Mar 22, 2018, 3:34 am
Last edit by: corporate-wage-slave
This thread examines BA's use of Amadeus' Theoretical Seating module. This kicks in at T-72 hours before departure, so this thread is primarily of interest to those travelling within the next few days.
FAQ : 'Theoretical Seating' : Blocked seats and status
Sep 16, 2016, 2:09 am
#181
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: London
Programs: Don't even mention it. Grrrrrrr.
Posts: 968
I've had a look at the seat map myself and it looks to me like the entirety of rows 5 and 6 are unoccupied.
Even IF someone was in one of those seats - you'd only ever see 'unavailable' on BA's site - it doesn't distinguish between blocked and occupied.
Even IF someone was in one of those seats - you'd only ever see 'unavailable' on BA's site - it doesn't distinguish between blocked and occupied.
Sep 16, 2016, 2:10 am
#182
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
What is the easiest way, at the airport or when checking in to know if the seat next to you is blocked or taken.
In the app, they just looked greyed out, and at least in the CCR when the lady brought up the seat map it looked full and she said all seats were taken. Then onboard I had the whole row (#6) to myself.
KF
In the app, they just looked greyed out, and at least in the CCR when the lady brought up the seat map it looked full and she said all seats were taken. Then onboard I had the whole row (#6) to myself.
KF
I believe Staff see the appropriate view of the plane as is appropriate for the customer they are looking up. I've no idea what it looks like if they just look the flight up rather than via the customer first.
Sep 16, 2016, 2:11 am
#183
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Gold Actually
Posts: 271
Yesterday ET, about 80% full, A319.
We had 10AB and C was blocked. Another pax asked the FA if he could move into C and she gave the okay. Wasn't the greatest experience, but I wasn't so fussed about it. Still, I didn't feel guilty at all when I woke him up to head to the WC. On the other segment we had 10AB and C seem to have been blocked as well.
We had 10AB and C was blocked. Another pax asked the FA if he could move into C and she gave the okay. Wasn't the greatest experience, but I wasn't so fussed about it. Still, I didn't feel guilty at all when I woke him up to head to the WC. On the other segment we had 10AB and C seem to have been blocked as well.
Sep 16, 2016, 2:12 am
#184
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,287
Am I right in thinking that if two GGLs were to select seats A and C on a shorthaul flight in advance that it'd be extremely unlikely that B would be available to anyone else from T-72 onwards unless the flight was completely full?
Sep 16, 2016, 2:14 am
#185
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,930
Sep 16, 2016, 2:22 am
#186
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DWC
Programs: OWS, *A G
Posts: 626
Is this an A321 or 767? A seats are always windows, but they can look different on the App if looking at the longhaul seating. It's difficult to give anything but general advice, given the details we have here, but two rules are (1) when playing curtain roulette, the house tends to win. And (2) you are best to select a seat you want rather than let someone throw you into a middle seat at the last moment.
If it is longhaul seating, and you have a fare bucket higher than N, then you best ring up and try to UuA into Club "Europe". Or POUG if offered.
If it is longhaul seating, and you have a fare bucket higher than N, then you best ring up and try to UuA into Club "Europe". Or POUG if offered.
Love the expression "curtain roulette" ^
I'm still puzzled how:
- the website says I have an allocated seat (04A, aisle)
- the app says my seat is reserved and was confirmed being "04A (middle)"
I think the writing's on the wall and I will pick a different seat. Will see if I can get a better seat when OLCI opens.
Sep 16, 2016, 9:13 am
#187
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Helvetia
Programs: AS; BA Silver; UA; HH Gold; Sprüngli Connaisseur
Posts: 2,914
Sep 16, 2016, 10:16 am
#189
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond *, IHG, Couples Romance Rewards
Posts: 2,354
My experience of theoretical seating has left me with acres of space around me on two CW flights this week with an otherwise full CW cabin (I checked) - even to the extent of putting a non status colleague of mine into the position of having to select a middle seat at OLCI next to an unrelated person when two aisles (next to me and at my footrest) were empty.
Is this common?
Is this common?
Sep 17, 2016, 3:44 pm
#190
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Highlands but mostly GIG
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 485
Mrs Zippyboarder and I are due to travel on 04/10 ABZ-LHR then 05/10 LHR-MUC.
