Has BA Gone Mad..[seat selection costs]
Mar 16, 2024, 10:22 am
#1
Moderator, Trip Reports
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,715
Has BA Gone Mad..[seat selection costs]
Just booked a Business award from MXP-LHR-DEN, using Alaska miles. Not bad value at 70,000 miles plus the several hundred £ they wanted for APD or whatever excuse they call it.
Find the BA locator, go to the BA site and try to select seats and they want some outrageous fee for both legs
Bloomin dreadful. How long has this nonsense been going on?
If I put my QF number in there (Gold) which is equivalent to OW Sapphire, can I select a seat or do I have to wait until T-24?
I tried to call the BA call center in the US and the recorded message basically told me to sod off. And when I went back online just now, the website told me to bugger off as well.
I think flying BA now is becoming an extreme sport...
Find the BA locator, go to the BA site and try to select seats and they want some outrageous fee for both legs
Bloomin dreadful. How long has this nonsense been going on?
If I put my QF number in there (Gold) which is equivalent to OW Sapphire, can I select a seat or do I have to wait until T-24?
I tried to call the BA call center in the US and the recorded message basically told me to sod off. And when I went back online just now, the website told me to bugger off as well.
I think flying BA now is becoming an extreme sport...
Mar 16, 2024, 10:33 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,660
Just booked a Business award from MXP-LHR-DEN, using Alaska miles. Not bad value at 70,000 miles plus the several hundred £ they wanted for APD or whatever excuse they call it.
Find the BA locator, go to the BA site and try to select seats and they want some outrageous fee for both legs
Bloomin dreadful. How long has this nonsense been going on?
If I put my QF number in there (Gold) which is equivalent to OW Sapphire, can I select a seat or do I have to wait until T-24?
I tried to call the BA call center in the US and the recorded message basically told me to sod off. And when I went back online just now, the website told me to bugger off as well.
I think flying BA now is becoming an extreme sport...
Find the BA locator, go to the BA site and try to select seats and they want some outrageous fee for both legs
Bloomin dreadful. How long has this nonsense been going on?
If I put my QF number in there (Gold) which is equivalent to OW Sapphire, can I select a seat or do I have to wait until T-24?
I tried to call the BA call center in the US and the recorded message basically told me to sod off. And when I went back online just now, the website told me to bugger off as well.
I think flying BA now is becoming an extreme sport...
Mar 16, 2024, 10:33 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: near Heathrow
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL (OWE), SA LifePlat (*G), BD Gold to the end, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,916
This has been discussed so many times and my view hasn’t changed. Perhaps selfishly, as a BA GGL I’m happy that non-frequent BA or Oneworld flyers have to pay for the seats.
When they choose not to, it leaves me a better selection for my free selection if I book after them.
When they choose not to, it leaves me a better selection for my free selection if I book after them.
Mar 16, 2024, 10:36 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2022
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,474
As mentioned OWS gets you seat selection from booking. Might take a while for your status to be reflected in the BA app.
There is no APD on itineraries transiting UK. It’s BA’s extra “carrier imposed surcharge” which is basically just some extra fare. On the other hand, you could try an AA itinerary. AA doesn’t charge this but with dynamic pricing of mileage seats, you might end up paying several 100k in miles and save a few hundred quid.
There is no APD on itineraries transiting UK. It’s BA’s extra “carrier imposed surcharge” which is basically just some extra fare. On the other hand, you could try an AA itinerary. AA doesn’t charge this but with dynamic pricing of mileage seats, you might end up paying several 100k in miles and save a few hundred quid.
Mar 16, 2024, 10:48 am
#9
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,853
I see an event unfolding here. A Gonzo welcome back to the BA Forum. As for the subject of this topic, you can be reassured that BA will fly all sorts of people these days.
