BA charging for seat selection?

[harvyk]

So I'm booked on a BA flight later (ORD-LHR) this year, it'll be the first time I've flown with them. Something that I'm normally able to do on OW airlines is free advanced seat selection (talking Y as a OWR), however BA is wanting to charge me ~$60 for the privilege, despite the OW site stating advanced seat selection is a privilege of ruby.

Is there a way to select my seat before check in without paying extra, or is this just a case of BA not playing nicely with OW?

 

[andye]

Frequent complaint about BA. They do give advanced seat selection for OWR but only at 7 days out. No work-around AFAIK but you are unlikely to get a really duff seat if you book the week before

Choosing your seat | Seat selection | British Airways

 

[amaroo]

So I'm booked on a BA flight later (ORD-LHR) this year, it'll be the first time I've flown with them. Something that I'm normally able to do on OW airlines is free advanced seat selection (talking Y as a OWR), however BA is wanting to charge me ~$60 for the privilege, despite the OW site stating advanced seat selection is a privilege of ruby.

Is there a way to select my seat before check in without paying extra, or is this just a case of BA not playing nicely with OW?

Have you tried doing it via MMB on the BA website?

They tried to charge me >£200 last week .... completed the booking and went to MMB and did it for free.

 

[Hvr]

As a WP travelling J on BA I've been able to select a seat for travel next year. Had the pick of the cabin.

The booking shows on my Qantas bookings and my seat selection has held for the last month.

 

[harvyk]

Have you tried doing it via MMB on the BA website?

They tried to charge me >£200 last week .... completed the booking and went to MMB and did it for free.

I'm assuming MMB is manage my booking. Yes, I first went through the QF website (since the ticket is booked through QF), when I went to set the seat selection for the BA flight it directed me to the BA website (where it asked for all my details), that's where they offered to sell me advanced seat selection. (QF let me select seats for it's own flights and both AS and AA, but not BA)

It's not the end of the world if I can't, it's only a 7.5 hour flight and I've run the gauntlet before and only once got assigned 53E (although a quick word to the check in agent fixed that right up) it's just they really should remove it from the OW website as a "OW privilege" if not all airlines are going to offer it. (I thought OW was meant to standardize status privileges),

 

[amaroo]

Discussion here http://www.australianfrequentflyer....y-off-topic-thread-6220-1114.html#post1276459

 

[dajop]

Not relevant to long haul (OP'a situation) but with short haul on hand luggage only fares all passengers now need to pay for seat allocation - even BA's own one world emeralds

 

[amaroo]

I'm assuming MMB is manage my booking. Yes, I first went through the QF website (since the ticket is booked through QF), when I went to set the seat selection for the BA flight it directed me to the BA website (where it asked for all my details), that's where they offered to sell me advanced seat selection. (QF let me select seats for it's own flights and both AS and AA, but not BA)

It's not the end of the world if I can't, it's only a 7.5 hour flight and I've run the gauntlet before and only once got assigned 53E (although a quick word to the check in agent fixed that right up) it's just they really should remove it from the OW website as a "OW privilege" if not all airlines are going to offer it. (I thought OW was meant to standardize status privileges),

Must be OWE benefit. I booked with BA and allocated seats after via MMB .... no way I'm paying £288

 

[JohnPhelan]

Must be OWE benefit. I booked with BA and allocated seats after via MMB .... no way I'm paying £288

BA offer it for OWE and OWS (i.e. QF Platinum and Gold) at time of booking. OWR (Silver) get it one week out.

You're better to do it through the website than the BA call centre, too - some of the operators have no idea of OW status levels and just keep saying "only for BA Gold" ........

 

[harvyk]

Thanks all, good to know about the 7 day out thing, I'll check again then.

 

[MelUser]

Had a flight - BOS-LHR-WAW in March.

BOS-LHR was in F and LHR WAW in J. Was award booking.

BOS to LHR was fine - complimentary seat selection. LHR WAW they wanted payment which I refused.

But I've usually found Club Europe J to be empty which it was so had pich of seats at checkin.