huge

Thanks for the Finnair idea - I'll try that. I misspoke when I said I was AA Plat - I'm Gold now, should make Plat on the outbound and Plat+ on the return if I did the math right. So maybe I'll be able to make all this nonsense easier on the return - I didn't realize AA plat got free seat selection on BA. I was only hoping it would get me some better lounge access options.

luitje

joejet

huge

Finnair.com worked like a charm, thanks.

It won't let me check in for the LHR-AGP segment (basically says "Sorry, you'll have to check in at the airport) but I'm not too worried because (a) it's 3hrs and (b) it's not very full. Maybe I'll check again 24hrs before that flight, or maybe I can do it by phone, or just not bother until I get to the airport.

Given that an upfrade to CW was an absurd miracle-dream, this is about the best outcome I could hope for. I guess I'm not clear on the pluses & minuses of the bulkhead on that 747, but I'm guessing that's the best seat in WT+ (don't disillusion me).

Thanks for the 20th time...

luitje

huge

Update, question, and re-thanking everyone.

First the question before this gets TL;DR...

Does Platinum Aadvantage give you free seat selection more than 7 days out? These last flights just got me to Platinum, but it still wants to charge me $63+ to reserve a seat for my return flights 10 days out, and right now they only show 3 seats available - 36EFG - and of course only 36G is non-middle. Does it take much time for my status change to propagate to BA, or do I have to call to get it upgraded? (or is Platinum still 7-days?


Now the update...

When I checked my bag at SEA they told me I could upgrade to CW for the *discounted* price of $743, I said no, planning to debate with myself about whether to do it (they said I could do it any time before boarding). The woman next to me at the counter was offered to upgrade to First for $800-something and she jumped at it. I went back and forth and ultimately decided against, largely because I expected to have a good seat in WT+ and figured I would take the flight and see how I felt and then (if offered) make a more informed decision on the return flight. I asked again at the gate, just in case they dropped the price. It was still available, no price drop, I said no again, strangely they did not say "Awww, you big goofball, we'll just upgrade you for free!"

Walking past CW on the way to my seat, I was certainly envious of the lie-flat beds, but I gotta say those seats looked crammed in tight, and I could understand the complaints I've read about the problem of the flight attendant having to lower the divider to interact with the non-aisle passenger. I'm not saying I would not have much rather been in CW, and I'm sure when you're lying flat and sleeping, crowding and dividers don't make much difference, but it reinforced my decision not to pay $743 (for $500 I would have done it, and still would). My only recent experience with Int'l business class was on Delta One SEA-HKG & PVG-SEA, and this did not seem to measure up - which was a little disappointing as I have thought of BA business as some great experience - maybe it's better on some other aircraft or maybe I was just misdirected.

My 33K seat was pretty good - I can understand the reservation about having less room for one's legs to stretch, but for me it was made up for by the ability to get out to the aisle even if my neighbor was sleeping. I would choose Row 33 again if possible. I got a little sleep in 30-45 minute bursts, and felt non-terrible on arrival. I think a middle seat in another row would have sucked pretty bad.

And the re-thanking... Thanks again for everyone's generous attention to my questions.

Ldnn1

corporate-wage-slave

Or just ring up, once a BA agent sees that you are valued Sapphire member of oneworld then you simply get free seat selection from whenever. If you were AA Gold (Ruby) beforehand then you get seat selection at 7 days.

However OP: what is interesting is that 33K, being a bassinet seat, may not have fallen your way except for the twists and turns of your journey to that point: it's only made available at T-24, until then it's reserved for a traveller with a toddler. Now there is this gap between T-72 and T-24 when you may have been able to call up to get it. But given a very full cabin, when it came to OLCI, you found yourself in plum position for 33K simply because the computer had no other option. Now imagine another circumstance, you had selected 34A (a good overnight seat), you get to OLCI and think aha, I'd rather have my 33K, only to discover someone else who was hitherto unallocated has seized your huge special seat! Anyway you got the karma and all was good.

huge

Finnair did let me remove and re-add my AAdvantage number, but it didn't change the "Pay $63 for a seat" result on BA.com. I'll try again a little later just in case that takes some time, but that seems unlikely. I guess I'll have to call. While I'm in Spain I can only make free WiFi calls to the USA, and the BA line is closed, so unless I can find a way to call for free to their Spain or UK numbers, I'll have to wait. In case it might work, I sent a DM to BA on Twitter with my relevant info - maybe they'll be able to do it..

Yeah, as stated above, I'll have to call unless my Twitter gambit pays off.

And yeah I understand that it was a bit of a convoluted accident that I ended up in the bassinet seat. Assuming I can get the OneWorld Sapphire issue sorted and select an aisle seat, at T-72 I'll start checking to see if they unblock a seat I want, and/or I'll call to see if they can do anything for me. I'll think about 34A if it pops up - is there a reason you say 34A and not 34K? K is a little better for me for right-elbow-room

Thank you ad infinitum...

huge

BA Twitter DM got it done easily. Got 12C (2nd Exit Row) for BCN-LHR and 36G on LHR-SEA (only non-middle seat available), and I can clearly now switch for free if something else opens up

Jagboi

My general rule of thumb is a WT+ to CW upgrade is priced about $100/hr. Only you can know if that is good value to you or not. I often do it on an eastbound overnight flight, but not on the westbound day flight.