Does BA block seats next to Emeralds?
Sep 28, 2018, 4:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Does BA block seats next to Emeralds?
sorry if that is answered somewhere else. On my last 4 BA flights, the seat next to me showed blocked on expert flyer 48h pre departure. I am AA emerald and all flights were Club Europe or Club world. The seat next to me was always empty. Is there a process? Or just got lucky?
Sep 28, 2018, 4:28 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2014
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Yes it does. There is a lengthy theoretical seating thread that discusses the topic.
No guarantee of the seat remaining free but on less busy flights you have a good chance of it being free.
No guarantee of the seat remaining free but on less busy flights you have a good chance of it being free.
Sep 28, 2018, 4:28 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
sorry if that is answered somewhere else. On my last 4 BA flights, the seat next to me showed blocked on expert flyer 48h pre departure. I am AA emerald and all flights were Club Europe or Club world. The seat next to me was always empty. Is there a process? Or just got lucky?
Sep 28, 2018, 4:32 am
#4
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
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Sep 28, 2018, 5:14 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
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It's a weird one really. I quite like sitting next to someone. I don't mind smiling at and talking to strangers. Shocking I know....
I would feel a bit lonely if Gold and constantly no-one sitting next to me.
I've met some truly incredible people sitting next to me on flights. Is there a way to ask BA to not block seats next to you if gold for those of us who actually enjoy human interaction?
I would feel a bit lonely if Gold and constantly no-one sitting next to me.
I've met some truly incredible people sitting next to me on flights. Is there a way to ask BA to not block seats next to you if gold for those of us who actually enjoy human interaction?
Last edited by cupsandsaucers; Sep 28, 2018 at 5:31 am
Sep 28, 2018, 5:27 am
#6
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Thanks. When club Europe I meant the other seat in the row, not the middle seat. Right now I am in 5F, so I meant 5D.
anyhow, thanks for the responses.
anyhow, thanks for the responses.
Sep 28, 2018, 5:57 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
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It's a weird one really. I quite like sitting next to someone. I don't mind smiling at and talking to strangers. Shocking I know....
I would feel a bit lonely if Gold and constantly no-one sitting next to me. I've met some truly incredible people sitting next to me on flights. Is there a way to ask BA to not block seats next to you if gold for those of us who actually enjoy human interaction?
I would feel a bit lonely if Gold and constantly no-one sitting next to me.
I've met some truly incredible people sitting next to me on flights. Is there a way to ask BA to not block seats next to you if gold for those of us who actually enjoy human interaction?
Sep 28, 2018, 6:08 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,197
Of course, you're still likely to have someone next to you in the aisle or window, but a blocked middle seat as well. That said, my success rate for this has declined rapidly recently in ET, although I've been flying a lot more Club Europe too.
Sep 28, 2018, 6:20 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
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On AMS-LHR I often book day or two before travel, and see that exit row has middle B+E seats available to me as BA-Gold , if I choose Y purchase on the short 1hr flight close in due to very high J rates
Same if I grab one of 1A/1C or 1D/1F when booking as BA-Gold , the adjacent fee seat is blocked unless a OWE/BA-Gold chooses it, and are last to be given at airport by checkin desk agents
Sep 28, 2018, 6:26 am
#10
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Sep 28, 2018, 6:43 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2009
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I still believe it's luck more than some fancy algorithm etc. at work.
It's too random for my liking and recent trips have had 3 people in my row with other also generic rows (i.e. not exit rows but say 3/4 of the way back on the starboard side) being filled with 1 or 2 people only (sometimes I get a GGL / GCH greeting in my full row whereas they don't).
It's too random for my liking and recent trips have had 3 people in my row with other also generic rows (i.e. not exit rows but say 3/4 of the way back on the starboard side) being filled with 1 or 2 people only (sometimes I get a GGL / GCH greeting in my full row whereas they don't).
Sep 28, 2018, 7:26 am
#12
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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I still believe it's luck more than some fancy algorithm etc. at work.
It's too random for my liking and recent trips have had 3 people in my row with other also generic rows (i.e. not exit rows but say 3/4 of the way back on the starboard side) being filled with 1 or 2 people only (sometimes I get a GGL / GCH greeting in my full row whereas they don't).
It's too random for my liking and recent trips have had 3 people in my row with other also generic rows (i.e. not exit rows but say 3/4 of the way back on the starboard side) being filled with 1 or 2 people only (sometimes I get a GGL / GCH greeting in my full row whereas they don't).
Sep 28, 2018, 7:55 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,757
In which case how do explain this, from yesterday? The best, or maybe second best seat on an LCY-EDI Embraer 190, indeed one of the best seats in European shorthaul travel, blocked out, CWS in 2D, rest of CE being mainly Silver. If you want a TS seat, then indeed you best go three quarters down the aircraft, most passengers tend to want to be near the front.
Most of my free middle seats have been when the aircraft isn't overly full and towards the front / exit rows.
Moving towards the back generally results in 2 seatmates regardless of how full the aircraft is.
I do prefer the front but have been sitting further back to try and gain the empty middle seats.
To be honest, I've had far more empty middle seats and/or rows on AA flights than BA and not sure if they have something similar in place.
Sep 28, 2018, 8:32 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2013
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I’ve had seat blocked on S/H never on L/H wether Y or CW the adjoining seats are blocked until the flight but occupied on the day even if there are other empty seats in the cabin. I guess I’m more popular than I thought 
.
John
. John
