When do bassinet seats become available?
 

I'm a BAEC Silver, and currently have 33G and 33J (bulkhead aisle WT+ seats) on the BA178 to LHR on March 3rd, trying to switch to the 33G to 33K since it's now become unblocked, but when I try to select it, it says "sorry, we can't place [Passenger] in a carrycot seat as they are protected for customers travelling with an infant (under 2)"

When do these seats become available to nab?

See this recent thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...e-changed.html
See also:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...-released.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...-cw-seats.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...nets-open.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...eleased-5.html

I tried the call center and was told that they are unable to move anyone to those seats without an infant, it has to be done at the airport. So now I know!

Ask them to try and make the move anyway say you understand that if anyone requires them you'll be moved. They will then try and it will work. I've had a couple of operators claim to not know they can do this.

That would be the case at T-24 hours approximately. The time to contact is T-72 hrs or at the latest (and generally the best time to call) is T-48 hrs, but at OLCI is your next option.

In my experience now you are very unlikely to be able to get seats that are cot positions now versus a couple years ago. At t-72 hours due to the system that then kicks in its most likely the seats stay restricted.

My most recent experiences with bassinet seats were that none of these options were successful. The agents on the gold line were really helpful at trying to move us to the desired seats but it just didn't succeed, and then at OLCI I got a message along the lines of "this seat is visible to you because there's an infant in your booking but you specifically can't choose it. the person in your booking with an infant is: <blank>"

A month ago, I was able to get a bassinet position at (IIRC) approximately T-48 by requesting it through rj.com. The seat showed blocked in EF. It showed up as available in MMB, but I got an error every time I tried to select it in MMB. I tried through rj.com and it worked.

FWIW, rj.com has been somewhat hit and miss for me. I’ve tried this three times over the past several years. It has worked twice. The third time, it booted me from my pre-selected seat without giving me the bassinet. I was momentarily worried TS would keep me from getting my original seat back, but (thankfully) that ended up not being a problem.

I'm 3 for 4 over the last year-ish with it so, so another data point there.

I tried it through rj.com and not only did it not give me the bassinet seat but it freed up the seat which I'd had previously which someone else immediately snaffled

Or, the seat might have become unavailable due to Theoretical Seating. Either way, that is a definite risk with the rj.com approach, which is why I highlighted my 2/3 success rate. In general, I only try to make the switch via rj.com when I’m moving from a seat I don’t mind losing.

It may be your previous selection is still sticking. Have a look again in a few hours or tomorrow to see if you get it back.

Apologies, should've been clearer. This is a "feedback from a flown booking" experience rather than anything current! That particular issue was all worked out by the cabin crew helping out with some passenger tetris on board.

I tried the rj.com trick and it seems to have worked! I have my BP showing the Bassinet seat, so hopefully I get to keep it