Getting a business class window seat when booking through BA.com
 

I'm flying on JL42 LHR>HND on 21st April. Every single window seat bar 1 is available but blocked to me because I booked through BA. I've never been so frustrated in all my life. This is the first time for me in business class and I had to save money like mad for it. I called JAL's UK office and all they were willing to do was allocate me any seat except a window seat. So I took 2C and it seems the only chance I'll have to get a window seat is to get very lucky when the online check-in opens 24 hours before the flight. Does anybody know a way around this? Should I call JAL again and offer money!?

Did you buy it as JL42 or as BA4608?

For award tickets, the window seats blocked from selection unless you have status, but it is not my understanding that revenue tickets can fall under the same strict restrictions.

JAL does not sell preferred seats, so you can't pay to get assigned. But they do block seats, depending booking class, status, etc. your selection is different.

You option is really only online check in.

My booking says BA4608, it's only when you click on more flight details it says JL42. I'm by no means a frequent flyer so not entirely sure on all the jargon but I'm guessing an "award ticket" is purchased with points? I paid entirely with cash. So do you think the seats have wrongfully been blocked if that's the case? When I called BA to see if they could do anything about it they seemed surprised that all the window seats were blocked.

Award does indeed mean purchased with points.

As you are booked on the BA flight number, I have limited experience with vowbthe seat map is supposed to be. It really depends on what the agreement between JL and BA is for the codeshare seats. I am a bit surprised, but I don't actually think it is wrong, as both airlines have confirmed that they can't assign a window seat.

Well I'm somewhat gutted, I've always wanted to go to Tokyo and I've always wanted to fly Business/First and I've put up a lot of money (for me anyway) to do it. I kind of wanted it to be perfect with the best seats available. Call me a mug but I would throw 200-300 pound at JAL to get a window seat. From what I've heard the privacy is fantastic. I'm sure having only travelled economy that I'll be more than happy in the aisle seat but still frustrating as hell that they've blocked them.

I can understand your frustration, all I can say is don't obsess about it and enjoy the trip. Both first time in Japan, and the flight with JAL will be fantastic. It is a brilliant time of year to visit Japan.

Make sure to do online check in the second it opens 24 hours before departure, that might be your best change of getting a window seat. They may also have a window seat on airport control, so if it fails at online check in, I would come as early as possible to the airport to ask for a window seat. Though with JL42, that can be rather early in the day.

Blocked seats. These are only available before OLCI (T-24) based on your one world Status.
If you have one world elite status (BA Gold/Silver at the minimum), please update your FFP number either on the BA website, JL website or even use Finnair website.
Then, you will be able to select the window seats you prefer.

If you don't have any status, great thing is, its free for all at OCLI (T-24).
So, set your alarm and do OLCI on the dot, and you might even grab seat 5A (window on row 5 in the mini-cabin on the 77W)!

FYI,
As a one world Sapphire, you can select the following business class window seats if available.
From main cabin on the 777W (excludes whole of mini cabin) - E.g. your LHR flight
From row 5 on the 767, 787 and 772 (excludes rows 1-4 window seats)

As a non-status passenger (or Ruby member), you can only select the following business class window seats if available.
From second row onward of main cabin on the 777W (excludes whole of mini cabin and first/exit row of main cabin) - E.g. your LHR flight
From second row onward of second cabin on the 767, 787 and 772 (excludes all of the forward cabin window seats and first/exit row of main cabin)


As a OWE, you have unlimited access.

OK I've done a bit of googling and there might be a workaround. Albeit a pricey workaround.

So I believe if I had Gold or higher OneWorld status I could select a window seat. The airline S7 apparently sells a month's worth of Gold status for around $260.

So would I be able to by one month's gold status and then choose a window seat?

EDIT: Ah never mind, you have to fly at least once with S7. I'm done lol

JAL is actually really strict on blocking seats and you have no window seat available as non-status on the sky suite 788, and the reverse herringbone 789 and 772s with only one business section. You can watch for seats reserved for OWE (window seats in row 1 and row 2 on 788) as if they are not taken and the flight is not elite heavy, you will have access to them at OLCI.

Also as you are booked with codeshare, the situation is even more complicated. I once had a booking with AA code, but as JL Diamond, I wasn't able to select seats reserved for elites because I booked on AA codeshare (AA was not able to unblock the seats). That was horrible but at last I managed to get a window at OLCI. I guess OLCI is your best bet at this point, and pray for not having a lot of elites on your flight.

Would a codeshare passenger face more restrictions vs a passenger booking directly on JAL? Pretty sure when I booked JL3/JL4 earlier this year in J with no status (through Chase UR), I had the ability to choose at least some window seats. Maybe they were the ones open to non-status pax.

I did a dummy booking on JAL and indeed I could pick window seats. I think the first two rows were blocked though. All window seats blocked to codeshare bookings though.

The 77W does allow some window seats for non status pax. Put Tokyoite's explanation here again.

I know I'm bringing an old thread back to life, but there's another way to get these seats unblocked - assuming you have some sort of valid disability and the itinerary involves a US point.

Call the Special Assistance desk in Japan and ask for it as an accommodation! Assuming it's feasible, you'll probably be able to get a bulkhead window seat. Don't try general reservations because they don't have the power to do this - only those agents who deal with disability-related requests can.

The request might take some time because it will likely be done with the assistance of a translator. It worked for me and I was assigned 1A on both legs of my flight (which I was able to switch to 1K later by myself)

Why the US point? Well - that's because the disability rules are the most stringent.