BA cost of pre assigned seats in WTP
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BA cost of pre assigned seats in WTP
I was just amazed at the cost of pre booking seats in BA WTP from LHR JNB LHR . Having no FF status with BA , the cost for me and my better half was 35 GPB per sector per person . I know I have the choice of leaving this till OLC , I just found this charge a tad excessive , when I am booking WTP .
I looked at AF for this trip , no seat charges and also at VS - who are having problems assigning PE seats . Maybe I will just have decide the value of seats together , in advance , with the cost - or waiting till OLC .
So do you think that the fee is justified in in travelling with BA in WTP ?
I looked at AF for this trip , no seat charges and also at VS - who are having problems assigning PE seats . Maybe I will just have decide the value of seats together , in advance , with the cost - or waiting till OLC .
So do you think that the fee is justified in in travelling with BA in WTP ?
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The right price, for an airline, is the price that the punters are prepared to pay. If they are selling at this level, to them the price is not too expensive.
They know what their competitors are selling for and this is factored in as well. VS having problems assigning PE seats, that's a factor. Do you really want to fly via CDG? That's a factor as well.
Some will say that this, and all the other 'ridiculous' extra charges, should be included in the price. Others, me included, love this unbundling as it allows me to pick and choose what I need.
So yes, to some, the price is justified, to others it is not. In reality it's the total price that is important.
They know what their competitors are selling for and this is factored in as well. VS having problems assigning PE seats, that's a factor. Do you really want to fly via CDG? That's a factor as well.
Some will say that this, and all the other 'ridiculous' extra charges, should be included in the price. Others, me included, love this unbundling as it allows me to pick and choose what I need.
So yes, to some, the price is justified, to others it is not. In reality it's the total price that is important.
Last edited by ExXB; 8th Jul 2012 at 09:11. Reason: typo ... how ridiculous
£65 each way in Club to the US on BA. Fortunately, with a Gold Card, it's free.
Trouble is, BA appear to want to go to an LCC charging mode for a classical airline type service.
Seems they want to treat the crews as well as the passengers to LCC conditions, too.....
Trouble is, BA appear to want to go to an LCC charging mode for a classical airline type service.
Seems they want to treat the crews as well as the passengers to LCC conditions, too.....
Paxing All Over The World
I agree radeng, BA have been trying to have it both ways. The usual outcome of such action is to fall between two stools. i.e. left with nothing because you can't provide the top end and the bottom end gets eaten away. One example, I suggest, would be British Midland.
Whilst their C + F might be holding up - they have to gamble that the recession will not get deeper, or last for another 5+ years ... not a bet I would take.
I know that I am a Cassandra on many things but I didn't start out that way, it's 55 years of life that has taught me!
Whilst their C + F might be holding up - they have to gamble that the recession will not get deeper, or last for another 5+ years ... not a bet I would take.
I know that I am a Cassandra on many things but I didn't start out that way, it's 55 years of life that has taught me!
Last edited by PAXboy; 9th Jul 2012 at 00:45.
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BA started charging for seat allocation around 3 years ago I think. First is the only class that doesn't pay, but I stand to be corrected, as I only use CW and CE.
It seems less the cost of the seat reservation for the infrequent flyer than a perk they want to provide their Gold and Silver status pax--because status pax can choose ahead of OLCI without paying the fee.
The first time I paid $3000 for a Club World seat as an upgrade, then had to pony up for the $90 seat reservation fee for each leg, it was a bit of a shock. But after doing this now for on or about 3 years it's become the norm--for better or worse.
What this has done is for the moderately frequent traveller without status--who now knows that if your route is popular and you don't want to get stuck with the worst seat on the plane in your cabin at OLCI--you pay the fee and move on.
This pay-in-advance policy and the many who opt for it, has made FAR fewer seats available at OLCI for those who won't pay the fee--because the regular travellers know on their very busy routes not to wait for 24 hour pot luck.
Then again, many travellers don't care and just take their chances at OLCI and do fine most of the time if their routes are not jammed with full cabins.
But just one trip where I did not pay and was consigned to travelling in the worst seat nearest the loo and noise of the galley and I was convinced of shelling out the extra $90 and it seemed well worth the price.
And it's $120 to reserve a seat on the upper deck.
It seems less the cost of the seat reservation for the infrequent flyer than a perk they want to provide their Gold and Silver status pax--because status pax can choose ahead of OLCI without paying the fee.
The first time I paid $3000 for a Club World seat as an upgrade, then had to pony up for the $90 seat reservation fee for each leg, it was a bit of a shock. But after doing this now for on or about 3 years it's become the norm--for better or worse.
What this has done is for the moderately frequent traveller without status--who now knows that if your route is popular and you don't want to get stuck with the worst seat on the plane in your cabin at OLCI--you pay the fee and move on.
This pay-in-advance policy and the many who opt for it, has made FAR fewer seats available at OLCI for those who won't pay the fee--because the regular travellers know on their very busy routes not to wait for 24 hour pot luck.
Then again, many travellers don't care and just take their chances at OLCI and do fine most of the time if their routes are not jammed with full cabins.
But just one trip where I did not pay and was consigned to travelling in the worst seat nearest the loo and noise of the galley and I was convinced of shelling out the extra $90 and it seemed well worth the price.
And it's $120 to reserve a seat on the upper deck.
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If you use OLCI on time it should never be an issue so long as you are not super, duper picky. If you have a seat you really want then perhaps pay up or fly with the other guy.
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baggersup says:
The 3 years ago sounds about correct, but before that it was not possible to select your seat before checkin at all. So now, if you pay a little, you get something extra.
If you pay a lot, and go for a fully flexible fare in any cabin, then you can select your seat when you book for no extra charge. It's all explained if you dig down a bit on BA.COM.
BA started charging for seat allocation around 3 years ago I think. First is the only class that doesn't pay, but I stand to be corrected, as I only use CW and CE.
The 3 years ago sounds about correct, but before that it was not possible to select your seat before checkin at all. So now, if you pay a little, you get something extra.
If you pay a lot, and go for a fully flexible fare in any cabin, then you can select your seat when you book for no extra charge. It's all explained if you dig down a bit on BA.COM.
