Mar 22, 2018, 3:34 am
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
Aug 30, 2016, 12:07 pm
#46
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: BA silver, LH nobody
Posts: 18
Very good stuff. I'd agree that it's not always so bad for SCH - I've also noticed the empty middle seat more often, and having had a few trips recently with the other half on a separate booking it seems normal that the block follows me around the cabin at OLCI at least - haven't looked in MMB or SSCI.
More interestingly, perhaps - I have still been seeing positive (at least for SCH...) changes in availability at the T-72 point, with seats nearer the front, including row 1 on domestics, opening up. Maybe not to the same degree as before, but it still appears to be worth having a look.
I guess the 48-hour seat selection window for the new plus fares is making the range of seats available at OLCI smaller still.
More interestingly, perhaps - I have still been seeing positive (at least for SCH...) changes in availability at the T-72 point, with seats nearer the front, including row 1 on domestics, opening up. Maybe not to the same degree as before, but it still appears to be worth having a look.
I guess the 48-hour seat selection window for the new plus fares is making the range of seats available at OLCI smaller still.
Aug 30, 2016, 12:25 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 628
Please direct me to the right place if this has already been covered. How is this working for longhaul seating? We've got two separate CW bookings next April on a 787-9. My son is bronze and on the first booking with my husband, so can allocate 7 days before. We don't have to be next to each other, but closeish proximity would be good. It would be good to know which areas are generally open for non status passengers to book.
Aug 30, 2016, 1:24 pm
#48
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
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Please direct me to the right place if this has already been covered. How is this working for longhaul seating? We've got two separate CW bookings next April on a 787-9. My son is bronze and on the first booking with my husband, so can allocate 7 days before. We don't have to be next to each other, but closeish proximity would be good. It would be good to know which areas are generally open for non status passengers to book.
So you have two bookings, one which is Bronze led, and another, which I infer to be no-status at all. The longstanding advice is keep an eye on how the aircraft is filling up, if you are not too fussy then let it get all the way to OLCI and change things around if necessary. Some seats aren't very popular on certain aircraft, e.g, lower deck middle seats on 747s, but they may be ideal for you, so if it's not looking too full you can probably hang on and fudge it to get roughly what you want. If, on the other hand, the aircraft starts filling up with single passengers scattered all over the cabin, at some point if staying together is important you may have to bite the bullet and pay for seats. If you think you're going to be doing this anyway then you may as well do this sooner, when the options are good, rather than later when it is too late to get the group in one place. As with all of this, the money you spend on seat reservations may get you a nice meal in your destination, which may be a better use of it, particularly if you're all dozing off on the aircraft.
Having said that, with 2 small cabins in the 787-9 in CW, and the seats perhaps more alike than on other aircraft, I don't think it's such an issue as it would be on 747s or 380s.
Aug 30, 2016, 1:36 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 628
That far out, which is beyond the clutches of FLY, Theoretical Seating won't have an impact and not much has changed there. Closer in, then yes absolutely watch out for how this works. The above material essentially applies for T-72 hours and inwards (and arguably, a bit of positioning footwork just beforehand) for status passengers.
So you have two bookings, one which is Bronze led, and another, which I infer to be no-status at all. The longstanding advice is keep an eye on how the aircraft is filling up, if you are not too fussy then let it get all the way to OLCI and change things around if necessary. Some seats aren't very popular on certain aircraft, e.g, lower deck middle seats on 747s, but they may be ideal for you, so if it's not looking too full you can probably hang on and fudge it to get roughly what you want. If, on the other hand, the aircraft starts filling up with single passengers scattered all over the cabin, at some point if staying together is important you may have to bite the bullet and pay for seats. If you think you're going to be doing this anyway then you may as well do this sooner, when the options are good, rather than later when it is too late to get the group in one place. As with all of this, the money you spend on seat reservations may get you a nice meal in your destination, which may be a better use of it, particularly if you're all dozing off on the aircraft.
Having said that, with 2 small cabins in the 787-9 in CW, and the seats perhaps more alike than on other aircraft, I don't think it's such an issue as it would be on 747s or 380s.
So you have two bookings, one which is Bronze led, and another, which I infer to be no-status at all. The longstanding advice is keep an eye on how the aircraft is filling up, if you are not too fussy then let it get all the way to OLCI and change things around if necessary. Some seats aren't very popular on certain aircraft, e.g, lower deck middle seats on 747s, but they may be ideal for you, so if it's not looking too full you can probably hang on and fudge it to get roughly what you want. If, on the other hand, the aircraft starts filling up with single passengers scattered all over the cabin, at some point if staying together is important you may have to bite the bullet and pay for seats. If you think you're going to be doing this anyway then you may as well do this sooner, when the options are good, rather than later when it is too late to get the group in one place. As with all of this, the money you spend on seat reservations may get you a nice meal in your destination, which may be a better use of it, particularly if you're all dozing off on the aircraft.
Having said that, with 2 small cabins in the 787-9 in CW, and the seats perhaps more alike than on other aircraft, I don't think it's such an issue as it would be on 747s or 380s.
Aug 30, 2016, 2:00 pm
#50
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Silver, VS Silver
Posts: 781
The other advantage of theoretical seating as a Gold is that the same day changes allowed by plus fares don't end up in 23E as before. I've done this twice recently and remained in the front 5 rows with a seat block on the new flight, including changes close to T-1.
