While airlines globally are getting more aggressive when it comes to charging fees for seat assignments, I don't think there's an airline in the world that's worse in this regard than British Airways. British Airways even charges for seat assignments in longhaul business class. That's right, you could pay $5,000 for a business class ticket,…
Continue reading: British Airways Improves Their Seat Assignment Policy For Hand Baggage Only Fares
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
@Chuck For those of us forced to fly BA short haul a lot this is very important....definitely more so than a blog post comment which contributes a sum total of zero.
It would be more helpful if the morons running the alliances would insist that the member airlines provide greater clarity around luggage allowances: Star Alliance is the worst, simply PATHETIC in respect of what is permitted. Some airlines guarentee checked bag for status members, others don't ; but the information is NEVER clear. And getting an answer about it: forget it. Hopeless. One World is just as bad, Sky Team marginally better.
I've done two flights LHR-PRG in the last month with this restriction, so pleased to see that it is being removed. It's kind of nuts - as a BA Silver member, you have business class check-in, fast track security, lounge access at three different lounges and priority boarding...but can't choose your own seat unless you pay £13 each way. And this isn't just on super-cheap fares. The flights have received more than the minimum miles and tier points so it's not just a problem for the cheapest tickets.
@Chuck:
a) Don't read it then
b) Write your own blog without such horribly offensive articles
Thank you for leaving out the 'Bottom Line' in this post. It's sometimes needless repetition of what you just said a couple of paragraphs earlier.
Nah, as an elite member I could always select my seat on a hand baggage fare though. The change only kicked in around last summer, I was very surprised at being told upon looking at my booking that i needed £15 to select my seat! Ridiculous.
@Ziggy, I had exact same reaction as you so thank you. (And I cannot bear people who start posts with 'yawn').
This is good news, as my husband and I travel on hand baggage fares all the time.
I wouldn't say BA is 'taking care of premium cabin passengers and elite members' entirely. My husband has been gold for several years and NEVER gets an upgrade ever unless he pays or uses points. I flew Club Europe the other day and the meal size had shrunk considerably. And there's the jam-packed Club World cabin - those rear facing seats! If they got rid of those and had a more spacious business class then we'd be onto something!
I wish to fly BA soon in J, I'm sapphire in oneworld but wish to credit to miles to alaska, you think I'd beable to book and assign my seats on my QF number then on the day of flying change my FF# over to AS????
I used to travel frequently with BA and held Gold for several year and notched up close to a million avios. The avios are all but useless as I can never find a flight I want to fly that is available wih avios. Im going to try KLM and Lufthansa on a few of my routes as I have heard they treat customers better overall, even if they are a bit more expensive.