Another airline question

I always pick because I value where I sit more than the money……….

I think that you need to accept that regardless of the past experience of other people, there is no accurate prediction available in advance of where you will sit. I have heard that checking in at the first possible moment makes a positive difference.

What airline????

For a flight to Europe I would NEVER just "take my chances" The "upgrade" on Delta for example might be a center seat in Comfort instead of in coach. But no, they aren't going to upgrade you to business when they pick your seat for you.

Only roll this dice if you are good with sitting in the middle seat all the way.

Similar question from 6 months ago.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/not-paying-for-seats-in-coach-how-does-it-work-out-usually

American airlines that fly to Europe do not charge for seats, so I factor that seat hassle in if a European/Canadian airline is cheaper.

I gladly pay for where I want sit since I can't afford First or Business class. I'm getting too old, achy and cranky to put up with bad seats (or misbehaving people). I also pay for priority boarding. Worth the money. In relation to the whole trip cost, this is insignificant.

Last year coming home for Venice, the guy next to me in the middle seat asked if I would change seats with his girlfriend so they could sit together (she had an aisle seat farther back). I told him no, I booked far in advance and paid for my seat upgrade, so No Way am I changing. He turned out to be nice, from Slovenia, but I still wasn't changing seats.

We’re flying on British Airways, premium economy, Seattle to Rome, Naples to Seattle. October.

I booked far in advance and paid for my seat upgrade, so No Way am I changing.

I've had this happened too, and usually decline, but once the seat change requested was a move to first class-- I took that.

First Class, Tom, wow. I’d grab that too.

I think it’s usually people who book late or don’t pay for seats who want to change for something better than they’re assigned. My sympathy/empathy is very low.

We’re flying on British Airways, premium economy, Seattle to Rome, Naples to Seattle. October.

Not only could you get a middle seat, but if you are traveling with someone else they won't necessarily sit you together if there aren't two seats together.

Upgrading to biz or first class is highly unlikely. They would be more apt to upgrade someone who has status with the airline.

I would never roll the dice on a trans-Atlantic flight. However, for travel within Europe, where the majority of the flights are relatively short, and if traveling with at least one other person, I've waited for seat assignments from the airline. If you're on one of the British Airways cattle car flights on a single aisle plane, someone is usually going to have to sit in a center seat anyway - unless on an A220, where you might get lucky with two-across.

Unless you really want an aisle seat - and with narrower seat widths and reduced pitch, that may be a desirable option.

Of course, always a slight risk they could separate you, but I believe unlikely if on the same locater number.

Dear OP, British Airways Premium Economy is a relatively small cabin on the plane. Your chances of a good seat randomly are fairly good. I might wait there.

Has anyone chose to not pay the exorbitant prices to reserve seats

Not sure how exorbitant it is. I like to think of it as someone else subsidizing my airline ticket. And thank you one and all.

I buy seats on the long-haul flight. I pick an asile seat in the center section of seats .... one where the opposite end asile seat is already sold; and close to the front. That has worked for me on the last 6 long haul flights. Cost me $80 for those two seats (coming and going) on the end of month trip.

The connecting flights are 90 minute flights on small aircraft and there really isnt a good seat, so why bother .... but would be another $40 for those two seats if I did care. Actually if I have a tight layover on the way home, I will buy on the short flight so I am upfront by the door. So, $100 might be the most I pay for seats on a trip.

Oh, one other exception. I will look at the seating chart a few weeks prior and if one of those connecting flights is getting full, I will buy a seat. I am afraid they will overbook and the guy without the seat assignment is the first bumped I think.

We just flew British Airways last week, Denver to London. World Traveler (regular economy) class lets you pay more to reserve a seat ahead of time (I think it was $62 to reserve a middle seat), but when you check in online 24 hours before the flight, you can pick your seat right then, no extra charge. Just be ready to log on exactly 24 hours before takeoff, before the preferred seats are all taken.

Doesn’t premium economy already come with reserved seat numbers, or are you just reserving the section of the plane, and not a particular seat? If you’re not already set for a seat, then it would seem that you’re also going to need to do online check-in 24 hours out, competing for seats with everyone else who didn’t pay extra. If so, it’s arguably only semi-premium. Even a lesser seat in premium economy still has more arm and shoulder room than those of us in the back section, but you shouldn’t have to let BA assign your exact seat.

Oh, and upgraded? There was a couple who walked up to the departure gate counter and asked if they could pay for an upgraded seat. Those sections were sold out, and I saw them boarding into their regular economy seats as I filed past, and asked how their request had been handled. He said they were told there were none available, and they’d been willing to pay for them. If the flight’s even close to full, and BA isn’t selling seat upgrades, they sure won’t be giving away upgrades.

Doesn’t premium economy already come with reserved seat numbers, or are you just reserving the section of the plane, and not a particular seat?

BA even charges for seat assignment in business class.

We were told if we want to sit together, premium economy, it would be $400, Seattle to London and London to Seattle.! We didn’t even get to London to Rome and Naples to London! For those prices we don’t feel that we have to sit together although we would like to!

BA even charges for seat assignment in business class

Wow, I’m surprised, but always flying in World Traveler steerage, I didn’t know, or need to know.

We were told if we want to sit together, premium economy, it would be $400

That’s pretty steep! And while paying anything, much less $62 for a guaranteed middle seat in economy seems frivolous and unnecessary for the most part, that $400 for a seat guarantee in premium economy would go a long way towards paying for a whole economy ticket, never mind the extra charge for a specific seat guarantee. Lots of folks clearly pay that extra charge ahead of time, but the no-cost 24 hour availability seat selection has always worked for us. That is, as long as we can get connected on the BA app.

Gee, to be able to fly first class… or to be on a private plane. But if I were in that situation, $400 would be inconsequential.

Our flights are British Airways business class due to age and stiff joints. We’ve usually paid for the flight to Europe because we’re (hopefully) sleeping next to each other. However, last year we decided to take our chances on the way home and were still seated next to each other.