to be upset with BA

[cedartree12]

I am flying to the UK to visit family with 8 month old DS. Due to horrendous travel sickness, I cannot fly alone with DS so DH is going to travel one way with us, and DSis the other. I paid online for mine and DHs flights to be on hold for 72 hours (2 separate bookings as we were flying home on different dates) as needed to wait until DSis booked hers. Went to confirm and pay for the flights and I kept getting a message saying that there was an 'error obtaining price quote'. After an hour and a half of repeated trying, I called the BA call centre in the country I live in. After being on hold for 25 minutes (5 mins, 10 mins, 10 mins - kept getting cut off) I was told that the reason I was getting the error message was that I entered DS's name wrong. They said that to confirm the flights, I had to go to their office and pay. Their office is several hours drive away. I said that I didn't understand how an error with my booking would affect DH's booking. They hung up. I rang back, and was on hold until their office shut for the weekend. I have now had to book new flights. With the price increase over 3 days, and the holding fee lost, it has cost me an extra $462. I am really upset at how rude and unhelpful the lady on the phone was. I am also dreading having to call back on Monday - I want DH to sit next to us on the flight and despite showing on my seat map that the seat is free, it doesn't show it on his. Should I be writing to BA to complain about their customer service or am I overreacting? (DS has been a nightmare over the last couple of days so I may be overemotional!) Any tips on how to get DH (and DSis on the return flight) a seat next to me?

BA are absolutely vile. It's impossible to get through to their call centre and when you finally do, they lie. I recently had a flight cancelled and when I tried to rebook, they offered me business one way and economy back, when I had paid a full business fare. When I finally spoke to someone they just said "well you chose to rebook, get over it" but they wouldn't give a refund so was I just supposed to let the thousands go and use a different airline. I demanded they retrieve the call recording and then, via Twitter, they moved me to business class on Qatar Airways at no extra charge, an airline who don't look down their nose at their customers.

They have a way of making you want to cry don't they? Just so fucking mean and shruggy. Bastards!

Thanks for the heads up. I rarely travel but am planning to do so in the forthcoming months/years as DD is now old enough to behave while travelling! Any tips on which companies to avoid are most welcome! Sounds dire and the last thing you need OP

You can try to get them to "link" the three bookings. But it doesn't always work.
But then neither does booking DH the seat next to you, even if it was available, because some airlines take it upon themselves to shuffle bookings - and single male travellers seem prime candidates to be relocated away from the woman and three kids sat next to them!

Are your seats confirmed? Or can you move yours to where DH can book??

Thanks for the responses. JJS - yes! I have booked a seat with a baby cot (I can move but then won't have the baby cot. It's a 9 hour flight so a long time to have DS on our lap). I'm wondering whether I should book DH into the seat behind me, then switch once we get on the plane if he is looking after DS. I will talk to them about linking the bookings.

JJS that's shocking! It's so sad because BA used to be such a great airline.

Ah, that will be the issue - they won't release the bulk head seats to a single traveller- only those with infants. You may get lucky at checkin, and be able to switch him - but only if there arent more babies with one parent using the seat.
Book him in as close as you can, and switch about during the flight - and ask at check in if there is availability.

Saddest part is the cabin crew are so lovely. I feel.sorry for them. Whereas Qatar Airways and Emirates have the best customer service and surly crew. Except Qatar first where they can cook you anything you fancy!

I've had consistently bad service from BA. We just don't fly with them any more (and we fly a lot).

As a PP said, it's their lying that really pissed me off. Other stuff I can understand and forgive but they blatantly lie.

Update. I called the BA UK Executive Club line. I spoke to an incredibly helpful man. He said that he has linked our bookings and that we would be sat together. As balloon said, they won't release those bulkhead seats to the general online booking service. Hopefully it all works out!