Cheap airline seating

Pollycat

@horsewidow
Perhaps you could comment on Nick_C's point below:

Nick_C wrote: »

But it is pretty clear when booking on either BA or AA who is operating the flight. On AA you can see seat availability for their flights before choosing which flight to take, and AA seat selection is free, even in Economy.

Is it clear during the booking process who is operating the flight?

Perhaps you missed it - in which case I guess the additional charge incurred to sit together is down to whoever booked the flight.

horsewidow

It definitely does not say that you are booking under BA's terms, it goes at lenth to give you an AA ticket, and AA reference and an AA flight number.

horsewidow

bradders1983 wrote: »

Well thats the risk you take, if you dont like the price of the fee simply dont pay it. Are you finally getting that point now?

Going round in circles.

Two people
Buy a flight together
Then told they have to pay £204 to sit together.
Each way.


Don't argue that they CAN do it (we've established their monopoly / fear power) We are arguing SHOULD they do it.



...and what sort of good business practice is it when the answer is "well that's the risk you take" ?????

Pollycat

horsewidow wrote: »

It definitely does not say that you are booking under BA's terms, it goes at lenth to give you an AA ticket, and AA reference and an AA flight number.

Really? :think:

That's not what Nick_C said in post # 194.
I'm sure he'll be back to clarify.

bradders1983

horsewidow wrote: »

Two people
Buy a flight together
Then told they have to pay £204 to sit together.
Each way.

Its the way of the world, more airlines now charge for it that those that dont and the ones that dont are more than likely getting you to pay for it in the base price of the ticket anyway.

Pollycat

bradders1983 wrote: »

Its the way of the world, more airlines now charge for it that those that dont and the ones that dont are more than likely getting you to pay for it in the base price of the ticket anyway.

We don't bother paying on short-haul flights but would probably do on long-haul.
We did with Singapore Airlines to Bali last year.

The cost was crystal clear during the booking process.
And when they changed the aircraft on our SIN-DPS leg and had to change our seats they automatically refunded the charge.

To me, it's just an additional cost of the flight, like extra luggage allowance or meals.
I don't have to pay if I choose not to.

I can understand the OP being annoyed if it wasn't clear that she was booking with BA rather than AA (but we'll wait to see what Nick_C's comments are).


I don't agree that's it's a scam though.
But most posts I read on MSE and other fora that shout 'scam', 'con' and 'rip-off' turn out to be nothing of the sort.

Nick_C

horsewidow wrote: »

… we booked through AA, who charge a lot less for reserving your seat, then found it was a code share with BA

horsewidow wrote: »

… we booked with AA to avoid these fees, they then code shared this with BA who charge these fees.

horsewidow wrote: »

It definitely does not say that you are booking under BA's terms, it goes at lenth to give you an AA ticket, and AA reference and an AA flight number.

horsewidow wrote: »

Two people buy a flight....and then get told they have to pay £204 to sit together … so anyway, you take the points about it … not being clearly outlined

horsewidow wrote: »

OK, yes, we can risk being allocated two completely separate seats on an 11 hour flight on the holiday of a lifetime.

Sounds like you were aware that BA charge for seat reservations in Business Class unless you have status, so you tried to avoid this by going through the AA website? Nice try, but sadly it doesn’t work that way. You could have booked a flight operated by AA and reserved seats for no extra charge, but you chose a BA flight. Although I suspect you are travelling to SFO, and AA don’t fly direct.

The AA web site makes it very clear that it is a codeshare before you complete the reservation.

I agree, it doesn’t make it clear that you are booking on BA’s terms, but it is very clear that you are booking to fly with BA on an AA code share.

In the list of flights, if it is a codeshare it says “Operated by British Airways”

IANAL, but I would say you are booking on AA’s terms, but flying under BA’s conditions of carriage.

It also doesn’t say that you can select seats without a charge. So you are not being promised something that is not then delivered.

