BA to charge for advance seat selection

[Hawkeye]

Latest version of Business Traveller weekly news bulletin has an exclsuive story of BA's plans to charge for the privilege of seat selection at the time of booking.

Exclusive: BA to charge for advance seat selection - Business Traveller

From October 7 customers will have the option to select their seats when they book tickets, for the following charges:

• £10 per person per sector in Euro Traveller and on domestic routes
• £20 per person per sector in Club Europe, World Traveller and World Traveller Plus
• £60 per person per sector in Club World

Customers in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus will also have the option to pay £50 to secure exit row seats, from ten days pior to departure.

The article confirms that BA elites will not be charged, but does not specify if the exemption will extend to OW elites.


Not a nice change, at all.

 

[Mal]

Yeah, it seems they've learnt from people like RyanAir - and desperately are copying them in the race to the bottom.

While this is an 'enhancement' to most people who are already unable to select seats, it does dilute the benefits of elite status.

BTW, BA rarely officially recognises OW tier levels in any of their literature, so the absence of OW recognition isn't anything to be worried about yet!

 

[Dave Noble]

Currently , only those that are

travelling 1st class or are
full fare passengers or have
Sapphire/Emerald status

are permitted to pre-select seats

With this change, those currently entitled to pre-select will continue to be able to do so for free

The change is that those currently NOT permitted to choose seats in advance will have the option to do so for a fee

There have been a lot of whines about the inability to select seats , so this is surely a benefit rather than negative for these people.

For me, it is a negative; since I have status, I can select for free but with this change there may be less seats to choose from

The only impact to those currently permitted to select seats is that they are intending to charge for exit row seating, though unlike QF it seems, they will not charge Emerald members for this; this would seem to be a negative to those with sapphire OW status but a benefit to those without

Other than the charging for exit rows for sapphire members, I cannot see how it is a bad change for most passengers

Dave

 

[Mal]

Another degradation is that BA Silvers (and I assume OW Sapphires) will no longer be able to select Exit row seats in World Traveller and WT+ (Longhaul only I believe).

 

[simongr]

I guess on some levels this is a move back to how things were before they restricted pre-selection of seats.

As Dave points out - great for the masses - not so great for the special people

 

[Mal]

BA are getting an absolute caning in the press about this at the moment. They now have some information on their website regarding who gets advance seating for free. It's good to see them actually acknowledge OWE/OWS for a change!

British Airways - Latest News

The following customers will continue to be able to choose their seat from the time of booking for free:
- Gold Executive Club members (and oneworld equivalents)
- Customers travelling in First
- Customers with additional needs (this includes those with disabilities or
other special requirements)
- Silver Executive Club members (and oneworld equivalents) *
- Customers travelling with infants*
- Customers holding a fully flexible ticket booked in J/C/W/Y booking classes*
* Customers can choose a seat for free at time of booking, except exit row seats in World Traveller and World Traveller Plus which can be purchased from 10 to 4 days prior to their flight.

 

[auriga]

Charging for business class seat assignment = :evil:

 

[Dave Noble]

Charging for business class seat assignment = :evil:

At the moment, only full fare passengers ( or those with Emerald/Sapphire ) status can select at all. Offering it at a fee gives those that are desperate to pre-select seats the option to do so on a discount ticket

Dave