Reward flight booking in IB/IBE - seat selection still free?
Mar 16, 2024, 1:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 257
Reward flight booking in IB/IBE - seat selection still free?
There used to be times when any reward booking on IB or IB Express (in X-Class) allowed free selection in Economy, even exit seats and even without any frequent traveler status. Is that still the case? Anybody tried recently?
Mar 16, 2024, 2:06 pm
#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: 13,053
Not sure about "even exit seats" but IB awards are considered Optima fares and come with seat selection and checked luggage.
Mar 17, 2024, 11:37 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 257
Thanks but "Optima" fares (intra-European) do not allow free seat selection - or do you mean "Comfort" fares - revenue fares in this family allow free seat bookings?
Mar 17, 2024, 12:14 pm
#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: 13,053
Although you're right that I missed that Optima fares only allow seat selection at OLCI rather than between booking and OLCI.
Mar 19, 2024, 1:29 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Madrid
Programs: IB+ Oro / OWS
Posts: 507
Just tested this, both XL & Emergency are selectable for free for non status
Mar 20, 2024, 1:32 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 257
yes, can confirm that too: booked flights intra-Europe and domestic in Spain and on all segments seat reservations are possible on all available seats. And the bookings seem to stick. But had to use RJ.com … but might have been a temporary issue with IB website, IB app and the BA site/app
Mar 21, 2024, 6:18 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2023
Programs: british airways
Posts: 15
I am BA Bronze and booked reward flight on BA website for Iberia express Manchester to Madrid last week. Once I got the PNR for Iberia (which was a bit of a faff), I was able to choose seat for free in exit row using Iberia app.
Mar 23, 2024, 2:13 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,859
I booked a BA Avios ticket for Iberia flights to BOG for July (Economy to MAD and Prem Eco. to BOG). I was able to select front row seat in Prem. Eco. to BOG and em.exit seat on the Iberia Expr. flight to MAD on the IB website.
Mar 24, 2024, 12:46 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 127
Seat selection works for flights booked with avios on the BA, but for flights booked on the IB website it generates an error for the last couple of weeks.
I can see the booking on RJ.com, seat selection is for free, able select any seat but unable to confirm.
I can see the booking on RJ.com, seat selection is for free, able select any seat but unable to confirm.
Mar 24, 2024, 12:51 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany
Programs: LH FTL, BA Bronze
Posts: 831
yes, can confirm that too: booked flights intra-Europe and domestic in Spain and on all segments seat reservations are possible on all available seats. And the bookings seem to stick. But had to use RJ.com … but might have been a temporary issue with IB website, IB app and the BA site/app
Mar 24, 2024, 1:09 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,901
Been having issues with IB website for ages but another glitch with seat selection has indeed cropped up over the last few weeks. I had an aircraft change on a long haul . Seats pulled through thankfully but cant view or amend on seat map.