When you get to the part of the booking where you would normally select your seats, you get a message “Seat map unavailable for flights on other airlines. Please contact BRITISH AIRWAYS for your seat assignment.”

You could have ascertained the cost of selecting seats by going to the BA website at that point.

You are not really paying to sit together, you are paying to select a specific seat (or pair of seats). Some people flying on their own may also chose to pay to select a specific seat. All Business Class seats are not equal on BA, and the price to select a seat reflects this.

On the A380 flying to SFO, the price to select a seat on the main deck is £79, £87, or £95. The price to select any seat on the upper deck is £104. If you just want to sit together, you can reserve a pair of seats for £158. You don’t need to pay £208.

There are 97 business class seats on the A380. They are arranged 2-4-2 on the main deck, and 2-3-2 on the upper deck. It is very unlikely that you will be separated. BA normally pre-allocate seats a few days before the flight, and you will see your pre-allocated seats when on line check in opens. You can change them at that point free of charge. In fact I would say you are likely to be pre-allocated a pair of “love seats” on the main deck, as they are very unpopular with solo travellers.

I share your annoyance that you can spend thousands on a Business Class flight with BA, and then they charge you to select seats (unless you have status), but it’s not a scam. If you are paying for your flights with Avios, it is better value to book First Class if there is any availability, as this comes with free seat selection (and everything else).

Your posts are a useful warning to people considering flying Business Class with BA. BA are (AFAIK) the only major airline to charge for seat selection in Business Class.

If you haven't already paid to select your seats, my advice would be - don't. BA try to seat passengers together. It is very unlikely that you will be split up. And if you are, it's not the end of the world. If you were flying in a better Business Class Cabin, such as the one operated by AA on their 77Ws, you can't sit together anyway. Even the middle pair are so far apart with a privacy screen in between that you can't comfortably talk to the person sitting next to you. When I fly AA Business Class with my OH, I book two window seats, one behind the other. Total privacy. Bliss.

And if you have already paid, then there is nothing you can do now. Forget about it. Don't let it spoil what will be a very enjoyable flight and a fabulous holiday.

pollypenny

Nick_C wrote: »

@horsewidow

Bad move paying for Business Class and flying BA. AA is so much better.

But it is pretty clear when booking on either BA or AA who is operating the flight. On AA you can see seat availability for their flights before choosing which flight to take, and AA seat selection is free, even in Economy.

AFAIK, BA is the only airline to charge business class passengers to select seats. And even when you pay to select a seat, the best seats may be blocked out of you don't have status with BA.

AA started charging for pre- booked window seats, other than right at the back of the plane, a few years ago. It's usually around $50.

We've chosen seats at the back! However, for our return flight we've done economy plus. Not chosen seats yet as contemplating going for an upgrade.

Marvel1

My recent Ryanair flight on my own, I paid for my seat because I wanted to sit at the very back with an aisle seat. Didn't want a random seat that could be the window or worse middle seat, think it was £25 each way, well worth it.

I was just glad no-one asked me to swap to sit with the person they know who is next to me.

The_Jester

I'm really disappointed with Emirates policy on this.

I've just booked my cousin and I to fly to SE Asia in Late October. I booked with Travel Trolley. I normally fly with Qatar or Etihad which you can book your seat free of charge. I just assumed all long haul flights were like this. I was disappointed to discover Emirates charge a fee for an aisle seat? It will cost us around £90 each in total which in my opinion is just wrong and a classic case of greed.

Travel Trolley want £200 to cancel even though they didn't make us aware there was an additional charge for seating. They said it's an optional extra. I would have had no argument if we had been told in advance but there's no mention of this in their website. I wouldn't have booked it if I had known.

My cousin and I are in our fifties and both have a degenerative disease in our hips and knees. I contacted Emirates via twitter to explain the circumstances but they're refusing to help. So Emirates are one of the airlines who ignore passengers needs or listen to them but at a cost.