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
Feb 7, 2018, 2:01 am
#781
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
So went to Check in and of course they offered me 8A, the last row of CE and couldn't go higher. Didn't print my boarding pass, checked an hour later, went up to 7A. Will keep on checking every hour or so until the evening when i'll give up, print the pass and just ask at the airport.
Update:
Oh nice, just got 2A!
Update:
Oh nice, just got 2A!
Last edited by ahmetdouas; Feb 7, 2018 at 2:31 am
Feb 7, 2018, 2:29 am
#782
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,991
So went to Check in and of course they offered me 8A, the last row of CE and couldn't go higher. Didn't print my boarding pass, checked an hour later, went up to 7A. Will keep on checking every hour or so until the evening when i'll give up, print the pass and just ask at the airport.
Feb 7, 2018, 4:11 am
#783
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Feb 9, 2018, 5:55 am
#784
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,406
Just as a data point I was on an Iberia A340 from LHR to MAD last Friday, in economy, and booked under a BA flight number. TMS worked and I had a set of 2 (KL) seats all to myself on a rather busy flight.
Feb 9, 2018, 4:06 pm
#785
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
Interesting to see, I booked a last minute EDI-LGW a few days back and still managed to end up in the front row of whY with a spare middle next to. AUP'd to CE anyway, but was interesting that even being #82 to check-in it was still available.
When I used to do that journey (each way) in Y, I always found taking the front few rows on a reasonably full flight would end up with middle seat taken (even though at OLCI it showed empty) but a few rows back would offer an empty middle. Who knows.
When I used to do that journey (each way) in Y, I always found taking the front few rows on a reasonably full flight would end up with middle seat taken (even though at OLCI it showed empty) but a few rows back would offer an empty middle. Who knows.
Feb 9, 2018, 4:47 pm
#786
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,382
I’m a Gold now and have seats reserved in the front row of CE on several flights.
Next month I’ll be downgraded to silver.
Does anybody know whether we’re likely to get bumped out of those seats when the downgrade happens?
Hopefully as long as we never touch anything until check in we should be ok?
Next month I’ll be downgraded to silver.
Does anybody know whether we’re likely to get bumped out of those seats when the downgrade happens?
Hopefully as long as we never touch anything until check in we should be ok?
Feb 15, 2018, 7:32 am
#787
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 5
Hello everybody!
On Saturday I will be on BA283 to LAX. However, as a Blue member I only get a choice of 18 seats during the T-72 period (unfortunately I can't attach a pic). All of these seats are in the middle of the 747, rows 50-54.
Since I guess these seats won't last for all passengers who didn't reserve a seat in advance, will the blocked seats get avbl. again at the beginning of OLCI or only at the airport?
Maybe ExpertFlyer knows more...
Thanks in advance!
On Saturday I will be on BA283 to LAX. However, as a Blue member I only get a choice of 18 seats during the T-72 period (unfortunately I can't attach a pic). All of these seats are in the middle of the 747, rows 50-54.
Since I guess these seats won't last for all passengers who didn't reserve a seat in advance, will the blocked seats get avbl. again at the beginning of OLCI or only at the airport?
Maybe ExpertFlyer knows more...
Thanks in advance!
Feb 15, 2018, 7:53 am
#788
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: A hop, skip and jump away from MAN.
Programs: BAEC Gold, ex-VS Gold, ex-UA Gold, Premier Inn Platinum-Iridium
Posts: 1,114
Hello everybody!
On Saturday I will be on BA283 to LAX. However, as a Blue member I only get a choice of 18 seats during the T-72 period (unfortunately I can't attach a pic). All of these seats are in the middle of the 747, rows 50-54.
Since I guess these seats won't last for all passengers who didn't reserve a seat in advance, will the blocked seats get avbl. again at the beginning of OLCI or only at the airport?
On Saturday I will be on BA283 to LAX. However, as a Blue member I only get a choice of 18 seats during the T-72 period (unfortunately I can't attach a pic). All of these seats are in the middle of the 747, rows 50-54.
Since I guess these seats won't last for all passengers who didn't reserve a seat in advance, will the blocked seats get avbl. again at the beginning of OLCI or only at the airport?
This means the aircraft has a relatively small economy cabin - it's the zone between 4 and 5 doors on the main deck. Rows 49 and forward are either genuinely occupied or showing as blocked - Theoretical Seating is holding the seat. There's a possibility some may open up closer to the time depending on how folk who have higher status or are in groups move around the cabin, but I wouldn't bank on this. Take what you can get that's closest to your preference for now, and ask at the airport if there's any chance of something else.
Feb 15, 2018, 8:10 am
#789
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: 63,854
Hello everybody!
