This week I found myself on a LHR-LIS-MAD-TLV-LHR trip with the legs from LIS to TLV being provided by Iberia and the rest by BA

The leg from MAD-TLV I have to rate as being the most uncomfortable I have experienced in many years of flying with the seat pitch meaning that I had to spend the whole 5 hours twisted sideways at the back of the plane. I am 6ft tall and never have this issue on BA metal.

It was only on leaving the plane that I noticed that the seat pitch in the front half of the economy cabin was noticeably better.

My travel partner who is also a BA gold card holder also found himself in the very last row beside a malfunctioning toilet but being not as tall as me didnt have the legroom problem that I had.

Do Oneworld members not assign seats based on tier status ? . I will have to watch this carefully in future so as not to be caught out like this again.

Most of my non-AA experience on OW carriers is on IB. As a OW Sapphire, I never get good pre-assigned seats from Iberia and oftentimes am assigned a middle seat crammed somewhere in the plane when there are completely empty rows to be found all over. It is completely unpredictable and it is better to not expect anything from them based on your status alone before arriving to the airport.

You should have much better luck at check-in by showing your elite card and specifically requesting to change your seat to exit row if available or at least an aisle towards the front, etc. I suppose you could also try to call in a better seat assignment but my experience with those is that they don't always stick and you are given a different seat at check-in anyway.

Thank god they at least are finally posting IB seat maps at SeatGuru.com, etc. A few years ago, plane layouts on IB metal were a completely mystery to everyone.

Thanks for the tip. One to remember.

You can preassign seats with IB when you have 1W Status. Just call.
You can do Online-Checkin to get better seats, but you have to be fast!

Remember: The seats in the front part of the cabin have more pitch (the seats that can be converted to C)!

Very handy to know Tyrolean. I'm OW Sapphire, and at 6'1" have endured several rather uncomfortable short-haul hops way down the back with IB.

I called IB today to request seat allocation on some future bookings, a request which initially was met with curt reluctance. The agent unconvincingly fumbled their way through an explanation that only Iberia Plus card holders could request seat allocation in advance. With a little gentle persistence he eventually said he would 'try', and next thing I know he's telling me it's all done.

Seats allocated in the rows before the exit rows on all flights, which is the best I could have hoped for in advance (knowing full well all could change before I'm actually onboard!).

I have a LONE4 booked with AA. I am able to select quite good seats online for IB flights using www.qantas.com/yourbooking.