Soft Top

As I had assumed at T-72 the bassinet seats became available in MMB on our Saturday flight LGW - BDA but cannot be reserved.

I know my rights so queue a phone call to the Executive Club.

Assistant - "Hello"
Me - "Hello. I'd like to book some seats for our flight"
blah, blah, blah....
Assistant - "Ah, but sir, these seats are for parents travelling with infants and you cannot book them"
Me - "DYKWIA - I am a Flyertalker and it is T-72 so I think you will find I can"
Assistant - "Well blow me so you can! You're booked in 15E and 15F but if a traveller with an infant does want them you will be moved"
Me - "I completely understand - thank you very much"

OK, this may have been embellished somewhat what effect but politely asking the agent to try as it was T-72 now has us in the seats we wanted with direct isle access. Yay

windowontheAside

Well done!

I've done this a lot and never been moved, so fingers crossed for you. I would say at least half the agents that I have spoken to are unaware it can be done, and need to be asked to try.

Only1BD

Lucky you! I was flatly refused at T-12 on Saturday - turns out the whole of the 'bassinet' row was empty so I moved one row forward for a very pleasant and roomy flight.

I wasn't aware of the T-72 ruling, so appreciate you posting that - always good to know these things; just keep it to FT though

the_outcast

Good to know, thanks.

I will be on that flight next week myself, going the other way, and am trying to make sure that those two seats are reserved for my wife and I. Not a fan of stepping over others, or being stepped over for that matter...

At least I now know when to call and make the request.

BA6501

You can do it online via rj.com

DANNYB111

This

Soft Top

I did not know that. I will try at T-72 for my return.

Thanks

Virazuno

You have saved me quite literally hours of convincing the phone agents to do it. ^^^

akinldn

I learn something new everyday!

Tiger_lily

I've done it on the phone but thanks for the heads up on rj.com ^

Thing is, unless you book very last minute, don't the bassinet seats come up for selection if there's an infant on your booking as part of the free seat selection? So any parent with any sense would book them anyway at time of booking.

Virazuno

Yes, they would. But the query here is from childless travellers wanting the (now unblocked) bassinet seat, after T-72.

MMB doesn't let you plonk yourself in even though the seat becomes available. It requires a call to BA. Or, as we've learnt, rj.com.

Soft Top

I think what Tiger_lily is trying to say is that the likelihood of being bumped from the seats is hopefully small as any parent travelling with an infant would likely have already booked their Bassinet seats already to make sure they get one unless they booked at less than T-72.

JAXBA

True, the chance of being bumped by an parent and infant is minor.

The chance of being bumped by someone with a medical need for a bulkhead is higher.

GadgetGal

People with medical needs are allowed to pre-book seats free of charge over the phone. Thought I imagine the likelihood of last minute travel with medical needs might be slightly higher than [able-bodied] passengers with infants travelling last-mitnute

Doc Savage

Interesting choice of words....