Gold - chosen seat but shifted on check in
Dec 6, 2006, 11:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: BA Gold, Virgin Gold
Posts: 81
Gold - chosen seat but shifted on check in
I'm a long standing Gold - don't travel much on CE - but flew back from Helsinki last night.
I had, weeks ago, booked 3C. No change in aircraft - but when I checked in (70 minutes before the flight), I had been moved to 3E. Annoying to get a middle seat at the best of times, but worse last night on a 5 hr journey.
No aisle seats available.
Never had this before - and the person is 3C was not a Prem (I asked the purser). What happened and how do I put a stop to this!?
I had, weeks ago, booked 3C. No change in aircraft - but when I checked in (70 minutes before the flight), I had been moved to 3E. Annoying to get a middle seat at the best of times, but worse last night on a 5 hr journey.
No aisle seats available.
Never had this before - and the person is 3C was not a Prem (I asked the purser). What happened and how do I put a stop to this!?
Dec 6, 2006, 11:31 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,948
Dec 6, 2006, 11:41 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,867
I hate it when that happens. The last time I was moved, after OLCI, I wrote a letter to BA. Among other things, they insisted the middle seat in CE was no different from A or C. Right....
Hopefully the new seat policy will put an end to the seat shifters.
Hopefully the new seat policy will put an end to the seat shifters.
Dec 6, 2006, 1:30 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London, Sydney
Programs: Muccihood de la Rotisserie Doree, BAEC Gold, SAS Eurobonus basic, Ansett Golden Wing :-(
Posts: 3,114
[QUOTE=Kibison;6803618]The last time I was moved, after OLCI, I wrote a letter to BA. Among other things, they insisted the middle seat in CE was no different from A or C. Right....
QUOTE]
I was at a party last year and met a girl who worked at BA and was in the department resposible for the CE product. She was very proud of it. I certainly did not mean to be rude, but said that it was good as long as I was on the left hand side, and she seemed quite crest-fallen that I made the distinction.
Is it possible that we are all weird in here with our AC preference, and that normal people really can't tell the difference? She insisted: "... but the seats on the right are wider too". I didn't push the point.
James
QUOTE]
I was at a party last year and met a girl who worked at BA and was in the department resposible for the CE product. She was very proud of it. I certainly did not mean to be rude, but said that it was good as long as I was on the left hand side, and she seemed quite crest-fallen that I made the distinction.
Is it possible that we are all weird in here with our AC preference, and that normal people really can't tell the difference? She insisted: "... but the seats on the right are wider too". I didn't push the point.
James
Dec 6, 2006, 1:38 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA/BD Gold/IC A/*Wood Gold - Certified BodyCombat and BodyPump Instructor
Posts: 6,070
I was at a party last year and met a girl who worked at BA and was in the department resposible for the CE product. She was very proud of it. I certainly did not mean to be rude, but said that it was good as long as I was on the left hand side, and she seemed quite crest-fallen that I made the distinction.
She might just go back to the drawing board...
Dec 6, 2006, 2:50 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SCL, MCT, LGW and a variety of 1W lounges in between.
Programs: BA Mucci (Seigneur et Ingenieur des Appareils Volants (Gold)), QF (WP and LTG), AA EXP, GF Gold
Posts: 3,931
Preferences?
From what I know of this board and some of its members, then some are distinctly left handed (AC) whilst others are Aisle only (DC). Therefore, we have a whole variety of AC and DC preferences here. For those that want a view from an Airbus, are the seats really worth sweet FA
Dec 6, 2006, 3:20 pm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
the seat shifters tried to get me for my sat flight ist-lhr, but having noticed that they took me from my beloved 1A on the A320 to 2A, i changed it back and it seems to be sticking. I thought it was strange they would shift me and then leave my old seat empty. Another mystery about what motivates a seat shifter 
Dec 6, 2006, 3:23 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA/BD Gold/IC A/*Wood Gold - Certified BodyCombat and BodyPump Instructor
Posts: 6,070
Dec 6, 2006, 4:40 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL / AAdvantage Million Miler + Plat / TK Gold (not any more) / Hilton Diamond (via GGL)
Posts: 1,002
I'm a long standing Gold - don't travel much on CE - but flew back from Helsinki last night.
I had, weeks ago, booked 3C. No change in aircraft - but when I checked in (70 minutes before the flight), I had been moved to 3E. Annoying to get a middle seat at the best of times, but worse last night on a 5 hr journey.
No aisle seats available.
