788 All seats occupied
Aug 26, 2019, 2:41 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 45
788 All seats occupied
We're on the BA225 to MSY on Weds 28th August. CW, BA holidays booking.
As of this morning all seats in CW are showing as occupied (not blocked) on ba.com and expertflyer. We are blue so currently we have no seat.
Wondering what's likely to happen here and when we'd know - upgauge to 789, seats end up freeing up at check in or downgrade? Any advice other than to check in at T-24?
As of this morning all seats in CW are showing as occupied (not blocked) on ba.com and expertflyer. We are blue so currently we have no seat.
Wondering what's likely to happen here and when we'd know - upgauge to 789, seats end up freeing up at check in or downgrade? Any advice other than to check in at T-24?
Last edited by jackqu7; Aug 26, 2019 at 3:08 am Reason: clarify 28th aug
Aug 26, 2019, 2:45 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
We're on the BA225 to MSY on Weds 28th. CW, BA holidays booking.
As of this morning all seats in CW are showing as occupied (not blocked) on ba.com and expertflyer. We are blue so currently we have no seat.
Wondering what's likely to happen here and when we'd know - upgauge to 789, seats end up freeing up at check in or downgrade? Any advice other than to check in at T-24?
As of this morning all seats in CW are showing as occupied (not blocked) on ba.com and expertflyer. We are blue so currently we have no seat.
Wondering what's likely to happen here and when we'd know - upgauge to 789, seats end up freeing up at check in or downgrade? Any advice other than to check in at T-24?
Aug 26, 2019, 2:51 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,575
Curiously they are still selling seats as the flight is J2 but the seat map is indeed absolutely full. So I wonder if they are planning a swap to 787-9 but haven't done it yet. Otherwise maybe have a look at the options and give them a call if you want to be proactive rather than ending up with a downgrade (as later on in the day will be less options for a reroute) - seats are available via Dallas for instance
Aug 26, 2019, 3:06 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,199
Impossible to say.
The MSY-LHR route is the only non-stop to Europe from that airport, so it's quite likely that there will be a high proportion of connecting passengers. Some of those at least are likely to miss their connections and be rerouted. Others may cancel voluntarily, e.g., due to the strike.
You may also be able to reroute via ORD, DFW, and I think MIA with possible compensation.
An aircraft swap is also a possibility but it won't be plugged in yet.
A downgrade is also possible, and the compensation for this is quite generous (and the WTP experience is reasonable on a day flight). However, I'd say that's still not a particularly likely outcome in view of all the other, more favourable options above.
The MSY-LHR route is the only non-stop to Europe from that airport, so it's quite likely that there will be a high proportion of connecting passengers. Some of those at least are likely to miss their connections and be rerouted. Others may cancel voluntarily, e.g., due to the strike.
You may also be able to reroute via ORD, DFW, and I think MIA with possible compensation.
An aircraft swap is also a possibility but it won't be plugged in yet.
A downgrade is also possible, and the compensation for this is quite generous (and the WTP experience is reasonable on a day flight). However, I'd say that's still not a particularly likely outcome in view of all the other, more favourable options above.
Aug 26, 2019, 3:07 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Philly
Programs: AA, BA, NH, TP
Posts: 739
This seat map does suggest that the flight in J is overbooked, and BA still willing to sell 2 more seats!
There could be a last minute sub to a 789- this happened to me once when I flew from MSY-LHR.
Please let us know what happens when you check in.
Aug 26, 2019, 3:10 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 45
I believe the op is referring to flights in August and not September.
This seat map does suggest that the flight in J is overbooked, and BA still willing to sell 2 more seats!
There could be a last minute sub to a 789- this happened to me once when I flew from MSY-LHR.
Please let us know what happens when you check in.
Will certainly update on what happens. Glad to hear downgrade seems unlikely as the grief I'd get from the other half is unthinkable!
Aug 26, 2019, 3:13 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,578
Would a 789 really increase the overall number of seats? I was under the impression that, while the aircraft is bigger, the F cabin ends up reducing the overall seat number?
If BA has this as J2, you can be reasonably sure that there will be seats on the day. With all the strike chaos going on a lot of people will not make the flights they are currently booked on.
If BA has this as J2, you can be reasonably sure that there will be seats on the day. With all the strike chaos going on a lot of people will not make the flights they are currently booked on.
Aug 26, 2019, 3:14 am
#9
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,179
We're on the BA225 to MSY on Weds 28th August. CW, BA holidays booking.
