IntraEurope Business Class no seat choice available
Mar 1, 2019, 8:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
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IntraEurope Business Class no seat choice available
Hi,
I'll fly BA0771 Stockholm to London on 6/25 but the online seat map is weird:
> it shows business as the first 10 rows (a lot of people must have booked this flights so they must have extended the section
> NO seat is available to choose all are taken (and 1st row blocked or taken
As I'm traveling in a party of 3 it is weird that everyone else on the flight paid money (or is gold) and reserved a seat (as the free seats must be in row 1)
Can someone look in another system (Expertflyer/...) or might have some other insights why this flight sold 40 business seats already and why everyone already chose a seat
I'll fly BA0771 Stockholm to London on 6/25 but the online seat map is weird:
> it shows business as the first 10 rows (a lot of people must have booked this flights so they must have extended the section
> NO seat is available to choose all are taken (and 1st row blocked or taken
As I'm traveling in a party of 3 it is weird that everyone else on the flight paid money (or is gold) and reserved a seat (as the free seats must be in row 1)
Can someone look in another system (Expertflyer/...) or might have some other insights why this flight sold 40 business seats already and why everyone already chose a seat
Mar 1, 2019, 8:29 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
1C is unoccupied. 10AC and 10DF are blocked.
It could just be a big group who are all entitled to free pre-allocation for one reason or another. There are reasons other than status and payment.
I don't know the maximum size of CE on a 319, but this flight could be a candidate for an aircraft swap if the CE cabin can't be increased any further.
It could just be a big group who are all entitled to free pre-allocation for one reason or another. There are reasons other than status and payment.
I don't know the maximum size of CE on a 319, but this flight could be a candidate for an aircraft swap if the CE cabin can't be increased any further.
Mar 1, 2019, 8:29 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 251
Hi,
I'll fly BA0771 Stockholm to London on 6/25 but the online seat map is weird:
> it shows business as the first 10 rows (a lot of people must have booked this flights so they must have extended the section
> NO seat is available to choose all are taken (and 1st row blocked or taken
As I'm traveling in a party of 3 it is weird that everyone else on the flight paid money (or is gold) and reserved a seat (as the free seats must be in row 1)
Can someone look in another system (Expertflyer/...) or might have some other insights why this flight sold 40 business seats already and why everyone already chose a seat
I'll fly BA0771 Stockholm to London on 6/25 but the online seat map is weird:
> it shows business as the first 10 rows (a lot of people must have booked this flights so they must have extended the section
> NO seat is available to choose all are taken (and 1st row blocked or taken
As I'm traveling in a party of 3 it is weird that everyone else on the flight paid money (or is gold) and reserved a seat (as the free seats must be in row 1)
Can someone look in another system (Expertflyer/...) or might have some other insights why this flight sold 40 business seats already and why everyone already chose a seat
Edited to add: the next flight is also all zeroed out in business.
Mar 1, 2019, 8:46 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
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Thanks!
So I'm paying business (with avios) and fly in row 10 .... the problem with this is that after the plane arrives at 9:30 I have to get to my connecting flight at 10:45
- row 10 is not all the way in the back but takes longer than row 2 to get out and then more people in front
- hand luggage only
- one ticket
- T5 to T5
- business/first
- but probably secondary security
- pre-check (doesn't make a difference I think)
1:15h should be doable but somehow I always feel uneasy with "short" connections .....
So I'm paying business (with avios) and fly in row 10 .... the problem with this is that after the plane arrives at 9:30 I have to get to my connecting flight at 10:45
- row 10 is not all the way in the back but takes longer than row 2 to get out and then more people in front
- hand luggage only
- one ticket
- T5 to T5
- business/first
- but probably secondary security
- pre-check (doesn't make a difference I think)
1:15h should be doable but somehow I always feel uneasy with "short" connections .....
Mar 1, 2019, 8:50 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Another post from me that the MCT for T5-T5 should be reduced from 60mins to ideally 45mins, especially DOM-INT
Mar 1, 2019, 8:55 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,040
Thanks!
So I'm paying business (with avios) and fly in row 10 .... the problem with this is that after the plane arrives at 9:30 I have to get to my connecting flight at 10:45
- row 10 is not all the way in the back but takes longer than row 2 to get out and then more people in front
- hand luggage only
- one ticket
- T5 to T5
- business/first
- but probably secondary security
- pre-check (doesn't make a difference I think)
1:15h should be doable but somehow I always feel uneasy with "short" connections .....
So I'm paying business (with avios) and fly in row 10 .... the problem with this is that after the plane arrives at 9:30 I have to get to my connecting flight at 10:45
- row 10 is not all the way in the back but takes longer than row 2 to get out and then more people in front
- hand luggage only
- one ticket
- T5 to T5
- business/first
- but probably secondary security
- pre-check (doesn't make a difference I think)
1:15h should be doable but somehow I always feel uneasy with "short" connections .....
