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
Mar 21, 2018, 6:58 am
#856
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA Gold, *A Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 654
Usually had pretty good luck when it’s come to having a blocked seat next to me, however on last weekends flights, there was no seat block in place despite the plane not being full and for my upcoming flights this weekend, no seat blocking either - despite EF showingnplenty of other blocked seats.
Who have i upset?!
Who have i upset?!
Mar 21, 2018, 7:01 am
#857
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US/UK - and elsewhere
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,559
I don't think it's vindictive at all. If the aircraft is almost full and a choice has to be made which previously-blocked middle seat should now be assigned to a late check-in then it makes sense to put him/her between two passengers on the same PNR, who will probably not mind sitting next to each other, over two single passengers on different PNRs.
G_S would trump a N_N anytime, G_S vs B-B maybe, G_S vs S_S might be more marginal.
At least the old 767's didn't have this issue!
Mar 21, 2018, 7:29 am
#858
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: York, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,184
At LGW in January the check in agent said that there was someone sat between us and moved us, despite it being a TS block.
Mar 21, 2018, 7:41 am
#859
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,921
Originally Posted by jwhite9185
Usually had pretty good luck when it’s come to having a blocked seat next to me, however on last weekends flights, there was no seat block in place despite the plane not being full and for my upcoming flights this weekend, no seat blocking either - despite EF showingnplenty of other blocked seats.
Who have i upset?!
Who have i upset?!
What did EF show at T-72?
Is the seat next to you this weekend occupied or available? is it less than 72 hours before departure?
Last edited by scottishpoet; Mar 21, 2018 at 7:47 am
Mar 21, 2018, 9:07 am
#860
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: US/UK - and elsewhere
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,559
With our flight I checked at check-in - and the agent said that someone had put someone between us, but couldn't move us since there weren't any other seat configurations available.... .
Mar 21, 2018, 9:15 am
#861
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BA Gold, *A Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 654
One is showing as taken, the other as empty (but not blocked). Hoping it stays that way - or better still, blocked, as I’m in the twosome at the rear of the 747 on the second flight.
Mar 21, 2018, 9:35 am
#863
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: between MUC and NUE
Programs: BA Gold, LH Senator
Posts: 423
As commented upthread, that is the wrong approach here. You best sit together rather than split tactically, BA seems to allow middle seat sales when people do this on the same PNR. Statistically you best book window and middle if both are Gold. On the other hand you could do window + aisle if on separate PNRs.
Mar 21, 2018, 9:45 am
#864
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: BA exec, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 556
Just wondering what recent experience GCH are seeing in WTP on booking and seeing seats initially allocated before you go in and manually change if so desired?
January SJC to LHR (787-9) I was put (on booking) into the middle seat (a bassinet...yeah keep the laughter down
) of the middle section at the bulkhead? Cabin fairly empty and both adjacent aisle seats showing open but empty. I decided to leave it keeping an eye on EF and ask at the airport why I had been allocated this seat. The check in agent was bemused and asked his colleague, promptly moving me to an empty window / aisle pair.
Up coming LHR to DXB return. I’ve been put into (777) 21B with 21A (bassinet!!) blocked. Return I am in 24A with 24B open to book, seems lots of room on both flights so far on BA/EF.
January SJC to LHR (787-9) I was put (on booking) into the middle seat (a bassinet...yeah keep the laughter down
) of the middle section at the bulkhead? Cabin fairly empty and both adjacent aisle seats showing open but empty. I decided to leave it keeping an eye on EF and ask at the airport why I had been allocated this seat. The check in agent was bemused and asked his colleague, promptly moving me to an empty window / aisle pair.Up coming LHR to DXB return. I’ve been put into (777) 21B with 21A (bassinet!!) blocked. Return I am in 24A with 24B open to book, seems lots of room on both flights so far on BA/EF.
Last edited by Telecasterman; Mar 21, 2018 at 9:59 am
Mar 21, 2018, 9:46 am
#865
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,992
In that scenario I'd put myself (Gold) in the middle seat and my partner (Silver) in the aisle or window, close to the front of the ET cabin but not too close to the curtain. That's my policy, and we've achieved a 100% record in keeping the third seat free so far this year.
Mar 21, 2018, 10:32 am
#866
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,900
Had an interesting (and comforting) experience yesterday. I was in exit row ET, with the seat next to me blocked - I'm assuming by TS.
On this journey I was travelling with one of my colleagues, who I needed to spend time with and onboard seemed to be the perfect time to do so, but his assigned seat was about 10 rows away. He's a Bronze as a data point.
I approached the gate staff before boarding was called to see if we could sit together. She confirmed the seat was free but she wasn't able to move him to it as he was Bronze and had to make a call to be able to make it happen (and I heard her confirm that I was Gold before it was released). So it seems that TS holds, even at the gate, without higher authorisation.
On this journey I was travelling with one of my colleagues, who I needed to spend time with and onboard seemed to be the perfect time to do so, but his assigned seat was about 10 rows away. He's a Bronze as a data point.
I approached the gate staff before boarding was called to see if we could sit together. She confirmed the seat was free but she wasn't able to move him to it as he was Bronze and had to make a call to be able to make it happen (and I heard her confirm that I was Gold before it was released). So it seems that TS holds, even at the gate, without higher authorisation.
Mar 21, 2018, 11:18 am
#869
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,992
Given that seat map, that is exactly what I would choose. But keep an eye on it, and if the curtain moves back be prepared to move yourselves back too. I always prefer to keep one row of seats between the curtain and me, just in case of a last-minute curtain move that puts me back in row 25. You might even consider putting yourselves in row 11 right now, which isn't too far back and probably gives you more chance of keeping that window seat free.
Mar 21, 2018, 11:33 am
#870
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,921
On that seat map I would either annoy the person on 10E by picking 10F, but as you seem to be two people that will not work for you 
or take 12A &B and hope for an aircraft change from an A319 to an A320
Unless I know that we arrive at an airport where we can get off stairs at the back in which case I might pick something closer to the rear
or take 12A &B and hope for an aircraft change from an A319 to an A320
Unless I know that we arrive at an airport where we can get off stairs at the back in which case I might pick something closer to the rear