But with OWS - other than BA Silver - there is a separate process for seat selection - you need to get the reservation into the system with OWS as the primary frequent flyer card (FQTS rather than FQTV for the technically and Amadeus minded). Then you go into the reservation a second time, after FQTS has settled in and triggered the OW status database - then free seat selection should be enabled. The problem that can arise is that if you are not so high up the Alaska food chain - minor squirrel say - but it's AS's frequent flyer system (as FFR for the etcs) then BA won't know how valuable you are. I mean, we all know of course, but unfortunately that's sometimes not good enough. Or if you are newly Sapphired and the computers are still reeling from that. So find a quiet time, call BA and impress them with status, usually isn't difficult and I'm sure you'll manage.
But with OWS - other than BA Silver - there is a separate process for seat selection - you need to get the reservation into the system with OWS as the primary frequent flyer card (FQTS rather than FQTV for the technically and Amadeus minded). Then you go into the reservation a second time, after FQTS has settled in and triggered the OW status database - then free seat selection should be enabled. The problem that can arise is that if you are not so high up the Alaska food chain - minor squirrel say - but it's AS's frequent flyer system (as FFR for the etcs) then BA won't know how valuable you are. I mean, we all know of course, but unfortunately that's sometimes not good enough. Or if you are newly Sapphired and the computers are still reeling from that. So find a quiet time, call BA and impress them with status, usually isn't difficult and I'm sure you'll manage.
Mar 16, 2024, 10:58 am
#10
Moderator, Trip Reports
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,715
You know I miss the BA forum. I think because I am a minion on Alaska, that when the booking sent the humble request across the pond to BA, it pulled my Alaska number across. There's no way online to change that (at least I not easily). I called BA here in America, but that was useless. And the website seems to go up and down like a brides nightie. The first leg it wants Euro for the seat selection and then the second leg it wants pounds. My OCD wont allow a reservation to sit there without a seat assignment, so I will pour myself a G&T a bit later and under the cover of darkness UK time, will attempt to fix this...
Mar 16, 2024, 11:00 am
#11
Moderator, Trip Reports
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,715
Mar 16, 2024, 11:05 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,710
Unfortunately this is growing more common among airlines. It is unfortunate but at this point you have to research just to see what is included in your ticket price even for J and not just with BA (see AF/KLM/QR). I am not a fan of this so I often fly another carrier where I get a free seat selection in J. Of course if BA is cheap enough/I am flying F or I am putting a high priority on flying straight to London (e.g., with my 81 year old mother this spring) then I'll suck it up.
Mar 16, 2024, 11:06 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
Since this is really an Alaska booking, won't you need to have them change the FF number on their side and then hope that it propagates to BA? At that point you may need BA to re-sync the bookings.
Mar 16, 2024, 11:08 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,937
A thousand thank yous CWS
You know I miss the BA forum. I think because I am a minion on Alaska, that when the booking sent the humble request across the pond to BA, it pulled my Alaska number across. There's no way online to change that (at least I not easily). I called BA here in America, but that was useless. And the website seems to go up and down like a brides nightie. The first leg it wants Euro for the seat selection and then the second leg it wants pounds. My OCD wont allow a reservation to sit there without a seat assignment, so I will pour myself a G&T a bit later and under the cover of darkness UK time, will attempt to fix this...
You know I miss the BA forum. I think because I am a minion on Alaska, that when the booking sent the humble request across the pond to BA, it pulled my Alaska number across. There's no way online to change that (at least I not easily). I called BA here in America, but that was useless. And the website seems to go up and down like a brides nightie. The first leg it wants Euro for the seat selection and then the second leg it wants pounds. My OCD wont allow a reservation to sit there without a seat assignment, so I will pour myself a G&T a bit later and under the cover of darkness UK time, will attempt to fix this...
Mar 16, 2024, 11:13 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hampshire UK
Programs: BA Silver, Virgin Red, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 151
Do what many of us do and use the Finnair website to change your FF details….unlike BA it’s a paragon of calmness and efficiency.
Damn too slow, Scottishpoet beat me to it!
Damn too slow, Scottishpoet beat me to it!