Need BA Help with Disability Seating
Oct 6, 2015, 9:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2
Need BA Help with Disability Seating
Hi all,
ive been pointed here by a couple of people i know who use this forum as it has some BA staff who actively look across the boards - Admin - please feel free to move this if its in the wrong section.
i am due to fly from Gatwick on friday morning to St Lucia - my partner is disabled and we have never flown BA as a carrier before and so far its been a bit disastrous.
her spinal condition means that she needs extra legroom on flights - contacting BA's dedicated department for disabled travellers went badly with them saying that there was nothing they could do until 14 days before our flight (odd considering the great help we've received with carriers previously) so a bit deflated by that response, we took it upon ourselves to pay for extra legroom seats ourselves and then speak to the disability assistance department nearer the time to see if they could improve upon that.
14 days before our flight, my partner calls up and is told that all assisted seats are now gone so they can offer no further help to her - annoyed at the poor service but pleased we had booked our own legroom seats we thought we'd just have to do.
now, 3 days prior to departure, we receive an email from BA stating that due to a seating plan error, we have been moved to the centre of the cabin in standard seats.my partner calls customer relations and eventually speaks to a manager who announces that there is nothing that she can do and we'll have to take our chances at check in.
my partner is understandably very upset by this and i am not at all happy. there is no way that she can sit in a standard seat for nearly 9 hours without causing serious pain to he back.
im in real need of contact with a BA employee that can help out or point me in the right direction - customer relations don't seem remotely interested and as we've never had an issue like this previously, i dont know what to do.
regards,
Dave
ive been pointed here by a couple of people i know who use this forum as it has some BA staff who actively look across the boards - Admin - please feel free to move this if its in the wrong section.
i am due to fly from Gatwick on friday morning to St Lucia - my partner is disabled and we have never flown BA as a carrier before and so far its been a bit disastrous.
her spinal condition means that she needs extra legroom on flights - contacting BA's dedicated department for disabled travellers went badly with them saying that there was nothing they could do until 14 days before our flight (odd considering the great help we've received with carriers previously) so a bit deflated by that response, we took it upon ourselves to pay for extra legroom seats ourselves and then speak to the disability assistance department nearer the time to see if they could improve upon that.
14 days before our flight, my partner calls up and is told that all assisted seats are now gone so they can offer no further help to her - annoyed at the poor service but pleased we had booked our own legroom seats we thought we'd just have to do.
now, 3 days prior to departure, we receive an email from BA stating that due to a seating plan error, we have been moved to the centre of the cabin in standard seats.my partner calls customer relations and eventually speaks to a manager who announces that there is nothing that she can do and we'll have to take our chances at check in.
my partner is understandably very upset by this and i am not at all happy. there is no way that she can sit in a standard seat for nearly 9 hours without causing serious pain to he back.
im in real need of contact with a BA employee that can help out or point me in the right direction - customer relations don't seem remotely interested and as we've never had an issue like this previously, i dont know what to do.
regards,
Dave
Oct 6, 2015, 9:55 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
I'm assuming you've booked in economy.
Firstly, BA does not offer any guaranteed extra legroom seats in economy.
The seats that are opened up 14 days before the flight are emergency exit row seats. These are not guaranteed to be available and have certain requirements including the need to be physically fit, which would generally exclude those with a physical disability.
Booking them after telling BA your partner requires extra legroom due to a disability/physical condition may well mean you are not allowed to sit there anyway.
See: http://www.britishairways.com/travel...s/public/en_gb
There is more information on the BA seating page:
http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/...sing-your-seat
If it is a requirement for your partner to have extra legroom to travel, then you should have booked a class of service that would guarantee extra space -namely premium economy (World Traveller Plus), business (Club World) or first.
I suggest you either:
1. Accept that you will travel in a standard economy seat as you've booked
2. Call BA and pay the fare difference to travel in premium economy/business/first to guarantee extra legroom
3. Ask at the airport if there is a discount upgrade price to premium economy availabile, and if not travel in economy as you've booked
Firstly, BA does not offer any guaranteed extra legroom seats in economy.
The seats that are opened up 14 days before the flight are emergency exit row seats. These are not guaranteed to be available and have certain requirements including the need to be physically fit, which would generally exclude those with a physical disability.
Booking them after telling BA your partner requires extra legroom due to a disability/physical condition may well mean you are not allowed to sit there anyway.
