nombody

Isn't it at best extremely misleading and at worst a complete scam for BA to say that for economy passengers there is free seat selection at T-24 when in fact their system automatically allocates all seats before reaching T-24? On a mostly full or completely full flight there ends up being no free seats available at T-24. Just had that experience on two long haul flights.
In effect there is no real free seat selection except for less than full flights where a few odd seats will be available to choose from. They certainly dont disclose that they will be pre-allocating all the seats at T-72 or whenever.

becks1

Lack of seat availability is likely due to combination of other passengers paying for seat assignments more than 24 hours in advance (which you are free to do) and status holders who get to choose seats for free at varying intervals (this is a perk of status, you can earn this perk).

They aren�t guaranteeing you can choose any seat at T-24, just that you may choose from whatever is left over.

golfmad

I can see it now in tomorrow�s Daily Mail:

�BREAKING NEWS: Fury as algorithm used to benefit loyal status holders is revealed as scam by passenger who was left without a seat choice on a full flight.�

HIDDY

Was it one of these tickets?

With a Basic ticket (economy, hand baggage only), you can either

• Pay to choose your seat from the moment you book until check-in opens, or
• We�ll allocate you a seat for free when check-in opens. You can then pay to change to a different seat, although your choice may be limited.

https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...ving-your-seat

sammyg901

Don't download your BP and keep checking is my advice. A friend "upgraded" himself from 7A to 1F the other day, it was showing blocked on expertflyer but suddenly was available just as he was arriving at T5

orbitmic

It's not a scam, but if you think it means you'll be able to sit where you want when you want, you are in for a (pretty bad) surprise especially on busy flights.

There are a number of things happening here:

1) A lot of seats get allocated before departure. People with status, people on full fare, and families with small children all benefit from pre-allocation. In peak summer and on some routes, the number of small families is very large, and throughout the year and on some routes, the number of status pax is so that can already be a big chunk of the cabin accounted for;

2) Theoretical seating means that if you have no status (or you would have had pre-allocation available anyway!) you only get access to a small part of the cabin. This may not include any of the preferred seats, and it may well mean, for instance, that in some cases, you won't have access to any window;

3) As you rightly found, theoretical seating also pre-allocates people when the flight goes under airport control rather than leave people who have not checked in without any seat. Most major airlines do that these days for a reason: It's best for everyone if couples or families with teenagers (or simply other groups) can sit together and on a full flight, that really is a bit of a jigsaw. Does it restrict the options of those who check in early? Yes, is it better than the alternative? Yes too.

4) If you are on a nonstop itinerary especially from London, remember that at least half of the plane will have been able to check in and in most cases choose seats well before you as their check in window will have opened 24 hours before their first segment.

So no, it's not a scam, but it's a "qualified" right, which will never mean a free bonanza, will give limited choice on most flights, and may even lead to very little or no choice at all when flights are packed, though as noted above, some seats may become available later.

kingcole974

In the melee of all that BA do wrong, IMO they have they seating policy 100% spot on.

MaxiStoat

It's not. Everyone seems to be allocated a seat automatically in advance of check-in, so when check-in opens there are almost no seats to be selected. Not because people with higher status or paid seat assignments have taken them, but because even those on hand baggage only tickets have been automatically allocated the seats.

I don't think anyone particularly minds if there is not much left because others have chosen to pay for a seat or been able to select one as a result of status, but when almost every other spare seat is already allocated to people on tickets which do not offer seat selection and likely don't care where they sit anyway, you can see why the original poster is somewhat annoyed.

If this is how it's done now, then fine - but they do need to stop saying seats are automatically allocated to ticket holders without seat assignment entitlement at check-in as it seems that it now happens before this point.

zaphod424

In Economy sure, but I really don't think that they should be charging for seat reservations in Club. At the very least they should do what Virgin do, and only charge for J seats in the first few rows of the cabin (unless you have the status to reserve for free), but allow anyone else to choose their seats for free at booking in the rest of the cabin.

Krisz

if you have the cheapest economy ticket then you won't have free seat selection at all. Here is the text on the booking page: Allocated seats or pay to choose anytime
Any other economy ticket will have free seat selection at checkin t-24 before your first segment of your flight. if you do a simple LHR-JFK then you are in a disadvantage position as all xxx-LHR-JFK passengers can checkin way before when you will be able to. So if you go to the checkin page and see the seat map you will be offered some other seats for free if anything left. Also theoretical seating will hide some seats from you depending of you status and hoe many people in your bookings. This is that BA wants to make sure that let say a family of 4 can sit more likely together. So BA might hide from a solo blue passenger some seats whilst if you are gold you can see more.
I think BA seat selection process works most of the time for most people but of course not everyone can be happy all the time.

Krisz

Virgin has a system which has its own downsides for example many status holder prefer to seat near the second door of any long haul aircraft as mostly that door is used to disembark or board the plane. if all of those seats would be free for all more BA status holder would be upset here. Also BA has a much larger corporate presence than Virgin, so just reserve the few front rows in the J cabin won't really work with BA. I remember the time when BA didn't charge for seat selection and booking a last minute ticket to JFK (let say few days or a week before the flight) which cost arms and legs I couldn't choose any windows seat or upper deck seats in the 747. The only option left for me some middle seat somewhere randomly. Since the seat charge in CW at least a couple of window seat left usually. Now there always can be an argument which system is better or worse but I think the current system generally ok.

MaxiStoat

Correct, but you will be allocated a seat BEFORE check-in opens. So when check-in does open, most if not all seats are already occupied, many by those with the cheapest economy ticket with no seat selection.

I'm not sure those of you with status have noticed this as you are able to select before this happens.

I am pretty sure the issue the original poster is complaining about is not that those with status and those prepared to pay extra can select seats before they can. It's the random allocation of seats to those who have expressed no wish to select a seat, in advance of his opportunity to select one as per the terms of his ticket.

Krisz

yes, but the system is not a scam. if you buy the cheapest economy seat then you just get one from the lottery. if you buy any which does give you checkin bags you have free seat selection at t-24. The exact wording make it clear: "On any fare that includes a checked baggage allowance, you will be able to choose your seat for free from the remaining selection from 24 hours before departure, when online check-in opens. Some fares may allow you to choose your seats earlier than this." Also it has a dedicated section when you book the flight and the first paragraph is absolutely clear again.:

"

What happens if I don't choose my seats now?

• If you choose your seats now you will get the widest choice of seats at the best price.
• If you skip this step, you will be able to choose your seats later in Manage My Booking for a higher price. Closer to departure, the selection may be limited and groups may not be able to sit together.
• Some customers will be able to choose their seats for free now or closer to departure, depending on their circumstances.

"

stewaran

imagine the outrage when they realise loads of seats are empty and blocked out lol

MaxiStoat

I agree with this. I ignored that word.

It's more his sentiment that I agree with - the implication is that you will get some sort of reasonable enough selection at check-in.

It doesn't suggest anywhere that what really happens at check-in is that on a 200 seat aircraft, if you have a Plus fare you can select from the two remaining middle seats because all the window and aisle seats are already allocated to people on cheaper fares with no real preference to where they sit automatically. It implies that you'll get beaten to your choice of seat by those who have status or are prepared to pay - which seems absolutely fair enough - not that you'll also get beaten to your choice of seat by people who have paid less for the ticket and don't care where they sit anyway. That, to me, is the issue.