Seat Selection
Dec 9, 2014, 5:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Programs: BA GGL, NH SFC, IHG Diamond, Radisson VIP, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 835
Seat Selection
I wonder why a selected seat is "always" changed. I used to get a seat I chose, but it does not work anymore.
Changes were normally only one row behind until the last year or so, then it is getting worse and worse from this year. For example, I chose 6A, which was moved to 21A at the "gate" (I even thought it's a cabin upgrade). I checked in online today, which shows the originally selected 6A has been moved to 12C.
I wonder why, did anyone have the same experience in these days?
Changes were normally only one row behind until the last year or so, then it is getting worse and worse from this year. For example, I chose 6A, which was moved to 21A at the "gate" (I even thought it's a cabin upgrade). I checked in online today, which shows the originally selected 6A has been moved to 12C.
I wonder why, did anyone have the same experience in these days?
Dec 9, 2014, 6:01 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,811
I wonder why a selected seat is "always" changed. I used to get a seat I chose, but it does not work anymore.
Changes were normally only one row behind until the last year or so, then it is getting worse and worse from this year. For example, I chose 6A, which was moved to 21A at the "gate" (I even thought it's a cabin upgrade). I checked in online today, which shows the originally selected 6A has been moved to 12C.
I wonder why, did anyone have the same experience in these days?
Changes were normally only one row behind until the last year or so, then it is getting worse and worse from this year. For example, I chose 6A, which was moved to 21A at the "gate" (I even thought it's a cabin upgrade). I checked in online today, which shows the originally selected 6A has been moved to 12C.
I wonder why, did anyone have the same experience in these days?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...ifters-47.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...quot%3Bchanges
Dec 10, 2014, 12:38 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 846
It most likely has to do with the CE cabin being extended nearer the time of departure and by then many others would have pre assigned their seats hence you get "shifted" to nearer the back. I long have given up pre assigning the front rows and now choose either the exit rows (but even there you can get moved, depending on the Club configuration) or somewhere near the back of the plane.
If I still get moved I just think, it's one of these things and it doesn't bother me really.
If I still get moved I just think, it's one of these things and it doesn't bother me really.
Dec 10, 2014, 1:48 am
#4
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,774
I also think you are victim of the curtain shifters. This may well be a greater issue compared to a couple of years ago (though in fact it is nothing new), since POUGs, AUPs and UuA on (some) corporate tickets have come in. So in the quest for maximising revenues, the risk of late and frequent curtain shifts is now much higher. Plus the cabin refits / BMI fleet / LGW leases means that the number of rows down the back is a moveable feast too. Finally the chance of a middle seat being left empty next to you at the front of ET is being phased out, except on 737s B seats, there again 737s are going off to retirement.
Put that together, you are only worth going for the front of ET if you can watch the situation carefully and/or set up seat alerts in proprietary software such as ExpertFlyer. Otherwise I am afraid you are setting yourself up to be curtainated without notice.
Put that together, you are only worth going for the front of ET if you can watch the situation carefully and/or set up seat alerts in proprietary software such as ExpertFlyer. Otherwise I am afraid you are setting yourself up to be curtainated without notice.
Dec 10, 2014, 5:18 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,235
I find another regular feature (reserved to SCH and above?); at least this appears to happen to me on the vast majority of my recent LGW-EDI flights: Selecting an exit row seat, and then being moved forward. Did not happen with a Bronze card...
Dec 10, 2014, 7:32 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Programs: BA GGL, NH SFC, IHG Diamond, Radisson VIP, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 835
Thanks guys.
It happens too often, BA should pull the advance seat selection from the Gold benefits. I know seating might change even though if you select one in advance, but being moved from 6A to 21A (in particular at the boarding gate) was ridiculous!
It happens too often, BA should pull the advance seat selection from the Gold benefits. I know seating might change even though if you select one in advance, but being moved from 6A to 21A (in particular at the boarding gate) was ridiculous!
Dec 10, 2014, 7:41 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
If you don't like this, then surely the answer is to pick a seat further back that's less at risk of being shifted like this? Rather than deprive all Golds of a facility that most value and know how to work.