BA charges to pre-assign World Traveller Plus seats?
Mar 18, 2023, 6:46 am
#16
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges and Environmentally Friendly Travel
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 22,212
Yes, yes - its all about giving "benefits" to [late booking] customers.
LOL.
In all seriousness, even as a status passenger who is unaffected, Ive always accepted that it's BA's prerogative to charge for seat selection. However the AMOUNT they charge is, in my humble opinion, insane...particularly on top of a business class fare that is already generally high - and already loaded with carrier fees/surcharges. And the reason they undoubtedly make a shed load of money on it, despite the eye-watering cost - is precisely because it preys on the worries and paranoia of regular passengers (who don't know any better and have never heard of "theoretical seating") that they will end up being split from their families. Even though the chances of that are usually pretty slim. Never really sat right with me to be honest.
LOL.
In all seriousness, even as a status passenger who is unaffected, Ive always accepted that it's BA's prerogative to charge for seat selection. However the AMOUNT they charge is, in my humble opinion, insane...particularly on top of a business class fare that is already generally high - and already loaded with carrier fees/surcharges. And the reason they undoubtedly make a shed load of money on it, despite the eye-watering cost - is precisely because it preys on the worries and paranoia of regular passengers (who don't know any better and have never heard of "theoretical seating") that they will end up being split from their families. Even though the chances of that are usually pretty slim. Never really sat right with me to be honest.
Mar 18, 2023, 7:07 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold, Marriot Bonvoy Gold, MeliaRewards Gold, Radisson Gold
Posts: 816
For the business I'm sure its amazing!
I also didn't suggest they should "give it away" - rather, revise the costs somewhat. I accept however there is virtually no chance of that happening.
Mar 18, 2023, 7:16 am
#18
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,627
I just booked a couple of Premium Economy seats on BA using AA miles. I went onto the BA website to assign seats and was shocked to find that they want as much as $100 to assign seats? Is this normal? The ticket was surprisingly cheap, only 40k miles plus $252 in ridiculous fees. Booking economy on AA only came with $27 in fees, but PE was not available.
Mar 18, 2023, 9:24 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 681
Well, the AA and BA coach seats were both only 30k miles, even with the disparity in taxes ($27 vs $252). PE was only 40k.
Anyway, thanks everyone for the responses. The key is obviously to be ready to check in at T-24 hours.
Anyway, thanks everyone for the responses. The key is obviously to be ready to check in at T-24 hours.
Last edited by MisterBill; Mar 18, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Mar 18, 2023, 9:44 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Middle Earth, and often worse
Programs: BAEC Silver, A3 Gold
Posts: 2,217
They've been pulling this "BS" for a good 15-20yrs now so its not a new thing by any means. Those with Oneworld status love it, those without hate it. Either way, you'll be able to assign seats without charge when on-line check-in opens T-24hrs without additional charge
Mar 18, 2023, 9:44 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Western Europe
Programs: Yeah, well, don’t really care anymore
Posts: 845
It’s the main reason why I would never book on BA unless there were no other options. Even when buying a full-fare C-seat, there’s a charge on top for actual selecting a seat, which is just wrong.
I flew LHR-YUL-LHR last year, checked in at T-24 and to the surprise of absolutely no-one, there were only ...... aisle seats left.
That, and the horror that is Heathrow, will keep me well away from booking with BA again. Not that it’s of any concern to them of course, but then again their petty seat selection policy is no longer a concern of mine either.
I only fly long-haul when the company is paying for it. And whilst they do spring for C-class, they’re not paying for seat selection. From my home airport I can fly direct to all but one of my regular NA destinations, and for the last there’s a phalanx of 1-stop options which doesn’t charge for seat selection.
I flew LHR-YUL-LHR last year, checked in at T-24 and to the surprise of absolutely no-one, there were only ...... aisle seats left.
That, and the horror that is Heathrow, will keep me well away from booking with BA again. Not that it’s of any concern to them of course, but then again their petty seat selection policy is no longer a concern of mine either.
I only fly long-haul when the company is paying for it. And whilst they do spring for C-class, they’re not paying for seat selection. From my home airport I can fly direct to all but one of my regular NA destinations, and for the last there’s a phalanx of 1-stop options which doesn’t charge for seat selection.
Mar 18, 2023, 10:04 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
Mar 18, 2023, 11:49 am
#26
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Gold, TK M&S Nobody
Posts: 2,471
In all seriousness, even as a status passenger who is unaffected, Ive always accepted that it's BA's prerogative to charge for seat selection. However the AMOUNT they charge is, in my humble opinion, insane...particularly on top of a business class fare that is already generally high - and already loaded with carrier fees/surcharges. And the reason they undoubtedly make a shed load of money on it, despite the eye-watering cost - is precisely because it preys on the worries and paranoia of regular passengers (who don't know any better and have never heard of "theoretical seating") that they will end up being split from their families. Even though the chances of that are usually pretty slim. Never really sat right with me to be honest.
Given how few threads we have on here about golds having a crap selection of seats available, we can infer that the policy and pricing does exactly that.
Mar 18, 2023, 11:52 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,231
Yes, IIRC, only J and C fares include seat selection; R/D/I do not.
Even discounted first class tickets book into J on a Euro connecting segment, so you do get seat assignments on all legs when traveling First class. Of course half the window seats are blocked for high level elites anyway.
Even discounted first class tickets book into J on a Euro connecting segment, so you do get seat assignments on all legs when traveling First class. Of course half the window seats are blocked for high level elites anyway.
Mar 18, 2023, 12:00 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 608
I recently booked AY flight CDG-HEL in Y for my statusless friend. While the price was about €80 or so, AY asked €50 to select exit row seat. That makes BA look not so bad.
Mar 18, 2023, 12:09 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,557
I guess the point is that each airline has its pros and cons around fees and benefits, and over time you learn to work with it...
Mar 18, 2023, 1:36 pm
#30
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Western Europe
Programs: Yeah, well, don’t really care anymore
Posts: 845
(Rant=on)
And when it does read “business" we’re talking prices of USD 4000 and upwards for a hop across the salty divide, which may not be full-fare but should be more than enough to include seat selection. And it is with every other airline bar BA that I’ve ever been onboard. Penny-pinching by braking it down in fare classes is a rip-off, and so far off industry standard it’s deplorable.
(Rant=off).
There, feel better now
