Originally Posted by
Bhoddhisatva
Am so frustrated and disappointed that on-one at BA can tell me why I often am unable to check-in on-line and sometimes unale to choose my seat after booking - a great boon for Silver status which I value.
Last year, for about 6 months, I was often unable to check-in on-line for Heathrow outward bound flights.
Got so frustrated that complained on-line, over phone and even in person to BA customer services rep in lounge (very pleasant but weeks later he couldn't get a clear answer). Anyway, confirmed nothing wrong with me, my account, profile or anything and things seemed to return to normal.
Three weeks ago I booked code-share flight out of Heathrow to Haneda - code-share BA and JAL on 22nd April - operated by JAL - booked via Expedia.
Could NOT choose seat with BA web site OR JAL ("passenger not recognised" even though they use same 6 digit ticket code!) and when I phoned both airlines they either directed me to the other company OR said there was nothing they could do not even help me choose seat!
Get to T3 LHR check-in who give me some cock and bull story saying "the emergency contact info you entered corrupted something" - I DID NOT enter any such information! The only such information could either have come from Expedia or my BA Exec club account - both of which I've checked and seen nothing wrong!
It is EXTREMELY irritating and frustrating knowing one is going ona ~12 hour flight, can't choose a seat yet a regular BA traveller to Asia (8+ times a year!).
Does ANYONE else have any advice or experiences like this? Is it Expedia? Or the code-share or IT systems? Or me!!!?
I am a life-long UK national, UK born, UK passport and no security or criminal records issues! (Yes - I was once asked if I might have some security flag against my name as they couldn't see that time WHY I couldn't check in on line!
If you regularly book via BA to travel on JAL or other carriers (or these are included along with BA flights) then to a certain extent i would expect more potential for issues than if you were booking BA direct. Im aware that there are issues with online check in if you have a connecting journey including partner carriers. For seating i would always expect to go back the operating carrier as BA cant always access the seat map for other carriers.
On flights booked under codeshare flight numbers especially its likely BA would have trouble accessing the seat plan. Often the operating carrier also has similiar problems, hence the problems you experience.
As to why these things happen i cant realy say: airline IT and the links between them?!