Prebooking seats

jpsartre

ferf1223 wrote: »

But for now this is precisely one of the reasons I won't fly with BA....I won't pay to pre-select my seat, but I much prefer to have my seat picked out well in advance...and while there are airlines that give me this option for free, I'm quite happy to fly with them and BA is off the table for me.

Why not just compare the total cost and make your decision based on that? If flight + seat selection is cheaper than flight with other airline which includes seating I don't see why it's anything less than irrational to pick the latter (other things being equal), simply based on the fact that the former calculates the price differently. In fact, you are more likely to get the seats you want with the former since some people who would pick if free aren't going to pay. That's one reason why I prefer BA's system. People generally make way too big a deal out of so-called "hidden" or added charges. What does it matter what is and what isn't included in the base price, the only relevant number is the total cost.

zagfles

jpsartre wrote: »

Why not just compare the total cost and make your decision based on that? If flight + seat selection is cheaper than flight with other airline which includes seating I don't see why it's anything less than irrational to pick the latter (other things being equal), simply based on the fact that the former calculates the price differently. In fact, you are more likely to get the seats you want with the former since some people who would pick if free aren't going to pay. That's one reason why I prefer BA's system. People generally make way too big a deal out of so-called "hidden" or added charges. What does it matter what is and what isn't included in the base price, the only relevant number is the total cost.

It matters because people make assumptions about what's included in the price. When I booked with Singapore I never stopped to check whether pre-booked seats, meals, drinks, luggage allowance etc were included in the price, it's just obvious they would be because they are a top-tier airline. Which I know even though I'd never flown with them before.

I used to think exactly the same about BA (and I have flown with them before, loads of times but many years ago). But this thread has educated me otherwise!

When people do a price comparison between Ryanair and BA, they'll price the in the extras they know they might need with Ryanair.

Seems people have to do the same when comparing BA with the likes of Singapore!

jpsartre

zagfles wrote: »

Seems people have to do the same when comparing BA with the likes of Singapore!

Yes, that was my point. I fail to see why it makes BA any less (or more) top-tier than Singapore. If Singapore doesn't have a revenue stream from seat selection it simply means they'll need to up their price elsewhere. As noted, there are advantages of having a pay-system for those of us that care where we sit.

stoneman

budgetflyer wrote: »

Are we talking > £400 to maintain silver and get BA lounge access and a few little perks like fast track security and early seat selection?

I just don't get it, but am happy to be corrected and/or educated if im missing something.
But if you don't take enough "usefull" flight ie, business and pleasure, is it really worth spending all that money on TP runs just for those extra benefits

I was in Las Vegas and flew to San Juan just to maintain my Silver status for this year. Cost £500 and lost a day of my holiday. But what I get for that for the following 12 months is lounge access, fast track security, free seat selection at time of booking (and that can save up to £80 per sector if you want to sit on the top deck in Club) extra luggage allowance, more avios and most importantly from the day I first became Silver I and my wife have never had to fly in any other cabin other than First or Club because we have been upgraded every time, 10 in total now.
The reason BA charge for seats as well as making money is to breed loyalty. The more loyal you are, the more perks you get, and the first of those perks kicks in when you become Bronze allowing you to select seats for free from 7 days out. Even if you paid £3000 for a Clubworld seat you would have to pay for selecting where you sit if you don't have status.

zagfles

jpsartre wrote: »

Yes, that was my point. I fail to see why it makes BA any less (or more) top-tier than Singapore. If Singapore doesn't have a revenue stream from seat selection it simply means they'll need to up their price elsewhere. As noted, there are advantages of having a pay-system for those of us that care where we sit.

Well Singapore were considerably cheaper than BA for the flights we booked, even more so when you consider the like-for-like price (ie including seat reservations) which would have made the difference even bigger!

Gloomendoom

Bloody hell!

Paid for preferred extra legroom seats on Singapore ten months in advance and just been bumped out of them. :mad:

Edit: And breathe!

It actually worked out to our advantage. Wifey just rang them up and got the extra legroom seats back and got us moved to the top deck as well. As long as it stays like that I am a happy bunny.

It turns out that they had hadn't bumped us out of the extra legroom seats at all, just moved us further down the cabin. They have swapped the 777 for a 380 and the seat numbers had changed.