markle

I'm currently doing quite a weekly itineraries which are LHR - MAD - XXX - LHR

The LHR segments are on BA; the MAD - XXX are all on IB, with 125 ticket numbers

As the MAD - XXX segments are not codeshares with BA, seat selection is beyond a nightmare (and quite essential to get an exit row given the appalling legroom on IB).

I can't choose a seat on either iberia.com or ba.com. Iberia have advised that I need to phone up Iberia to request a seat; this request works about 50% of the time.

When checking in I am sometimes pushed to BA.com for the MAD - XXX segment, as it can be less than 24 hours after the LHR - MAD flight. No seat selection then either.

Whole process is a massive pain. Is there any way to do this more effectively, other than getting two separate tickets?

BA6501

Calling up BA does the trick. Try RJ first though, it sometimes work.

navylad

I'm confused, how are you purchasing a BA ticket on a non-codeshare flight?

Foltan

You don't always have to book the codeshare flight numbers, or even a codeshare flight, for an airline to ticket a flight all the way through on one fare.

navylad

Well everyday is a school day, just seams a strange system to me!

Lost-in-Space

markle, I recently posted a bit of a diatribe on this. The post was moved to the IB Forum.

"Dear IAG/IB/BA – here is today’s possible cost saving measure ..."

You may find BA cant help much here - or you may be lucky.

I find calling the IB assistance line the optimum, if exasperating, solution.

DaveNCL

I had this a lot recently with MAD-LHR flights. Outbound normally works fine but I can never select a seat on the way back.

Calling Iberia has always worked for me, I've never been waiting longer than 5 minutes on hold and after a bit of coaching I normally get an exit row.

fishfish

I had a bizarre experience on an Iberia flight (MAD - LHR) last week on a BA ticket. Me and my partner are both silver. I called BA the week before, requested seats, they said they tried but couldn't do it and I should call IB. I called IB, they said the request was received from BA and nothing to worry about. I show up my flight and try to check in, and the check in agent says I need to pay 20 EUR for my seat reservation and I can't check in until I do. I argue that my BA status means I shouldn't have to, and they literally say 'it doesn't matter what your status is, the system says you have to pay for your seat reservation.' I escalate to a manager, who eventually agrees 'you don't have to pay, but only because you're on the same booking as your partner who has sufficient status.' I found that infuriating, because we're both silver. I'm pretty sure my FF number was in there correctly, because it acknowledged my extra bag, and I checked the number. My boarding pass wouldn't get me through fasttrack security, but did eventually get me in to the lounge (on my own merits). So very odd.

armouredant

I've had this problem with a bunch of BA/AA/IB reservations. As well as the BA PNR (reservation number) there will be an IB one as well. There may be more than one. Call BA and get them to call the Oneworld desk on your behalf, giving the dates and flight numbers and your name - not the BA PNR. Or call Iberia directly providing the same info.

MrMutton

I find the whole system totally confusing and infuriating! Earlier this year I was able to select seats for the A340 LHR-MAD which was booked via BA, but was not able to select seats for MAD-MIA booked via AA, both operated by Iberia. I tried emailing, calling and tweeting to no avail. Doesn't help that there is the separate PNR number that IB use (Whereas my AY booking to TLL booked via BA uses the same PNR for me to access the relevant information!)

In the end we just left it as I couldnt be bothered with the faff, and we ended up separated in different cabins, but I can see how it is more important to get an exit row. Good luck!

armouredant

I recently booked a mixed itinerary of BA, BA, LA, AA, AA metal on BA, BA, AA, IB, IB codes, on 125 stock. I have one BA PNR, two AA PNRs and two IB PNRs (that I'm aware of) for that one itinerary.

Jase76

I booked LHR - MAD - LHR as a holiday booking with BA flight numbers operated by IB. As OWE, no issue selecting exit row seats LHR - MAD but unable to select any seat MAD - LHR (EF shows 12E/F as available). Spoke to IB, who told me to contact BA. BA could not move me to any seat and told to call IB - they even spoke to the OW help desk but the seat map is locked. IB said they couldn't do it as a BA flight, and no IB PNR

Any suggestions on how to select seats, other than at T-24?

armouredant

I'd try calling IB back, give the date, flight numbers and names. Ask for their PNR; it exists, just nobody has given it to you get.

crowe

I have a booking via BA including IB legs, odd thing is that I have two PNRs - the BA ones I can access and have selected seats etc, but no seats are showing on the other number.

Does anyone have experience of whether this will cause any problems at checkin (or later at the gate?).

sunshinebob

Its normal when there are IB and BA on the same booking, I get it all the time and no it wont impact on you in the least.