Does BA use F seats as J when not sold?

[kingzac]

We have a reward J flight with BA from Mumbai to LHR. Unfortunately, the older 2-3-2 style seating which I dread, but whatever it's a reward seat.
Flight is BA138 on a 787-9,
When selecting seats through RJ I noticed an unusual addition of rows 1 and 2 but could not save when selected. Also visible on expert flyer, however, with rows 1 and 2 blocked out.
Now obviously these rows are the F seats, however, there is no first being sold on this flight and they show up on J seating plans.
Does BA use these seats as overflow J? Do they ever allocate at the gate maybe, or do they just sit idle?


I played naive and asked BA if they can allocate us to these rows but they said they can't see them.
At the moment as far as I can tell we are the only two booked in J (7a/b) so fingers crossed...

 

[Princess Fiona]

We have a reward J flight with BA from Mumbai to LHR. Unfortunately, the older 2-3-2 style seating which I dread, but whatever it's a reward seat.
Flight is BA138 on a 787-9,
When selecting seats through RJ I noticed an unusual addition of rows 1 and 2 but could not save when selected. Also visible on expert flyer, however, with rows 1 and 2 blocked out.
Now obviously these rows are the F seats, however, there is no first being sold on this flight and they show up on J seating plans.
Does BA use these seats as overflow J? Do they ever allocate at the gate maybe, or do they just sit idle?


I played naive and asked BA if they can allocate us to these rows but they said they can't see them.
At the moment as far as I can tell we are the only two booked in J (7a/b) so fingers crossed...

View attachment 319187

No they don’t necessarily open the F cabin for seating on flights with only J.
And if they do the seats will be allocated to their own elites Gold, GGL, and Premier and pax accompanying them.

 

[kingzac]

No they don’t necessarily open the F cabin for seating on flights with only J.
And if they do the seats will be allocated to their own elites Gold, GGL, and Premier and pax accompanying them.

Thanks, I wondered what the previous experience was but after searching for all sorts of terms I couldn't find any discussion on it.
I guess our only hope is that we remain the only J passengers and can politely ask to relocate for sleeping.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks, I wondered what the previous experience was but after searching for all sorts of terms I couldn't find any discussion on it.
I guess our only hope is that we remain the only J passengers and can politely ask to relocate for sleeping.

If they don’t have cabin crew for the F cabin then I’m fairly certain it will remain closed no matter how light the J load is.

 

[justinbrett]

I have had the best OPUP rate with BA than any other airline, as a QF FF.

I was under the impression they treated oneworld elites equal to their own - has this changed?

 

[SYD]

I have had the best OPUP rate with BA than any other airline, as a QF FF.

I was under the impression they treated oneworld elites equal to their own - has this changed?

Ditto. But the question is whether they will operate that cabin at all. Unlike just treating it as part of an extended J cabin.

 

[Anna]

Can you assume the loading from a seat map? Pax may just not have selected seats?

 

[kingzac]

Can you assume the loading from a seat map? Pax may just not have selected seats?

No it's just wishful thinking from me, like most of this thread.

I did ask BA if it was busy when talking to them and they just said "it's very quiet".

 

[Princess Fiona]

I have had the best OPUP rate with BA than any other airline, as a QF FF.

I was under the impression they treated oneworld elites equal to their own - has this changed?

This isn’t an op-up question. It’s about seating in an F cabin when F isn’t sold.