edi-traveller

Yup - spot on - I was in 1K.

Only other slight issue was I had moved the mrs and I to 62AB on the way back. When they moved the little one they put him in 61B - i.e. directly behind us - probably not a problem but we prefer to sit in a line - so moved us all into Row 61........

Jenbel

There is another option for the OP. His wife gets gold status too....

Rambuster

I wouldn't worry too much as I don't think that the seats 1A and 1K are in fact the best seats in the house !

Last time I was in 1A I voluntarily moved because (once again) the cabin was falling to pieces. This time the baby bassinet table (next to 1A) was wobbly and made quite a bit of noise during every minor turbulence.

Greg66

Agree completely. I much prefer 2A/K over 1A/K. There's a novelty value to having a BP that says 1A, but so what? I found the footwell felt cramped due to the wardrobe, the traffic around the wardrobe was annoying, and (contrary to some reports) you can't see dead ahead through the windows.

And 2A/K are *much* closer to the post-dinner chocolates

Abstract1

In this case i was taking my girlfriend on her first FIRST flight and wanted to make it the best it could be. In the end a friend of mine in BA had to go through quite a few channels just to get it..for which i am most grateful. I was in 1A and she was 2K. Finally we got 1A and K.

Abstract1

I frequently travel with those who dont have gold and since i travel alot....yes i can honestly say ive been dealing with this an awful lot. I am yet to try 2A and K though. Maybe thats the way forward?

simongr

Is it specifically the window seat you want?

Mrssimongr has yet to fly in F and when she does I will want her next to me rather than across a gaping chasm (hyperbole intended) to be able to share dinner, talk without disturbing other pax etc... Mind you if she has dropped a sprog by then she will be in 4K and I might in 1A

spanna2000

I'm not so sure about this. I booked LIN-NBO and got 1A on the return leg automatically assigned (also on the LIN-LHR leg I got 1A). MMB showed that I had other options including 2A.

I had to change my return date (the reason for booking LIN is the ticket is flexible, the A fare which is slightly cheaper is not) and the automatic seating gave me 2A. 1A is closed for selection. I'm not sure why I got 1A on first booking.

When travelling with my GF I prefer 4EF, I'm not sure the first experience is the same if it means you can't talk to each other. Not that she'd let me book a window seat, she'd rather go CW.

I'm blue for the last 8 years or so but usually do 1-2 F flights a year.

LeisureFirst

I think I am disagreeing with most other FT'ers here, but I don't think BA's seating policy in this particular respect is so unreasonable. I'm not saying it is the one I would devise myself, but I don't think it is all that terrible and it is not worse (again, I emphasize in this particular respect) than that of some other major airlines.

BA has decided that it would like to reserve what are often (mistakenly, most here would say) regarded as its most prestigious seats for what it regards as its most valued passengers if they want them. I don't see that this is any worse than say, giving the pick of the economy seats to elite status pax which many airlines do. When I was a graduate student and subsequently Research Fellow (on this side of the pond) and Assistant Professor (on the other) making frequent (mostly work-related) trips to the U.S. usually on United, I would be very miffed if I didn't get an exit row seat because they had been given to MP Premier/1K/tiara-holding members or whatever, but that is what often happened. I still think that situation rather worse than this one, in fact, because at a shade over 6'4" I had a special need for one of those seats which, with great respect, I doubt applies to Mrs SFW13's desire for 1K.

I do agree with Raffles that the refusal of BA to make a good effort to seat together those passengers who are travelling together is pretty unreasonable, however.

jjpb3

Come on now, you won't even allow a frustrated customer some leeway to indulge in hyperbole? Isn't it a perfectly acceptable figure of speech in English?

Deep Vein Eddie

Try 4 E/F - not sure what all the fuss is about 1 A/K

Alternatively (dare I say it), save some miles and bag a couple of good seats in Club on the upper deck.

vla

Heh.

I also travel with non-status or non-Exec Club pax and think that aspect of it is sloppy, FWIW. But it ain't worth much to those that matter. Maybe you could make a voluntary contribution in lieu of actual travel to The Company in the amount of the equivalent of 2100 points UK / 1200 points Eurocheat. But actually I think they'd make you fly to get the gold card anyway (+4x BA metal, there may some delays in processing your promotion(s), please be patient thank you).

Actually if you want to send a message, arrange an alternative, cancel the tix and send a brief, polite letter based on fact to Prince William's office, concluding explicitly that the reason you cancelled your ticket was because of the seating policy, and see if they respond. If you do so, you will find great interest here if you post your experiences as well.

And as Eddie alluded to, personally I'd rather have 60A/B or 12J/K when travelling with someone as you can keep the screen down and have a face-to-face situation that, for once, isn't sort of awkward.

Lonely Flyer

Now I am intending to book 2 F awards LHR-BOS next year for self and wife with QFF points. So I could end up in 5K and she in 2A. You bet I will harrass the FAs with requests. They will be busier than a one armed bricklayer in Beirut.

Dolly Dripmat

And your reason for harrassing the cabin crew would be...?

LHR Tim

Hold on. To be fair the issue isn't that you won't get seat assignments at all, it's just that 1A/K are reserved for BA Golds/Prems and Joan Collins.

Anything else is up for grabs and you'll most likely have seats next to each other, especially if you book way in advance.