BA to charge for seat selection
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amanoffewwords
We already get these "sitting together" issues.
Currently some groups can choose seats (large groups, Premium, families with kids) at about 3 days before departure. Then we get more people choosing at departure -24hrs and finally people checking in at the airport.
We already have to sort out the isssues when a family or group of 6 checks in at 45min prior to departure.
This new system stretches that seat choosing period from 3 days to 10.
We have all heard stories from people who simple must have that exit row seat for whatever reason. These seats are popular. BA has recognised this and is attempting to draw some revenue from it (like some other airlines)
You don't have to pay to choose your seat. Don't forget that you can, as now, still choose your seat for free on-line 24 hours in advance or at the airport. The current figures indicate that on longhaul less than 50% of passengers check in on-line. So you are still likely to be able to get a group of seats, especially if checking in on-line at departure -24 hours
The worst part of this change is that once again BA's woeful demonstration of their PR skills
We already get these "sitting together" issues.
Currently some groups can choose seats (large groups, Premium, families with kids) at about 3 days before departure. Then we get more people choosing at departure -24hrs and finally people checking in at the airport.
We already have to sort out the isssues when a family or group of 6 checks in at 45min prior to departure.
This new system stretches that seat choosing period from 3 days to 10.
We have all heard stories from people who simple must have that exit row seat for whatever reason. These seats are popular. BA has recognised this and is attempting to draw some revenue from it (like some other airlines)
You don't have to pay to choose your seat. Don't forget that you can, as now, still choose your seat for free on-line 24 hours in advance or at the airport. The current figures indicate that on longhaul less than 50% of passengers check in on-line. So you are still likely to be able to get a group of seats, especially if checking in on-line at departure -24 hours
The worst part of this change is that once again BA's woeful demonstration of their PR skills
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The worst part of this change is that once again BA's woeful demonstration of their PR skills 
This is a PR disaster. The screaming headline on the front page of Friday's Evening Standard in London was "£160 to choose your seat on BA". It may have been highly selective reporting of the facts (it was based upon the additional total cost faced by a family of four heading off to Florida for their hard-earned summer holiday) but the figure will stick in people's minds - and millions will have seen the headlines even if they did not buy the paper.
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Having read the thread I can say I agree that this is indeed a retrograde step. But they have no choice. They have had to lower fares to fill the cabins and hence slash costs and make up lost revenue in other ways.
1990s BA if it was still here today would be bust in months as their costs would be too high. The bottom line is that not enough people would be willing to pay for them. A sad truth.
1990s BA if it was still here today would be bust in months as their costs would be too high. The bottom line is that not enough people would be willing to pay for them. A sad truth.
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They have had to lower fares to fill the cabins and hence slash costs and compete revenue in other ways.
Lowering fares to fill cabins is not the way forward. What they need to do is offer more, not less, to retain and improve business in premium cabins and high yield fares. Sometimes the bean counters lose sight of common sense. Lowering fares to fill cabins is the beginning of a slippery slope.
It works for Ryanair, but they started out as low-cost no frills, and remarkable as it may seem to some us, millions of people every year are prepared to accept abysmal service in exchange for low fares.
Trying to go from a full service carrier to a low cost is a different approach and unsustainable. They will simply lose business to the low cost carriers, who haven't alienated existing customers. It will be interesting to see where this ends.
Why don't they go the whole hog and charge extra for window and isle seats too? That'll surely drum up a bit more cash.
Personally, I'm quite looking forward to offloading my fidgety, ipod wearing, constantly going to the loo kids, and nagging wife!!
Personally, I'm quite looking forward to offloading my fidgety, ipod wearing, constantly going to the loo kids, and nagging wife!!
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I would also like an isle seat!!
Jokes aside, I think all the "legacy" carriers face a problem. Their business class passengers want service and are prepared to pay for it (or rather it is being paid for by their company). Their economy class passengers want the cheapest way of getting from A to B reliably as they are paying for their own seats.
The low cost model is fine for short haul, but does not work so well for medium/long haul. On a 10hr+ flight you need to serve food & drinks and provide entertainment.
Emirates allow seating at time of purchase and they allow priority boarding for families with children!
I know this a bit of thread drift, but I've been wondering about the interest on my money when I book 6 months in advance???
Jokes aside, I think all the "legacy" carriers face a problem. Their business class passengers want service and are prepared to pay for it (or rather it is being paid for by their company). Their economy class passengers want the cheapest way of getting from A to B reliably as they are paying for their own seats.
The low cost model is fine for short haul, but does not work so well for medium/long haul. On a 10hr+ flight you need to serve food & drinks and provide entertainment.
Emirates allow seating at time of purchase and they allow priority boarding for families with children!
I know this a bit of thread drift, but I've been wondering about the interest on my money when I book 6 months in advance???
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I personally don't care what they charge for..whether it be tea coffee, fuel, sick bags etc etc.....what matters is the total price and being clear and up front with the prices and charges when you are booking. The current BA web site I think is excellent with clear prices and none of the 'little suprises' that certain other airlines like to spring on you.
