BA to start charging for front row seats (rumours)
Apr 3, 2017, 10:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 79
BA to start charging for front row seats (rumours)
(don't shoot the messenger!)
Just got off the phone with BA booking a couple of flights - have been told by an agent that apparently there are rumours that BA is planning on introducing charges for front row seats (including for Gold members) in CE. They had a lot of issues trying to reserve those for a number of customers over the weekend with no luck, and the rumour has it that it's due to change in IT systems that will introduce those charges. Has anyone heard anything about it?
Just got off the phone with BA booking a couple of flights - have been told by an agent that apparently there are rumours that BA is planning on introducing charges for front row seats (including for Gold members) in CE. They had a lot of issues trying to reserve those for a number of customers over the weekend with no luck, and the rumour has it that it's due to change in IT systems that will introduce those charges. Has anyone heard anything about it?
Apr 3, 2017, 10:16 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,162
what would be the point - the front row seats in regular CE are really not all that great UNLESS one is seriously tall and needs the legroom: the combination of being by the door for general boarding, tray table in the arm-rest, no under seat bag storage etc. actually makes them slightly annoying seats, in my opinion...
I am fairly convinced that a silent minority (majority?) of Gold card holders pick the front row just "because they can"; how many of them would pay for the privilege is a very debatable question...I, for one, most certainly would not
I am fairly convinced that a silent minority (majority?) of Gold card holders pick the front row just "because they can"; how many of them would pay for the privilege is a very debatable question...I, for one, most certainly would not
Apr 3, 2017, 10:19 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,197
Just booked a front row seat in CE this morning with no issues.
I do like 1C for the extra legroom but I doubt I'd pay for it - as has been said above, there are compromises and it's certainly less private than other seats, e.g., during boarding.
I do like 1C for the extra legroom but I doubt I'd pay for it - as has been said above, there are compromises and it's certainly less private than other seats, e.g., during boarding.
Apr 3, 2017, 10:29 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: QRPC Platinum, KFEG
Posts: 999
Pro:
+ First off
+ First served
+ Short walk to the (until now) free toilet
+ Death stares from all other passengers
Cons:
- Death stares from all other passengers
- Overhead space sometimes blocked by crew / safety equipment
- Bulkhead blocks you from stretching your legs
- Side tray usually less sturdy then seat back tray
- No storage under seat so have to get up for stuff unless it fits under the divider.
Would be super weird if this becomes an enhancement. But then again... It's BA.
+ First off
+ First served
+ Short walk to the (until now) free toilet
+ Death stares from all other passengers
Cons:
- Death stares from all other passengers
- Overhead space sometimes blocked by crew / safety equipment
- Bulkhead blocks you from stretching your legs
- Side tray usually less sturdy then seat back tray
- No storage under seat so have to get up for stuff unless it fits under the divider.
Would be super weird if this becomes an enhancement. But then again... It's BA.
Apr 3, 2017, 12:28 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Sheffield, UK
Programs: BA - Silver,Hilton-Diamond, IHG - PlatAmb, GHA - Plat
Posts: 766
Apr 3, 2017, 12:40 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,908
Apr 3, 2017, 12:45 pm
#14
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,129
The only wall of 'doom' which I think is wonderful is 64K on the 747 UD
Back on topic, the agent was probably just speculating I would say from the opening post but who knows what's next?