Ticked off with British Airways

Is anyone else really annoyed by the fact that British Airways will no longer allow you to select your seat when you book your flight? I hope other airlines don't follow, or my flying days are over. I am slightly claustrophobic, don't have any medical conditions, but I like to get up and move around ocassionally when flying, especially on overseas flights. Therefore, I won't fly unless I can book an aisle seat. British Airways has always been our first choice, but when we were planning a trip to London for this past May, I found out that I would not be able to select my seat until 24 hrs before the flight, because I don't fall into one of their many "special" customer groups that can either select their seat at the time of booking, or 3 days before the flight. In the future, it looks like our business will go to Virgin Atlantic. We decided to Virgin Atlantic, Premium Economy in May, and were very pleased with the experience.

Has anyone experienced selecting their seats 24 before departure on British Airways? Did you have any problems getting seats that were acceptable to you?

Like you, I am also annoyed about British Airway's change of seating policy, that one cannot choose the seat at the time of booking, unless you fly first class or are a gold/silver club member or in other special groups.

In fact I wrote a letter of complaint to British Airways. Due to my medical condition, I prefer to have an aisle seat and in fact have put this perference on my excecutive club profile, stored by British Airways. Recently on 2 flights when I checked in on-line within 24 hours of departure, I found that British Airways allocated me to a window seat! :mad: Why bother to ask me about my seat preference if they did not even look at it on their computer system? Luckily there were aisle seats available and I could change my seat.

I bought an upper class flight with Virgin Atlantic on-line a few months ago, paid with my credit card and immediately chose my seat as well. All done and dusted within 5 minutes!:)

Honestly, I don't care for British Airways. I only use them within Europe and I don't care for the fact that you can't get your seat assigments ahead of time. To me they run the airline like there is no competition. Sometime this will all catch up with them.

Keith

Unfortunately this is the new reality of flying. As airlines are tyring to find every which way to a.) appease their elite frequent flyers to they don't jump to another airline and b.) find new revenue sources, these types of things will become more common.

I know that domestically AirTran is the same way somewhat. You can pay more upfront for a seat assignment or get one for free at check-in, but taking whatever seats are left. Northwest has somewhat done the same thing by charging a premium for some of the "choice" economy seats (i.e. exit rows, bulkheads, etc.).

Does that rule apply to those who are disabled? If that's the case, that would violate the ADA. I walk with a cane and cannot easily handle window seats, and need the aisle.

Kitty9:

You might fall into the "Customers with additional needs" who can select a seat at the time of booking, but you have to contact them to see if you qualify.

Does that rule apply to those who are disabled? If that's the case, that would violate the ADA. I walk with a cane and cannot easily handle window seats, and need the aisle.

Yes it would violate the ADA & no the rule does not apply to those who are disabled. You would have to contact them directly for a seat assignment.

Has anyone experienced selecting their seats 24 before departure on British Airways? Did you have any problems getting seats that were acceptable to you?

Last month, I travelled in a group of five to Germany for a weekend away. One of group booked later than the rest, so there was no higher tier frequent flyer in that booking and it did not qualify for pre-allocated seats. I had pre-allocated exit row seats for all the rest of us in both directions.

When checking-in online as soon as online check-in opened, I had no difficulty securing exit row seats for this person, in both directions. So we all sat together in comfort.

The following week, the same person flew to Italy for a week away. By checking-in online as soon as it opened there was no difficulty getting the aisle seat in the first row of economy. (This is the most coveted row for a singleton, because the first row of economy is actually always in business class configuration for safety reasons, so basically you get a business class seat but with economy class service.)

My partner flew to Johannesburg and back in June. Because this trip was booked late, premium economy was too expensive, and it had to be normal economy in both directions. My partner qualifies for pre-allocated seating, and secured seats in the prize location in both directions (it's an exit row, with only two seats instead of three on the window side, and no toilets or galleys at this exit - the nearest thing to heaven in economy class). On the way back, the person in the other seat in this row was a complete tyro - someone who had never flown internationally, let alone long-haul. Although we don't know how this person checked in, an ordinary passenger was clearly able to get access to one of the four best seats in economy class.

So, if you can, check-in online as soon as it opens.

