BA Award Tickets - Pick your seat, pay a fee
Feb 18, 2019, 1:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 876
BA Award Tickets - Pick your seat, pay a fee
Forgive me if others knew this, but it appears that as of late, if flying BA award tickets you now need to pay to select your seat in advance. I've never paid them in the past. We have a trip in June, trip home I booked 6 months ago in FC, outbound I booked 3 weeks ago in biz. Went to pick seats a week ago, and BA wants $180 per passenger to select biz seats in advance. The FC I had picked at the time with no fee. Called Alaska who had no idea about this policy. Unfortunately nothing they can do. She mentioned that BA just upped changed fees on them as well. So just realize that if you are redeeming on BA, it doesn't end with the fuel surcharges. :/
Feb 18, 2019, 1:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG, 1MM
Posts: 377
On BA even purchased tickets require extra fees to select a seat ahead of time. At 24 hours prior to departure (I think or 48), you can look and see your assignment and change it at that point. Not just with award tickets.
Feb 18, 2019, 2:03 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Renton, WA
Programs: Alaska Mileage Plan MVP
Posts: 58
There's no charge to select F seats, there is for J. I don't believe this is anything new, although when I flew on a mixed itinerary F/J last October it was only $90 per passenger in J (which I didn't bother to pay).
Feb 18, 2019, 2:30 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,386
It’s not “as of late”, it’s been like this for years and years in J/Y+/Y (not F). Elites with sufficient status (BA or Oneworld) are exempted from the fees.
Feb 18, 2019, 3:25 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 100K, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 876
Ive never flown BA in anything other than F award, so this was a new encounter for me. The Alaska rep had zero idea, even after consulting with a supervisor so I can only guess they dont encounter it too often. Its definitely a ridiculous fee, especially for J.
Feb 18, 2019, 3:33 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,626
You are correct, and this is a way that AS could arrange for more elite perks with BA, i.e., being able to pick a seat in advance.
Feb 18, 2019, 4:04 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,842
And apparently tickets bought by certain corporate clients. One of my few business trips was on BA and I was surprised that I could pick a seat without paying for it. As I recall, I found some explanation either in the BA forum or on the BA site. Of course, that doesn't help with award tickets.
Feb 18, 2019, 4:12 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
We have award travel also on BA next month.
Found that AS agents had no idea about a lot of BA policies. For example, transiting vs layover. Contributors here on FT had answers before AS award desk. (BA charges more if you stay over rather than just transiting .) We are doing a 1 week layover on the way home. Fees are substantial.
Found out same about seat. We have F award SEA - BCN. BA does not have F cabins on their European flights. So, SEA to LHR is in F and we were able to select seats. LHR to BCN is in Business and not able to select seat without fee. Found out they are regular coach seats with tray across middle seat. No extra pitch or recline for business class. We will wait until 24 hours before and just select then. We do not have status on BA , which does make a difference .
Found that AS agents had no idea about a lot of BA policies. For example, transiting vs layover. Contributors here on FT had answers before AS award desk. (BA charges more if you stay over rather than just transiting .) We are doing a 1 week layover on the way home. Fees are substantial.
Found out same about seat. We have F award SEA - BCN. BA does not have F cabins on their European flights. So, SEA to LHR is in F and we were able to select seats. LHR to BCN is in Business and not able to select seat without fee. Found out they are regular coach seats with tray across middle seat. No extra pitch or recline for business class. We will wait until 24 hours before and just select then. We do not have status on BA , which does make a difference .
Last edited by pcoll; Feb 20, 2019 at 12:45 pm
Feb 18, 2019, 4:39 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
We have award travel also on BA next month.
Found that AS agents had no idea about a lot of BA policies. For example, transiting vs layover. Contributors here on FT had answers before AS award desk. (BA charges more if you stay over rather than just transiting .) We are doing a 1 week layover on the way home. Fees are substantial.
Found out same about seat. We have F award SEA - BCN. BA does not have F cabins on their European flights. So, SEA to LHR is in F and we were able to select seats. LHR to BCN is in Business and not able to select seat without fee. Found out they are regular coach seats with tray across middle seat. No extra pitch or recline for business class. We will wait until 48 hours before and just select then. We do not have status on BA , which does make a difference .
Found that AS agents had no idea about a lot of BA policies. For example, transiting vs layover. Contributors here on FT had answers before AS award desk. (BA charges more if you stay over rather than just transiting .) We are doing a 1 week layover on the way home. Fees are substantial.
Found out same about seat. We have F award SEA - BCN. BA does not have F cabins on their European flights. So, SEA to LHR is in F and we were able to select seats. LHR to BCN is in Business and not able to select seat without fee. Found out they are regular coach seats with tray across middle seat. No extra pitch or recline for business class. We will wait until 48 hours before and just select then. We do not have status on BA , which does make a difference .
There is a departure tax in the UK. If you connect through the UK you don't have to pay it but if you originate travel there (including departing after a stopover) you do. This is not BA policy, it's UK law. The taxes are significant, and are much higher in premium cabins than in economy.
If you don't want to pay the tax, don't depart from the UK. There are other options.
Feb 18, 2019, 4:40 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
We have award travel also on BA next month.
Found that AS agents had no idea about a lot of BA policies. For example, transiting vs layover. Contributors here on FT had answers before AS award desk. (BA charges more if you stay over rather than just transiting .) We are doing a 1 week layover on the way home. Fees are substantial.
Found out same about seat. We have F award SEA - BCN. BA does not have F cabins on their European flights. So, SEA to LHR is in F and we were able to select seats. LHR to BCN is in Business and not able to select seat without fee. Found out they are regular coach seats with tray across middle seat. No extra pitch or recline for business class. We will wait until 48 hours before and just select then. We do not have status on BA , which does make a difference .
Found that AS agents had no idea about a lot of BA policies. For example, transiting vs layover. Contributors here on FT had answers before AS award desk. (BA charges more if you stay over rather than just transiting .) We are doing a 1 week layover on the way home. Fees are substantial.
Found out same about seat. We have F award SEA - BCN. BA does not have F cabins on their European flights. So, SEA to LHR is in F and we were able to select seats. LHR to BCN is in Business and not able to select seat without fee. Found out they are regular coach seats with tray across middle seat. No extra pitch or recline for business class. We will wait until 48 hours before and just select then. We do not have status on BA , which does make a difference .
Feb 18, 2019, 4:44 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,626
Feb 18, 2019, 4:44 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,496
Feb 18, 2019, 4:46 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
IcelandAir has comfortable recliners (superior to domestic US non-lie-flat F seats) for J on all their flights, including within Europe. Also an AS partner...
Feb 18, 2019, 4:52 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2008
Location: "the world is my country"
Programs: Alaska 100K (aka OWS)
Posts: 810
It's been that way for years, whether mileage or purchased tickets; only F has been able to select seats. Imagine my shock when I purchased via Viking River Cruises this year and was able to pick a seat for no charge.
AS may not know anything about BA, but the same goes vice versa; tried to bring a guest into a Galleries lounge yesterday and was shot down, even after showing them the link from AS.
AS may not know anything about BA, but the same goes vice versa; tried to bring a guest into a Galleries lounge yesterday and was shot down, even after showing them the link from AS.