Free seat selection at T-48?
Jun 27, 2019, 5:08 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Free seat selection at T-48?
I thought I knew all there was to know about free seat selection - Gold & Silver from time of booking, Bronze 7 days before, everyone else joins the free-for-all at OLCI.
But I'm managing a booking for my parents-in-law (both Blue), and I've just been able to select their seats for free 48 hours before the flight, before OLCI has opened. Is this new? Or a feature of BA Holidays? (This is a flight + hotel trip). Not sure if it makes a difference, but both legs are ET, one is a Q fare and the other is G.
The only reference I can find is this strange page that seems to have fallen down the back of the sofa on BA.com: "Semi-flexible fares (Plus) allow you to reserve seats for free from 48 hours before departure"
Except this isn't a semi-flexible fare, it was a bargain basement BA Holidays fare. And it's definitely 48 hours, because their return flight is still trying to charge me £13 for selection, but does say "Alternatively, you can book your seat for free from 48 hours before departure."
I'm not complaining, but can anybody explain this one?
But I'm managing a booking for my parents-in-law (both Blue), and I've just been able to select their seats for free 48 hours before the flight, before OLCI has opened. Is this new? Or a feature of BA Holidays? (This is a flight + hotel trip). Not sure if it makes a difference, but both legs are ET, one is a Q fare and the other is G.
The only reference I can find is this strange page that seems to have fallen down the back of the sofa on BA.com: "Semi-flexible fares (Plus) allow you to reserve seats for free from 48 hours before departure"
Except this isn't a semi-flexible fare, it was a bargain basement BA Holidays fare. And it's definitely 48 hours, because their return flight is still trying to charge me £13 for selection, but does say "Alternatively, you can book your seat for free from 48 hours before departure."
I'm not complaining, but can anybody explain this one?
Jun 27, 2019, 5:12 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,660
I thought I knew all there was to know about free seat selection - Gold & Silver from time of booking, Bronze 7 days before, everyone else joins the free-for-all at OLCI.
But I'm managing a booking for my parents-in-law (both Blue), and I've just been able to select their seats for free 48 hours before the flight, before OLCI has opened. Is this new? Or a feature of BA Holidays? (This is a flight + hotel trip). Not sure if it makes a difference, but both legs are ET, one is a Q fare and the other is G.
The only reference I can find is this strange page that seems to have fallen down the back of the sofa on BA.com: "Semi-flexible fares (Plus) allow you to reserve seats for free from 48 hours before departure"
Except this isn't a semi-flexible fare, it was a bargain basement BA Holidays fare. And it's definitely 48 hours, because their return flight is still trying to charge me £13 for selection, but does say "Alternatively, you can book your seat for free from 48 hours before departure."
I'm not complaining, but can anybody explain this one?
But I'm managing a booking for my parents-in-law (both Blue), and I've just been able to select their seats for free 48 hours before the flight, before OLCI has opened. Is this new? Or a feature of BA Holidays? (This is a flight + hotel trip). Not sure if it makes a difference, but both legs are ET, one is a Q fare and the other is G.
The only reference I can find is this strange page that seems to have fallen down the back of the sofa on BA.com: "Semi-flexible fares (Plus) allow you to reserve seats for free from 48 hours before departure"
Except this isn't a semi-flexible fare, it was a bargain basement BA Holidays fare. And it's definitely 48 hours, because their return flight is still trying to charge me £13 for selection, but does say "Alternatively, you can book your seat for free from 48 hours before departure."
I'm not complaining, but can anybody explain this one?
Jun 28, 2019, 12:52 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Jun 28, 2019, 2:54 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,639
On BA.com selecting the flights as standard flight-only selecting Plus fares, then adding hotel and car hire at the last step to make the booking into a Holiday does indeed seem to show Plus fares right through.
Starting off with a Flight+Hotel and Flight+Car booking at the beginning doesn’t show a Plus fare.
The difference in seat selection policy will be less important for most on here as they have status, but if they are booking as Plus fares the access to free Same Day Change will be very helpful.
Jun 28, 2019, 4:19 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Hmm, I should 'know' because it was me that booked it, although not 100% certain what I remember! I'm fairly sure I booked it as a BA Holiday right from the off, rather than picking the flights first, so that's interesting that they came out as Plus fares. Definitely something to be aware of next time then - I wonder if the price also changes if you start off with a Holiday vs add a hotel later on in the booking process.
But yes, as you say, not a topic often discussed on FT since these things are irrelevant with status, but I'm not on the booking with them this time!
But yes, as you say, not a topic often discussed on FT since these things are irrelevant with status, but I'm not on the booking with them this time!
Jun 28, 2019, 4:22 am
#7
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,430
Can you imagine the uproar of BA Holidays booking into a fare class with no luggage allowance?!
I think the clue is that you're booking a BA Holiday so would expect to have a piece of luggage included.
I think the clue is that you're booking a BA Holiday so would expect to have a piece of luggage included.
Jun 28, 2019, 4:23 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Yes but these were never "Plus" fares before - they didn't include free same day change last time I travelled on one. They didn't seem to use either "Basic" or "Plus" language - they were just normal fares that had a baggage allowance.
Jun 28, 2019, 4:25 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Yes, but luggage allowance isn't necessarily aligned to seat selection privileges. If this is now standard for all BA Holidays, it's a change from a couple of years ago.
Jun 28, 2019, 6:00 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,440
This is what I had always seen in the past and that’s why I assumed it was only free from 24 hours before. However, today I tried selecting my seat in manage my booking at T-48 (prior to OLCI opening) and it was free. Handy as I have a flight in 48 hours!
Jun 28, 2019, 10:05 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 279
Jun 28, 2019, 2:02 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,660
Online check in remains at 24 hours before its just seat selection that is at 48 hours before.