Club Europe - Non-Golds in Row 1
Jan 23, 2020, 7:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GGL & CCR
Posts: 59
Club Europe - Non-Golds in Row 1
Hi all, quick question but is row one in Club Europe now reserved for golds only rather than at least one gold on the booking?
In the past I have raised a seating request to seat friends next to me in row 1 who were not gold and it was never a problem. Yesterday they sat us together but said row 1 was for gold only and moved us to row 2.
I know first class 1A and K were gold only but didn’t think this also applied to club.
thanks
In the past I have raised a seating request to seat friends next to me in row 1 who were not gold and it was never a problem. Yesterday they sat us together but said row 1 was for gold only and moved us to row 2.
I know first class 1A and K were gold only but didn’t think this also applied to club.
thanks
Jan 23, 2020, 7:38 am
#2
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,945
If you are on the same booking it shouldn't be a problem and you should be able to select row 1 for both passengers (the gold and non-gold) in MMB.
If on separate bookings then you should be able to do TCP and free seat request if the non-gold is in club too.
Who moved you to row 2? Was this the call centre or on board?
If on separate bookings then you should be able to do TCP and free seat request if the non-gold is in club too.
Who moved you to row 2? Was this the call centre or on board?
Jan 23, 2020, 7:41 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,166
sounds like mis-information from the call centre to me: you can definitely book non-golds into Row 1 where they are on the same booking (indeed, you can also book a non-gold into 1A/K in long-haul first if they are on the same booking); and I have also managed to get Row 1 for family travelling on separate bookings, by calling up and linking the bookings
unless policy has changed, this sounds like an approximate understanding of the rules from the call centre
unless policy has changed, this sounds like an approximate understanding of the rules from the call centre
Jan 23, 2020, 7:42 am
#4
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,945
Jan 23, 2020, 7:43 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LCY
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,208
If you are on the same booking it shouldn't be a problem and you should be able to select row 1 for both passengers (the gold and non-gold) in MMB.
If on separate bookings then you should be able to do TCP and free seat request if the non-gold is in club too.
Who moved you to row 2? Was this the call centre or on board?
If on separate bookings then you should be able to do TCP and free seat request if the non-gold is in club too.
Who moved you to row 2? Was this the call centre or on board?
i don’t know if things have changed but before I got a gold card I could not get a row 1 seat via TCP. It was refused over the phone
Jan 23, 2020, 7:45 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PEK and BOS
Programs: BA - Blue
Posts: 4,530
Jan 23, 2020, 7:53 am
#7
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
I think the point was that GadgetGal was a recipient of the TCP before being gold. I am not sure whether it's different for short haul but for long haul row 1 is only available for golds until days before departure. It is not available for anyone else on the booking (including TCPs) if they are not gold.
Jan 23, 2020, 7:59 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LCY
Programs: BAEC Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,208
I think the point was that GadgetGal was a recipient of the TCP before being gold. I am not sure whether it's different for short haul but for long haul row 1 is only available for golds until days before departure. It is not available for anyone else on the booking (including TCPs) if they are not gold.
correct a travel companion attempted to get me into row 1 of a CE flight and was told no. I hD thought it would be permissible.
Though, funnily enough,, sometimes row 1 was available to me as silver on a couple of flights, long before checkin was even open.
Jan 23, 2020, 8:09 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,291
I think there is/was a small window between when the flight went under airport control and when TS kicked in where you could get lucky as a silver. But generally, following on EF, if a Gold has 1A, 1C won't be opened to a non-gold until the space is needed for operation reasons. My observations/experience though, not science.
Jan 23, 2020, 8:25 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
That was either a misunderstanding or an agent that didn't know what they were doing. I have TCPed colleagues on separate bookings into row 1 in the past year.
Jan 23, 2020, 8:53 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC GGL & CCR
Posts: 59
Thanks everyone. It confirms what I thought. Yes the call centre moved us to row 2. I will try again with a different agent.
my travelling companion hasn’t flown for a long time and row 2 club Europe may be too
much of a shock!
my travelling companion hasn’t flown for a long time and row 2 club Europe may be too
much of a shock!
Jan 23, 2020, 8:58 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London, ARN, HEL, ..... or MAN
Programs: BA GGL / GFL, Mucci Diamond!, HH Diamond, Radisson Premium, IHG Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 5,893
Yes when I'm travelling with family members who aren't Gold, either on same booking or through TCP, no issue with getting Row 1 CE for them.
As you know, 1AK in F is Golds only so there are different rules for longhaul
As you know, 1AK in F is Golds only so there are different rules for longhaul