BA charges to pre-assign World Traveller Plus seats?
Mar 17, 23, 9:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 593
BA charges to pre-assign World Traveller Plus (PE) seats?
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.
Last edited by MisterBill; Mar 17, 23 at 9:14 pm
Mar 17, 23, 9:28 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
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Originally Posted by MisterBill
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 17, 23, 10:35 pm
#4
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 593
Originally Posted by irishguy28
They also charge to select Business Class seats.
Mar 17, 23, 10:43 pm
#5
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Location: Juneau, Alaska.
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If you don't have status you can select a seat at 24 hours. See this thread:
BA Seating Policy Guide
BA Seating Policy Guide
Mar 17, 23, 10:58 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,952
Originally Posted by MisterBill
Now I don't feel so bad, but I always thought that BA wasn't some cheap airline that would pull BS like this. Do I have to pay right up to when I get to the airport, or can I get seats when I check in 24 hours ahead of time?
Mar 17, 23, 11:06 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 593
Originally Posted by 1Aturnleft
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 17, 23, 11:27 pm
#8
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 43,228
Originally Posted by MisterBill
And hope that my wife and I can get seats next to each other at that point.
Mar 18, 23, 6:03 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,335
BA uses Amadeus’s theoretical seating model and the chances of couples being split are very unlikely. The policy is not BS, it’s deliberate and a huge unpublished benefit for the highest-yielding late-booking customers. If they buy AA/VS/etc. there may only be rubbish seats left. If they buy BA, they know there’ll be decent ones left.
Mar 18, 23, 6:19 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2016
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Originally Posted by MisterBill
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, 23, 6:21 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,701
Yes.. historically one of the most divisive policies BA have. To give an example, I was picking a LH flight (have no status) recently about 1m out in business. Was one choice of seat available to me in 8 row cabin. Not saying that's indicative of LH at all, just that had I been booking on BA with Gold status I'd have most likely had a choice of many and even the front row. I even booked JAL PE last year and 2 months ahead struggled to get two seats together on some flights and had to rely on expert flyer to wait for a pair to open up. So in some ways this actually makes it easier for.you to guarantee you're together, albeit a pricy way of doing so. It's rare it splits you any way.
Mar 18, 23, 6:25 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 5,317
Originally Posted by Confus
If they buy AA/VS/etc. there may only be rubbish seats left. If they buy BA, they know there’ll be decent ones left.
Mar 18, 23, 6:30 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2011
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Originally Posted by Confus
BA uses Amadeus’s theoretical seating model and the chances of couples being split are very unlikely. The policy is not BS, it’s deliberate and a huge unpublished benefit for the highest-yielding late-booking customers. If they buy AA/VS/etc. there may only be rubbish seats left. If they buy BA, they know there’ll be decent ones left.
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, 23, 6:37 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2016
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Why would a high margin profit making ancillary be "insane" for a business? It's arguably more insane to give the benefit away with status, bearing in mind that two return trips in PE will give bronze benefits.
Mar 18, 23, 6:37 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 5,317
Originally Posted by Magic01273
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.
