Choosing seats in Business Class--Does it really cost me that much?
Jul 2, 2018, 6:20 am
#46
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One of the results is that we keep coming back to BA. It must therefore be a really dumb policy. Obvs.Do you remember how it was in the previous iteration of the policy? Those who now have to pay a fee couldn't select a seat at all before OLCI opened. And yet the CW cabins were often almost completely pre-allocated by the time that OLCI opened.
That is how many seats BA would have to save for full-fare and higher-tier frequent flyers. The net result is that those who can now pay to select almost all CW seats would be restricted to choosing from only a small proportion of the seats in the CW cabin. And once they were gone, they'd be gone; they'd be waiting until OLCI.And that's before you ask the question why the complaining passenger booked BA to begin with, when they're clearly not even a moderately-regular BA or OW passenger.
I think that the last time we had this discussion, the complaining passenger was very frank. Normally he'd book UA. But this time, UA was much more expensive than BA. So he booked BA and saved a shedload of money. And then complained about BA's seating fee.
I think that in those circumstances, you'd have to regard "free seat pre-allocation is a must in business class" as something akin to a tenet of faith. There are plenty of us who like it - and we are the ones who are the regular customers.
That is how many seats BA would have to save for full-fare and higher-tier frequent flyers. The net result is that those who can now pay to select almost all CW seats would be restricted to choosing from only a small proportion of the seats in the CW cabin. And once they were gone, they'd be gone; they'd be waiting until OLCI.And that's before you ask the question why the complaining passenger booked BA to begin with, when they're clearly not even a moderately-regular BA or OW passenger.
I think that the last time we had this discussion, the complaining passenger was very frank. Normally he'd book UA. But this time, UA was much more expensive than BA. So he booked BA and saved a shedload of money. And then complained about BA's seating fee.
I think that in those circumstances, you'd have to regard "free seat pre-allocation is a must in business class" as something akin to a tenet of faith. There are plenty of us who like it - and we are the ones who are the regular customers.
The super attractive seats are maybe 5% or less of the cabin, the attractive seats maybe another 10% and then maybe 20% to 30% worth prioritising to high value flyers. The rest are pretty much same same. Once enough high value flyers has taken the attractivegood seats, and by your example that will happen before check in on a lot of flights, there is no need to have a block on the rest as they are mostly same same.
As someone pointed out, what I see as attractive is not necessarily what another flyer see as attractive, so despite being Emerald I may not even select one of the blocked seats.
By any model, if I book two days in advance the likelihood of getting a really good seat is very slim. But by allowing the I flyers to pay they way to it rather than blocking until OLCI,, BA may actually make it even slimmer.
Don't get me wrong, I am all for optimising the likelihood for high value flyers to get the better seats. I am just saying that it can be achieved equally well without the charge. Or mayve even better as the the leisure flyer booking a year in advance do not get the option to select the best seats, which they do on BA if they are willing to pay.
Jul 2, 2018, 6:24 am
#47
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I don't understand the ire here, and I say this as a non one world status holder. If I am spending 10K on a ticket, a few hundred more wont hurt, could be the alternative with free selection is more than fare and seat fee combined. I think one J seat is
not so different from another, but people who are regulars will of course have their favorites and it makes sense for BA ( or any airline ) to try to keep these available.
I think its an excellent idea and does not put the singe traveller at much disadvantage, if travelling as a couple it might be an annoyance but that's all
not so different from another, but people who are regulars will of course have their favorites and it makes sense for BA ( or any airline ) to try to keep these available.
I think its an excellent idea and does not put the singe traveller at much disadvantage, if travelling as a couple it might be an annoyance but that's all
Jul 2, 2018, 6:26 am
#48
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Jul 2, 2018, 6:32 am
#49
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And when there is such a divergence of personal preference as to what is a good seat and what is not, it's very hard to insist that the majority of seats in the cabin are "same same".
Jul 2, 2018, 6:33 am
#50
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A start might be this thread: BA Airbus A380: Which are the best seats? Master discussion thread
Jul 2, 2018, 6:34 am
#51
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Sorry to disappoint you, but Terminal E doesn't have PreCheck, unless things have changed in the last 2-3 weeks. You use the same lines as everyone else, but you do get a little stamp on your BP - show this to the person at the x-ray and you'll be able to keep your shoes on, and be taken through the metal detector rather than the backscatter X-ray.
Jul 2, 2018, 6:58 am
#52
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These threads always remind me why we choose to retain BAEC status by flying BA (and OW partners) to the exclusion of all other carriers.
Free seat selection at the time of booking is a nice reward for our loyalty.
Free seat selection at the time of booking is a nice reward for our loyalty.
Jul 2, 2018, 7:02 am
#53
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Jul 2, 2018, 7:05 am
#54
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I've seen on other airlines what can happen in other models: zero choice, even if there are seats reserved for higher-tier passengers and even if one of those is what you get given.
And when there is such a divergence of personal preference as to what is a good seat and what is not, it's very hard to insist that the majority of seats in the cabin are "same same".
And when there is such a divergence of personal preference as to what is a good seat and what is not, it's very hard to insist that the majority of seats in the cabin are "same same".
But you miss an important point, the BA policy does potentially reduce the likelihood of the good seats being available by monetising them on cheap tickets, as opposed to only allowing them for higher value flyers.
It is really hard to prove either way which one is the more efficient way, as it will be based on random sample experience. Your experience is that BA works best, my exoerice is different.
Jul 2, 2018, 7:32 am
#56
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I agree - the previous iteration of the policy was better for higher-tier passengers.
Jul 2, 2018, 7:43 am
#58
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Although the policy doesn't seem customer friendly its easy to see how it works for BA - The ancillary revenue and loyalty created presumably outweigh the negative articles and forum posts quite easily. BA showed with it's reversal of HBO seat policy for golds (and silvers?) that it will change a policy that causes negative results for the company, this one has been around long enough for us to be pretty sure it is working positively for BA.
Jul 2, 2018, 7:49 am
#59
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As long as BA remains a relative outlier among major carriers when it comes to free advance seat selection in premium cabins, occasional customers will continue to be surprised and disappointed that it happens. Not everyone will have researched this into oblivion. D (and R) class fares can be pretty expensive sometimes, I can understand the resentment of people expecting them to be inclusive of advance seat selection.