Unused seat
Jun 7, 2017, 4:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 5
Unused seat
Booked two seats with BA for a long hall flight and reserved our seats on line the person I was going with can no longer travel and will not be checking in with me
I was told by the agent that I can’t get a refund because of the ticket type, but will BA let someone else take the seat I have paid for or will I have an empty seat next to me ?
thanks
I was told by the agent that I can’t get a refund because of the ticket type, but will BA let someone else take the seat I have paid for or will I have an empty seat next to me ?
thanks
Jun 7, 2017, 4:21 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,210
You should be able to claim the taxes back (minus an admin fee).
However, you're not even guaranteed an empty seat, if the person is a no show and there happens to be standby passengers they will get this seat.
As for changing the name on the ticket, this might be possible but I think changes are expensive if the name change is to a different person (rather than correcting a typo).
However, you're not even guaranteed an empty seat, if the person is a no show and there happens to be standby passengers they will get this seat.
As for changing the name on the ticket, this might be possible but I think changes are expensive if the name change is to a different person (rather than correcting a typo).
Jun 7, 2017, 4:23 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Balham - Gateway to The South
Programs: BA Bronze
Posts: 2,020
You have no guarantee that the seat will remain empty.
So the answer is 'it depends'.
It is hard to quantify as there is no way of knowing how busy your flight will be and to what extent any rebooking of connections may take place.
So the answer is 'it depends'.
It is hard to quantify as there is no way of knowing how busy your flight will be and to what extent any rebooking of connections may take place.
Jun 7, 2017, 4:25 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Near Edinburgh
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 9,034
As said above, you should get government taxes back, less the cancellation/offline fees.
Jun 7, 2017, 4:25 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Someone else will be given the seat if it is needed. You could cut down on the chances that the seat will be given away by checking in for the seat and having your companion no show at the airport. That may inconvenience BA a bit if they think your companion is at the airport and try to have him paged, look for him, etc. In reality, when he doesn't board at T-15 min or so, he'll be assumed to be a no show and his seat made available to the GA for someone else. It'll depend on how full the flight is.
Safe Travels.
Safe Travels.
Jun 7, 2017, 4:35 am
#9
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,049
Jun 7, 2017, 4:38 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,780
Someone else will be given the seat if it is needed. You could cut down on the chances that the seat will be given away by checking in for the seat and having your companion no show at the airport. That may inconvenience BA a bit if they think your companion is at the airport and try to have him paged, look for him, etc.
Jun 7, 2017, 4:39 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
If you do decide not to cancel it, you can probably maximise the chances of it staying empty by checking in, downloading the boarding pass, entering security on their boarding pass, returning landside using the transfer shuttle, and re-entering security on your own boarding pass. All the systems will assume your companion is flying right up until the flight closes and nobody has materialised at the gate, by which time it will probably be too late to fill the seat.
But a refund of the taxes might be a more attractive option.
But a refund of the taxes might be a more attractive option.
Jun 7, 2017, 4:41 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,284
Hi Bill Bob perhaps ask someone to check how busy the flight is on the following thread - then this will give you an idea if the flight is full / near to full and so the chances of the seat remaining vacant or not....
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...loads-264.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...loads-264.html
Jun 7, 2017, 4:41 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,492
Jun 7, 2017, 4:44 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 932
If you do decide not to cancel it, you can probably maximise the chances of it staying empty by checking in, downloading the boarding pass, entering security on their boarding pass, returning landside using the transfer shuttle, and re-entering security on your own boarding pass. All the systems will assume your companion is flying right up until the flight closes and nobody has materialised at the gate, by which time it will probably be too late to fill the seat.
But a refund of the taxes might be a more attractive option.
But a refund of the taxes might be a more attractive option.