See: http://www.britishairways.com/travel...s/public/en_gb
There is more information on the BA seating page:
http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/...sing-your-seat
If it is a requirement for your partner to have extra legroom to travel, then you should have booked a class of service that would guarantee extra space -namely premium economy (World Traveller Plus), business (Club World) or first.
I suggest you either:
1. Accept that you will travel in a standard economy seat as you've booked
2. Call BA and pay the fare difference to travel in premium economy/business/first to guarantee extra legroom
3. Ask at the airport if there is a discount upgrade price to premium economy availabile, and if not travel in economy as you've booked
Last edited by nux; Oct 6, 2015 at 10:01 am
Oct 6, 2015, 11:47 am
#3
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Welcome to FT, Pidsy!
I'm sorry to hear of your situation, it can't be very pleasant to face such a long journey with a serious back problem. Having said that, it's tough to see what BA can do at this stage. While your interaction with CS clearly wasn't very good, I don't think they can give you something they don't have. Extra legroom seats are really only those at the front of the bulkhead, and these may already have been assigned to people who have paid for them, or who themselves have similar needs. As nux says, the exit row seats would not have been available to you anyway. I suggest that a possible (but not guaranteed) strategy is to call BA and ask for a special rate for WT+ seats, backed up with a suitably-worded note from you specialist.
I'm sorry to hear of your situation, it can't be very pleasant to face such a long journey with a serious back problem. Having said that, it's tough to see what BA can do at this stage. While your interaction with CS clearly wasn't very good, I don't think they can give you something they don't have. Extra legroom seats are really only those at the front of the bulkhead, and these may already have been assigned to people who have paid for them, or who themselves have similar needs. As nux says, the exit row seats would not have been available to you anyway. I suggest that a possible (but not guaranteed) strategy is to call BA and ask for a special rate for WT+ seats, backed up with a suitably-worded note from you specialist.
Oct 6, 2015, 7:58 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,522
sorry to disappoint, but what both LondonElite and nux have said is correct.
This route is operated by a four-class Boeing 777-200, which does not offer any extra legroom seating in economy class apart from the exit row seats in row 26. Unfortunately, even the middle block (26DEF) is designated as exit row and therefore anyone with a physical disability will not be able to sit there. Even if you were to get your exit row seats back at the airport during check-in, it is highly likely that you will be reseated into standard seats by the cabin crew should your traveling partners' disability be readily apparent.
If extra legroom is a necessity, your only option in this instance is upgrading to a better class of service.
The cheapest way to do this: check "manage my booking" for a reduced price upgrade offer to WT+ (premium economy). That will cost around 250 pounds per person one way and ensure an adequate seat.
Hopefully a kind soul with Expertflyer access can tell if there's still any seats available for sale in WT+.
This route is operated by a four-class Boeing 777-200, which does not offer any extra legroom seating in economy class apart from the exit row seats in row 26. Unfortunately, even the middle block (26DEF) is designated as exit row and therefore anyone with a physical disability will not be able to sit there. Even if you were to get your exit row seats back at the airport during check-in, it is highly likely that you will be reseated into standard seats by the cabin crew should your traveling partners' disability be readily apparent.
If extra legroom is a necessity, your only option in this instance is upgrading to a better class of service.
The cheapest way to do this: check "manage my booking" for a reduced price upgrade offer to WT+ (premium economy). That will cost around 250 pounds per person one way and ensure an adequate seat.
Hopefully a kind soul with Expertflyer access can tell if there's still any seats available for sale in WT+.
Oct 7, 2015, 2:43 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2
thanks for the info - and its nice to hear it from people who are willing to explain the situation.
had BA mentioned the lack of extra seating in economy at the time of booking - i would have upgraded. and currently at Ł250 pppw - that's another Ł1k for a seat which i flatly refuse to entertain.
thanks again.
had BA mentioned the lack of extra seating in economy at the time of booking - i would have upgraded. and currently at Ł250 pppw - that's another Ł1k for a seat which i flatly refuse to entertain.
thanks again.
Oct 7, 2015, 2:53 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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You would have been looking at Ł50pp each way for exit row seats if they were available (and if you were both eligible). For Ł250pp you would get a guaranteed much larger seat and better service/meals/etc.
Probably better than not travelling at all if it truly is the case that your partner cannot travel in a standard economy seat.
