Gold seat blocking
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold
Posts: 70
Gold seat blocking
Hey everyone,
Quick question - flying to Glasgow in a couple of days in euro traveller (I am gold).
On expert flyer I can see that the first couple of rows are blocked out - but there are a couple of people already sitting in them. I used to be able to book into these front blocked out rows - is this no longer a gold benefit?
Also are they no longer blocking seats next to gold members as they used to?
Quick question - flying to Glasgow in a couple of days in euro traveller (I am gold).
On expert flyer I can see that the first couple of rows are blocked out - but there are a couple of people already sitting in them. I used to be able to book into these front blocked out rows - is this no longer a gold benefit?
Also are they no longer blocking seats next to gold members as they used to?
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: living near Malaga
Programs: BA Gold , Mucci recipient. Coffee Drinker, Blue Sky Thinker
Posts: 2,108
With low loads I have seen this too, maybe its a ballance/trim thing. Ask at checkin to move to a seat of your choice.
If loads are high it could be in readiness to move the curtain or could be that those others could be gold too and that's why seats are blocked about them.
If loads are high it could be in readiness to move the curtain or could be that those others could be gold too and that's why seats are blocked about them.
#3
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,872
The first few rows in ET will be blocked to allow for curtain adjustment and changes in size of the club cabin.
The block should be released as you get close in to the flight so either the day before or on the day - so perhaps delay checking in if you want to select them. It is possible the blocked rows have changed over time and people selected those seats prior to the rows being blocked. You can't override the block based on status.
You should have a blocked seat if the one next to you is free, but theoretical seating doesn't kick in until about 2/3 days before the flight so before that they won't show as blocked.
The block should be released as you get close in to the flight so either the day before or on the day - so perhaps delay checking in if you want to select them. It is possible the blocked rows have changed over time and people selected those seats prior to the rows being blocked. You can't override the block based on status.
You should have a blocked seat if the one next to you is free, but theoretical seating doesn't kick in until about 2/3 days before the flight so before that they won't show as blocked.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: GLA
Programs: Chevalier de la Gallentrie - Knight of the Platinum Hair Brush, BA Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,389
Is that due to being a Gold, or are BA blocking seats next to PAX (where possible) for a degree of social distancing in ET? Have a "day trip" to LHR on Sunday with my daughter in ET, and just wondering what the chances are of the 3rd seat in our row being left empty if the flight isn't rammed.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Programs: Tufty Club (Gold), BAGA Gymnastics level 4, 440yds swimming certificate
Posts: 2,533
Short haul services are quite busy at the moment as so few rotations are operating. Even to and from Amber countries. Its the long hauls where you can stretch out
#6
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,872
Is that due to being a Gold, or are BA blocking seats next to PAX (where possible) for a degree of social distancing in ET? Have a "day trip" to LHR on Sunday with my daughter in ET, and just wondering what the chances are of the 3rd seat in our row being left empty if the flight isn't rammed.
Some more information on TS here https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...ts-status.html
#7
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: GLA
Programs: Chevalier de la Gallentrie - Knight of the Platinum Hair Brush, BA Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,389
In fairness, there are a few in here too - but they are my kind of weirdos ;-). Might chance my arm with the window and aisle seat towards the back of the aircraft in that case - can always swap and take the middle seat myself if it comes to it.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: BA GGL & GfL, AA LTP, Marriott (sigh) Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,227
i have experienced a narrowing of domestic schedules this month so even for my NCL-LHR next week i went from row 1 on my cancelled flight to row 5 because of the consolidated flights.
so while it may be for curtain movement as noted, i have just seen my domestic flights to be busier than i expected because of the consolidations. my ABZ-LHR was 111 of 140 seats (and not sure if the BA page saying "up to 140" means no club euro)
so while it may be for curtain movement as noted, i have just seen my domestic flights to be busier than i expected because of the consolidations. my ABZ-LHR was 111 of 140 seats (and not sure if the BA page saying "up to 140" means no club euro)
#10
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: GLA
Programs: Chevalier de la Gallentrie - Knight of the Platinum Hair Brush, BA Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,389
#11
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,872
I think I would be fairly confident of keeping the middle seat free there - albeit I would also look at availability on EF to see how full the flight was too as occasionally the seat map can be misleading if there are lots of non status passengers who haven’t yet selected seats.
#12
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: GLA
Programs: Chevalier de la Gallentrie - Knight of the Platinum Hair Brush, BA Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,389
I think I would be fairly confident of keeping the middle seat free there - albeit I would also look at availability on EF to see how full the flight was too as occasionally the seat map can be misleading if there are lots of non status passengers who haven’t yet selected seats.
Looks like there's loads of availability for eco still. time will tell, but feeling relatively hopeful :-).
#14
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 654
Might sound like an odd question, but what happens with Theoretical Seating if a Silver/Gold selects a middle seat (With the window and aisle seat empty)? Would seat blocks appear on either side of them or just on one side?