BA advance seat selection charges

[n1368585]

Hi all,

Booked for Dubai next year – BA reward flights (economy) – 2 adults and 2 children.
As youngest has turned 2 we lose the automatic free seat selection for all (the only perk of bringing an infant on holiday).

The cheapest economy seat available to prebook is £37!

As our stars/end destination is NCL we have a total of 4 separate flights.

How can they be this expensive this far in advance, I don’t get it. We’re flying next April.
It’s literally the cost of another ticket when you add them up!

[yonasl]

My sister recently flew to the US with AA back with BA.

AA seat selection $8 … (just to pick a seat at the back by the window which she wanted so that was a good price).

BA seat selection on the return £50 minimum …

[AndrewT]

You were of course free to book with an airline which includes free seat selection for all, but presumably at a much higher cost overall.

I wouldn’t worry about the initial hop from NCL. You’ll probably end up together anyway (either side of the aisle), but short enough to be to pretty immaterial either way.

The long haul trip is your call. Again you’d probably be together, how much do you value the certainty?

[slonik]

In my experience BA will automatically allocate you seats together anyway, for free. Obviously not 100% guaranteed, but we’ve never had an issue and I’ve never paid for seat selection. Here is their official policy: https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/family-travel/seating

The only airline I’ve come across which will on purpose sit everyone separately if you haven’t pre-paid for seats is Ryanair.

[n1368585]

Thanks for the responses. We’ll leave it until 24hrs before when free seat selection opens and if that doesn’t work I’ll just plead at check-in.

Certainly not paying them ridiculous prices.
Also £37 is the cheapest – in the middle of the centre four – who the hell is paying in advance for that!