I fBA want to charge £`10, £20, whatever to prebook seats, OK, as long as they make it clear while booking. Total price is what matters. Personaly I will pay a bit more to fly with an airline like BA as opposed to certain other LCC. I agree BA is slowely getting more like a full LCC but it still is better and for me can charge more. As they say you have a choice.
Having seen the level of (non) service from MOL's airline and Easyjet during periods of disruption, and how they treated the pax, compared to my experiences of BA in similiar situations, I am prepared to pay the extra for BA. Fair enough others are not...thats your choice. However if BA can't make their business work at those prices they have to change something to survive. If not enough pax are prepared to pay extra for BA in its current form, then as a business they hgave to adapt.
I fBA want to charge £`10, £20, whatever to prebook seats, OK, as long as they make it clear while booking. Total price is what matters. Personaly I will pay a bit more to fly with an airline like BA as opposed to certain other LCC. I agree BA is slowely getting more like a full LCC but it still is better and for me can charge more. As they say you have a choice.
Having seen the level of (non) service from MOL's airline and Easyjet during periods of disruption, and how they treated the pax, compared to my experiences of BA in similiar situations, I am prepared to pay the extra for BA. Fair enough others are not...thats your choice. However if BA can't make their business work at those prices they have to change something to survive. If not enough pax are prepared to pay extra for BA in its current form, then as a business they hgave to adapt.
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I personally think the new charge is the way to go. A lot of seating issues can be delt with before departure, more revenue can be made and customers will have more choice. There is a bigger picture which the media and customers currently cannot see but the benefits will be seen by all by the end of October. I hope more airlines follow this great lead by BA.
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Yes - and that's one of the problems! On a recent trip LHR~JNB, I was taking a daylight that departed at 08:50. Since the previous day was a day off - I had to wake up extra early, just to log on to get the seat that I wanted - then I tried to go back to sleep.
I'm just a regular customer of BA, not Silver or Gold and never will be but having to wake up at a funny hour to try and be first in with seat selection? Stupid.
Paying for it? REALLY stupid. But BA is simply doing what most British companies (and Governments do) which is to slay themselves with a thousand cuts. I always say I won't guess when BA will become a takeover target but they must congratulate themselves on bringing it one step closer.
That said it doesn't really matter because, in another 20 years, most long haul carriers will operate this way. The number of 'legacy' carriers will be minimal and belong to the super-carriers called One World, Star Alliance etc. It's just the transition from the 'good old days' to the new ones that is uncomfortable for us. The next generation of pax will have grown up with this way of doing things and think nothing of it - just as they think nothing of vinyl to iPod and rotary dial phone in the hall and a few ounces of digital cleverness in their shirt pocket.
I don't like this change - but BA just might be in the forefront of this change. Other carriers will be glad that:
1) BA are taking the lead and will lose a few pax
2) BA are taking the heat and they can follow suit in a couple of years
Don't forget that you can, as now, still choose your seat for free on-line 24 hours in advance or at the airport.
I'm just a regular customer of BA, not Silver or Gold and never will be but having to wake up at a funny hour to try and be first in with seat selection? Stupid.
Paying for it? REALLY stupid. But BA is simply doing what most British companies (and Governments do) which is to slay themselves with a thousand cuts. I always say I won't guess when BA will become a takeover target but they must congratulate themselves on bringing it one step closer.
That said it doesn't really matter because, in another 20 years, most long haul carriers will operate this way. The number of 'legacy' carriers will be minimal and belong to the super-carriers called One World, Star Alliance etc. It's just the transition from the 'good old days' to the new ones that is uncomfortable for us. The next generation of pax will have grown up with this way of doing things and think nothing of it - just as they think nothing of vinyl to iPod and rotary dial phone in the hall and a few ounces of digital cleverness in their shirt pocket.
I don't like this change - but BA just might be in the forefront of this change. Other carriers will be glad that:
1) BA are taking the lead and will lose a few pax
2) BA are taking the heat and they can follow suit in a couple of years
The big issue with charges like this is clarity of cost. I imagine that despite there being a no cost option, most passengers will actually pay the extra to choose their seat. As this type of "extra" charge increases, it becomes harder and harder to compare prices and to realise what you are actually payung, but keeping "headline" prices down.
I don't fly RyanAir, so I may be wrong, but a friend who flies with them often, told me that with them you have to pay to check in - however you do it. There is a smallish charge to check in on-line, or a bigger charge if you do so at the airport. When it gets like that, it is just silly, as there is no zero cost default option.
BA are usually my preferred choice, but despite my jokes in the post above, it is important for my family and me to be together, I feel that I am almost forced to pay the extra charges with BA to ensure that (as others have said, you can't shift other pax around to accomodate a group if the others have paid for their specific seat). My gut feeling is that BA will no longer be my preferred carrier as the cost will be so much more.
