Fee for seat selection - How much?
Sep 12, 2018, 10:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United, BA, FlyingBLue, AA
Posts: 99
Fee for seat selection - How much?
I have not traveled much on BA - 1 TATL trip.. I am contemplating buying a business class ticket, SFO to LHR, and continuing - LHR to JNB. I understand that BA charges an extra fee to reserve a seat, even in Business Class. I have not been able to find out what the amount of the fee is, anywhere on the BA website. I even called BA, and although transferred to several "agent" personnel, no one could tell me what the amount of the fee would be. Only that "it varies. "Can anyone tell me what the range of this fee would be? I want to compare the overall airfare with that of other carriers.
Sep 12, 2018, 11:06 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,201
Doing a dummy booking for November, you can click through and pay for your seats as part of the overall purchase, so you’re not committed.
It it seems to be $111 per leg in this case though this may vary between seats and/or change over time.
It’s also worth mentioning that buying the flight with a hotel could save $1k or so on a 10-day trip and that you might want to wait for the flights to fill up before committing to seat selection (though these are both very full routes).
Finally, you’ll be only one AA domestic first away from BA silver status (OneWorld Emerald) after this trip.
It it seems to be $111 per leg in this case though this may vary between seats and/or change over time.
It’s also worth mentioning that buying the flight with a hotel could save $1k or so on a 10-day trip and that you might want to wait for the flights to fill up before committing to seat selection (though these are both very full routes).
Finally, you’ll be only one AA domestic first away from BA silver status (OneWorld Emerald) after this trip.
Sep 13, 2018, 6:50 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 6
I’m flying business on BA next month SFO - LHR return and didn’t pay to reserve seats at the time of booking. On this flight, prices to reserve seats are in 3 bands, £83, £91 and £100 depending on whereabouts in the businesses cabins you want to sit. Upper deck seats are all £100 and lower deck are all £83 or £91 except a pair at the front.
I’m not sure how much (if any) the fees vary between selection at time of booking amd after booking, but hopefully this helps to give a you ballpark idea.
I’m not sure how much (if any) the fees vary between selection at time of booking amd after booking, but hopefully this helps to give a you ballpark idea.
Sep 13, 2018, 12:38 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
Point of note. I just flew SFO-LHR not 12 hours ago.
There are two flights out of SFO to LHR. One is a new a380 and one and old 747. So make sure you book on the A380!
There are two flights out of SFO to LHR. One is a new a380 and one and old 747. So make sure you book on the A380!
Sep 13, 2018, 1:03 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 699
have to disagree, if there is a choice of either, I'd definately be booking UD on 747 over a380, as they won't be around forever , and the OP says he doesn't fly BA much
Sep 13, 2018, 1:53 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
Em fair enough. But the 747s are old, loud and have dated cabins. Not sure why would want that over a quiet plane with better seats, humidity and air pressure.
Sep 13, 2018, 2:32 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,020
I disagree with a lot of that, age is irrelevant its the interior that matters. The High-J frames are not that dated and the mid-J are getting an upgrade. Also I would disagree on the better seats and say BA's best J seats are the Upper deck on the 747. Finally the air pressure/humidity isn't much different anyway between the two and it's the 787/350 which are slightly better in that regard. I would definitely take the upper deck business on the 747 over the A380.
Sep 13, 2018, 2:34 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,020
Actually February 2024 currently and possibly even longer. The last with be the High-J frames most likely on JFK routing. Options will certainly diminish and they may even be the last passenger operator if the -400 series and certainly the last major airline operator.
Sep 13, 2018, 4:55 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 494
Finally, you’ll be only one AA domestic first away from BA silver status (OneWorld Emerald) after this trip.
Although no good for the outbound trip, a USA domestic on AA, credited to BAEC, could net the base TP needed to qualify for free seat selection on the return legs for less than the seat reservation charge.
Sep 13, 2018, 6:21 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
I disagree with a lot of that, age is irrelevant its the interior that matters. The High-J frames are not that dated and the mid-J are getting an upgrade. Also I would disagree on the better seats and say BA's best J seats are the Upper deck on the 747. Finally the air pressure/humidity isn't much different anyway between the two and it's the 787/350 which are slightly better in that regard. I would definitely take the upper deck business on the 747 over the A380.
I find the A380 vastly superior to the now extremely dated 747.
Sep 14, 2018, 3:53 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
The 747 UD has the feel of a private jet, and it's probably the closest that most of us will ever get to experiencing that. For that alone (which is worth a lot for stress-free pleasant travel), it scores highly in my book.
In contrast, the only substantial thing that the 380 has to offer in its place is two large toilets. Even the low noise level of the 380 has its disadvantages, particularly for those in rows 53 and 56.
Sep 14, 2018, 3:55 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: San Francisco
Programs: United, BA, FlyingBLue, AA
Posts: 99
I’m flying business on BA next month SFO - LHR return and didn’t pay to reserve seats at the time of booking. On this flight, prices to reserve seats are in 3 bands, £83, £91 and £100 depending on whereabouts in the businesses cabins you want to sit. Upper deck seats are all £100 and lower deck are all £83 or £91 except a pair at the front.
I’m not sure how much (if any) the fees vary between selection at time of booking amd after booking, but hopefully this helps to give a you ballpark idea.
I’m not sure how much (if any) the fees vary between selection at time of booking amd after booking, but hopefully this helps to give a you ballpark idea.