Aug 30, 2016, 9:14 pm
#52
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: BA Silver, Mucci
Posts: 5,289
I came across this post which remained unanswered on the CW seating thread. Can anyone help Jeff with this?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27076800-post1190.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27076800-post1190.html
Aug 31, 2016, 1:47 am
#53
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
Programs: I go wherever the content takes me.
Posts: 5,698
I came across this post which remained unanswered on the CW seating thread. Can anyone help Jeff with this?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27076800-post1190.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/27076800-post1190.html
Aug 31, 2016, 2:25 am
#54
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: BA Gold. KrisFlyer Gold
Posts: 732
All is forgiven, BA
Like others, I've joined in the cacophony of criticism regarding the changes to the service standard for long-haul economy flyers recently. But, under these new seating policies, my experience down the back with BA has hit new heights in the 10 flights to Asia and back that I’ve taken in Y in the last three months. It’s hard to underestimate quite how much of an improvement in my flight experience this small change has led to. Whilst I would previously have got a spare exit row seat next to me in about 1 flight in 20, this ratio has now increased to 9 flights in 10.
Even on weekends where the check in staff have advised that there were only a handful of economy seats free, seat 80B on the A380 to HKG or SIN has remained empty – and presumably blocked given that, in my view, it’s in the best row of economy seats on the BA fleet. It even seems that these new arrangements have made their way down to the crew; last week an interloper sat down next to me and was quickly moved on by a member of the cabin crew with the embarrassing remark that the seat was “not available because this passenger is an important customer of the airline”.
Quite frankly, I’d happily sacrifice 10 tuck boxes, 20 packets of pretzels, and 30 pieces of cheddar to get the consistently unlimited elbow room I’ve enjoyed over the last few weeks. That's not something you can pick up in Boots on the way to the gate.
Even on weekends where the check in staff have advised that there were only a handful of economy seats free, seat 80B on the A380 to HKG or SIN has remained empty – and presumably blocked given that, in my view, it’s in the best row of economy seats on the BA fleet. It even seems that these new arrangements have made their way down to the crew; last week an interloper sat down next to me and was quickly moved on by a member of the cabin crew with the embarrassing remark that the seat was “not available because this passenger is an important customer of the airline”.
Quite frankly, I’d happily sacrifice 10 tuck boxes, 20 packets of pretzels, and 30 pieces of cheddar to get the consistently unlimited elbow room I’ve enjoyed over the last few weeks. That's not something you can pick up in Boots on the way to the gate.
Aug 31, 2016, 2:38 am
#55
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
Agreed. As someone who flies down the back quite a bit, it's making me reconsider my decision not to chase gold next year. It could be a substantial benefit. I'll see how it pans out for me - I haven't been travelling much over the summer so don't have many data points.
Aug 31, 2016, 2:39 am
#56
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Seniors Bus Pass
Posts: 5,529
Like others, I've joined in the cacophony of criticism regarding the changes to the service standard for long-haul economy flyers recently. But, under these new seating policies, my experience down the back with BA has hit new heights in the 10 flights to Asia and back that I’ve taken in Y in the last three months. It’s hard to underestimate quite how much of an improvement in my flight experience this small change has led to. Whilst I would previously have got a spare exit row seat next to me in about 1 flight in 20, this ratio has now increased to 9 flights in 10.
Even on weekends where the check in staff have advised that there were only a handful of economy seats free, seat 80B on the A380 to HKG or SIN has remained empty – and presumably blocked given that, in my view, it’s in the best row of economy seats on the BA fleet. It even seems that these new arrangements have made their way down to the crew; last week an interloper sat down next to me and was quickly moved on by a member of the cabin crew with the embarrassing remark that the seat was “not available because this passenger is an important customer of the airline”.
Quite frankly, I’d happily sacrifice 10 tuck boxes, 20 packets of pretzels, and 30 pieces of cheddar to get the consistently unlimited elbow room I’ve enjoyed over the last few weeks. That's not something you can pick up in Boots on the way to the gate.
Even on weekends where the check in staff have advised that there were only a handful of economy seats free, seat 80B on the A380 to HKG or SIN has remained empty – and presumably blocked given that, in my view, it’s in the best row of economy seats on the BA fleet. It even seems that these new arrangements have made their way down to the crew; last week an interloper sat down next to me and was quickly moved on by a member of the cabin crew with the embarrassing remark that the seat was “not available because this passenger is an important customer of the airline”.
Quite frankly, I’d happily sacrifice 10 tuck boxes, 20 packets of pretzels, and 30 pieces of cheddar to get the consistently unlimited elbow room I’ve enjoyed over the last few weeks. That's not something you can pick up in Boots on the way to the gate.
Been my experience on shorter hauls so far too.
Aug 31, 2016, 6:13 am
#57
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Join Date: Aug 2002
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Aug 31, 2016, 6:40 am
#58
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: BA Silver, Mucci
Posts: 5,289
Aug 31, 2016, 6:53 am
#60
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
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I've replied in that thread now, I suspect the Sapphire card number didn't make it over to the BA PNR, given it was an AA booking. Should be easily resolved. But yes, this thread is essentially about the final 72 hours, the existing allocation of seats on the UD to fee payers, corporates, Sapphire and above (before that time) isn't affected, as far as I can tell.