I don't fly RyanAir, so I may be wrong, but a friend who flies with them often, told me that with them you have to pay to check in - however you do it. There is a smallish charge to check in on-line, or a bigger charge if you do so at the airport. When it gets like that, it is just silly, as there is no zero cost default option.
BA are usually my preferred choice, but despite my jokes in the post above, it is important for my family and me to be together, I feel that I am almost forced to pay the extra charges with BA to ensure that (as others have said, you can't shift other pax around to accomodate a group if the others have paid for their specific seat). My gut feeling is that BA will no longer be my preferred carrier as the cost will be so much more.
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On a recent trip LHR~JNB, I was taking a daylight that departed at 08:50. Since the previous day was a day off - I had to wake up extra early, just to log on to get the seat that I wanted - then I tried to go back to sleep.
But this is the way it has always been. At least now you will have the option of paying £20 (or £40) at the time of booking to allow you to sleep until midday the day before you fly.
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Right now BA are cheapening the product without as of yet making substantive savings in their own business. You cant be a high cost business claiming to offer a top of the range service whilst providing a low cost product. Very confused company and I suspect in the end game of its current life.
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I already have my flight booked Club (airmiles) with BA to Denver. So for me and her, I've got to stump up another £240 to get the seats I want.
But the really depressing thing is that despite the 4 pages of sensible comment here, absolutely nothing is going to change BA mind.
GF
But the really depressing thing is that despite the 4 pages of sensible comment here, absolutely nothing is going to change BA mind.
GF
To look at this from a different viewpoint. Is BA not just admitting that the majority of seats are woefully inadequate for modern long/medium haul travel and instead of taking the initiative and 'removing' several rows of seats to increase seating pitch and legroom and capitalising on selling a 'better quality service' they are actually forcing people to pay extra for an adequate seat. I wonder if they have analysed removing seats, increasing legroom and adjusting the fare accordingly. It would be interesting to see just what the change in fare would be to give everyone another 2 inches of legroom
I and my family fly long haul between the UK and Asia several times a year. The last but one time was with Virgin and they had already adopted this policy. The flight was awful with the kind of low-cost service you would expect from a money grabbing operation which uses such a tactic. They are now pernamently off my fly list and it looks BA will have to join them. I simply refuse to fly with an airline who charges like an eraged bull to start with and then who comes out with this cr@p.
They were usually close to last choice anyway. But now they are no choice. For service you generally can't beat Asian airlines.
They were usually close to last choice anyway. But now they are no choice. For service you generally can't beat Asian airlines.
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GF, as I understand it, the new charge is only applicable to bookings made after the 7th October. If you've booked already, you'll have to wait for -24hr to get your seat. But you've saved the £240!
D
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American tried removing economy seats to create extra legroom but abandoned it later.
I assume the extra revenue (if any) from passengers attracted by the "extra legroom" offer just didn't cover the lost revenue from having fewer seats to sell.
BA (and its predecessor, BOAC) has a history of cramming in extra seats. The 747-136s started with nine-abreast seating. Who remembers the row when emergency exit doors on these aircraft were removed to make way for extra seats?
Wasn't there also a problem with some 777 seats not reclining because the space simply wasn't there?
To be fair to BA, they're obviously not alone in trying to maximise seat capacity.
Sorry for the thread drift, but to come back to the original issue. I remember when there was a good chance of getting my favourite place in the sky, seat 62K, as I usually booked well in advance and could select my seat when booking.
Then it changed to 24 hours in advance.
Now, with payment to select seats in advance of this I reckon my chance of getting this seat will be reduced even further.
And are they calling this an enhancement?
I assume the extra revenue (if any) from passengers attracted by the "extra legroom" offer just didn't cover the lost revenue from having fewer seats to sell.
BA (and its predecessor, BOAC) has a history of cramming in extra seats. The 747-136s started with nine-abreast seating. Who remembers the row when emergency exit doors on these aircraft were removed to make way for extra seats?
Wasn't there also a problem with some 777 seats not reclining because the space simply wasn't there?
To be fair to BA, they're obviously not alone in trying to maximise seat capacity.
Sorry for the thread drift, but to come back to the original issue. I remember when there was a good chance of getting my favourite place in the sky, seat 62K, as I usually booked well in advance and could select my seat when booking.
Then it changed to 24 hours in advance.
Now, with payment to select seats in advance of this I reckon my chance of getting this seat will be reduced even further.
And are they calling this an enhancement?
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I had a nice email from BA only a day after all of this came out saying rest assured our premium passengers are important to us, and its free to choose your seat at time of booking.
The phrase I am thinking of is shutting the door after the horse has bolted.
I just wish they would clearly communicate, are they are premium carrier and hence want me to continue paying premium fares for a premium service, or are they going low cost? I think the people at BA want to have their cake and eat it quite frankly.
The phrase I am thinking of is shutting the door after the horse has bolted.
I just wish they would clearly communicate, are they are premium carrier and hence want me to continue paying premium fares for a premium service, or are they going low cost? I think the people at BA want to have their cake and eat it quite frankly.