As of this morning all seats in CW are showing as occupied (not blocked) on ba.com and expertflyer. We are blue so currently we have no seat.
Wondering what's likely to happen here and when we'd know - upgauge to 789, seats end up freeing up at check in or downgrade? Any advice other than to check in at T-24?
As of this morning all seats in CW are showing as occupied (not blocked) on ba.com and expertflyer. We are blue so currently we have no seat.
Wondering what's likely to happen here and when we'd know - upgauge to 789, seats end up freeing up at check in or downgrade? Any advice other than to check in at T-24?
Last edited by PUCCI GALORE; Aug 26, 2019 at 4:02 am
Aug 26, 2019, 3:15 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
I believe the op is referring to flights in August and not September.
This seat map does suggest that the flight in J is overbooked, and BA still willing to sell 2 more seats!
There could be a last minute sub to a 789- this happened to me once when I flew from MSY-LHR.
Please let us know what happens when you check in.
Aug 26, 2019, 3:25 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Philly
Programs: AA, BA, NH, TP
Posts: 739
I've just looked on Expertflyer and there seems to be 14 seats not occupied in J - all the middle with one window seat only otherwise.. I wonder if they have closed seating to airport only? I would also expect that some of these "unknown errors" may be to blame. showing J9 as of just now.
Aug 26, 2019, 3:28 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Philly
Programs: AA, BA, NH, TP
Posts: 739
Would a 789 really increase the overall number of seats? I was under the impression that, while the aircraft is bigger, the F cabin ends up reducing the overall seat number?
If BA has this as J2, you can be reasonably sure that there will be seats on the day. With all the strike chaos going on a lot of people will not make the flights they are currently booked on.
If BA has this as J2, you can be reasonably sure that there will be seats on the day. With all the strike chaos going on a lot of people will not make the flights they are currently booked on.
Aug 26, 2019, 3:28 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
I've just looked on Expertflyer and there seems to be 14 seats not occupied in J - all the middle with one window seat only otherwise.. I wonder if they have closed seating to airport only? I would also expect that some of these "unknown errors" may be to blame. showing J9 as of just now.
PS: Ha - Timing!
Aug 26, 2019, 3:48 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA Blue, IC Spire Ambassador
Posts: 5,228
My advice is DON’T PANIC! There is no point in phoning BA - right now, agents are flat out & unless / until you are actually downgraded there isn’t anything a contact centre agent can do.
DO come up with a plan B, acceptable to you in terms of a reroute.
I’d also reiterate in the strongest possible terms though that things can change between now and OLCI.
Also, as this is a Holidays booking, this is good as they are known for being uniquely helpful & empowered when things do go wrong.
DO come up with a plan B, acceptable to you in terms of a reroute.
I’d also reiterate in the strongest possible terms though that things can change between now and OLCI.
Also, as this is a Holidays booking, this is good as they are known for being uniquely helpful & empowered when things do go wrong.
Aug 26, 2019, 3:53 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,199
If, for some reason you did need to be rerouted, the options are:
1. LHR-DFW-MSY, departing 08:40 and arriving 15:39. This would be my preferred option, sleeping as much of the way to DFW as physically possible. Operated by AA.
2. LHR-MIA-MSY, departing 16:40 and arriving 23:46. A very late finish but you can just rock up at your hotel and sleep, and you only need to opt for this once you know you've lost business class seats on your preferred booking.
3. LHR-CLT-MSY, departing 12:20 and arriving 19:38. Weakest product (old AA A330) but probably the closest to your original timings.
Coincidentally, all of these options depart from T3, in which case I would heartily recommend either the Qantas or Cathay lounges over BA's offering. Hopefully, if you are able to check in at T-24 and get a seat, you won't need to worry about any of these.
1. LHR-DFW-MSY, departing 08:40 and arriving 15:39. This would be my preferred option, sleeping as much of the way to DFW as physically possible. Operated by AA.
2. LHR-MIA-MSY, departing 16:40 and arriving 23:46. A very late finish but you can just rock up at your hotel and sleep, and you only need to opt for this once you know you've lost business class seats on your preferred booking.
3. LHR-CLT-MSY, departing 12:20 and arriving 19:38. Weakest product (old AA A330) but probably the closest to your original timings.
Coincidentally, all of these options depart from T3, in which case I would heartily recommend either the Qantas or Cathay lounges over BA's offering. Hopefully, if you are able to check in at T-24 and get a seat, you won't need to worry about any of these.