For the ordinary passenger travelling in economy class, the current policy on seating is not a huge change from that which existed just a couple of years ago and which had been in place for many years before that. That policy was that only about 25%-33% of the cabin was available for pre-allocation. This was done by allowing pre-allocation in a set number of rows - including all the duff seats in those rows. Everyone else had to wait for check-in, anyway. Except for the last couple of years, BA had never had a policy of allowing the majority of economy class passengers to pre-allocate seats. Personally, I think that premium class passengers have a much more justifiable complaint about the new policy. For them (but not for economy class passengers), there has been a real and substantial change.

Does that rule apply to those who are disabled? If that's the case, that would violate the ADA.

But BA will look after disabled passengers, usually very well.

Sometime this will all catch up with them.

Maybe, but BA is a long way behind many of the others in the race to the scrapheap - in particular, a long way behind the carriers that allow unrestricted seat pre-allocation for all comers on a first come, first served basis. And who then cancel the pre-allocations without any warning or notification whenever they change the aircraft, flight time, configuration, wind direction - which all seems to happen about once a fortnight, judging by other threads on the CC boards.

I don't care for those other little airlines and they have their issues too. I just believe that in the long run that if you aren't focused on the customer and you are not willing to change that will catch up with you. In the United States I can name 100's of companies that did not change. Many are not around today and others are no where the size they used to be. The key is to continue to change to improve.

And let me be specific. Like most people I find it frustrating that I can't select my seat assignment way in advance which means a lot to most people. And, I still think they run the company and act as if they are a monopoly. And, in the shorterm, that has worked for them and some of their competiion is weak as you've noted, but in the long term it will likely catch up with them. For me, when I use them it's because I have no choice or no viable option. If I did, that would be a different story. Whether right or wrong, this is my opinion.

Keith

Keith

I don't care for those other little airlines ...

And let me be specific. Like most people I find it frustrating that I can't select my seat assignment way in advance which means a lot to most people. And, I still think they run the company and act as if they are a monopoly. And, in the shorterm, that has worked for them and some of their competiion is weak as you've noted, but in the long term it will likely catch up with them.

So how much did pre-allocation mean to "most people"? That speaks for itself. In fact, the only place in the world where airline passengers have an expectation of seat pre-allocation at the time of booking is the US - and, as I said, just look where that gets you when US airlines do what they do to those pre-allocations.

It is certainly true that some of BA's competition is weak. But BA is also competing on many important routes against airlines like CX, EK, QF, QR and SQ (to name but a handful). None of this competition is weak. Some of it competition has caused BA to radically re-shape its operations. Take EK's effect on Kangaroo route yields, for example, which has caused BA to retrench - to much hand-wringing by the sector of the media and public which still expects BA to be all things to all men. Or take the total remodelling of the short-haul operation by adopting big chunks of the low-fare airlines' commercial model, which has brought that back into profit for the first time in years - probably decades.

They're not always right, of course. There are things that BA is doing or experimenting with that I don't agree with. But anyone reading what you write would think that this is a dinosaur going down the pan. As I say, maybe it will, but there will be a lot of others going down first.

As a fellow North American I must admit BA's policy threw me for a loop too but I still went ahead and booked because BA was one of the few airlines servicing where I was going.

It does irk me that I have to ensure 24 hours ahead of time I make it to a computer while on my travels just to do online check in and select seats we wish to sit in. If I don't we run the risk of getting whatever is left over when we check in at the airport. This is a totally new concept to us North Americans simply because the full service carriers - and some low cost ones - at home allow you to select your seats at the time of initial booking.

Its a pain no doubt. Not enough to make me cancel or boycott but one I wish they rather change if I really had the chance. I'll give it a try but I really don't like the idea of people who travel together taking chances that they may not be able to sit together if they don't go out of their way to check in early enough. It may be different if one was checking in from the comfort of their home or office but we'll be partway through our vacation when we need to do this.

David

So how much did pre-allocation mean to "most people"? That speaks for itself. In fact, the only place in the world where airline passengers have an expectation of seat pre-allocation at the time of booking is the US - and, as I said, just look where that gets you when US airlines do what they do to those pre-allocations.

