When does front of section become available to gold
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: South West England
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Afternoon all.
Got a transatlantic booked on BA 777, WT+. 20A and J show as unavailable, which on Expert Flyer show as "blocked" rather than "occupied". I understand this is because these seats are reserved for travellers with infants. When do they become available to gold members without infants ? I'm sure it used to be t-72 but this point has long passed, the flight is 30 days away. Just going through normal MMB. Is this something perhaps the gold executive club hotline could help with ?
Cheers
TT
Got a transatlantic booked on BA 777, WT+. 20A and J show as unavailable, which on Expert Flyer show as "blocked" rather than "occupied". I understand this is because these seats are reserved for travellers with infants. When do they become available to gold members without infants ? I'm sure it used to be t-72 but this point has long passed, the flight is 30 days away. Just going through normal MMB. Is this something perhaps the gold executive club hotline could help with ?
Cheers
TT
#2
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Afternoon all.
Got a transatlantic booked on BA 777, WT+. 20A and J show as unavailable, which on Expert Flyer show as "blocked" rather than "occupied". I understand this is because these seats are reserved for travellers with infants. When do they become available to gold members without infants ? I'm sure it used to be t-72 but this point has long passed, the flight is 30 days away. Just going through normal MMB. Is this something perhaps the gold executive club hotline could help with ?
Cheers
TT
Got a transatlantic booked on BA 777, WT+. 20A and J show as unavailable, which on Expert Flyer show as "blocked" rather than "occupied". I understand this is because these seats are reserved for travellers with infants. When do they become available to gold members without infants ? I'm sure it used to be t-72 but this point has long passed, the flight is 30 days away. Just going through normal MMB. Is this something perhaps the gold executive club hotline could help with ?
Cheers
TT
When t-72 is used here, it generally means t-72 HOURS ( ie 3 days) rather than t-72 days
Not sure when these seats are actually released though, sorry.
Regards
TBS
#3
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Just a note to the op that search is your friend on that sort of question: there are literally dozens of threads on that question, and if you look them up, you'll get a comprehensive and far more concrete sense of different FTers' experience, what works and doesn't, what to do if the seats you want don't become available etc.
#4
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hampshire
Programs: BA (Gold)
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Just a note to the op that search is your friend on that sort of question: there are literally dozens of threads on that question, and if you look them up, you'll get a comprehensive and far more concrete sense of different FTers' experience, what works and doesn't, what to do if the seats you want don't become available etc.

All the best
#5
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Try entering your BA Booking ref into Royal Jordanian's site and then you will be able to view seat map there and 'buy' an upgraded seat in the front row for which you will be charged 0.00 as a BA Gold/OWE.
Calling BA wont help if it is a bassinet seat block. You may be displaced after selecting the seat if an infant needs it and I think T-72hours before checkin is reasonable because the chances of a last minute infant booking are slim.
Calling BA wont help if it is a bassinet seat block. You may be displaced after selecting the seat if an infant needs it and I think T-72hours before checkin is reasonable because the chances of a last minute infant booking are slim.
#6
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The conflicting information is not due to any change in policy, but to the fact that the release of bassinet seats does not follow any universal rule. It can be at t-72, t-48, t-24, online or at the airport, or even not at all. It's not entirely clear what influences that though part of it clearly has to do with whether BA believe the seats might be needed for their primary function (bassinet) and with theoretical seating. But again, that's already discussed in at least some of the existing threads.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hampshire
Programs: BA (Gold)
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The conflicting information is not due to any change in policy, but to the fact that the release of bassinet seats does not follow any universal rule. It can be at t-72, t-48, t-24, online or at the airport, or even not at all. It's not entirely clear what influences that though part of it clearly has to do with whether BA believe the seats might be needed for their primary function (bassinet) and with theoretical seating. But again, that's already discussed in at least some of the existing threads.

#8
Original Poster
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CheersTT
Last edited by travellingtechie; Mar 13, 23 at 3:00 pm Reason: Edit quote to make it clearer which bit I was responding to
#9
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So do double check your booking again after an hour or so.
#10
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It probably doesn't work because you can't force book a BA blocked bassinet seat.. I don't know why you were advised the RJ route, it won't unblock it for you, until BA does it at some point (if at all).
#11
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OK thanks, so are there any ways to persuade BA to release it or is it just a case of be up at exactly 72h before the departure to try to get it before anyone else? I thought that getting the front row is meant to be one of the perks of being Gold!
#12
Join Date: May 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
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Front row IS a gold perk, but not for bassinet seats - understandably. If its blocked, no agent can unblock it for you, unless you have a baby on the booking - then the system allows it. Look regularly at 72h and closer, you may be lucky.
#13
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Even at T-72, when the seat shows up as available you often still can't get the seat in MMB, or even at OLCI. You get a poorly worded message about not having an Infant in your PNR the request is denied.
In that situation take your original choice at OLCI but *don't* generate a mobile BP at this stage. Then take a look at the seat map on the way to the airport to see if those seats are still open. When you to check-in ask an agent if one of the two seats you would prefer is available. They can usually accommodate such a request unless infants are expected.
In that situation take your original choice at OLCI but *don't* generate a mobile BP at this stage. Then take a look at the seat map on the way to the airport to see if those seats are still open. When you to check-in ask an agent if one of the two seats you would prefer is available. They can usually accommodate such a request unless infants are expected.
#14
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 213
Even at T-72, when the seat shows up as available you often still can't get the seat in MMB, or even at OLCI. You get a poorly worded message about not having an Infant in your PNR the request is denied.
In that situation take your original choice at OLCI but *don't* generate a mobile BP at this stage. Then take a look at the seat map on the way to the airport to see if those seats are still open. When you to check-in ask an agent if one of the two seats you would prefer is available. They can usually accommodate such a request unless infants are expected.
In that situation take your original choice at OLCI but *don't* generate a mobile BP at this stage. Then take a look at the seat map on the way to the airport to see if those seats are still open. When you to check-in ask an agent if one of the two seats you would prefer is available. They can usually accommodate such a request unless infants are expected.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2013
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Time after time I tried for the hallowed 64A on the 744 (remember when they had reclassified it as an "actual bassinet" and stopped you pre-selecting it) and got turned away.
Generally had more success with that at the airport.