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When does front of section become available to gold

When does front of section become available to gold

Old Feb 25, 23, 6:57 am
  #1  
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Question When does front of section become available to gold

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
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Old Feb 25, 23, 7:28 am
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Originally Posted by travellingtechie
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
Hi,

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
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Old Feb 25, 23, 8:09 am
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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.
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Old Feb 25, 23, 9:56 am
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Originally Posted by orbitmic
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.
Just a further note, I have searched out of interest as I have wondered this too, however there are a variety of conflicting bits of information as time has gone on and the op is trying to get clarity here I would assume as I would also ask the same question. If you are able to help that would be great for a both a forum searching novice and someone new to this flying game
​​​​​​All the best
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Old Feb 25, 23, 10:27 am
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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.
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Old Feb 25, 23, 11:46 am
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Originally Posted by Cheriton
however there are a variety of conflicting bits of information as time has gone on
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.
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Old Feb 25, 23, 11:50 am
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Originally Posted by orbitmic
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.
At least part of your second reply was mildly useful which I am sure the op will be grateful for. Hope the day improves for you
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Old Mar 13, 23, 2:59 pm
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Originally Posted by Robespierre
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.
.
Thanks again for this suggestion. However I can't seem to get it to work, it seems to be going through but back in BA MMB the seats are still as originally chosen.

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
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Old Mar 13, 23, 3:33 pm
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Originally Posted by travellingtechie
Thanks again for this suggestion. However I can't seem to get it to work, it seems to be going through but back in BA MMB the seats are still as originally chosen.

CheersTT
Any time I do a seat change on BA the email doesn't come through for a few minutes. So it's possible what you do it submit a request to BA systems which processes into an actual change some time later.

So do double check your booking again after an hour or so.
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Old Mar 13, 23, 4:26 pm
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Originally Posted by travellingtechie
Thanks again for this suggestion. However I can't seem to get it to work, it seems to be going through but back in BA MMB the seats are still as originally chosen.

CheersTT
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).
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Old Mar 13, 23, 5:54 pm
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Originally Posted by sb1982
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).
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!
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Old Mar 13, 23, 6:53 pm
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Originally Posted by travellingtechie
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!
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.
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Old Mar 14, 23, 4:39 am
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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.
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Old Mar 14, 23, 4:56 am
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Originally Posted by mjh0
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.
I've usually had success from calling the GCH line to release a bassinet seat a couple of days before the flight. There's sometimes some push-back initially but seems to be doable.
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Old Mar 14, 23, 7:44 am
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Originally Posted by dca100
I've usually had success from calling the GCH line to release a bassinet seat a couple of days before the flight. There's sometimes some push-back initially but seems to be doable.
Only once did that actually work for me. Managed to get a front row window PE seat on an A380 flight.

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.
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