Finnair seat selection as One World Emerald
Feb 22, 2023, 7:53 pm
#106
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Bonvoy Gold, HH Diamond, PriorityPass, AX Plat
Posts: 526
Unfortunately BA ticketed / AY metal will not give any seat selection at all – even for BA Gold / OWE as I found out in November (travelling in business in a few weeks). Tried also with AY's customer service, was told I have to wait until check-in. Disappointed with AY's IT as seat selection had worked earlier in 2022.
Feb 23, 2023, 5:32 am
#107
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Bonvoy Gold, HH Diamond, PriorityPass, AX Plat
Posts: 526
As usual Finnair failed. Checked-in via BA and we were assigned 8L and 9L on A350 with a new cabin, unable to select seats myself. Too bad 8L is in forward business cabin and 9L in rear business cabin, not fun to be separated from my 10-year old daughter. Chat agent saw no problem with that, we are both flying business and should be happy enough. I have now sent AY a twitter message, let`s see if I get a reply — guess I need to discuss with the gate agent at LHR…
Feb 25, 2023, 7:39 am
#108
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,997
for future reference, if on a ba ticketed ay flight you can do seat selection by using the RJ or RAM sites and their MMB.
Feb 25, 2023, 9:04 am
#109
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Bonvoy Gold, HH Diamond, PriorityPass, AX Plat
Posts: 526
Feb 27, 2023, 8:45 am
#111
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,997
Mar 19, 2023, 8:28 am
#112
Join Date: Nov 2011
Programs: BA Gold Hilton Diamond
Posts: 289
Posting this here in case it helps future travellers:
- Asked AY on their chat about being able to book ANY economy / premium economy seat if I am OneWorld Emerald on a short haul flight (only business or economy classes available). The answer was that myself and anybody on my booking should be able to select any seat including premium economy ones (usually priced at £65)
- I then booked a flight that included a HEL-LHR leg where the a350 operates with premium economy seats
- I went into Finnair’s manage my booking and tried to select the PE seats. I was asked for payment for all passengers
- I then went into the chat and asked Vladimir to assign the PE seats for me. He said I should pay and that’s it
- so I closed the chat and opened it again. This time I asked Tanya about the PE seats first. Could I book them for free? She said yes. I insisted, what about the rest of the passenger? Also. So I then gave her the booking reference and voila, now all seats could be selected on the website for free. Unfortunately I clicked somewhere and closed the chat and couldn’t thank her
So now you know. Don’t trust Vlad, trust Tanya!
- Asked AY on their chat about being able to book ANY economy / premium economy seat if I am OneWorld Emerald on a short haul flight (only business or economy classes available). The answer was that myself and anybody on my booking should be able to select any seat including premium economy ones (usually priced at £65)
- I then booked a flight that included a HEL-LHR leg where the a350 operates with premium economy seats
- I went into Finnair’s manage my booking and tried to select the PE seats. I was asked for payment for all passengers
- I then went into the chat and asked Vladimir to assign the PE seats for me. He said I should pay and that’s it
- so I closed the chat and opened it again. This time I asked Tanya about the PE seats first. Could I book them for free? She said yes. I insisted, what about the rest of the passenger? Also. So I then gave her the booking reference and voila, now all seats could be selected on the website for free. Unfortunately I clicked somewhere and closed the chat and couldn’t thank her
So now you know. Don’t trust Vlad, trust Tanya!
The LHR-HEL sector is allowing me to select seats for free, the HEL-LHR is also free but there is a £57 fee to select a seat in the PE cabin. Both HEL-HKG out/return there is a fee to select a seat about £57.
So reading this post, should I just book the flights without selecting the seats and once ticketed, either try MMB or AY's chat function?
BTW: if I happen to go for PE Lite (Hand baggage only) do I still get free seat selection and lounge access as OWE?
Thanks
Mar 19, 2023, 8:33 am
#113
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 90
I have OWE (BA Gold) status and I doing a dummy booking on Finnair.com, re LHR-HEL-HKG return in PE.
The LHR-HEL sector is allowing me to select seats for free, the HEL-LHR is also free but there is a £57 fee to select a seat in the PE cabin. Both HEL-HKG out/return there is a fee to select a seat about £57.
So reading this post, should I just book the flights without selecting the seats and once ticketed, either try MMB or AY's chat function?
Thanks
The LHR-HEL sector is allowing me to select seats for free, the HEL-LHR is also free but there is a £57 fee to select a seat in the PE cabin. Both HEL-HKG out/return there is a fee to select a seat about £57.
So reading this post, should I just book the flights without selecting the seats and once ticketed, either try MMB or AY's chat function?
Thanks
- book your flights
- then go to the chat and ask “hey, can I select any seat in economy as a OW Emerald?” They will reply “of course”
- insist “even the PE seats at the front?” (They get a little confused here as they will say “there is no PE” but eventually get it). They should say “yes, any seat”
- only then say “ok, let me give you my booking reference so you can assist me select the seats”
I made the mistake of asking, closing the chat and the opening a new one and the guy was not very helpful and wanted to charge £57 to each of us.
When I did it a second time the woman on the other end must have changed some setting because now I can use the system and select any seat in Y/PE myself.
Good luck!
Mar 19, 2023, 11:03 am
#115
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 90
I have OWE (BA Gold) status and I'm doing a dummy booking on Finnair.com, re LHR-HEL-HKG return in PE (Classic).
The LHR-HEL sector is allowing me to select seats for free, the HEL-LHR is also free but there is a £57 fee to select a seat in the PE cabin. Both HEL-HKG out/return there is a fee to select a seat about £57.
So reading this post, should I just book the flights without selecting the seats and once ticketed, either try MMB or AY's chat function?
BTW: if I happen to go for PE Lite (Hand baggage only) do I still get free seat selection and lounge access as OWE?
Thanks
The LHR-HEL sector is allowing me to select seats for free, the HEL-LHR is also free but there is a £57 fee to select a seat in the PE cabin. Both HEL-HKG out/return there is a fee to select a seat about £57.
So reading this post, should I just book the flights without selecting the seats and once ticketed, either try MMB or AY's chat function?
BTW: if I happen to go for PE Lite (Hand baggage only) do I still get free seat selection and lounge access as OWE?
Thanks
- seat selection and lounge is a benefit of your OWE not the class so regardless of what you fly you should be able to get both
Mar 30, 2023, 11:48 am
#117
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,685
I prefer economy comfort. Leg room is good enough and generally you get a free seat next to you.,
Jul 29, 2023, 11:50 pm
#119
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AS 75K (OW), SK Silver (*A), UR, MR
Posts: 3,347
I'm an OW Emerald. In an AS award reservation, I go to the AY website, find my flight and select a preferred seat. $0, so so far so good. But once I exit the seating chart back to the reservation page, the cost is now updated and confirmed at $54. What gives?