Originally Posted by
Prospero
There really isn't any excuse for the BA agent to lose his/her cool but the policy is very clear and easily accessible via BA's website. No matter how hard you press them, like it or not, the policy is what the policy is and the agents you spoke to have no discretionary powers to grant you your wish.
I'm am interested if VS matched the price you originally paid BA. Whilst BA's D fare is refundable yet not high enough up the chart to provide an allocated seat at the time of booking, the fully flex J fare is. The J fare is available for a marginal uplift, well if you can call $550 marginal. The cheapest restricted Upper Class fare I can find on this route prices out $2,100 more at $6,846.
That's all academic now that you have your pre-assigned seats with a carrier you are happy to fly.
Happy travels
If I recall correctly when booking the ticket on the BA website when you get to the fare quote page it lists "features" of the ticket at the bottom of the page. Nowhere does it mention seating at all. The ticket is refundable and in a premium cabin so yes I assumed that I would be given a chance to select seats.
In regards to the rude agents. I agree there is no excuse for being rude to a customer. I never raised my voice or went crazy. I was simply trying to get to speak to someone higher up the food chain who might have some sense. No one wanted to hear about it. They were perfectly happy to lose the $4300.
You are correct about the extra $550 or so to get fully flex J ticket. But the only extra benefit we would get for $550 is to assign a seat. The D fare was already refundable and changeable. Seems pretty steep just to get a seat assignment.
Of course the VS ticket did cost more. I think it ended up being around $5600. Yes it was more than BA but it was the principle of the matter. The fact that no one at BA cared that $4300 was leaving was the crazy part.
Why doesnt BA just block out the so called preferred seats and let the others be available ? This is what CO does. I am a platinum on CO and even I cant book a bulkhead seat no matter what the fare is. I have to wait until OLCI. But at least I can get a seat assignment so I can choose a window if it is available.
I dont think someone buying a premium ticket no matter what the price should be treated as if you were buying a ticket on Southwest and told that hey you might get a decent seat, you might not.