We are on seperate PNR´s. I am on a paid ticket booked in J and I and she is on a RFS, as she is a Blue she cannot select seats before OLCI. I have booked 1C for both flights hoping to slot her into 1B (ABZ-LHR) and 1A (LHR-MUC) at OLCI.
Does this theoretical seating mean that she wont be able to select 1B and 1A even at OLCI.
I was thinking about phoning the Gold line to see if they could select seats for her beforehand but can´t see much point if she is going to be shifted a T-72.
Any advice welcome
We are on seperate PNR´s. I am on a paid ticket booked in J and I and she is on a RFS, as she is a Blue she cannot select seats before OLCI. I have booked 1C for both flights hoping to slot her into 1B (ABZ-LHR) and 1A (LHR-MUC) at OLCI.
Does this theoretical seating mean that she wont be able to select 1B and 1A even at OLCI.
I was thinking about phoning the Gold line to see if they could select seats for her beforehand but can´t see much point if she is going to be shifted a T-72.
Any advice welcome
Sep 17, 2016, 4:31 pm
#191
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,857
Sep 18, 2016, 7:50 am
#193
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,593
What a good idea. Increases shareholder value and provides customers with more choice ☺️. The transactional vs loyalty approach makes far more sense.
Sep 18, 2016, 11:27 am
#194
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 107
I booked a flight HKG-LHR about 10 hours out. Major disaster with no business class availability!
I sucked it up like a martyr worthy of hero status, and flew premium economy. The front row of premium economy was showing as blocked out, so I selected a seat in the last row.
On boarding, I think I was the only Gold in PE, and a very nice CC member came and found me, and told me that the entire front row was available, and I could take one of the exit rows.
Another CC member came over(CSD?) and made sure I was OK in the exit row, and noted my change of seat. We had a little chat and he was saying he could see all of the seats as blocked out, 24hrs out on his iPad, and wasn't sure why I wouldn't be able to select them.
Fantastic service by the cabin crew, one of the best I've had on BA for a while. But what was the deal with the seat selection, anyone know why I couldn't reserve those seats? Just so that I'm aware, in case I'm faced with PE again!
I sucked it up like a martyr worthy of hero status, and flew premium economy. The front row of premium economy was showing as blocked out, so I selected a seat in the last row.
On boarding, I think I was the only Gold in PE, and a very nice CC member came and found me, and told me that the entire front row was available, and I could take one of the exit rows.
Another CC member came over(CSD?) and made sure I was OK in the exit row, and noted my change of seat. We had a little chat and he was saying he could see all of the seats as blocked out, 24hrs out on his iPad, and wasn't sure why I wouldn't be able to select them.
Fantastic service by the cabin crew, one of the best I've had on BA for a while. But what was the deal with the seat selection, anyone know why I couldn't reserve those seats? Just so that I'm aware, in case I'm faced with PE again!
Sep 18, 2016, 12:34 pm
#195
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond *, IHG, Couples Romance Rewards
Posts: 2,354
I booked a flight HKG-LHR about 10 hours out. Major disaster with no business class availability!
I sucked it up like a martyr worthy of hero status, and flew premium economy. The front row of premium economy was showing as blocked out, so I selected a seat in the last row.
On boarding, I think I was the only Gold in PE, and a very nice CC member came and found me, and told me that the entire front row was available, and I could take one of the exit rows.
Another CC member came over(CSD?) and made sure I was OK in the exit row, and noted my change of seat. We had a little chat and he was saying he could see all of the seats as blocked out, 24hrs out on his iPad, and wasn't sure why I wouldn't be able to select them.
Fantastic service by the cabin crew, one of the best I've had on BA for a while. But what was the deal with the seat selection, anyone know why I couldn't reserve those seats? Just so that I'm aware, in case I'm faced with PE again!
I sucked it up like a martyr worthy of hero status, and flew premium economy. The front row of premium economy was showing as blocked out, so I selected a seat in the last row.
On boarding, I think I was the only Gold in PE, and a very nice CC member came and found me, and told me that the entire front row was available, and I could take one of the exit rows.
Another CC member came over(CSD?) and made sure I was OK in the exit row, and noted my change of seat. We had a little chat and he was saying he could see all of the seats as blocked out, 24hrs out on his iPad, and wasn't sure why I wouldn't be able to select them.
Fantastic service by the cabin crew, one of the best I've had on BA for a while. But what was the deal with the seat selection, anyone know why I couldn't reserve those seats? Just so that I'm aware, in case I'm faced with PE again!