Seat selection on Business Optima Fares/OWE
Apr 29, 2022, 12:57 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Zurich
Programs: BA GGL, TK*G EL, KL P ELPL, ex AB P, ex LH/LX Sen, HHonors D4L, Bonvoy P
Posts: 1,647
Seat selection on Business Optima Fares/OWE
Similar to other airlines IB is currently unbundling their Business Class fares. There are three fare families: Optima, Comfort and Flexible. They are differentiated in respect of change and refund conditions, baggage allowance and also in respect of advance seat reservation, which is only available in the Comfort and Flexible family.
Other OW airlines, e.g. QR, have introduced the same system and still allow OWE to select seats in advance. Therefore I wonder if IB is the same? My travel agent had no idea …
Other OW airlines, e.g. QR, have introduced the same system and still allow OWE to select seats in advance. Therefore I wonder if IB is the same? My travel agent had no idea …
Apr 29, 2022, 1:27 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,033
OWE always get seat selection included on IB.
FWIW they also get one checked bag, even when buying a hand-baggage only fare.
FWIW they also get one checked bag, even when buying a hand-baggage only fare.
May 1, 2022, 2:33 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Western PA
Programs: AA EXP/2MM
Posts: 441
My partner (OWS) had a similar situation at the beginning of April -- I called the US customer service number and the agent insisted that there was absolutely no seat selection possible on optima fares.
Bill
ETA -- the website has let me select on the return for free... but still wants to charge me for the outbound.
Edit #2 -- now the website has let me select both directions for free... perhaps it is Iberia's poor IT, rather than the seating policy!!
Last edited by sombrachinesca; May 1, 2022 at 2:38 pm
May 2, 2022, 1:34 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,033
My partner (OWS) had a similar situation at the beginning of April -- I called the US customer service number and the agent insisted that there was absolutely no seat selection possible on optima fares.
Bill
ETA -- the website has let me select on the return for free... but still wants to charge me for the outbound.
Edit #2 -- now the website has let me select both directions for free... perhaps it is Iberia's poor IT, rather than the seating policy!!
May 2, 2022, 8:41 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Zurich
Programs: BA GGL, TK*G EL, KL P ELPL, ex AB P, ex LH/LX Sen, HHonors D4L, Bonvoy P
Posts: 1,647
Thanks for your response, which is affirmative in respect of the seat selection of OWE on Optima fares. The clumpsy IT is yet another (well known) issue, which may affect you even with the most expensive flex ticket …
Jun 28, 2022, 4:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: HAM
Programs: BA Gold, A3*G, LH FTL, IHG Diamond
Posts: 298
Hi,
any more experiences with successful seat selections on optima fares?
Is there any time frame the system maybe needs to "process" the ticket and the added FF number until free selection will be unlocked?
Right after booking it still wants me to charge for seat selection on shorthaul...
any more experiences with successful seat selections on optima fares?
Is there any time frame the system maybe needs to "process" the ticket and the added FF number until free selection will be unlocked?
Right after booking it still wants me to charge for seat selection on shorthaul...
Sep 15, 2022, 2:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Boston
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, JAL Sapphire
Posts: 38
Hi,
any more experiences with successful seat selections on optima fares?
Is there any time frame the system maybe needs to "process" the ticket and the added FF number until free selection will be unlocked?
Right after booking it still wants me to charge for seat selection on shorthaul...
any more experiences with successful seat selections on optima fares?
Is there any time frame the system maybe needs to "process" the ticket and the added FF number until free selection will be unlocked?
Right after booking it still wants me to charge for seat selection on shorthaul...
Sep 20, 2022, 7:43 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: HAM
Programs: BA Gold, A3*G, LH FTL, IHG Diamond
Posts: 298
Sep 20, 2022, 10:28 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Boston
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, JAL Sapphire
Posts: 38
ok still patiently waiting. AMEX platnium travel lady has no clue on getting an AA locator given my flight is AA operated by Iberia. Currently Iberia still wanting to charge $81/seat on my premium economy seat - trip date is March 2023, so I still have time, hopefully will eventually make free seat selection available to me soon.