Club Europe - unusual text message : Removal of middle seat block
Jul 26, 2019, 8:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 38
Club Europe - unusual text message : Removal of middle seat block
Hi All
I suppose this isn’t a shock given everything that is happening at LHR and across Europe today. Any idea how this operationally works? Do they still offer the normal club Europe service and how do they reassign seats?
Cheers
Matt
I suppose this isn’t a shock given everything that is happening at LHR and across Europe today. Any idea how this operationally works? Do they still offer the normal club Europe service and how do they reassign seats?
Cheers
Matt
Jul 26, 2019, 8:17 am
#7
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,928
If the flight operates with only ET service, then EC261 would apply for the downgrade.
Whilst I appreciate the very good reasons why BA are doing this, I would not be best pleased if it were to happen to me.
Jul 26, 2019, 8:22 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,992
The right thing to do would be to designate all seats as ET and offer the appropriate refunds to those who have been involuntarily downgraded.
However, knowing how British Airways operates, they'll probably put displaced EuroTraveller passengers in the middle seats, which will allow them to keep their "guaranteed window or aisle seat" promise to CE passengers and claim that no-one's been downgraded.
However, knowing how British Airways operates, they'll probably put displaced EuroTraveller passengers in the middle seats, which will allow them to keep their "guaranteed window or aisle seat" promise to CE passengers and claim that no-one's been downgraded.
Jul 26, 2019, 8:25 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: Gold at BA, Hilton and Radisson.
Posts: 593
This will be messy. I can see a 23 hour delayed Y pax being told they’d have to pay for the coffee 1A and 1C receive for free. Or is it J only up the front?
Interesting service recovery!
Interesting service recovery!
Jul 26, 2019, 8:25 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK - Hampshire & London
Programs: Mucci de Guardian des Celliers des Grands Crus 1e Classé, plus BAEC.
Posts: 2,736
So compress the CE cabin by going 6 abreast and have the curtain as far forward as possible? I think this is a pragmatic and sensible response to the current disruption but BA really need to be proactive with what customer service gesture/‘compensation’ they will be offering CE customers. I would be pushing hard for something worthwhile (ie not just a couple of thousand avios).
Jul 26, 2019, 8:26 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,531
Imagine folks in ACDF indulging in champagne while pax in B and E get nothing. 
If they fill the middle seats with rebooked Club pax, this flight is looking at 72 in Club (EF showing 12 rows). Fun times!
If they fill the middle seats with rebooked Club pax, this flight is looking at 72 in Club (EF showing 12 rows). Fun times!
Jul 26, 2019, 8:30 am
#13
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,928
Jul 26, 2019, 8:33 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,912
I presume there are CE passengers delayed so wouldn't they be the ones seated in the densified CE cabin?
Given the extent of the disruption and the relative short flight duration, I'd be more than happy to help a fellow human being get to where they were going by giving up a bit of shoulder room, without immediately contemplating or anticipating what 'compensation' I'm going to receive. One day it might be me wanting to get somewhere.
Given the extent of the disruption and the relative short flight duration, I'd be more than happy to help a fellow human being get to where they were going by giving up a bit of shoulder room, without immediately contemplating or anticipating what 'compensation' I'm going to receive. One day it might be me wanting to get somewhere.
Jul 26, 2019, 8:37 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,348
I think it's hard to object to this if it means disrupted passengers aren't stranded at the airport for days waiting to get on a flight, however BA should be offering impacted customers some sort of goodwill gesture to make up for losing a pretty big part of the CE product, particularly as by cramming people onto these planes, it's helping to reduce their bill for hotels and duty of care meals for affected passengers.