TAP - how to annoy your customers before they get onboard
May 22, 2017, 3:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: BA Gold | SK Gold | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,553
TAP - how to annoy your customers before they get onboard
Most of us are used to the idea of paid seat selection nowadays. But with all except the no-frills carriers it is possible to select a seat for free at check in or move out of your pre-assigned seats.
TAP has taken this to a new level. Travelling long haul with another (non-TAP) star gold member and we have been pre-assigned two middle seats at the back of the aircraft.
Even at online check in, moving out of these requires payment for a seat (and a regular seat costs $50, no thank you). If they spent as much on finding win-win solutions as they do on their random seat assignment logic, they might find some happier customers!
</rant over>
TAP has taken this to a new level. Travelling long haul with another (non-TAP) star gold member and we have been pre-assigned two middle seats at the back of the aircraft.
Even at online check in, moving out of these requires payment for a seat (and a regular seat costs $50, no thank you). If they spent as much on finding win-win solutions as they do on their random seat assignment logic, they might find some happier customers!
</rant over>
May 22, 2017, 3:59 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,016
Paying for seat selection/assignment is sadly now common with some/many full service carriers. Or take your chances when checking in.
With BA you pay to select a seat in paid business class, and the lower class's, unless you have mid tier status. At T-7 you can select seats
May 22, 2017, 4:41 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,719
Far from true.
Paying for seat selection/assignment is sadly now common with some/many full service carriers. Or take your chances when checking in.
With BA you pay to select a seat in paid business class, and the lower class's, unless you have mid tier status. At T-7 you can select seats
Paying for seat selection/assignment is sadly now common with some/many full service carriers. Or take your chances when checking in.
With BA you pay to select a seat in paid business class, and the lower class's, unless you have mid tier status. At T-7 you can select seats
But Mwenenzi, in your examples, you can select a seat for free, either 7 days before departure, or during online check-in.
As such, this confirms the OP's gripe and, despite your assertion that "all except the no-frills carriers it is possible to select a seat for free at check in or move out of your pre-assigned seats" is "far from true" remains uproven!
May 22, 2017, 5:08 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
But Mwenenzi, in your examples, you can select a seat for free, either 7 days before departure, or during online check-in.
As such, this confirms the OP's gripe and, despite your assertion that "all except the no-frills carriers it is possible to select a seat for free at check in or move out of your pre-assigned seats" is "far from true" remains uproven!
As such, this confirms the OP's gripe and, despite your assertion that "all except the no-frills carriers it is possible to select a seat for free at check in or move out of your pre-assigned seats" is "far from true" remains uproven!
May 22, 2017, 5:59 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,719
The statement is not "general"; s/he is clearly referring only to a TAP Longhaul flight.
It was other poster that "generalised" the discussion to include shorthaul...
It was other poster that "generalised" the discussion to include shorthaul...
TAP has taken this to a new level. Travelling long haul with another (non-TAP) star gold member and we have been pre-assigned two middle seats at the back of the aircraft.
Even at online check in, moving out of these requires payment for a seat (and a regular seat costs $50, no thank you).
Even at online check in, moving out of these requires payment for a seat (and a regular seat costs $50, no thank you).
May 22, 2017, 7:05 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: BA Gold | SK Gold | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,553
Far from true.
Paying for seat selection/assignment is sadly now common with some/many full service carriers. Or take your chances when checking in.
With BA you pay to select a seat in paid business class, and the lower class's, unless you have mid tier status. At T-7 you can select seats
Paying for seat selection/assignment is sadly now common with some/many full service carriers. Or take your chances when checking in.
With BA you pay to select a seat in paid business class, and the lower class's, unless you have mid tier status. At T-7 you can select seats
Not being able to select seats at check in is another thing. And being pre-assigned 2 middle seats when the seat map is empty is what irritates me to no end.
This is for a long haul flight on a so-called full service carrier as a Star Gold.
Even with Norwegian, where you can't change seats online at check in, I have never been pre-assigned a middle seat if I'm checking in early enough.
May 22, 2017, 11:19 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Europe
Programs: UA:1K MM, AF:FB-Platinum; QR: PC Platinum, FI: Saga Gold
Posts: 2,934
I don't really understand this. I am flying short haul with TAP and was able to make my seat reservation ten days In advance at no charge. And this was before I registered my Star Gold number. Confused!
May 22, 2017, 1:52 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: BA Gold | SK Gold | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,553
Maybe you had one of the expensive fare buckets where seat selection is included?