BA Reserving Seats

blindman

martindow wrote: »

I called BA and they said that I couldn't check in for 'operational reasons' - is that code for security checks?

Could be the scheduled aircraft is not available so they haven't made a decision yet so seats cannot be allocated.

InsideInsurance

slightlyconfused1 wrote: »

At least on a plane you are guaranteed a seat.

Sort of, your guaranteed a seat if they allow you on but they do sometimes oversell or have to switch aircraft etc and so cant let everyone on.

Last time I was at LHR there was announcements on another flight saying they needed 3 passengers to volunteer to not fly until the next day in exchange for a free hotel and £750 per person (started at £100 but wasnt getting any takers so they kept upping it)

martindow

Update
On the outbound journey 4th March I booked in easily at the airport to get boarding cards. They said the flight was very full and that was the reason they did not allow online seat reservation in the last 24 hours.

Return journey SFO-LHR was also very busy, but I was able to check in online to confirm seats although there were no pairs of alternative seats showing.

veryintrigued

We're frequent BA travellers and use this T-24 a lot esp as I'm 6'5 I'm always very keen to get an exit seat (and not pay!).

However its not guaranteed. On one occasion we checked in T-24 and swapped to exit seats. The next day we arrived at the airport to bag drop to be told that we had been moved. When questioned why this had occured the assistant made a call and went quite pale and said quietly to her supervisor on the phone 'well this guys even taller'. However she told us that it was due to 'operational issues'.

It later became apparent when we boarded the plane that someone who was only a little smaller than I (and hadnt checked in T-24) has been moved upon check in to 'my seat' due to his height.

A nicely worded email to BA post break resulted from that.....

martindow

veryintrigued wrote: »

We're frequent BA travellers and use this T-24 a lot esp as I'm 6'5 I'm always very keen to get an exit seat (and not pay!).

However its not guaranteed. On one occasion we checked in T-24 and swapped to exit seats. The next day we arrived at the airport to bag drop to be told that we had been moved. When questioned why this had occured the assistant made a call and went quite pale and said quietly to her supervisor on the phone 'well this guys even taller'. However she told us that it was due to 'operational issues'.

It later became apparent when we boarded the plane that someone who was only a little smaller than I (and hadnt checked in T-24) has been moved upon check in to 'my seat' due to his height.

A nicely worded email to BA post break resulted from that.....

I did notice that the site says that pre-booked seats can still be changed by the airline. They reserve the right to do this even if you had paid a fee although they would (generously) refund that payment.

shaun_from_Africa

martindow wrote: »

I did notice that the site says that pre-booked seats can still be changed by the airline. They reserve the right to do this even if you had paid a fee although they would (generously) refund that payment.

This is standard policy for all airlines and not just BA.
There is a fairly strict set of guidelines as to who is allowed to occupy an emergency exit seat and with pre-booking of seats and online check in now being fairly common, the first opportunity that the airline staff might have to confirm that the person concerned meets the guidelines is when they get to departure gate or bag drop desk.

kerri_gt

Flown long haul to the US on business several times, it's worth asking when you drop your bags if there are any alternative seats available, sometimes there are, sometimes not. Goes without saying a smile and a please also goes a long way with the checkin staff.

martindow

kerri_gt wrote: »

Flown long haul to the US on business several times, it's worth asking when you drop your bags if there are any alternative seats available, sometimes there are, sometimes not. Goes without saying a smile and a please also goes a long way with the checkin staff.

Yes, I tried that with no joy this time - it has worked in the past.

I was surprised how full the planes were. I last travelled this route 3 or 4 years ago and there plenty of empty seats then.