Originally Posted by
JAXBA
BA price it this way to give those who are neurotic about where they sit the option of paying for it. They also price it so as to discourage customers from actually paying it.
Before paid seating, a lot of non-status customers were indignant that they couldn't choose seats, even for a fee…
If someone insists on paying then BA will take the money, but there should be reasonable options left to choose when check-in opens.
Wouldn't mind if flying solo. But with my S/O I want to make sure we are next to each other. Doing LHR-SIN apart is not my desire. But surely I am not paying 400 Euros for that privilege. Booked
on Swiss, was a tad more expensive but still saved 250 Euro and was able to chose my seats.
I look at these charges as a detriment to any passenger who has no status but still wants to try out a particular airline, BA in this instance. Let's assume he/she likes their service and comes back, might be a customer for life. But adding 200 Euros per leg in Club World potentially and rightfully so, turns off that possibility and pax walks over to a competitor.