Change of travel companion
#46
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,492
IATA's view ... it's up to the airline
https://www.iata.org/policy/Document...ferability.pdf
https://www.iata.org/policy/Document...ferability.pdf
#48
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,492
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,194
Booking it as A Cello is not a good idea as one woman found out in (I think) Switzerland when she couldn't produce a passport for it and was denied boarding.
#51
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors, Virgin
Posts: 766
"Secondary market".
The OP described themselves as a layman but then said that they were in the industry. Assuming that the latter is true, I wonder if the OP knows of any full-service airline anywhere in the world that allows name changes on premium cabin long-haul tickets for a fee, whether it's £50 or any other figure. Also, IIRC non-transferability of tickets isn't a policy rooted in today's world of corporate greed, management bonuses and the like, but has been a standard feature of the industry since way back when.
The OP described themselves as a layman but then said that they were in the industry. Assuming that the latter is true, I wonder if the OP knows of any full-service airline anywhere in the world that allows name changes on premium cabin long-haul tickets for a fee, whether it's £50 or any other figure. Also, IIRC non-transferability of tickets isn't a policy rooted in today's world of corporate greed, management bonuses and the like, but has been a standard feature of the industry since way back when.
#52
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,166
as many others have said, there is simply no concept of a seat being "yours" unless and until you are fully checked in and have passed conformance at T5
I experienced this myself - Mrs R was due to fly to the US with me in Club (upper deck 747, no less); we had checked in online and were all set to go; an hour before we leave for the airport a family matter came up which required Mrs R to stay home - BA would have believed her to be on the flight right up until she failed to pass through security at T5 at -35 minutes or whatever it is - her seat next to me was still occupied by another passenger when I boarded the plance
BA don't hold the seat free!
I experienced this myself - Mrs R was due to fly to the US with me in Club (upper deck 747, no less); we had checked in online and were all set to go; an hour before we leave for the airport a family matter came up which required Mrs R to stay home - BA would have believed her to be on the flight right up until she failed to pass through security at T5 at -35 minutes or whatever it is - her seat next to me was still occupied by another passenger when I boarded the plance
BA don't hold the seat free!