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I’m due to fly to the US in First in a couple of weeks. We were originally on an unrefurbed 777-300, and the plane has just been switched for a 787-10. I just got an email saying that my seat allocations had changed. Logging in, my seat selection is now showing as blank, and there are actually no seats for me to pick… Capacity has just dropped from 14F to 8F, and it looks like I’m now confined to seating limbo…
I spoke to YouFirst earlier, who weren’t especially reassuring. It sounded like there’s the potential for there to be no room on the flight, and that I’ll ultimately get downgraded at check-in. I would prefer to switch to an alternative flight that I can see *does* have two First seats available, but they won’t do that for me – I’m travelling on Avios, and they are maintaining that I still have a valid booking, and there is no alternative reward availability for me to change to (even paying the change fee). Basically, they are telling me that this will probably get sorted at some point in my favour. I’m not so confident.
Does anyone know how likely/unlikely it is that seats will magically become free in the days before departure? I assume at least one person in the cabin has a flexible ticket that they might cancel or change – but realistically, how likely is that…?
There’s no definitive answer to this. Clearly, with the cabin size almost halving and all of the seats having been selected (including blocked ones) you are at risk, but a lot can change in two weeks, albeit there is no pattern. It’s just possible the aircraft could revert to the 777. Unfortunately, BA has no obligation to do anything to assist you at this point, so unless F availability crops up on another flight, it’s a question of waiting. One would hope that if you were downgraded, it would only be to Club where the capacity situation shouldn’t have changed with this aircraft swap.
You might be screwed. You might be ok. Unfortunately, nobody can tell you either way until you check in. It sucks, I’m sure – you expect better booking first.
Onky thing you can do is check in the very second check in opens and cross your fingers.
If you don’t get first, there is a good level of downgrade compensation…
To be specific you’d be entitled to a reimbursement of 75% of what you paid for that leg of your ticket if downgraded (APD tax of about £200 plus a few very small airport charge type amounts are taken off before the 75% back you’re due is calculated. ) The airline has no dispenation from paying you this if you’re downgraded and you claim.
Unfortunately a downgrade or threat of does not legally give you the right to refuse to fly that flight. If you care, ask around the 72 hours ahead point if they’d rebook you to avoid being downgraded if it still looks likely. You can mention you’ve been told 75% reimbursement can be claimed if downgraded but you really just want to fly First and would they be prepared to help keep you in First by moving you to a different flight. They don’t have to but they might without any charge.
Thank you everyone – looks like I should just sit tight for the moment…
To be specific you’d be entitled to a reimbursement of 75% of what you paid for that leg of your ticket if downgraded (APD tax of about £200 plus a few very small airport charge type amounts are taken off before the 75% back you’re due is calculated. ) The airline has no dispenation from paying you this if you’re downgraded and you claim.
Useful – thank you. How do they calculate the compensation if the ticket involves an avios element as well as the taxes/fees?
It’s not compensation. It’s reimbursement as per the wording of the regulation.
The same % applies to whatever method you paid the fare with – whether cash, avios, packets of wine gums, the souls of your children.
But would you want to be reimbursed with 75% of your children’s souls?
Which route is it (and date if you want someone to check on Expertflyer)
I’m a little surprised they’ve still been selling 14F 777-300ER as there is just one still in service which goes off for refurb any time now. The only 14F birds left are 3 x -200 which get scheduled on a small selection of (mainly non US) routes
Otherwise others are correct – nothing much you can do in advance but you’ll be reimbursed 75% of Avios & cash paid if you do fly in CW
It’s possible someone from BA will call you prior and at that point you may be able to move to another flight with space in F
You could also keep an eye for 2 x Avios F seats on an alternative flight- bit of an ask but never say never !
The above comments:-“Unfortunately, BA has no obligation to do anything to assist you at this point” and “Unfortunately a downgrade or threat of does not legally give you the right to refuse to fly that flight” sums up the way the airline treats their customers and the current consumer rights. I have to say I would pretty angry if I was in your situation. Why is it so different when you buy an airline ticket to when you buy a product on line. It is what it is! If I could find reward seats elsewhere on a different flight/day I would cancel (take the cancellation charge/hit) and stay in control even if I had to downgrade. Yes you may lose out on compensation but it would take the stress out of it.
I’m a little surprised they’ve still been selling 14F 777-300ER as there is just one still in service which goes off for refurb any time now.
Slightly off topic, but we are now back to 2 x 777-300’s with CW and 14F seats in service. They will be popping up in random places for a while yet.
The above comments:-“Unfortunately, BA has no obligation to do anything to assist you at this point” and “Unfortunately a downgrade or threat of does not legally give you the right to refuse to fly that flight” sums up the way the airline treats their customers and the current consumer rights. I have to say I would pretty angry if I was in your situation. Why is it so different when you buy an airline ticket to when you buy a product on line. It is what it is! If I could find reward seats elsewhere on a different flight/day I would cancel (take the cancellation charge/hit) and stay in control even if I had to downgrade. Yes you may lose out on compensation but it would take the stress out of it.
@Aardvark – you have far greater consumer protections in buying an air ticket in the UK than you do buying goods/services in store or online where they can just offer you a refund and that’s the end of it. I’m not in any way supporting BA here, and I would be livid, but running a network airline is a complex business and aircraft changes are inevitable. I don’t think BA has in any way acted in bad faith or is swapping the aircraft for its own gratification or wants to downgrade people. I don’t think many other airlines would be giving up revenue F seats in these circumstances either.The legislators have also decided that downgrading isn’t such a big deal so the law doesn’t provide for rerouting/rebooking rights on a downgrade but requires an airline to compensate you (yes, I know that for logistical/technical reasons it’s called reimbursement in the rules) for the inconvenience.
The legislators have also decided that downgrading isn’t such a big deal so the law doesn’t provide for rerouting/rebooking rights on a downgrade but requires an airline to compensate you (yes, I know that for logistical/technical reasons it’s called reimbursement in the rules) for the inconvenience.
It is a strange state of affairs – I would feel much more inconvenienced by a downgrade from business on an overnight long haul than by a 3 hour delay, yet my rights are much greater in the latter case.
@Mouse In the scheme of things more people are affected by cancellations and / or delays than downgrades and so when the regulation was written that was the main focus of it – to stop airlines basically dumping passengers with no consequences to themselves.
Some regarded it as a “win” that the limited reimbursement scheme for downgrades was even included in the first place when it would have been simpler not to.
Remember the original regulation doesn’t mention delay compensation at all. It was included via a court ruling.
It would take a case all the way to the ECJ (or UK Supreme Court for the UK version) to have the downgrade provisions extended to include mandatory rebooking and duty of care elements.
A downgrade to CS isn’t so bad (the lines are becoming blurred with the F product), though I would also be miffed. Keep checking back with YouFirst – we had to make changes due to a swap-out recently, and they were happy to change flights and even return departure airport, as their loading meant they could sell our original return seats for a lot more.
Surprised they can’t find you an alternate flight in F, but I’m sure if they can they will. YouFirst have some magic dust I think.
@lhar availability in F is still route dependent.
If it was to NYC then there is plenty (relatively) of availability but less so to the west coast.
@lhar availability in F is still route dependent.
If it was to NYC then there is plenty (relatively) of availability but less so to the west coast.
Yes for me they swapped out a 4 class for 3 class from SFO-LHR. YouFirst offered up LAX-LHR which changed our plans but was fine (shame at the time the Qantas lounge was closed due to Covid). My point was as you can contact YouFirst in seconds rather than the usual call queue,it’s worth checking back. If they can do it, they will!
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