When do bassinet seats become available?
Mar 1, 2020, 4:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BAEC - Silver, BonVoy - Abassador Elite, HH - Diamond
Posts: 78
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?
When do these seats become available to nab?
Mar 1, 2020, 4:58 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,818
Mar 1, 2020, 6:15 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: BAEC - Silver, BonVoy - Abassador Elite, HH - Diamond
Posts: 78
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!
Mar 2, 2020, 12:57 am
#5
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: 63,821
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.
Mar 2, 2020, 3:32 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,660
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.
Mar 2, 2020, 4:49 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Based out of MAN; LON/NYC regular
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Platinum Amb, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 214
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>"
Mar 2, 2020, 8:48 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 175
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.
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.
Mar 2, 2020, 10:50 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Based out of MAN; LON/NYC regular
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Platinum Amb, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 214
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
Mar 2, 2020, 11:09 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 175
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.
Mar 2, 2020, 11:10 am
#12
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: 63,821
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.
Mar 2, 2020, 11:39 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Based out of MAN; LON/NYC regular
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Platinum Amb, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 214
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.