Originally Posted by
Cuillin Hills
Unlikely, Sealink - the whole Business Class experience with British Airways was underwhelming relative to what they charge - the person across the aisle from me could have, easily, paid three times as much for the experience.
Absolutely no comparison with Business Class in the Middle or Far East airlines - British Airways even have the brass neck to charge for seat allocation in Business Class - unlike most of their competitors.
I managed to obtain a free selection, due to my Bronze status, at -7 days.
BA don’t charge their status customers for seat selection. Or full fare tickets. As you said, you got free selection as Bronze.
Many other airlines now charge. Some airlines have now unbundled business class to not even include lounge access. Why single BA out? They haven’t gone that far.
Why do BA not give free seat selection to everyone? The leisure traveller on cheaper ticket books well in advance of the high value business traveller. Result? With free seat selection the people booking the cheapest Club tickets get the best seats and your high value customers booking last minute get what’s left. And it annoys them. Happened to me on another airline, work booked me a last minute one way ticket, very expensive. I got the worst seat in the cabin. Nothing else available - despite being fairly sure my ticket was the most expensive.
BA are looking after their full fare customers and frequent flyers. Anyone else has a choice. In new Club Suites all the seats are identical, and on short haul Club every seat is a window or aisle. Nobody is forced to pay.