BA Paid Reserved Seat Change Question

[Mark in CA]

My wife is traveling on BA this week and I have reserved her seats months ago for the long-haul segments. Now I see I can reserve very similar seats for less or even free. (In fact, even the current seats are now listed for less than what I paid.)

The BA web site says:

* We won't charge you extra to change to a seat of the same price as your previous seat

* We will charge you extra to change to a higher priced seat

But they are silent on what happens if you choose a less expensive seat. Will they refund the difference, including if the newer seat is free?

[SeenItAll]

Not to be flip, but is this a trick question? When regular airfares decline, do airlines give PAX who have reserved at higher prices a rebate? I doubt they are more customer-friendly with respect to seat fees.

While I don't know about BA's policy, on United, purchases of EconomyPlus seating are completely nonrefundable. I think the only situation where you might receive a refund/credit is if you upfare your ticket to a higher cabin (e.g., Y to J or F).

[PAXboy]

I agree it would be frustrating but - had you have waited until now - and all the other seats had been booked? Then you would not have the seat you wanted. My irritation in the bast (on another carrier) was to pay and NOT get the seat and to be told 'operational reasons'. Pah.

[Squawk 6042]

Recently paid air miles for a specific seat on a KLM flight.

At on-line check-in I found I was assigned to a different seat and nothing else was available. Same when I got to the airport, aircraft was full, no change possible.

After the flight I contacted the air miles programme, explained what had happened, and they refunded my air miles.

So sometimes there is fair play!

[DaveReidUK]

But they are silent on what happens if you choose a less expensive seat. Will they refund the difference, including if the newer seat is free?

I think BA chooses its words carefully. If your originally-selected seat(s) are still available, don't expect any refund if you voluntarily seek to change.

[RAT 5]

Can you cancel your selection and re-book immediately?

[Hotel Tango]

It's all to do with your personal choices and risk factor. When I book my regular flight with a certain operator I can pay for the privilege of reserving my seat of choice. However, if I wait until on-line check in (72 hrs in advance) I can select any available seat for free. Since I know that this particular flight is rarely more than half full I always wait until I check in to choose my seat. If, on the other hand I travel on a flight which is generally close to full I will pay to ensure I don't end up left with the choice of middle seats when I check in.