET bookings and exit rows are indeed greyed out, including those nowhere near the curtain (eg. Rows 22-23 on an A321).
I have checked some upcoming ET bookings and exit rows are indeed greyed out, including those nowhere near the curtain (eg. Rows 22-23 on an A321).
Last edited by Genius1; Feb 6, 2016 at 1:06 pm
Feb 6, 2016, 12:52 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
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I have a nasty feeling about this. Having just checked all my ET bookings, all seats up to row 13 are blocked. This wasn't the case when I made the bookings. Luckily I haven't been booted out of 12A (yet) on the flights that I currently have.
Edit: Also exit rows blocked on the 767
Edit: Also exit rows blocked on the 767
Feb 6, 2016, 12:55 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Interesting development. I've just checked a domestic booking where I have row 1 booked. The seat plan is wide open but both overwing exit rows on a 320 are not available. I can move seats in row 1.
Feb 6, 2016, 1:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2014
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I just checked my longhaul flights and I'm still able to select exit row seats. But ALL of my shorthaul flights (currently 18) have exit rows blocked).
If this is another enhancement it will just push me further away from BA.
If this is another enhancement it will just push me further away from BA.
Feb 6, 2016, 1:06 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
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OK, have checked a load of domestic flights (where I am in row 1) and looking further back all the exit row seats seem to be greyed for all of them.
One for CWS- have checked the LHR-INV inaugural and I see all of us in row 1 and row 10 (exit) not available for selection. EF says every seat (except those occupied) blocked back to row 10 but I can dot freely about all of them except row 10.
Looks like 'on purpose' at the moment, although I can't really work out who it is good for- they don't seem to be trying to charge for them.
One for CWS- have checked the LHR-INV inaugural and I see all of us in row 1 and row 10 (exit) not available for selection. EF says every seat (except those occupied) blocked back to row 10 but I can dot freely about all of them except row 10.
Looks like 'on purpose' at the moment, although I can't really work out who it is good for- they don't seem to be trying to charge for them.
Last edited by crazy8534; Feb 6, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Feb 6, 2016, 1:26 pm
#12
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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On the other hand, flights under the 72 hour window are available for selection - for example below.
I suspect an IT glitch, in the absence of better information.
Last edited by corporate-wage-slave; Feb 6, 2016 at 2:20 pm
Feb 6, 2016, 1:28 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Feb 6, 2016, 1:30 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2014
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Yes, of course it must be a glitch. BA would obviously communicate such a change in policy before implementation. 