BA Reserving Seats

martindow

I'm travelling on a flight to the USA and can choose seats 24 hours before departure. In practice do they open reservations on the morning of the previous day or does each flight become available exactly 24 hours in advance?

marsman802

Exactly 24hrs in my experience. Opens at checkin in other words.

Unless you have BA status at which point you can book at varying degrees beforehand.

Alternatively you can pay to reserve but I never found the need to do this.

jpsartre

Yes, it's exactly T-24. If you have a connecting flight you can then check in for all flights on the ticket though.

martindow

Thanks all - I feared as much.

I must say it seems very petty having this system of paying for earlier seat reservations when tickets cost hundreds of pounds. Airlines increasingly seem to be introducing extra charges that I associate with the more unpleasant low cost companies.

InsideInsurance

martindow wrote: »

I must say it seems very petty having this system of paying for earlier seat reservations when tickets cost hundreds of pounds. Airlines increasingly seem to be introducing extra charges that I associate with the more unpleasant low cost companies.

How much extra are you willing to pay to have the BA name on your ticket?

People are more price sensitive, prices are easier to compare, there is more competition. You therefore cut out all the optional perks to get your prices down and add them back in as optional extras

Marmaduke123

I've never found it a problem to choose a reasonable seat when the BA check in opens. I don't think many people can pay to choose their seat earlier, as there always seem to be plenty available.

I doubt if many people are on there exactly 24 hours before their flight either, although I must admit I usually am! You'll find you will have been allocated seats, which you can change or confirm as you wish.

marsman802

It also allows them to reward their frequent flyers which is what BA are after really.

My wife travels a lot with work and being able to choose exit aisle seats for free weeks before means a lot.

But if you're not a frequent flyer you can usually find seats perfectly acceptable when the check in period opens.

PeacefulWaters

Unless you're after extra legroom seats, just wait until the T-24 moment and you'll be fine.

joerugby

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Unless you're after extra legroom seats, just wait until the T-24 moment and you'll be fine.

Two adjacent seats in Club World might be a problem

PeacefulWaters

joerugby wrote: »

Two adjacent seats in Club World might be a problem

Yup, I'm guilt of an economy class assumption!

totallybored

joerugby wrote: »

Two adjacent seats in Club World might be a problem

It can also be a problem in premium economy! No spare seats on a flight I did last year so no choice apart from the seats allocated.