Wondering if this is a regular occurrence.

My partner and I flew GLA-LHR a few days ago on an avios booking. As a gold BAEC member, I selected seats when I made the booking a few weeks ago, and reaffirmed the choice when checking in via the app.

Upon entering the lounge, the agent asked if I was flying Club (?) to which I answered no. Then she asked if I had changed my seats. Eventually, she concluded our seats had been reassigned because the Club cabin was extended to row 6 where our seats were. It was an A319 and we were moved to the twin seat in row 25 next to the toilet and without a window. I protested but the agent wouldn’t have any of it. I then raised the situation again at the gate and the agent recommended that I reserve my seats next time, so I didn’t bother engaging further.

What ticked me off the most was the lounge agent’s response to my request to consider swapping us with someone else. Yes, I did pull a DYKWIA and highlighted my status. She said it was pointless to try because all of the plane passengers might have a gold status, as well. She also implied it was too late.

Of course, it was tolerable - took maybe 5min longer to exit the plane, obviously there was no immigration, but I had no access to BoB given the short length of the flight. However I can’t help but wonder if this is all normal and in policy? I did raise a complaint and am waiting to hear back.

It's a risk you take by choosing seats very close behind the curtain. If it moves - and it frequently does - you'll loose your seat. If it moves after check in has opened you are pretty much out of luck. The knock on effects of moving further passengers is probably something BA considers a greater evil compared to inconveniencing a Gold member.

Thanks for the quick response - will stay clear of the curtain in the future

BA won't move other passengers - as with other airlines it wont move other passengers because you want them to - so pulling a DYKWIA and mentioning your status is not going to help you. And yes it was too late especially close to departure.

Welcome to FT!

Yes as noted above regardless of your status you have no ability with BA to move other passengers so you can have a better seat. As a GGL I can’t move anyone just because I like their seat better, not even a blue ;)

Out of interest are there airlines you travel with which will do that? It sounds from what you wrote that you had some expectation they would move someone to your seat so you could have theirs, and I just wondered whether this was born from experience elsewhere?

There’s a risk of Gold disappointment here, so BA needs to do something clever to avoid this situation.

Nope, you just reserve good economy seats for Golds as appropriate until the curtain becomes ‘fixed’. Shoving them to row 25 is not on.

Curtain might still move all the way to boarding time. Are you suggesting preventing non status passengers from choosing a seat till then?