Ahhhh.....Canada also has pre-allocation of seats. As far as what happens when you get pre-allocation? We almost always got the seats we asked for when we booked on both Canadian and .....yes, even US, carriers. Its rarely a problem as far as I am aware. Yes, things can change and most people don't care too much but I don't think people travelling together are separated unless they booked too late and there are no longer seats side by side remaining. Nothing wrong with advance seat allocation as I see it. Its far from perfect but I prefer this method myself over taking chances at the last minute. Just the way I am.

Again I don't see this as the end of BA or of western civilization but another move towards the big bus mentality of airlines that a certain low cost US carrier initiated but has been embraced by many bean counters around the world over the decades. And as a bean counter by profession I can say that! he he he

David

Ahhhh.....Canada also has pre-allocation of seats.

... I don't think people travelling together are separated unless they booked too late and there are no longer seats side by side remaining. ...

Again I don't see this as the end of BA or of western civilization but another move towards the big bus mentality of airlines that a certain low cost US carrier initiated ...

We got back Friday from South Africa. Flew BA both ways. I got seat assignments 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds before flight. Got seats near the back where the have two across rather than the usual 3. Only 4 or 5 rows like this and the last row is no good because the seats do not recline.

Thank you all for your responses. Perhaps I'm am just over-reacting, but travel is stressful enough for me, without having to get a seat assignment 24 hours before a flight. It wouldn't be so bad at the beginning of the trip, while we are still at home and have our computer access, but I don't travel with a computer, and hate the idea of having to spend the last 24 hours of my vacation looking for computer access to get a seat assignment.

I agree with the post that says that the truely fair way would be for everyone to have to wait until 24 hours for their seat assignments, but when I have numerous different "classes" of people who all have priority over me, it just doesn't make me want to do business with that airline. No offense intended to anyone, but why do "groups" or "teams" have to all sit together?

If the trip we are planning actually happens, perhaps I will give British Airways a try on the Europe portion of the trip and see how the seat assignments work out. I'm not as paranoid about where I sit on the shorter hauls.

I agree with the post that says that the truely fair way would be for everyone to have to wait until 24 hours for their seat assignments, but when I have numerous different "classes" of people who all have priority over me, it just doesn't make me want to do business with that airline. No offense intended to anyone, but why do "groups" or "teams" have to all sit together?

Not all "groups" get pre-allocated seating. And I think that it is quite easy to see why a school group, for example, should be seated together on the aircraft, for the sake of those who are escorting the group and for the sake of other passengers who do not have to be intermingled within the group.

If you fly short-haul only, you might want to note that online check-in is often available at 25 hours before flight departure, rather than the published 24 hours. And if your return flight is within 24 hours of your outbound flight, it is often possible to online check-in for the return flight at the same time as checking in for your outbound flight.

Sorry for my ignorance, but how can you tell which is the best seats to look for? We are 4 traveling in Nov on BA from Phoenix to Heathrow. 3 of the 4 of us are over 6'4" and besides the height problem, one of the wives (who is 6'3") has bad knees. She is extremely concerned about legroom. I know the easy answer for many is that we should have just booked Business class. But for us, this is a sort of once in a lifetime trip. The difference between our $550 economy fare and the $2500 - $3000 for business class for 4 of us would have made it a trip that just didn't take place.

Globaliser, you seem to know so much about BA. Can you - or anyone with BA experience answer a few questions?

I know there is a website with a seat guru. But there seems to be 2 different 747 configurations for BA 747 configurations. How can you tell which one I should be looking at to determine best seat?

Flight details

Flight: BA0288 Non smoking

Operated by: British Airways

Departing from: Phoenix

Thu 1 November 2007, 19:40

Arriving at: Heathrow (London)

Fri 2 November 2007, 12:30

Number of stops: 0

Flying duration: 9hrs 50mins

Aircraft type: Boeing 747 jet

Anyone with some advise, I would greatly appreciate it.

I booked with an consolidator for BA. First I looked at the BA web site then looked to see the same flight number and booked. My question is can I also get assigned seats 24 hours before leaving. I booked with Best Travel Store. Or do I have to wait until we get to the airport we are flying SFO-Heathrow-Rome. We are leaving October 10, 2007.

Delores

One of the practical difficulties airlines have is caused by no-shows. If you have a 100-seat aircraft, they will accept 108 bookings, let's say, because 8 of you scurvy knaves won't show up on the day. How, therefore, can they allow 108 seat allocations in advance when there are actually only 100 seats on the plane? There would have to be some priority process whereby no more than three-quarters of the seats are pre-assigned and everything else is done at check-in. I assume.