Never had this before - and the person is 3C was not a Prem (I asked the purser). What happened and how do I put a stop to this!?
I had, weeks ago, booked 3C. No change in aircraft - but when I checked in (70 minutes before the flight), I had been moved to 3E. Annoying to get a middle seat at the best of times, but worse last night on a 5 hr journey.
No aisle seats available.
Never had this before - and the person is 3C was not a Prem (I asked the purser). What happened and how do I put a stop to this!?
Manages to get changed back to 1A/1K for the BOM flight but still no idea why they did it. On both flights 1K was assigned to someone else and 1A wasn't......
Dec 7, 2006, 1:20 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,727
I don't know if this has been asked yet, so I'll tack it in here. With the new seat policy, are the premium seats such as 1A/K, 62,64A/K, 28B/J still blocked until OLCI or do golds/silvers/the other people given the ability to select seats at booking have the ability to select these seats?
Dec 7, 2006, 1:59 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,924
I don't know if this has been asked yet, so I'll tack it in here. With the new seat policy, are the premium seats such as 1A/K, 62,64A/K, 28B/J still blocked until OLCI or do golds/silvers/the other people given the ability to select seats at booking have the ability to select these seats?
62 AK - still held back until OLCI (as are 63 BJ)
62 BJ - available to Golds and Silvers
63 AK, 64 AJk - also available to Golds and Silvers
Dec 7, 2006, 3:40 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
I don't know if this has been asked yet, so I'll tack it in here. With the new seat policy, are the premium seats such as 1A/K, 62,64A/K, 28B/J still blocked until OLCI or do golds/silvers/the other people given the ability to select seats at booking have the ability to select these seats?
Dec 7, 2006, 4:39 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA LTG/GFL, Honors Diamond, Accor Platinum, Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 718
Happened to me this morning on the 219 to DEN.
Gold, booked in 4A (its usually a 3 class 777 to DEN with only J, Y+ and Y). I specifcally chose 4A as door 2L is the usual off load point and I have a tight connection in DEN. Also it is the best seat (IMHO) in terms of no one to climb over and no one climbs over you to get out.
OLCI'd yesterday all fine, kept 4A and PMOBPd.
Got to the airport this morning, - you have been moved sir. 14A for you.
When asked why, "the IFE is broken in 4A". Ok that's fine with me I dont use the IFE as I'm going to be working please move me back - I know you will need to call close outs as you cant make seat changes any more. "Oh sorry, no, actually that section has been closed as its a 4 class so you cant be moved".
Cant really complain about the seating policy on this one as it is effectively an aircraft configuration change, but, please dont lie to me at check-in...
Actually the agent was very pleasant in the end and kindly through checked bags onto a United flight! So thanks to him (didnt get name) I may be able to save a few minutes at the bag drop post customs.
Irritated at seat change, happy with process.
Time for a bacon buttie....
Gold, booked in 4A (its usually a 3 class 777 to DEN with only J, Y+ and Y). I specifcally chose 4A as door 2L is the usual off load point and I have a tight connection in DEN. Also it is the best seat (IMHO) in terms of no one to climb over and no one climbs over you to get out.
OLCI'd yesterday all fine, kept 4A and PMOBPd.
Got to the airport this morning, - you have been moved sir. 14A for you.
When asked why, "the IFE is broken in 4A". Ok that's fine with me I dont use the IFE as I'm going to be working please move me back - I know you will need to call close outs as you cant make seat changes any more. "Oh sorry, no, actually that section has been closed as its a 4 class so you cant be moved".
Cant really complain about the seating policy on this one as it is effectively an aircraft configuration change, but, please dont lie to me at check-in...
Actually the agent was very pleasant in the end and kindly through checked bags onto a United flight! So thanks to him (didnt get name) I may be able to save a few minutes at the bag drop post customs.
Irritated at seat change, happy with process.
Time for a bacon buttie....
Dec 7, 2006, 4:59 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: London/New York
Programs: BA Gold for life
Posts: 250
It's just happened to me as well. I have three CE bookings (Gold) and on all three they've either shifted me or, where I'm travelling with someone else (same PNR), split us up.
Never happened to me before, maybe I've been lucky. But is this the result of the new seating policy?? And what on earth are they doing splitting us up? We were in 3A and C now we're in 3A and E.
I though this new policy was supposed to make things easier not harder...
Never happened to me before, maybe I've been lucky. But is this the result of the new seating policy?? And what on earth are they doing splitting us up? We were in 3A and C now we're in 3A and E.
I though this new policy was supposed to make things easier not harder...