Last edit by: corporate-wage-slave
This thread examines BA's use of Amadeus' Theoretical Seating module. This kicks in at T-72 hours before departure, so this thread is primarily of interest to those travelling within the next few days.
FAQ : 'Theoretical Seating' : Blocked seats and status
#31
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: between MUC and NUE
Programs: BA Gold, LH Senator
Posts: 420
Yes, and that's always been the case, particularly when it became the best for kneeroom (but not necessarily legroom). On this particular flight I would suspect row 5 will be the last to lose the middle seats, but it would be very unusual to have more than 3 or 4 new Gold bookings, probably less, so my guess is that only 3A won't get an empty seat, and that's due to presumably a couple in 3B and C.
#32
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, BA Amex Prem, BA Amex Business, Amex Platinum, Coutts Silk, Hilton Diamond etc.
Posts: 4,331
Yes, thanks again CWS this is a good thread.
One thing is that in the past few months on the 2 occasions on domestic when I didn't have a free seat beside me I had a member of staff (in full uniform) presumably because they were a last minute / standby sort of a seat reservation?
I should say that I was very happy with this due to the opportunity for chitty-chatty, the staff members- probably not so much...!!
One thing is that in the past few months on the 2 occasions on domestic when I didn't have a free seat beside me I had a member of staff (in full uniform) presumably because they were a last minute / standby sort of a seat reservation?
I should say that I was very happy with this due to the opportunity for chitty-chatty, the staff members- probably not so much...!!
#34
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 29
Great post thanks. Any idea when this started?
I'm a GCH and I've done 3 ET returns in the last 3 weeks and each time moved myself to an exit row window (A319/A320) and been surprised almost every time to have the entire bank of 3 seats to myself come the doors being closed, even on some quite busy flights. Or maybe I just got lucky.
I'm a GCH and I've done 3 ET returns in the last 3 weeks and each time moved myself to an exit row window (A319/A320) and been surprised almost every time to have the entire bank of 3 seats to myself come the doors being closed, even on some quite busy flights. Or maybe I just got lucky.
#35
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Blue, EI Silver, Honours Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,202
I'm now a blue and have a LHR-KUL booked in September, on a 789. Currently there are no window seats or middle seats available to select - even for a fee. Basically there are no pairs together. Is this FLY related, or a true reflection of what's available? Is it likely to change at OLCI, eg bassinet pairs becoming available to blue members?
#37
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,721
Seems bloody complicated!
Look forward to seeing how this works on mates trip to AGP in Autumn. I'm back at Silver, one Bronze, two Blues.
Outbound - they're on one booking together, HBO. I'm booked separately, non-HBO. Seems like I won't even have the option to pick a seat next to theirs if we're 'theoretically' segregated.
Inbound - all booked together HBO. Presumably we'll get the Silver assignment.
How does this affect the SSCI machines - is the HBO workaround still available?
Look forward to seeing how this works on mates trip to AGP in Autumn. I'm back at Silver, one Bronze, two Blues.
Outbound - they're on one booking together, HBO. I'm booked separately, non-HBO. Seems like I won't even have the option to pick a seat next to theirs if we're 'theoretically' segregated.
Inbound - all booked together HBO. Presumably we'll get the Silver assignment.
How does this affect the SSCI machines - is the HBO workaround still available?
#38
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Portsmouth, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR
Posts: 790
Thanks for the guide c-w-s, I have to confess the seating thing is all a bit of a dark art to me and I'm way too tight to pay for a specific seat on a domestic basic fare (work have booked me a couple of duty trips with baggage though so I've taken full advantage of moving to row 1 there! )
#41
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,498
Seems bloody complicated!
Look forward to seeing how this works on mates trip to AGP in Autumn. I'm back at Silver, one Bronze, two Blues.
Outbound - they're on one booking together, HBO. I'm booked separately, non-HBO. Seems like I won't even have the option to pick a seat next to theirs if we're 'theoretically' segregated.
Inbound - all booked together HBO. Presumably we'll get the Silver assignment.
How does this affect the SSCI machines - is the HBO workaround still available?
Look forward to seeing how this works on mates trip to AGP in Autumn. I'm back at Silver, one Bronze, two Blues.
Outbound - they're on one booking together, HBO. I'm booked separately, non-HBO. Seems like I won't even have the option to pick a seat next to theirs if we're 'theoretically' segregated.
Inbound - all booked together HBO. Presumably we'll get the Silver assignment.
How does this affect the SSCI machines - is the HBO workaround still available?
#42
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, VS Gold, Virgin Trains Traveller, Her Majesties Secret Service.
Posts: 407
Have we established if this shows the same results via MMB as well as at time of booking or not...? Because I have a sneaky feeling that the two *may* show different results...
#44
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA and UK
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Silver, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 1,351
I'm not so sure that Silver's don't benefit from this change- I can certainly see the downsides of being restricted T-72, but on the whole, since this started (or I noticed) I've had many empty seats next to me as a Silver.
As an example on a recent LHR-TXL return, I chose 10F on an A319 (both ways, exit row) and on the flight (which were both about 90% full) I had the middle seat in the exit row remain free- which was great! In fact most SH flights that are around 90% or less, I've had a free seat next to me 100% of the time since last month.
Looking at EF now, it appears that for all of my upcoming LH flights, I do have a free seat next to me. I have 8 upcoming LH WT flights coming up, so I can report back my experience as a Silver.
EDIT: All flights I've booked recently have been about 2 weeks before departure, so I'm not sure if this has anything to do with not having a person next to me most times.
As an example on a recent LHR-TXL return, I chose 10F on an A319 (both ways, exit row) and on the flight (which were both about 90% full) I had the middle seat in the exit row remain free- which was great! In fact most SH flights that are around 90% or less, I've had a free seat next to me 100% of the time since last month.
Looking at EF now, it appears that for all of my upcoming LH flights, I do have a free seat next to me. I have 8 upcoming LH WT flights coming up, so I can report back my experience as a Silver.
EDIT: All flights I've booked recently have been about 2 weeks before departure, so I'm not sure if this has anything to do with not having a person next to me most times.
Last edited by BA0197; Aug 30, 2016 at 11:34 am
#45
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,476
But there was a particular group within Silver that used to leverage up their seating at T-72, so called Active Silvers, and since they are the largest status group flying on any given day, a few seat moves from that group would have what some may perceive to be a negative impact. What TS is doing, in collaboration with the seating policies pre-FLY (pre-72 hours), is generally giving a better outcome and decongesting the front of the aircraft; however beyond that general statement there can be some hard luck stories, e.g. if booking at T-48 hours.
It is also reducing pressure on the overheads at the front of the aircraft, there was rarely a problem at the back, now it is more spread along.