Buying the middle seat [as an extra ‘comfort’ seat]
Jan 7, 2019, 6:56 am
#16
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
Jan 7, 2019, 6:59 am
#17
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 7,543
I wish I had your luck. Most of the flights I take are very busy - I'd put my success rate at having an empty seat at 25% max.
Jan 7, 2019, 7:09 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
Ouch! I think I'm at 75% right now. It is not perfect but I also end up taking unpopular flights because I live so close to Heathrow, and just fly for leisure.
Jan 7, 2019, 7:43 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Scotland
Programs: Starbucks Gold
Posts: 581
Basically..Mrs Jock and I would buy 3 seats in Y and assign the middle one as a comfort seat. Bring some food with us..and apart from Tps and Avios...its CE. I would imagine it be cheaper..for almost exactly the same experience. We have Silver status...so we have lounge access..and priority board. Infact this is how we dropped from gold..we just started booking 3 seats on FR...after we found out about this trick.. thus getting similar amounts of comfort...ill keep silver again this yr but just.
Jan 7, 2019, 8:22 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,194
I don't recall any threads from people asking for advice when their extra seat was taken away from them when they have booked it properly.
And my that I mean through BA so the correct codes can be added to the booking.
When it goes wrong it's where people think they are being clever and buy a ticket for 'Mr Cello'
And my that I mean through BA so the correct codes can be added to the booking.
When it goes wrong it's where people think they are being clever and buy a ticket for 'Mr Cello'
Jan 7, 2019, 8:24 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,110
In cases of transport after being injured, you may need three (economy) seats if you cannot bend your leg or must elevate it in-flight. So for medical reasons, at least, you can get two "comfort" seats, but you could be needing the associated medical approval too.
A "comfort seat" or other second seat is not an entirely separate ticket where this can happen. In fact that is why you must not try to buy yourself two seats without telling BA, because indeed the second seat will no-show and BA will be free to do as it likes - if they don't pre-emptively cancel your duplicate booking before then. You must contact BA to purchase the second seat so it can be linked to your reservation and assigned next to you.
You can also buy a second seat for some musical instruments (cellos, in particular - see https://www.britishairways.com/cms/g...oard-cello.pdf ) or perhaps even more esoteric things like your cuddy bear mascot.
You can also buy a second seat for some musical instruments (cellos, in particular - see https://www.britishairways.com/cms/g...oard-cello.pdf ) or perhaps even more esoteric things like your cuddy bear mascot.
Jan 7, 2019, 2:34 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Scotland
Programs: Starbucks Gold
Posts: 581
I take since buying the comfort seat cant be done online...but only over the phone...you wouldnt be charged a fee? Could u book all of it online..all 3 seats? Be a shame to book two seats..then find someone has bagged ur middle seat..whilst sitting on hold on the phone..waiting to book the third.
Jan 7, 2019, 5:25 pm
#25
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK, Peak District near MAN
Programs: BA- blue, BD,DL
Posts: 2,027
I take since buying the comfort seat cant be done online...but only over the phone...you wouldnt be charged a fee? Could u book all of it online..all 3 seats? Be a shame to book two seats..then find someone has bagged ur middle seat..whilst sitting on hold on the phone..waiting to book the third.
Many people on here do get the fee waived mind you...
Jan 7, 2019, 5:28 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Alameda, CA, US
Programs: BAEC Gold (GGL/CCR), HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,346
And see, that is where BA is wrong. If they can't provide the facility to make a purchase like that online, then they should not charge for it on the phone. Now if the facility exists online and you insist on calling, yes, have them charge a fee.
Jan 7, 2019, 5:47 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,718
Just for the avoidance of doubt, the previous poster was just explaining what BA’s actual policy was. Of course in an ideal world BA wouldn’t charge their customers for a lack of capabilities in its online system, but this is a firm which until legally banned from doing so used to charge extra for people to pay with their BA branded credit card.
Jan 7, 2019, 7:42 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,378
If you have comfort seas I don’t believe you can change them online on MMB and you can’t check in online.
They arent that common and the call centres sometimes struggle to price them/book them. I know someone thst booked one on a flight from BCN to LHR and after check in before boarding he was upgraded to 1F however the ground crew were annoyed to the point of being quite hostile when he wanted his original 2 seats as they had been reallocated and the passengers boarded.
All parties had hold luggage in the end my colleague got his 2 seats, one of the couple got 1F and a crew travelling as a passenger was moved to the flight deck.
They arent that common and the call centres sometimes struggle to price them/book them. I know someone thst booked one on a flight from BCN to LHR and after check in before boarding he was upgraded to 1F however the ground crew were annoyed to the point of being quite hostile when he wanted his original 2 seats as they had been reallocated and the passengers boarded.
All parties had hold luggage in the end my colleague got his 2 seats, one of the couple got 1F and a crew travelling as a passenger was moved to the flight deck.
Jan 7, 2019, 8:29 pm
#29
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA Lifetime Gold 1.8mm, IC Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold et al
Posts: 4,350
Out of interest, what proof of purchase is provided for the specific empty seat?
Jan 8, 2019, 12:00 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Programs: BA bronze, Aeroplan peon
Posts: 4,746