Beware when booking First Choice flight upgrade to Star Premier Class

researcher

I recently had a horrible experience and I want to warn others too.

We booked a long haul holiday online with first choice (eclipse is the same). It was about three weeks in advance and we were offered flight upgrades to Star Premier Class at a reasonable price. I'd checked that there was lots of availability read all the T&C's and decided it was a good deal. Big Mistake

At check-in we were told we couldn't sit together, neither outbound or on the return journey :eek:. They allocate the seating in advance and have a policy that who-ever books first gets seated together, and because of the seating configuration 2-3-2, there are always lots of couples separated. If you ring customer services they tell you that you can't book seats together as they are 'guaranteed' in this class. Arriving early for check-in makes no difference, neither does tear's, pleading, shouting. (I didn't try these, but the staff told me how frequently this happened on every flight and how much they dread it).

Personally, I'd rather sit next to my partner in economy than alone in premier, and I'm really upset that they didn't inform me so as I could make a choice based on what they already knew. I am claiming compensation from them, but in the meantime I wanted you all to know so as you don't make the same mistake I did :mad:

khizman

you should have seen if anyone would want to swap the seat with you.

saveapenny

It doesnt bother my because we both like the aisle seats and even in economy we often sit apart. so for me its not worth booking early its worth bookign late or else one of us would either be stuck by the window or in the middle 3/
You should alter your title ...Its All prem econ that allocate seats like this (cheap charter anyway) we did Barbados in prem and even though I hadnt asked we both got aisle seats and a good few people where moaning and that was Britannia on the way out and Thomascook on the way back ..so be warned its not just FC

odowdchr

To be honest.....my partner and I always try and get aisle seats as well. You can talk across the aisle if you want, move your arms and stretch when the gangways clear, get to the loo easier and go for a walk when you want. Plus...we DONT have to sit by each other for 12 hours:T

researcher

I'm not talking about sitting next to each other across an aisle. I mean apart, in different parts of the cabin, or infront/behind each other. Not being able to see or communicate with each other at all. I wouldn't have minded the aisle seats so much - but this was two flights flying alone!

saveapenny

yep...thats how we flew with Britannia and TC ...I think its good people know but to me it makes no difference but to others like yourslef its worth thinking about if you book late your going to get whats left

researcher

My problem is that FC knew that we couldn't sit together in Star class when they sold us the holiday - when there were loads of seats available in economy when we could. They should have let us know. Customer services actually told us we were not required to reserve seats in this section as we would be seated together. That was blatently untrue and it really spoilt the beginning and the end of our holiday.

voyagerweb

Unfortunatly this happens both in economy and scp. Its the policy at the moment i am afraid. Passengers dont like it but its a cheap method of seating people.

Although i am not trying to defend FC, there is the fact that if people did book seats those who didnt would be disadvantaged. E.g one sat in row 1 another in row 9 because everyone else has snapped up the other seats.

And i dont wish to spark any confusion here but "seated together" actually means across an aisle, next to each other or behind each other even if you pay for that priveledge with any other airline.

Unfortunatly you wont get any compensation. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Budget_mum

I do wonder why they can't operate in the same way most scheduled airlines do. With Continental to Memphis via Newark I was able to select my seats for all four flights at the point of booking. With Lufthansa to Frankfurt recently I checked in online and selected my seats at this point.

The scheduled airlines say online check in saves time and money and the software is obviously available to be used. I firmly believe the charter airlines don't want this as they are making a tidy sum from people willing to pay to sit together :mad::mad:

researcher

Just an aside as this thread has been resurrected.

Since my original complaint I have flown to the caribbean, greece, turkey, Thailand and France. Not once have I considered flying with FC, I've voted with my feet and will not use them again.

Warrington-Mike

Who did you fly with - Thomson instead?? LOL HeHe...