To be annoyed with British Airways and think they are really taking the puss now?

[hooliodancer]

I am flying for work tomorrow, the client has booked and paid for the flights.

When I went to check in online today I was shocked to see you now have to pay to change the seat they have allocated, £18 per flight!

I thought this only happened on budget airlines, so you can either have a basic experience or pay for add ons, thus keeping the cost down. But BA is not a budget airline, so I don't understand this. The software to change the seat on the website is the same as it was when it was free to change seats. The flights are no cheaper.

I assume I will have to pay the same on the return leg as well. So that's 36 quid I will have to pay out, when I don't particularly even want to go, it's just a work thing which I have to do.

I was allocated a middle seat- I hate flying, especially alone, and feel much less claustrophobic in a window seat.

AIBU to think they are really taking the piss now?

I always feel that I am out of pocket when I travel for work anyway. You have no option but to pay for water, coffee etc because you can't take your own from home. In an expensive country you can end up spending £10 at the airport with no choice in the matter. Unless you go thirsty. It really gets my goat.

They are obviously cheapskates and have booked you on the new hand baggage only fares. I looked at some recently and it flashed up a warning that as well as no baggage you wont be able to select seats even with ba status. I booked the with bag seats for around a tenner more in each direction, more because I will be travelling with kids and want to select seats than because we all needed bags.

If it is somewhere you fly frequently then tell whoever is booking that you need to check in luggage so they book the proper ticket.

I thought it was quite good they were offering the competitive hbo fares though, these flights were cheaper than budget airline in the sale, and at least they give you a drink and snack too. And don't charge for the loo not sure that is actually true on Ryanair now