Seat Reservation JAL (BA Codeshare) Nobody is responsible
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 12
Seat Reservation JAL (BA Codeshare) Nobody is responsible
Hi there,
I booked a British Airways flight operated by Japan Airlines.
I really had problems reserving seats. It took about a couple of days.
I called BA, not responsible because it was operated by Japan Airlines. I'm supposed to call Japan Airlines.
Japan Airlines called, not responsible because the tickets were issued by BA.
Then I went personally to the Japan Airlines office, they can't do anything. Also called Japan Airlines London, no chance. BA must reserve the seats.
Then by coincidence I wrote BA on Twitter and they reserved the seats for me without any problems.
Well, the problem doesn't end there.
I had to rebook my flight. And so I lost the seat reservation.
Thought no problem, write BA on Twitter again.
And what's the answer now. I should contact Japan Airlines. ...?!
I explained to them that they had reserved seats for me here on Twitter and I also sent screenshots of that.
I was only told that it was right, they would only call OneWorld Desk (What is OneWorld Desk?!) And OneWorld Desk would then call Japan Airlines to reserve a seat.
They can't do that and I'm supposed to call Japan Airlines. (I think because of the situation at the moment?)
Okay, I'm calling Japan Airlines again. Give all of my details ... "Ohh, I see you booked the ticket with BA. Unfortunately, you have to contact BA."
I'm going crazy! I feel like a ping pong ball.
At JAL, I cannot log in to the booking at all.
I wrote BA's Twitter account again, I hope that they will reserve my seats as before.
Who is ultimately responsible for the seat reservation? What can I do if everything doesn't work?
I booked a British Airways flight operated by Japan Airlines.
I really had problems reserving seats. It took about a couple of days.
I called BA, not responsible because it was operated by Japan Airlines. I'm supposed to call Japan Airlines.
Japan Airlines called, not responsible because the tickets were issued by BA.
Then I went personally to the Japan Airlines office, they can't do anything. Also called Japan Airlines London, no chance. BA must reserve the seats.
Then by coincidence I wrote BA on Twitter and they reserved the seats for me without any problems.
Well, the problem doesn't end there.
I had to rebook my flight. And so I lost the seat reservation.
Thought no problem, write BA on Twitter again.
And what's the answer now. I should contact Japan Airlines. ...?!
I explained to them that they had reserved seats for me here on Twitter and I also sent screenshots of that.
I was only told that it was right, they would only call OneWorld Desk (What is OneWorld Desk?!) And OneWorld Desk would then call Japan Airlines to reserve a seat.
They can't do that and I'm supposed to call Japan Airlines. (I think because of the situation at the moment?)
Okay, I'm calling Japan Airlines again. Give all of my details ... "Ohh, I see you booked the ticket with BA. Unfortunately, you have to contact BA."
I'm going crazy! I feel like a ping pong ball.
At JAL, I cannot log in to the booking at all.
I wrote BA's Twitter account again, I hope that they will reserve my seats as before.
Who is ultimately responsible for the seat reservation? What can I do if everything doesn't work?
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,161
BA should not need to call anyone to do it. But at times the seat map may not have been loaded, or they have assigned all of the seats they have available to assign in advance.
#5
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I believe not all the seats on JAL flights are available for assignment in advance.
If no-one can do it at this point, I think you will need to leave it for a while.
If no-one can do it at this point, I think you will need to leave it for a while.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 12
But the seats had already been reserved for me by the BA employee, so I don't understand why it shouldn't work now.
On CheckMyTrip you can see the vacant seats that are available. Some are marked with an X, they are not available.
On CheckMyTrip you can see the vacant seats that are available. Some are marked with an X, they are not available.
#7
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,395
Seat availability depends on a lot of factors such as passenger status, fare code, marketing carrier, etc. What you see as available on checkmytrip may not match what is available for your particular ticket.
#9
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Brexile / Tokyo
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 184
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,662
^^ Agreed. My (anecdotal) experience is that BA marketed tickets are often limited to the rear portion of the business cabin, irrespective of date of purchase relative to date of travel, and seemingly empty seats elsewhere. Occasionally, I can re-assign my seat online at some point before departure. I wouldn't use the call centres of BA or JAL. Nothing to be gained there, as you've already discovered.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 12
Sorry for the late replie because of the anti spam protection in the forum
It's the same flight, plane, booking number, just a different date. The time of the flight is also the same
Booking class is Economy Q
As far as I have read, booking class Q is allowed to reserve seats in advance. I only need a person who wants to make these 2, 3 clicks in the booking for me....or do I see it wrong and it is much more complicated than I imagine ??
I don't know if it is relevant, but as I said, I had already reserved seats on when I originally booked
If it weren't possible for whatever reason, why doesn't anyone tell me on the phone but always pushes me like a pingpog ... JAL -> BA -> JAL -> BA -> JAL.....
It would be good if I could somehow log into JAL booking
It's the same flight, plane, booking number, just a different date. The time of the flight is also the same
Booking class is Economy Q
As far as I have read, booking class Q is allowed to reserve seats in advance. I only need a person who wants to make these 2, 3 clicks in the booking for me....or do I see it wrong and it is much more complicated than I imagine ??
I don't know if it is relevant, but as I said, I had already reserved seats on when I originally booked
If it weren't possible for whatever reason, why doesn't anyone tell me on the phone but always pushes me like a pingpog ... JAL -> BA -> JAL -> BA -> JAL.....
It would be good if I could somehow log into JAL booking
#12
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,395
JAL intentionally blocks MMB on codeshare flights because it is not their responsibility to handle customer requests prior to check in.
#14
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,395
whether you can do it on BA system yourself is up to BA. But at the end of the day codeshare flight is like you've bought a regular BA flight. The only difference is on the day of departure, you go to JAL counter and JL staff will be responsible for bringing you from LHR to TYO.