We are flying a couple of segments on British Airways, and understand that seats are assigned 24 hours before the flights, unless you pay for choosing earlier. Does anyone know if not having advance seat assignments has any impact on who is likely to be bumped. Our trip is in the peak inter-holiday period and I know our first flight has been blacked out for a couple of months.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9719 posts
I think the most important thing is to check in online for the flight as soon as the check in window opens. If you have status in the One World Network (Alaska, American, etc,) you can get your seats free at time of booking if Sapphire, or 7 days in advance if Ruby.
Posted by
OP
The Heartland USA
9471 posts
Thanks Carol. Yes, I intend to do that. My question was whether the people who wait for that 24-hour seat assignment are at a disadvantage relative to those that paid for a seat assignment when it comes to being bumped on an oversold flight. It might make a difference in my deciding to pay for early assignments. I am being pressured by a travel agent to pay for this, and that is what he was saying. If it doesn't matter and is based on other criteria, thats OK
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6329 posts
whether the people who wait for that 24-hour seat assignment are at a disadvantage relative to those that paid for a seat assignment when it comes to being bumped on an oversold flight.
Probably not. Most airlines use things like elite status, fare class, and check-in time for bumping. They also often ask for volunteers before resorting to involuntary bumping.
Did you buy a basic economy or a standard economy ticket? If you have a standard economy ticket, you get to select a seat at check-in.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
7386 posts
Nonsense. Sorry, your so-called "travel agent" is either ignorant or a liar (or both) - if, as you say, they are "pressuring you" to pay for a seat assignment now if you prefer to take your chances once check-in opens.
I would regard anything this "travel agent" tells you (or tries to sell you) with extreme skepticism (and I'm putting that nicely). Did they ask you for a "tip", too?
Having or not having an advance seat assignment has absolutely nothing to do with who gets bumped. The airline won't know about how many people will need to be bumped (if any) and won't do anything about it until the day of the flight, usually not until shortly before boarding begins. Whatever shakes out, you can already have a no-cost seat assignment long before any bumping starts.
Shame on your "travel agent" - check their pants for flames.
Posted by
OP
The Heartland USA
9471 posts
Yes, we hung up on him, but that one seed of doubt he planted . . .
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2485 posts
We usually pay for seat assignments on the outbound international flights in business ( have to check Carol’s advice) but not for the return. I think we have done it that way 4 or 5 times. Usually we get seats together at the 24 hour mark in the middle section, but last trip we were on the window one behind the other. That doesn’t bother us. We also don’t hear that well so we don’t mind being near the bathroom. If we have onward connections, those seats have already been booked in our fare class. We have never been bumped.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
3071 posts
Hmmm.. Does your "Travel Agent" understand the EU rules on involuntary bumping... trust me BA wants to avoid that payout... I ran into this on VS once... wound up with a free round trip business class ticket for the "bump" (which was due to a mechanical so the entire plane got bumped.
I'd just tell your TA that if seat assignment was such a big problem WHY didn't they warn you of this when selling the ticket? Did they warn you about this extra cost?
(There is a reason I no longer use Travel Agents!)