oiRRio

No worries. Unfortunately the new schedule hasn't worked in your favour but at least now any surprise change of equipment will be a pleasant one. Of course let us know how you get on.

JonNYC

Here's a thread that-- towards the end-- addresses the IB equipment issues and getting row 1 on old equipment (and pictures), etc.
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315764

Roger

Two of us are off in 10 days with the other three a couple of days later, all returning together (on two PNRs).

Outbound, two of us are ticketed LHR-BCN-JNB, which means three flights: LHR-BCN, BCN-MAD and MAD-JNB, with almost two hours on the ground at MAD.

We have most seat numbers, but not MAD-JNB. The system regards BCN-JNB as one sector and we have 1A and 1B - which can only be for LHR-MAD on an A321 - and which the travel agent says we can keep for the A343. I don't believe it, of course.

IB in Spain say we cannot make seat reservations until three days before the flight . Any thoughts as to how we can get seat numbers earlier? Thanks.

It does look as though we have the A340-300 with the new business class in both directions. Coming back, row 1 has gone. We have asked for 2H and 3H.

aristoph

Roger, I would be VERY interested to hear your feedback after this trip as I am considering using IB to JNB later this year as their J fare is little more than WT+! Out of curiosity whu are you routing LHR-BCN-MAD-JNB rather than straight LHR-MAD-JNB?

JonNYC

While I personally prefer row 1 in new IB J-- it really doesn't make too much difference, while on the old configs, it makes a huge difference. I also figured better just to "keep it simple" and ask for row 1 all the time. As far as how to get IB to assign same... wish I could tell ya'. I'd keep calling.

Roger

Not through choice ! I needed to change to an earlier outbound, and at the time only LHR-BCN-(MAD)-JNB was available. It hurts to see LHR-MAD-JNB available again today at �1400-ish instead of the absurd �5,600-ish demanded up to yesterday. Imagine the spiel: 'Fly IB - only 50% more expensive than full price BA J and with an oh-so-convenient midnight transfer in Madrid's new terminal' .

I have been having a dreadful time with those comedians at lastminute.com masquerading as a travel agency and plan to report back with warnings after the trip.

Will do !

JonNYC

I wonder if they intentionally keep row 1 empty for IB elites (or somesuch) up 'till 3 days (or whatever it is) before the flight? Or something like that. If so, I'd definitely put it on your calendar to call at the earliest possible opportunity. If you -do- get row 1, make sure at every stage during the trip leading up tp that flight that they haven't moved you out of row 1, I had an experience that led me to believe that that happens on occasion-- I was on a flight where every other occupant of row 1 was family of the pilot-- I was the only person that retained my row 1 assignment and I'm pretty sure others had been moved back to "regular" business at the last minute, based on the grumbling I overheard (most of it in Spanish.)