On Saturday I will be on BA283 to LAX. However, as a Blue member I only get a choice of 18 seats during the T-72 period (unfortunately I can't attach a pic). All of these seats are in the middle of the 747, rows 50-54.
Since I guess these seats won't last for all passengers who didn't reserve a seat in advance, will the blocked seats get avbl. again at the beginning of OLCI or only at the airport?
On Saturday I will be on BA283 to LAX. However, as a Blue member I only get a choice of 18 seats during the T-72 period (unfortunately I can't attach a pic). All of these seats are in the middle of the 747, rows 50-54.
Since I guess these seats won't last for all passengers who didn't reserve a seat in advance, will the blocked seats get avbl. again at the beginning of OLCI or only at the airport?
Feb 15, 2018, 8:56 am
#790
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 5
Thank you mjh0 and c-w-s!
Yeah, I already asked a friend yesterday how full the buckets are and he already told me that all buckets are still open. So I guess the eco won't be full on that flight.
I was hoping to get 50A+C or H+K for me and my companion, but wasn't aware of the seat blocking BA does for it's status customers until I found this thread.
So I'll check in tomorrow and have a close eye onto the seat map. Just a quick question for the OLCI, I must take the option 'collect boarding passes at the airport then, correct?
Yeah, I already asked a friend yesterday how full the buckets are and he already told me that all buckets are still open. So I guess the eco won't be full on that flight.
I was hoping to get 50A+C or H+K for me and my companion, but wasn't aware of the seat blocking BA does for it's status customers until I found this thread.
So I'll check in tomorrow and have a close eye onto the seat map. Just a quick question for the OLCI, I must take the option 'collect boarding passes at the airport then, correct?
Feb 15, 2018, 9:02 am
#791
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,092
If you are using the app to check in as well, do be careful as it can be a little too easy to "fat-finger" it and accidentally hit the wrong button and get your BP
But basically, I just check in on the app when OLCI opens, then download my BP a few hours before travel.
Feb 15, 2018, 9:06 am
#792
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: A hop, skip and jump away from MAN.
Programs: BAEC Gold, ex-VS Gold, ex-UA Gold, Premier Inn Platinum-Iridium
Posts: 1,114
Feb 15, 2018, 10:36 am
#793
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: 63,854
It's almost not that far: after you get to the seat map, you select the best you can, then you get the main check-in button. You can do that stage, the status in the middle of the screen will change from "Not checked in" to "checked in" and at that point you get the "print" "collect" "PDF" (etc) options - just stop there. Then if you re-enter OLCI you get the ability to change seats. On the App be aware there is a one-step screen version where you enter the number of bags and you will then go all the way to boarding passes - make sure you select the slightly greyed out line allowing seating changes instead. But BertieBadger is absolutely right about fat-finger syndrome - don't do it on a bus or the tube! Since there are two of you going to LAX, there's a fairly high chance that you will have to collect boarding passes at LHR anyway, see the "Why can't I check in" thread in the Dashboard.
Feb 15, 2018, 11:25 am
#794
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 5
It's almost not that far: after you get to the seat map, you select the best you can, then you get the main check-in button. You can do that stage, the status in the middle of the screen will change from "Not checked in" to "checked in" and at that point you get the "print" "collect" "PDF" (etc) options - just stop there. Then if you re-enter OLCI you get the ability to change seats. On the App be aware there is a one-step screen version where you enter the number of bags and you will then go all the way to boarding passes - make sure you select the slightly greyed out line allowing seating changes instead. But BertieBadger is absolutely right about fat-finger syndrome - don't do it on a bus or the tube! Since there are two of you going to LAX, there's a fairly high chance that you will have to collect boarding passes at LHR anyway, see the "Why can't I check in" thread in the Dashboard.
We're already coming in on a connection on BA935 from DUS. Thanks for all the help
Will report how it went on Saturday!
Feb 15, 2018, 2:44 pm
#795
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold & GGL & CCR, HH Diam, Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Spire, Tastecard
Posts: 7,549
do we know if the dynamic / logic / algorithm is 'live' / moves with me?
a/c swap means I am no longer in the e/e row. (sadly, no my flights to alert me). so have moved myself at OLCI to a random old row taking a window seat (which I wouldn't normally do for a flight this length). whole row was empty. will fly now block the seats next to me or was that sort of only next to my previous seat?
a/c swap means I am no longer in the e/e row. (sadly, no my flights to alert me). so have moved myself at OLCI to a random old row taking a window seat (which I wouldn't normally do for a flight this length). whole row was empty. will fly now block the seats next to me or was that sort of only next to my previous seat?