Urgent help needed - ballsed up an upgrade.

[FFSWhatToDoNow]

Currently abroad with 12 YO DD who has recently been diagnosed with ADHD. Flight over was more stressful than it needed to be for several reasons so when BA offered me an upgrade on the way back tomorrow I took it. Unfortunately at check in it transpired the seats weren’t together. Live chat couldn’t help as there aren’t 2 seats available together in business class. Can’t undo the upgrade. DD is already freaking out about sitting next to a stranger and being 3 rows away from me.

Live chat suggested speaking to check in staff at the airport but what could they do? Anyone able to advise?

Are you flying from a tourist airport? If not, you’ll probably find lots of travellers will be solo in business so between you and your DD’s seats, it’s likely someone wouldn’t swapping with one of you anyway!

Wouldn’t mind**

Is it short haul Europe or long haul? Makes a difference due to cabin layout

If it's short haul then each row only has two seats anyway (they block the middle seat off) meaning the other travellers are solo flyers. Doesn't mean they are going to be happy to swap their window seats for aisle seats or vice versa.

Milan Linate.

Not sure how enjoyable the window seat will be if DD has a panic attack. 😬

You wilL mostly likely find it’s mainly single business people who won’t really care where they sit and almost certainly won’t want to sit near a panicking child. Speak to cabin staff on boarding and they will most likely help asking someone to swap.

I'm sure if you offer to swap your two business class seats for a pair of seats next to one another in economy, people will be delighted.

Agree either people in business class will switch about a bit or worst case if they offered x2 single seats in business for x2 together in economy, I'm sure somebody will take them! It'll be fine.

Someone will be happy to swap - the cabin crew may say you have to sit in the right seats for take-off

Good luck.

That’s very much plan B.

Thanks for being so understanding. This feels like such an insignificant thing compared to what others are dealing with but I really don’t want this trip to end in disaster.

Have to spoken to special assistance rather than the general helpline?

Arrive at the airport early, ask at check in... they can move people around and issue new boarding cards for tnem to be given out before boarding.. the people affected will be called forward at check in.

Just to add that BA cabin crew apparently aren't allowed to ask passengers to swap seats. We'd booked and checked in online for our four business class seats (short haul).

Got to the airport and discovered they'd moved my family of four to the middle (usually unused in business) seats spread round the cabin. Particularly irritating as BA Assistance had booked me an aisle seat for medical reasons.

BA airport staff kept telling me that cabin crew would move us when we were on the plane - got on the plane and they said they weren't allowed to ask other passengers. Apparently it should have been done at check in or the gate (they'd refused despite me repeatedly asking at check in).

There's nothing to stop you asking on the plane although I'd say it's usually more families than solo business travellers in school holidays.

I had enough trouble using live chat.

Actually special assistance are good. You contact via an online form on the website. They take a day or two to respond though.

It doesn't necessarily mean they're solo travellers. Quite a few couples seem to like booking both aisle seats on a row.

The seats we have are aisle seats. Assume single travellers in the window seats.

There is one other row with an aisle seat free. So 3 possible people to ask to swap.

Absolutely no issues. The lady at check in just moved us to the row behind. DD in the window, me in the aisle.

Happy days. 🥂

Perfect! Enjoy! Have a glass of that awful BA warm champagne (at least it's free) to celebrate!

Hurrah!

Perfect, enjoy the flight!