Songdoc

I used FF miles to book flights from Prague to LIH (Kauai, Hawaii). We would have gladly used an additional 30,000 miles each to upgrade to business/first class, but it was only available on the Los Angeles to Hawaii leg—not for the 11 hour-and-twenty-minute haul from London to LAX.

Here’s the dilemma and question. It is free to choose seats on the British Airways flights (Prague to Heathrow—and Heathrow to LAX) but only if these are selected within 24 hours of departure. To choose our two seats now, the cost would range from $74 (for standard coach seats) to $182 (for standard coach seat in prime locations). FYI, this is only for the London to L.A. leg. I don’t care where I sit for 2-1/2 hours from Prague to London.

It is an enormous plane, with two levels. When I look at the seating chart, 99% of the seats are available. Only a few of the exit rows have been reserved. I’m trying to decide if it’s worth $182 to guarantee that we’ll sit together and have an aisle seat. I would hate to get stuck in middle seats for more eleven hours. But I would also hate to pay $182 and find there are entire open rows!

I know every flight will be different. But I’m curious if anyone waited until 24 before departure to choose their seats and if so, were the good seats all taken instantly?

KTtravel

I hate all these extra charges! However, on such a long flight I do like to choose where I want to sit and would likely, unhappily, fork over the extra money in advance.

Sometimes all that are left at the last minute are middle seats or the seats right by the rest rooms.

KTtravel

I meant to add, you don't have to pay extra now. You can keep checking the website to see if the seats are filling up and make a decision later.

Dukey1

Remember what seems good to you (aisle) might seem terrible to others.

If these are 747s then that upper level is all ClubWorld seating I suspect

What time of year are these flights? I suspect there are ways to find out how full these segments generally are but my inclination would be to wait somehow. OTOH if it is that important, spend the money.

Dukey1

BTW are you Executive Club members? I am trying to think if that would allow you to choose seating now.

Gardyloo

I'm assuming you're on an A380 between LHR and LAX. When is the trip? Most seasoned BA flyers regard the seat booking fee as a ripoff and there are relatively few complaints about getting socked with awful seats if you pick them at 24h.

Remember the 24h clock is from your departure from Prague, not from London, so you'd be a couple of hours ahead of people who are originating in London. I personally wouldn't worry about it overmuch.

Did you use AA miles for the trip?

Gardyloo

Edited to add, the seat maps you see online are no indication of how full the flight is. Most people don't pre-pay for seats so while they look open, the plane can be quite full, which is why I asked when these flights will take place.

greytop13

For that long a flight, I have to pick my seat and will pay extra for the emergency row or bulkhead. I suspect the you're on an A380. If so, I would choose the upper deck since economy is 2-4-2 seating instead of 3-4-3. That way you're not sardined with a stranger. Check out seatguru.com for pointers though, since the upper emergency rows have some loss of legroom.

Songdoc

Thanks for your responses.

The flights will be Monday, March 19th.

Gardyloo: I do realize that the seating chart only reflects people who have paid the extra amount -- or are otherwise entitled to -- early seat selection.

But if the 24h clock really does begin in Prague then I would feel confident that we wouldn't get the worst seats. Thanks for pointing that out. Of course, many other travelers might be originating somewhere other than London, but not all of them.

Yes, I used AA FF miles for the trip.

Dukey1: Unfortunately, I am not an Executive Club member. I noticed it requires "Bronze" level for free seat selection 7 days in advance.

Songdoc

Yes, it is an A380. I did check Seatguru and the upper level has 2-4-2 seating for the steerage customers, instead of 3-4-3. That is what we would prefer.

Trophywife007

BAEC bronze level = One World Ruby, if that helps you out. If you are sapphire you should be able to choose now. If not, I agree with KTravel about checking from time to time to see how things are filling up. I personally would hate to get stuck in the middle section.

Dukey1

Sorry, should have realized the aircraft is NOT a 747 (which we still get from MIA to LHR but hopefully not too much longer).

Odin

<<I’m curious if anyone waited until 24 before departure to choose their seats and if so, were the good seats all taken instantly?>>
Your seats are allocated automatically by the system beforehand but you only have access to that info 24hours before departure with the option to change them.

Huitres

I have the same situation on my British Airways Christmas flight to London, we have to wait 24 hours prior to get our seats too. I think that is the strangest procedure of any airline I've flown on. I think all coach seats should be free and able to be booked when the flight is paid for, with an additional upgrade-for-cost option available for those that want better seats. I hope that I can get some decent seats in a couple weeks when I do the 24 hour thing! Fingers crossed! :0

historytraveler

I fly first or business class on BA from DEN to LHR and have for years. In first class you can book your seat when you book the ticket. For Business Class or Club World ( same thing ) you can only book seats 24 hours in advance unless you have tier status with Executive membership. I have always been fine with BA seat selection when checking in24 hours in advance. Even on the few occasions of flying with Mr. H. We've had our preferred seats ( aisle for him, window for me) next to each other. Strangely over the years they usually put me in the same seat, my preference for window seat. This year I
'M flying with family ( 4 of us ) and I didn't want to risk not getting seats together so paid some $500 to select seats in Davao e.

historytraveler

Good heavens where did Davao e come from? Should be in advance.

Songdoc

One more question:

If I wait to choose seats until 24h before I depart Prague, will ALL of the available seats still be free? What I would prefer is two seats in the 2-4-2 configuration upstairs. Does anyone know if there would still be an extra charge for those? If so, that will make my decision.

PS. There is no chance that they will randomly assign acceptable seats because DH and I booked the trips separately, using our respective FF miles. They wouldn't seat us together.

Dukey1

What will you do if you do wait and none of the seats upstairs ARE available or the ones which still are do not happen to be ones you'd prefer?

jamikins

I always select my seats 24 hours from departure and have never had an issue, however we just take the regular coach seats, no bulkheads etc. I believe they will put you together - we have never bought 2 tickets together and been split up. And we fly a lot. I just check in exactly 24 hours before my flight and choose my seats.

The one time I have prepaid for seat selection I got to the airport and they had reassigned me because a person with a baby needed the bulkhead. No refund for the seat selection fee. They can also do this if they change the planes.

crellston

I fly BA a reasonably regularly long haul, usually from LHR or LGW and have us7ally managed to get decent seats together by checking in as soon as the online check in opens up. Last year when flying back from Buenos Aires I had a feeling that the flight would be very busy and booked seats a couple of weeks in advance. The choice was abysmal and when I did try to check in online, those seats had magically change to even worse seats at the very back of the plane. When we got to check in we got the "sorry the flight is overbooked" greeting. Just about to kick off when the agent then said "is it ok if we upgrade you" Oh, alright then

90% of the time we have managed to get our preferred seats, which in economy are the upstairs cabin 2-4-4 configuration which are great, small cabin and just the two seats etc. , next best are centre section aisle and adjacent seat. If you are happy with the latter, I wouldn’t pay, if you want the upstairs cabin I would most definite pay.