Is anyone else really annoyed by the fact that British Airways will no longer allow you to select your seat when you book your flight? I hope other airlines don't follow, or my flying days are over. I am slightly claustrophobic, don't have any medical conditions, but I like to get up and move around ocassionally when flying, especially on overseas flights. Therefore, I won't fly unless I can book an aisle seat. British Airways has always been our first choice, but when we were planning a trip to London for this past May, I found out that I would not be able to select my seat until 24 hrs before the flight, because I don't fall into one of their many "special" customer groups that can either select their seat at the time of booking, or 3 days before the flight. In the future, it looks like our business will go to Virgin Atlantic. We decided to Virgin Atlantic, Premium Economy in May, and were very pleased with the experience.

 

Has anyone experienced selecting their seats 24 before departure on British Airways? Did you have any problems getting seats that were acceptable to you?

My dad has said for years if you want to feel like sh**, fly with Brit. I have never flown them myself, but I don't find a whole lot of airlines I like. I just thought of his saying when I read this.

Linda

Globaliser I too am ticked off at BA. I booked my September 5 LAX/LHR/LIS flight in Premium Economy in January, and now I too must wait until 24 hours prior to get seat assignments. Last year, same flight and itinerary, I was able to reserve seats with the booking.

My problem: I'm cruising -- and will be returning BCN/LHR/LAX and I can't reserve seats 24 hours prior because I'll not have computer access - NO, I DON'T HAVE A LAPTOP.

In your opinion, will I be able to use all my charms, entreaties, pitiful me posturing to convince check-in agent at LAX to book my return seats?

If not -- what do you suggest?

I will very much appreciate your best advice -- thanks in advance.

I don't see what all the fuss is with the new seating policy. BA used to only pre-allocate 30% of the seats in economy on longhaul (increasing as you go further up the plane) anyway so there was a decent possibility you'd end up waiting until online check-in to get a seat....like you do now!

As a BA Gold cardholder I really like the new seating policy, it means I have a much better chance of scoring the better seats, even if I book at short notice. :)

I know there is a website with a seat guru. But there seems to be 2 different 747 configurations for BA 747 configurations. How can you tell which one I should be looking at to determine best seat?

 

Flight details

Flight: BA0288 Non smoking

Operated by: British Airways

Departing from: Phoenix

Thu 1 November 2007, 19:40

Arriving at: Heathrow (London)

Fri 2 November 2007, 12:30

Number of stops: 0

Flying duration: 9hrs 50mins

Aircraft type: Boeing 747 jet

 

Anyone with some advise, I would greatly appreciate it.

BA operate 747s with several configurations and I'm not familiar enough with the Phoenix route to know which configuration they have although it is more than likely to be '747-400 with 38 Club World seats'

http://www.seatexpert.com

BA operate 747s with several configurations and I'm not familiar enough with the Phoenix route to know which configuration they have although it is more than likely to be '747-400 with 38 Club World seats'

http://www.seatexpert.com

Thank you. I hadn't heard of seatexpert.com . I agree - no reason to make a fuss. You prepare as best as possible and regardless, you have a great cruise to look forward to.

We flew BA this summer LAX-LHR-AMS and back again in Premier Economy. We got to pick our seats going and coming before we flew. I checked our seats regularly to see if they moved us to a different spot in Premier Economy which they did on our flight coming home.

Changed our seats back to where they were before. I like to sit with my special needs daughter in the two seats on the right and my husband next to me on the aisle in the four across. Well the flight attendent gave my husband's seat away to a husband and wife, who insisted they needed to sit togehter. Well how about us!!!!! I like to have my husband in arms reach in case I need him. My husband sat behind me and told me not to make a fuss.

On our return trip, I was able to check-in online at the hotel and I noticed that they changed our seats again Grrrr!!!! So I changed them again back to where they were before. When we got to the gate my husband went in one line and my daughter and I went in another. When I handed the agent my boarding pass she made another change in the seating. "Not again, this is the third time" I said. To my suprise we were all bumped up to Business class. Wow what a treat!!! I doubt if that will ever happen again, but it was a treat!

Next summer I think we will fly Lufthansa. How does that airline measure up in comparison to BA?