Oct 7, 2015, 10:22 am
#7
Moderator: American AAdvantage
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thanks for the info - and its nice to hear it from people who are willing to explain the situation.
had BA mentioned the lack of extra seating in economy at the time of booking - i would have upgraded. and currently at Ł250 pppw - that's another Ł1k for a seat which i flatly refuse to entertain.
thanks again.
had BA mentioned the lack of extra seating in economy at the time of booking - i would have upgraded. and currently at Ł250 pppw - that's another Ł1k for a seat which i flatly refuse to entertain.
thanks again.
At least for the return, you have some new information.,
Oct 7, 2015, 1:24 pm
#8
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Welcome to Flyertalk Pidsy.
As this is specific to BA, we'll relocate this to our active BA board.
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
As this is specific to BA, we'll relocate this to our active BA board.
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
Oct 7, 2015, 1:31 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,574
thanks for the info - and its nice to hear it from people who are willing to explain the situation.
had BA mentioned the lack of extra seating in economy at the time of booking - i would have upgraded. and currently at Ł250 pppw - that's another Ł1k for a seat which i flatly refuse to entertain.
thanks again.
had BA mentioned the lack of extra seating in economy at the time of booking - i would have upgraded. and currently at Ł250 pppw - that's another Ł1k for a seat which i flatly refuse to entertain.
thanks again.
If it is a need , then I am not sure what other option there would be if there is no seat that has additional legroom
The cost for 1 person to upgrade would be Ł500 return - if the other passenger does not need the extra space, that person could stay in economy class
Oct 7, 2015, 1:37 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 597
26 DEF seats are suitable for your travelling party. The obstacle being babes in arms as they're bassinet seats so will be given to passengers with infants if they request them.
When are you travelling? If you can PM me your travel date and surname I'll try to find something out for you. No guarantees though.
When are you travelling? If you can PM me your travel date and surname I'll try to find something out for you. No guarantees though.
Oct 7, 2015, 1:41 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
This is the economy seat map for Friday:
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
So 26F is available.
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Seat Map Search:
Departing LGW on 09/10/15 for UVF
Flying BA flight 2159 in First, Business/Club, Premium Economy, Economy
A B C D E F H J K
26 E - - + - - + + - - E
27 - - - - - - - - -
28 - - - + - - + - -
29 - - - - - - - - -
30 - - - - - - - - -
31 - - - - - - - - -
32 - - + + - - - - -
33 - - - - + + + + +
34 - - - - + + + + +
35 - - - - + + + + +
36 - - - - + + + + +
37 + + + + + + - - -
38 - - - - + + - - -
39 + + + + + - -
A B C D E F H J K
Seats
Premium Only P
Available +
Handicap-Accessible H
Paid & Premium #
Occupied -
Blocked X
Lavatory L
Paid $
Location
Exit Row E
Wing W
Upper Deck U
Oct 7, 2015, 9:53 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: BA silver
Posts: 447
Sorry to sound harsh but if your partner truly cannot manage without extra legroom then why did you not book this and then expect BA to give you better seats. If it was that easy to just expect BA to give you better seats then loads of people will start saying they have a disability just to get better seats for free and then truly disabled people will miss out.
I am disabled and in a lot of pain and for that reason I pay to travel in a seat that that I know will be better for me. If I can't afford to upgrade myself then I don't fly because. I know it will too painful. If I do fly economy short haul, I book a seat behind my husband so I know he won't recline on me.
It's tough having mobility problems but whilst BA will always help where they can , you have to be realistic that you are not going to get a lot of legroom in any economy seat and let's face it , long haul economy in any plane is uncomfortable whether you are able bodied or not
I am disabled and in a lot of pain and for that reason I pay to travel in a seat that that I know will be better for me. If I can't afford to upgrade myself then I don't fly because. I know it will too painful. If I do fly economy short haul, I book a seat behind my husband so I know he won't recline on me.
It's tough having mobility problems but whilst BA will always help where they can , you have to be realistic that you are not going to get a lot of legroom in any economy seat and let's face it , long haul economy in any plane is uncomfortable whether you are able bodied or not
Oct 8, 2015, 2:21 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Programs: BA gold
Posts: 3,902
I would pick row 39 AB - as your friend have some chance of moving her legs down between the window and seat 38A, but it's not much of an increased pitch if that is what you are looking for, if row 26 is unavailable.
Oct 8, 2015, 2:24 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Posts: 2,533
hopefully you will get this sorted before you go, but if not I would take a Doctors note with you to the airport. This might encourage BA to move people round.