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Original poster

BA flight. Paying for seats

41 replies

namechanged85789 · 12/02/2020 12:26

Hi, just wondering if anyone knows what the chances are of me and my husband being seated together when we go on holiday. I always pay to choose our seats when we travel as a family, but it's just us two going this time and it's over £130 to choose seats one way

OP posts:

MediocreOmens · 12/02/2020 12:29

We’ve always checked in for BA flights as soon as check in opens (think it’s 24 hours before flight) and never had a problem sitting together. BA seems to automatically allocate you seats together unlike some airlines, I am looking at you Ryanair.

notimagain · 12/02/2020 12:33

No way of knowing the odds..I suspect you'll probably be OK and you'll find adjacent seats somewhere in your chosen cabin if you go online as soon as the window for free seat selection opens but there's no guarantees.

Mumdiva99 · 12/02/2020 12:34

I would save the £260 and risk it. For kids I would absolutely pay - but for me and OH - it doesn't really matter if you aren't sat together (and actually might be a more peaceful flight on my own..... LOL).

BIWI · 12/02/2020 12:36

It's not just about getting seats together though. Paying for your seat also means you can choose your seat location. Important if you don't want to be at the back, or by the toilets, or stuck in the middle of the middle row, or you want two aisle seats (as DH and I prefer)

It's a real pain that BA are now charging for seat reservation, but they're doing this to keep their advertised fares lower.

oldfashionedtastingtea · 12/02/2020 12:38

Where to? If it's Australia I'd pay but if it's a flight of 6 hours or less would you really mind if you were alone?

whitesoxx · 12/02/2020 12:38

Depends on the length of the flight really. £260 is a lot!

youngestisapsycho · 12/02/2020 12:39

I usually fly BA and we've always been seated together.. save your money and check in as soon as it opens online.

KoalasandRabbit · 12/02/2020 12:40

As long as you log-in immediately it opens you should be fine. We pre booked with kids and might have been split if not as kids are older but 2s together were available. If you want a specific seat better to book.

MediocreOmens · 12/02/2020 12:43

Also you can move your seats for free at check in to any other available seats (within the same class obviously). I flew BA 6 times last year (3 return flights) and on each flight me and DH were allocated seats together at check in and I was able to move these no problem.

mynamechangemyrules · 12/02/2020 12:54

BA Longhaul? I've travelled BA/ Qantas/ SQ/ KLM/ Emirates longhaul twice a year for 16 years and never ever paid for seating assignments Always sat next to whoever I've booked with.
I'm amazed that I didn't even know this was a thing!! I'm going to ask all my colleagues (same flight use) about this tomorrow as I've never heard anyone mention it!! 🤣

Bert2020 · 12/02/2020 12:55

Depends on cabin and how busy the flight is. We always do. Flying back from Barbados in CW and a lady had a massive hissy fit because she and her husband were not together, no one would move as either families, couples etc who like us had paid.

BIWI · 12/02/2020 13:40

Yep. It's a fairly recent thing. When we went to Australia back in April, there was a couple on the way to their wedding who hadn't realised they would need to do this, and who weren't seated together. Being the kind and noble soul that I am () I gave up my seat for the bride, despite having paid for mine!

timeforawine · 12/02/2020 13:54

We checked in online as soon as it opened a few years ago for our honeymoon and had been separated by a few rows. In the end after speaking to gate staff did manage to sit together ish, across an aisle.
I now pay, though BA are expensive for seats, flying with them in May and had to pay it to ensure myself, husband and 3yr old are all together.

timeforawine · 12/02/2020 13:57

£130 each way sounds a lot, ours was £186 for 3 seats both ways (still not cheap!)

0DimSumMum0 · 12/02/2020 14:12

We travel long haul as a family of 4 a few times a year and have always had seats together. We have never paid, You will be fine.

BIWI · 12/02/2020 14:16

The price of the seats also varies - more 'desirable' ones are more expensive!

lovelyupnorth · 12/02/2020 14:18

I’ve never paid for selecting seats, never will except for the last two RyanAir flights we’ve always been seating together. On Ryan both times got emergency exits.

All the main carriers I’ve flown recently we’ve been seated together on Air France you could also select your seats once check in was open

Main tip is too check in as soon as it’s open.

MzHz · 12/02/2020 14:19

If you’re in exec club you can select seats for free 48 hours before flight.

It’s not very publicised because obviously they want people to pay but you can definitely do it and if there’s only 2 of you and you’re not fussed where you sit as long as you’re together you’ll find seats without any issue at all!

BIWI · 12/02/2020 14:31

If it matters to where you sit, as well as being seated with your partner - you really do need to look into paying for your seats! Even if you're in Executive Club, a lot of the seats will already have gone by the time you get your 48 hour chance to select your seat!

smashstore · 12/02/2020 14:35

Context is everything here.

Long haul flight in first class costing £10k - yes pay the £130.

Short haul £50 ticket - absolutely not.

If you NEED to sit together, pay. If it doesn't matter, don't pay.

youngestisapsycho · 12/02/2020 14:58

I've flown to NZ four time, with four different airlines...
Cathay, Air NZ, Singapore and Qantas.
Have never had to pay for seats, and also could pick seats from day of booking... I use to log in regularly and move our seats about
I think its a BA thing?!

Original poster

namechanged85789 · 12/02/2020 15:50

Thanks everyone, quite a lot of different opinions and experiences.
Its a 9 hour flight and I'm not a good flier so ideally would like to sit with my husband, although I'm not that bothered where we actually sit, he does prefer an aisle seat though.

OP posts:

lightyearsahead · 12/02/2020 15:54

We had premium economy seats and were not seated together but on the way out I got a great seat and we both did on the way back but opposite each other, I got front extra leg window and he go the other window other side of the cabin. It was a 9 hour flight but we were quite happy not to sit next to each other.

LolaLollypop · 12/02/2020 15:56

I'm sure BA long haul allows you to check in 30 days before your flight, so do this as soon as check in opens.

I wouldn't waste £130 to book allocated seating.

If you are a nervous flyer speak to the air stewards, they will definitely be able to help you sit together.

Rugbycomet · 12/02/2020 16:01

I’m a frequent flyer on BA and if you’re on the same booking you will definitely be seated together. You will be allocated seats 24 hours before the flight. You can then check in and change the seats should you wish to seats/ area of cabin you prefer.

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