BA Still Sucks - Got seated in economy after buying a business ticket
Nov 30, 18, 2:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: United
Posts: 19
BA Still Sucks - Got seated in economy after buying a business ticket
This is unbelievable. I haven't flown BA for over ten years because of very poor service I had experienced in the past.
I had heard their service had improved but I still had such a bad taste in my mouth that I avoided them. I have over 3 million miles on United.
But I had to take a BA flight from Nice to London not too long ago, and bought a business class seat. For over 1,000 euros.
I check in, board, and surprise--my seat is in economy! I hear few other people complaining that they are supposed to be in business but are seated in economy.
Wow, I have never had this happen on any other airline. Ever. Never even heard of such a thing.
I had heard their service had improved but I still had such a bad taste in my mouth that I avoided them. I have over 3 million miles on United.
But I had to take a BA flight from Nice to London not too long ago, and bought a business class seat. For over 1,000 euros.
I check in, board, and surprise--my seat is in economy! I hear few other people complaining that they are supposed to be in business but are seated in economy.
Wow, I have never had this happen on any other airline. Ever. Never even heard of such a thing.
Nov 30, 18, 2:26 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 13,966
You are going to have to give more information. What seat row were you in? Was there a curtain across the cabin and was it in front or behind you?
Did you get a meal? Was the middle seat empty? If you got fed and an empty seat then you were sat in Club Europe.
In terms of the physical seat - width / legroom etc - there is no difference between economy and business on short haul.
Did you get a meal? Was the middle seat empty? If you got fed and an empty seat then you were sat in Club Europe.
In terms of the physical seat - width / legroom etc - there is no difference between economy and business on short haul.
Nov 30, 18, 2:27 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,308
Sorry to hear this. Not much consolation, but this is very rare and certainly happens on other airlines as well. Did you get offered compensation and/or a fare difference refund?
Last edited by fruitcage; Dec 1, 18 at 3:10 am
Nov 30, 18, 2:27 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
You mention that you are flying United... Did you get a meal and a blocked middle seat? The seats are the same in Economy and Business...
We need more information here. And if it was indeed a downgrade, you'd be entitled to compensation as per EU regulations. Paying 1000 euros for a business class flight on BA when you could get an economy exit row seat seems like a rookie mistake...
Oh well I guess this is a DYNWIPFTT (do you know how much I paid for this ticket) thread.
We need more information here. And if it was indeed a downgrade, you'd be entitled to compensation as per EU regulations. Paying 1000 euros for a business class flight on BA when you could get an economy exit row seat seems like a rookie mistake...
Oh well I guess this is a DYNWIPFTT (do you know how much I paid for this ticket) thread.
Nov 30, 18, 2:29 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,346
Are you absolutely sure you were placed in economy ?
On intra-European sectors operated by BA, the business class seats and economy class seats look remarkably similar. Or, to be more accurate, theyre the same - with just a shared centre table in business class.
On intra-European sectors operated by BA, the business class seats and economy class seats look remarkably similar. Or, to be more accurate, theyre the same - with just a shared centre table in business class.
Nov 30, 18, 2:30 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
This is unbelievable. I haven't flown BA for over ten years because of very poor service I had experienced in the past.
I had heard their service had improved but I still had such a bad taste in my mouth that I avoided them. I have over 3 million miles on United.
But I had to take a BA flight from Nice to London not too long ago, and bought a business class seat. For over 1,000 euros.
I check in, board, and surprise--my seat is in economy! I hear few other people complaining that they are supposed to be in business but are seated in economy.
Wow, I have never had this happen on any other airline. Ever. Never even heard of such a thing.
I had heard their service had improved but I still had such a bad taste in my mouth that I avoided them. I have over 3 million miles on United.
But I had to take a BA flight from Nice to London not too long ago, and bought a business class seat. For over 1,000 euros.
I check in, board, and surprise--my seat is in economy! I hear few other people complaining that they are supposed to be in business but are seated in economy.
Wow, I have never had this happen on any other airline. Ever. Never even heard of such a thing.
...and what did the crew say when you told them that you had been downgraded?
Last edited by LondonElite; Nov 30, 18 at 4:10 am
Nov 30, 18, 2:33 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,057
Most European airlines do not have different style seats in Economy and Business Class on their intra European flights. The service is different, for example meals (or better meals) blocked middle seat, lounge access..
If you were truly downgraded to economy for operational reasons then you are entitled to compensation as per EU261
It is quiet frequent that we have regular US flyers comment on the "economy seat" that they get on European Short Haul aircraft
If you were truly downgraded to economy for operational reasons then you are entitled to compensation as per EU261
It is quiet frequent that we have regular US flyers comment on the "economy seat" that they get on European Short Haul aircraft
Nov 30, 18, 3:08 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Jersey
Programs: BA Bronze Executive Club Member
Posts: 50
Row 10, the best and cheapest business (not *generally CE) seats on BA 
*Although my last flight from GVA>LHR had CE going way back to row 14
*Although my last flight from GVA>LHR had CE going way back to row 14
Nov 30, 18, 3:17 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 211
The same happened to my wife on a recent CE Flight from LHR -> WAW, quickly resolved after chatting to the crew.
Nov 30, 18, 3:29 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,803
BA don't offer business class within Europe. They have Economy and not quite premium economy. Regardless of what their marketing says
Nov 30, 18, 3:33 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,825
In the absence of further detail, assuming OP is complaining about the quality of the Business Class seat in CE, 'Got seated in Premium Economy after buying a First Class ticket' would apply to most domestic flights in the US 
Nov 30, 18, 3:35 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,346
Nov 30, 18, 3:36 am
#14
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 62,039
This may be a case of Welcome to Europe rather than Welcome to British Airways. Regardless, greetings from all of us in the BA forum, I know it's not your first post, but welcome to Flyertalk unitedflyer007
Nov 30, 18, 3:57 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: OOL/DOH
Programs: QF LTS WP, Avis Pres Club, HH Diam.
Posts: 3,192
Yep, Business class across most of Europe short haul is pretty dire in the aircraft hard product, but while the good citizens put up with it, there is no motivation for the airlines to change.
At least Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, the Americas still have decent hard products - some fantastic, some just ok.
At least Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, the Americas still have decent hard products - some fantastic, some just ok.