Regards
Mar 1, 2019, 9:58 am
#7
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
So row 10 will take you what, an extra 2 minutes to get off?
You are paying business and getting business. I don't see the issue here.
You are paying business and getting business. I don't see the issue here.
Mar 1, 2019, 10:37 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
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Mar 1, 2019, 10:54 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Just depends how many seats are "sold" as J. The model BA has chosen allows them to add rows as needed. Seats are just coach seats with middle seat blocked. I agree that paying for seat selection is stupid, IMHO.
Mar 1, 2019, 11:00 am
#10
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Posts: 17,908
To be fair, whilst uncommon on the flights that I have taken , there are regular reports of business/CE going way back in the cabin ( probably half the plane or slighty more) depending on destination/time of year/day and special events taking place.
Regards
TBS
Mar 1, 2019, 11:34 am
#12
Original Poster
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Care to offer any information or evidence? Or are you using the Trump method > I posted it online so it must be true ... don't bother me with facts
Show me 2 examples of short intra europe routes (A319 or similar) 4-5 month into the future that have 10 rows or more of business?
Show me 2 examples of short intra europe routes (A319 or similar) 4-5 month into the future that have 10 rows or more of business?
Mar 1, 2019, 11:36 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,376
FWIW the first two rows of Economy on that flight are also blocked so the curtain might be shifted though it won’t help in deplaning. Are you on one through ticket or on 2 separate ones?
Mar 1, 2019, 11:49 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 614
I'm crew on short haul out of Heathrow. If you're not happy accepting the wisdom of the regular passengers on this board, then I can assure you that I work plenty of flights with 10 or more rows of business class. Remember. this is a completely different model to a domestic US first class.
Mar 1, 2019, 12:00 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,228
Righty-ho, a handful of points:-
1) One day the flight could arrive at 9:27, another day at 9:31. One day, it could arrive at a bus stand, or a domestic gate where everyone has to get off down the steps at the back, or a B or C gate. Where you sit on the aircraft in terms of disembarking is very small beans and not worth worrying about. I think Row 10 on the 319 is the exit row (it used to be row 9, but after further densification I guess it could have changed again) but if not then Row 10 and Club is probably second only to row 1.
2) I do totally understand that you don’t expect / it is unusual to be stuck in row 10 a few months out. Yes, lots of Euro flights go out with 7 or more rows of Club every day, but it’s normally possible to bag a seat further forward when booking in advance - so I do understand the OP’s surprise & frustration - but I want to reassure them too that it is very unlikely to matter,
3) Seating can change A LOT in the period between now & your flight. Maybe create a few seat alerts on Expertflyer or keep checking back.
4) I hope above doesn’t come across as a lecture! What I know is that I have things that others may think are trivial which bug me, and being told ‘don’t worry’ doesn’t always help. Ultimately, though, it looks like you booked the 1 flight ever where all seats are pre-booked this far out. A hazard of being a frequent flier is sometimes we run into the unexpected! But, honestly, enjoy row 10 if you do end up in it (and I’d wager you’ll have the chance to change) and just overtake everyone once off the plane...or stand up as soon as the Thames comes into sight on approach, yelling “I HAVE A CONNECTION” and rush to the front of the cabin, grabbing your 3 carryons from Row 2 as you do ;-)
1) One day the flight could arrive at 9:27, another day at 9:31. One day, it could arrive at a bus stand, or a domestic gate where everyone has to get off down the steps at the back, or a B or C gate. Where you sit on the aircraft in terms of disembarking is very small beans and not worth worrying about. I think Row 10 on the 319 is the exit row (it used to be row 9, but after further densification I guess it could have changed again) but if not then Row 10 and Club is probably second only to row 1.
2) I do totally understand that you don’t expect / it is unusual to be stuck in row 10 a few months out. Yes, lots of Euro flights go out with 7 or more rows of Club every day, but it’s normally possible to bag a seat further forward when booking in advance - so I do understand the OP’s surprise & frustration - but I want to reassure them too that it is very unlikely to matter,
3) Seating can change A LOT in the period between now & your flight. Maybe create a few seat alerts on Expertflyer or keep checking back.
4) I hope above doesn’t come across as a lecture! What I know is that I have things that others may think are trivial which bug me, and being told ‘don’t worry’ doesn’t always help. Ultimately, though, it looks like you booked the 1 flight ever where all seats are pre-booked this far out. A hazard of being a frequent flier is sometimes we run into the unexpected! But, honestly, enjoy row 10 if you do end up in it (and I’d wager you’ll have the chance to change) and just overtake everyone once off the plane...or stand up as soon as the Thames comes into sight on approach, yelling “I HAVE A CONNECTION” and rush to the front of the cabin, grabbing your 3 carryons from Row 2 as you do ;-)