BA Seating Policy Guide
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#31
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 150
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 36,909
The starting point is that you'd have to pay the change fee (usually £100) plus the fare difference to the current cheapest WT+ fare.
However, if you do this when you get to the airport to check in (or do it via the website before you OLCI), then you're likely to find that you have to pay the fare difference to change to the full W class fare as the other WT+ fares typically have advance purchase requirements even if there are seats available in lower WT+ booking classes.
Alternatively, if loads and yield management allow, you may be offered a special offer POUG via the website to upgrade to WT+, or you may be able to buy a special offer upgrade at the airport for a similar price. These are not guaranteed, though, even if there is space in the higher cabin, so you can't rely on being able to do this at a special offer rate. Try this thread for ideas about how much a special offer upgrade might cost (but be warned that many of the prices quoted in that thread are not for special offers as many posters are unable to distinguish between them and normal fare difference upgrade prices): http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ng-thread.html
I don't know what you mean by "cheaper to do it this way". Cheaper than what? This is how much upgrading to WT+ costs, but the special offers are usually cheaper than fare difference upgrades. But you can't know in advance whether or not you will get a special offer, whether at the time of online check-in or airport check-in.
#33
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,467
Is there a way to view the assigned seats (exit rows) before buying a ticket on the BA site? When checking the seat map on Expert Flyer site, the exit rows are always blocked, except 14 days in advance. Then one can see which seats are now occupied. Since BA gold members and OW emerald members can book the exit row more than 14 days in advance, will that be depicted on Expert Flyer site? Lastly, do OW sapphire members pay for exit row seats once seats open for assignment 14 days before the flight?
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
Is there a way to view the assigned seats (exit rows) before buying a ticket on the BA site? When checking the seat map on Expert Flyer site, the exit rows are always blocked, except 14 days in advance. Then one can see which seats are now occupied. Since BA gold members and OW emerald members can book the exit row more than 14 days in advance, will that be depicted on Expert Flyer site? Lastly, do OW sapphire members pay for exit row seats once seats open for assignment 14 days before the flight?
#35
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Bronze; HHonors; ClubCarlson
Posts: 122
I recently booked seats LHR-MAD. Outbound is operated by IB inbound is on BA. I was surprised to see that seats were assigned immediately on booking. On My Booking I'm told the seats can't be changed unless I pay extra. Normally I get no allocation of seat at time of booking unless paying extra and subsequent bookings to other destinations have, as usual, not given me an assigned seat. Anyone know why the MAD seats have been assigned in advance? Just curious.
#36
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LCY
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,198
I recently booked seats LHR-MAD. Outbound is operated by IB inbound is on BA. I was surprised to see that seats were assigned immediately on booking. On My Booking I'm told the seats can't be changed unless I pay extra. Normally I get no allocation of seat at time of booking unless paying extra and subsequent bookings to other destinations have, as usual, not given me an assigned seat. Anyone know why the MAD seats have been assigned in advance? Just curious.
#37
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Balham - Gateway to The South
Programs: BA Bronze
Posts: 2,020
Grrrrr,
I just upgraded on a POUG WT - WT+ as expert flyer was showing exit row seats 22 JK on a 77W as available....
Can't book them ( departure this Sunday 16th) so am stuck in the middle bulk head seats as no window/ aisle seats are available.....
Aisle/cot seats show as bookable until I click to change, they then disappear.
MrD is doing his pieces as I have now spent £x on 'worse' seats, we had twin row 50 seats before.
I just upgraded on a POUG WT - WT+ as expert flyer was showing exit row seats 22 JK on a 77W as available....
Can't book them ( departure this Sunday 16th) so am stuck in the middle bulk head seats as no window/ aisle seats are available.....
Aisle/cot seats show as bookable until I click to change, they then disappear.
MrD is doing his pieces as I have now spent £x on 'worse' seats, we had twin row 50 seats before.
#38
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Bronze; HHonors; ClubCarlson
Posts: 122
Yes but this was a BA booking and they never usually allocate seats immediately - except with a extra payment. Is it because the outbound flight was operated by IB?
#39
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,773
Can anyone confirm the position on this please? i.e. can BA Silvers/OW Sapphires book exit seats for free from T-14, or do they still have to pay? The seating policy isn't very clear on this. Thanks.
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 36,909
Silver was "polished" in a high profile campaign. Removing the exit row benefit tarnished Silver much more than the polishing improved it.
NB - This is only for long-haul, in case there's any confusion.
#41
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Carbon Conscious Travel
Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 20,477
BA introduced a slight change to the seating tariff last week which affects passengers travelling in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus on wide body, twin aisle aircraft. The seat charges have been adjusted so that the seats at the window side of the aisle now cost a little more than before whereas those in the central block between the aisles now cost a little less.
Example of the new charges on 777 and 747 aircraft
World Traveller
Outer seats [ABC] and [HJK] £30
Central seats [DEFG] £26
World Traveller Plus
Outer seats [AB] and [JK] £37
Central seats [DEFG] £33
There is no change to WT twin seats (still charged at £35) or exit seats (at £55) in WT and WT+
On single aisle aircraft, all WT seats (with the exception of exit seats) are priced at £15.
Example of the new charges on 777 and 747 aircraft
World Traveller
Outer seats [ABC] and [HJK] £30
Central seats [DEFG] £26
World Traveller Plus
Outer seats [AB] and [JK] £37
Central seats [DEFG] £33
There is no change to WT twin seats (still charged at £35) or exit seats (at £55) in WT and WT+
On single aisle aircraft, all WT seats (with the exception of exit seats) are priced at £15.
#42
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 2,359
BA introduced a slight change to the seating tariff last week which affects passengers travelling in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus on wide body, twin aisle aircraft. The seat charges have been adjusted so that the seats at the window side of the aisle now cost a little more than before whereas those in the central block between the aisles now cost a little less.
Example of the new charges on 777 and 747 aircraft
World Traveller
Outer seats [ABC] and [HJK] £30
Central seats [DEFG] £26
World Traveller Plus
Outer seats [AB] and [JK] £37
Central seats [DEFG] £33
There is no change to WT twin seats (still charged at £35) or exit seats (at £55) in WT and WT+
On single aisle aircraft, all WT seats (with the exception of exit seats) are priced at £15.
Example of the new charges on 777 and 747 aircraft
World Traveller
Outer seats [ABC] and [HJK] £30
Central seats [DEFG] £26
World Traveller Plus
Outer seats [AB] and [JK] £37
Central seats [DEFG] £33
There is no change to WT twin seats (still charged at £35) or exit seats (at £55) in WT and WT+
On single aisle aircraft, all WT seats (with the exception of exit seats) are priced at £15.

#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 36,909