One thing to consider is whether you'd be willing to pay a few hundred bucks to upgrade to premium economy. As discussed in the following thread, BA offers same-day, space available upgrades at check in. If it's available, and if you're willing to pay it, I think (though I'm not 100% sure) you don't get any credit for any amount you paid previously to pre-select a seat. I also am unsure of the impact (if any) upgrading has on baggage fees. I'm sure someone out there can answer both of these questions.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...-thread-3.html

Three different AA agents have given me 3 different answers about whether Main Cabin gives me an advance seat assignment.

It's as if no one has ever worked a reservation where AA has sold a ticket on a BA flight :eek:

Airlines have gotten really greedy. They go as far as to perform misleading advertising, as it appears to be the case here.

BA charges for seat selection, even in J (Club World), the only cabin that gets free advance seat selection is First (though 1A/K is blocked for Gold/OWE). Besides First only BA Gold/OWE gets free seat selection at booking in all cabins, there's many a thread/post about this on the BA forum that debate the pros/cons of this policy. In short my read on it is that it breaks down along status lines, those who have Gold/OWE like this arrangement, especially in J since BA has only a couple J seats that don't suck on each plane, and it means that those booking late (and paying the most) or are Gold/OWE often can select the better seats. BA also has 'theoretical seating' where they block seats next to Gold/OWE pax to try and keep the adjacent seat empty. Personally, I like the BA system as it has benefited me but if I was not OWE pretty sure I'd not like it :D. Moral of the story is if picking your seat ahead of time is important to you and you do not want to pay for you seats then you might want to avoid BA, AA has a number of their own flights from JFK-LHR to pick from.

So when the AA Agent tells me there is a process where AA can secure me a BA advance seat assignment, since it is Main Cabin and not Basic Economy, are they just mis-informed/pulling rules out of their nether regions?

AA forum master thread--> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...award-etc.html

Many threads on BA seating policy. You pay for (pre) seat selection even on BA business class, unless mid top level status.

So then why am I paying AA for advance seat assignment when I can't get one?

In this instance, booking on a BA codeshare, what you're paying for with main vs basic is that your ticket is changeable (with fee) vs basic where what you book is what you must fly and no changes are allowed. I'd agree with you that AA could be more transparent in this, especially in this case where this is one of their closest partners and they have a JV. The seat selection page on the booking flow on aa.com tells you that you need to contact BA to get seats but is silent on the fact that said seats may come at a cost.

They could be more transparent, or, they could just *not* charge you for a seat assignment when your ticket does *not* include one.

Not just Gold/OWE according to BA itself:

Tier Seat selection

Gold/oneworld Emerald Free seat selection from the time of booking
for everyone in your booking and friends and family on other bookings, who are travelling with you in the same travel class and on the same flight*.

Silver/oneworld Sapphire Free seat selection (excluding exit row seats on long haul flights) from the time of booking
for everyone in your booking. Exit row seats on long haul flights can be selected for free from 24 hours before departure*.

Also according to BA Flex Plus seats are free.

Hi Everyone - came across this thread and wanted to double check the current policy. I booked business class using American miles and is it true I cannot select a seat on the BA segment without paying extra? It will just be assigned to me at some point?

I don't have any status with AA / BA.

TIA!

That is partly correct. You cannot select seats on the BA flight,until online check in opens. Once check in opens, you can select a seat without charge

BA's policy can be found at https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...ving-your-seat

Great, thank you!

I've got a BA flight booked next month LHR-SEA in business class. I've recently obtained AA Platinum Status. But BA isn't seeing my AA status, and so is trying to charge me for seat selection. When I call BA and talk to them they aren't able to see my OWS status. Any suggestions on what I need to do? I've already had BA try removing and re-adding my AAdvantage number.