Random seat assignment

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Nov 29, 2003, 7:59 am

Shuttle-Bored

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2003

Posts: 4,929

Random seat assignment

Bit of an odd one - I've just booked a domestic shuttle from London to Edinburgh for next Feb (being the sadist Scot that I am, I'm flying north to watch Scotland get trounced by England at Murrayfield...).

On checking "Manage my bookings", I've been allocated seat 5F on the return flight from EDI to LCY. My outbound shows "No seat requested".

I didn't think domestic flights got seat allocations done in advance?

And I've just noticed a spelling mistake in my surname (one letter is wrong). Any thoughts on whether I need to get this corrected, or if it can stay as is (one letter wrong out of 12).

Nov 29, 2003, 11:59 am

dnw

Join Date: Sep 2000

Posts: 5,398

Aren't the LCY routes CitiExpress? maybe the policy is different from mainline domestics.

As for getting the name changed, they can't change it once booked (if you have a flexi ticket they can cancel and rebook but not otherwise) but they can add a note to the PNR metioning the error. I wouldnt bother for domestic- they probably won't even notice, especially if your card number is correct.

Nov 29, 2003, 9:00 pm

BRITISH AIRWAYS USA

Join Date: Apr 2003

Posts: 85

Quote:

Originally posted by Shuttle-Bored:
And I've just noticed a spelling mistake in my surname (one letter is wrong). Any thoughts on whether I need to get this corrected, or if it can stay as is (one letter wrong out of 12).

The BA rule for name changes is:

If it's 3 letters or less wrong, then it can be changed. If it's 4 or more, no-can-do.

If it's a P-Tkt, I would not worry about it since you said it was only 1 letter off. It's nothing to worry about, just mention the mistake upon check in and the will either make a note of it or print out a new ticket for you right there.

If it's an E-Tkt, just give them a call, explain the situation, and ask them to re-issue the E-Tkt with the correct spelling for no ADDCOL. It will take 2 seconds.

BA USA

[This message has been edited by BRITISH AIRWAYS USA (edited Nov 29, 2003).]

Nov 29, 2003, 11:50 pm

Dave Noble

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Jan 2002

Posts: 44,574

"I didn't think domestic flights got seat allocations done in advance?"

It's hard to keep up with BA, but they were doing seat assignments on domestic flights on full fare tickets, I don't know if that still applies

Dave

Nov 30, 2003, 4:57 am

dnw

Join Date: Sep 2000

Posts: 5,398

Quote:

Originally posted by BRITISH AIRWAYS USA:
If it's an E-Tkt, just give them a call, explain the situation, and ask them to re-issue the E-Tkt with the correct spelling for no ADDCOL. It will take 2 seconds.

UK Reservations and LGW ticket desk told me categorically that they could not correct the spelling of my name (missed out one 'l' in a double 'l') but could only add a note to the e-ticket PNR.

It was about 6 months ago, maybe things have changed since then. Or maybe its the usual BA thing of ask another person!

Nov 30, 2003, 6:07 am

PUCCI GALORE

Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk

Join Date: Jul 2001

Location: Morbihan, France

Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)

Posts: 19,170

If you make a mistake, and you call within 24 hours they will do it. I like a stupid twit got Him Indoors name the wrong way round. it was such a patently obvious mistake that they did after 3 weeks.

Him Indoors rang and said that he was married to a stupid Lady Dog (not quite the expression) and they did it.

I told him that this may be the case, but that that I had never heard of a Lady Dog marrying a Pig. He said that we would probably qualify for the Guinesss Book of Records. I said that the only book I would qualify for would be the Litany of Saints.

What this has to do with randm seats you may well ask!

Nov 30, 2003, 6:15 am

edi-traveller

Join Date: Apr 2002

Location: Edinburgh UK

Programs: BA Silver, HHonours Gold, Mucci of Pucci, Oyster Card, Nectar Card, Father's Day Card

Posts: 9,372

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Noble:
[B
It's hard to keep up with BA, but they were doing seat assignments on domestic flights on full fare tickets, I don't know if that still applies

Dave[/B]

You do get pre-assignment - but very hap-hazard. Always pre-assignes near the back too - so you have to change on OLCI or hope they sweep to find the silvers angolds and move them forward.

Nov 30, 2003, 6:28 am

Shuttle-Bored

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2003

Posts: 4,929

Quote:

You do get pre-assignment - but very hap-hazard. Always pre-assignes near the back too - so you have to change on OLCI or hope they sweep to find the silvers angolds and move them forward.

I've been assigned 5F, so not too far back.

Thanks for all the advice on the name error - sadly my TA is closed on Sunday, so will have to wait and give them a call tomorrow...

Nov 30, 2003, 8:04 am

ajamieson

Join Date: Aug 2001

Location: London. Edinburgh, Cornwall

Programs: BA GGL, British Midland Lifetime* Loser

Posts: 7,945

Quote:

being the sadist Scot that I am, I'm flying north to watch Scotland get trounced by England at Murrayfield

Don't forget it's only been four years. I shouted so hard that afternoon I lost my voice for nearly a week.

And I think you meant masochist rather than sadist. Not that I'm an expert on S&M...

Nov 30, 2003, 10:06 am

#10

Lux

Join Date: Jun 2001

Location: London, UK

Posts: 1,095

Quote:

Originally posted by Shuttle-Bored:
I've just noticed a spelling mistake in my surname (one letter is wrong). Any thoughts on whether I need to get this corrected, or if it can stay as is (one letter wrong out of 12).

I've not been able to use OLCI a couple of years ago when the name was wrong, but that was because it missed off the 'Mr' in my booking therefore couldn't tie in with the EC record. Might have changed now.

Nov 30, 2003, 11:27 am

#11

Shuttle-Bored

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2003

Posts: 4,929

Quote:

And I think you meant masochist rather than sadist. Not that I'm an expert on S&M...

Ooops - well corrected. Though it could just be my general rugby confusion after having been mandated to support England through the last few weeks of the RWC.....

Not that I begrudge them the support one bit - though my new random habit of humming Swing Low,Sweet Chariot will have to be tamed before I cross the border again....

Dec 1, 2003, 4:11 pm

#12

Shuttle-Bored

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2003

Posts: 4,929

Just to close this one off - spoke to my TA this morning, who called BA, and within 5 mins, my reservation was corrected - no problem whatsover.

Thanks as ever for the useful advice!

And I still have 5F pre-assigned!

Dec 1, 2003, 11:43 pm

#13

JuPe

Join Date: Sep 2002

Location: HEL, Finland

Programs: AY Plat, SK Silver, FB Gold

Posts: 604

I once booked a flight by sending a fax to BA. They did the booking on the name of MRS JuPe, when it should have been MR JuPe (Finnish names' gender is not always as obvious as in English). The booking reference had to be changed, so I suspect that they did a new booking.

Dec 2, 2003, 1:39 am

#14

Grog

Join Date: May 2003

Location: Eurozone

Programs: LH SEN, HH Gold

Posts: 3,002

Quote:

Originally posted by Lux:
I've not been able to use OLCI a couple of years ago when the name was wrong, but that was because it missed off the 'Mr' in my booking therefore couldn't tie in with the EC record. Might have changed now.

Nope, this type of problem is still there. A colleague of mine still has similar problems because his legal name (and his name reflected in the EC) is longer than that accepted by ticketing. He's never been able to use OLCI. (I rarely can either, but that's because it's been slow or non-responsive).

--Grog--

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