British Airways Upgrade Scam [cost for an advanced seat assignment]
May 5, 2019, 4:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: NONE
Posts: 4
British Airways Upgrade Scam [cost for an advanced seat assignment]
I have recently bought a Eurotraveller ticket Cost £39.72 for my Household Account partner for a flight from London Gatwick to Bordeaux I have now upgraded her ticket to Club Europe at a cost of £49.00 which more than doubles the original cost. I am now insulted by the request to choose a seat at a further cost of £22. I find this outrageous and will now retain from booking flights with BA when any alternative is available. Furthermore the additional Avios point have not been credited to our household Account. Not pleased.
May 5, 2019, 4:12 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,255
Not sure which part of the paid seat selection is a scam? When upgrading and the benefits of Club Europe were listed it does not state free seat selection. Which other airlines offer a business class seat to Europe for under £100?
May 5, 2019, 4:13 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London
Programs: British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 36
You don't get the avios until the segment has been flown, so that may be the issue there.
May 5, 2019, 4:15 am
#4
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,611
So, not a scam then...
May 5, 2019, 4:19 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
May 5, 2019, 4:20 am
#6
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,611
May 5, 2019, 4:31 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAGGL, A3G, Accor Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, LHW Sterling
Posts: 1,308
There’s very little reason to pay for seat selection on CE narrow body from LGW. They’re all much of a muchness.
I’d just ignore it and move on.
FYI - It’s a very cheap/ good value air ticket you’ve picked up.
I’d just ignore it and move on.
FYI - It’s a very cheap/ good value air ticket you’ve picked up.
May 5, 2019, 4:45 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,194
Welcome to flyer talk.
£13 of the upgrade cost is the additional APD.
The cost of the ticket or that it is double or triple the cost of the economy ticket is immaterial. Seat Fees have been in place for non status passenger for several years and the policy is very clear.
You aren’t the first and won’t be the last to say, incorrectly, that this is some sort of scam. And BA isn’t the only airline to charge seat selection fees.
There is no scam. If you want a specific seat then yes you have to pay for it. If you don’t then wait to get one for free when OLCI opens.
if she has already flown and the correct number of avios and tier points haven’t credited to her account then there is a mechanism to claim for them. If she has yet to fly then you are premature to be complaining.
May 5, 2019, 5:01 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Chairman, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, GA Pilot
Posts: 3,225
No more of a scam than any other airline that charges for seat selection these days, like Lufthansa, Swiss, Easyjet or Ryanair. That said I often factor this in when making reservations, including any possible baggage or other fees, when calculating total flight cost. In many cases, airlines, such as Ryanair, even with seat charges, come out cheaper than some of the "full service" airlines that don't charge for seats.
May 5, 2019, 5:08 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
What a great deal you got!
May 5, 2019, 5:10 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
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Extras hit you everywhere ... this for a simple upcoming Jet2 flight, JER-LBA. We only need one bag, but the options only allow us both to have one! So add 50% to the bill for extras, equivalent to the fare for the outbound leg for 2 people!
May 5, 2019, 5:11 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold, Marriot Bonvoy Gold, MeliaRewards Gold, Radisson Gold
Posts: 816
So, a "scam" is anything someone doesn't personally deem to be good value now?
In that case, the majority of my regular monthly utility bills and tax obligations fit this definition. Which branch of the police can I report them to please?
In that case, the majority of my regular monthly utility bills and tax obligations fit this definition. Which branch of the police can I report them to please?
May 5, 2019, 5:18 am
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
I think the issue that some people have is that BA also charges for seat selection in premium economy and business class. It is of course not more of a scam than being asked to pay to fly.
May 5, 2019, 5:22 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: 63,793
There is no real point in buy seating on CE, the nature of Theoretical Seating is such is that she will almost certainly have a selection of seats available at online check-in, including perhaps row 1. I can see some point in buying seat selection in ET if in a group, but not in CE as a single traveller. The original ticket is something of a bargain, and if your partner gets lounge access, extra baggage, Premium Gatwick security, extra tier points and Avios, then the uplift for Club Europe seems reasonable or even good value for money. So stop the money machine there, would be my take on it, seat selection pricing makes your ticket cheaper, so long as other people pay it!
May 5, 2019, 5:24 am
#15
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,212
Look on the bright side, as the upgrade includes a CE checked baggage allowance your partner could potentially save up to £61 in baggage charges