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Forums Frequent flyer programs British Airways Executive Club BA Bronze – no seat selection available for Iberia flight next Monday

  • rams 256 posts

    I can’t book my seat for flight to Madrid next Monday. Was first told by BA chat can only select seats 6 days in advance (not true I think). Tried again today and still doesn’t work and although flight was booked on BA.com after calling BA they said I needed to speak to Iberia. So I called Iberia and they said they can see my membership number on the booking but it still charges when they try so at airport on day I can have free seats, unreal. What’s the point in status if it doesn’t work as it should? Any tips?

    Skywalker 876 posts

    BA Bronze status holders can choose seats free of charge in most cases 7 days in advance and BA’s rules on Bronze seat selection:

    Bronze/oneworld Ruby
    Free seat selection for you and everyone on your booking from seven days before the time of departure on British Airways flights, excluding group rate bookings and exit row seats. You must be travelling on the booking for the benefit to apply.

    Exit row seats can be selected for free from 24 hours before departure.

    However even as BA Silver, I found that some seats were chargeable, and this is highlighted at the bottom of the web page before BA transfers the data to Iberia for seat choice

    Some seats may require an additional fee. Seat reservation will take place on Iberia website

    Is it a busy flight? Could it be that all the free seats are gone and you are simply left with the paid ones?

    rams 256 posts

    BA Bronze status holders can choose seats free of charge in most cases 7 days in advance and BA’s rules on Bronze seat selection:

    Bronze/oneworld Ruby
    Free seat selection for you and everyone on your booking from seven days before the time of departure on British Airways flights, excluding group rate bookings and exit row seats. You must be travelling on the booking for the benefit to apply.


    Exit row seats can be selected for free from 24 hours before departure.

    However even as BA Silver, I found that some seats were chargeable, and this is highlighted at the bottom of the web page before BA transfers the data to Iberia for seat choice

    Some seats may require an additional fee. Seat reservation will take place on Iberia website

    Is it a busy flight? Could it be that all the free seats are gone and you are simply left with the paid ones?

    Lots of seats left. Even seats in the back rows carry a charge if I wish to book

    SamG 1,860 posts

    Not sure that Iberia gives free seats for Ruby?

    Iberia Singular, Iberia Plus Platino (oneworld emerald) and Iberia Plus Oro (oneworld sapphire) cardholders get free seat selection.
    In the case of Oro (oneworld sapphire) cardholders, this does not include XL seats.

    https://www.iberia.com/us/seat-reservation/

    Skywalker 876 posts

    Ah that would explain the some seats chargeable with Sapphire @SamG


    @rams
    – based on what @SamG said, it appears Iberia has no love for Rubies 😕

    BA Flyer IHG Stayer 2,770 posts

    https://www.oneworld.com/travel-benefits

    There is a notation for all 3 status levels re seating as follows

    * In accordance with the individual policy of the oneworld airline operating the flight.

    So it’s IBs policies that apply. Even for Emeralds.

    NorthernLass 9,483 posts

    @SamG, that’s interesting, because as Sapphire/Silver, I’ve been able to select XL seats for free recently. (Not clear whether it’s the seat which is XL, or the amount of legroom though!)

    But my experience with IB so far has been very “all or nothing” 😂

    rams 256 posts

    Thanks for the intel. Annoying. Could have selected a BA flight, will do next time

    BOWdjMAN 2 posts

    Honestly, I find for most OneWorld bookings, using either the Royal Jordanian or Royal Air Maroc websites far easier to use and you should be able to use the same booking reference as you were originally provided by BA.

    BA Flyer IHG Stayer 2,770 posts

    Honestly, I find for most OneWorld bookings, using either the Royal Jordanian or Royal Air Maroc websites far easier to use and you should be able to use the same booking reference as you were originally provided by BA.

    That won’t override an individual airlines seat (and other) policy!

    MrWhite 113 posts

    I’ve previously managed to select seats as bronze through the Iberia app. It did show charges, but closing down the app before payment made the selection “stick”.

    rams 256 posts

    I’ve previously managed to select seats as bronze through the Iberia app. It did show charges, but closing down the app before payment made the selection “stick”.

    Thanks for this tip @MrWhite. Have done this and seats show as selected when I go back to app with payment amount at bottom. Maybe it will hold, fingers crossed.

    Separately my return flight is with BA and less than a week out and I can’t select my seats for free. This is so odd. Complaint time.

    AJA 1,326 posts

    BA and IB are two shared ownership airlines that have IT woes and idiosyncrasies of their own and are potentially the worst combination going. You’d think they would work together but the opposite is true. I have learned the hard way not to book IB via BA.com or BA via Iberia’s website. The answer to any question involving both is no.

    NorthernLass 9,483 posts

    The most straightforward experience I’ve had with selecting seats on IB was on a recent avios booking, on ba.com! IB seems to recognise my status when I book via BA, but not when I book direct with them, even if I input my BAEC number.

    rams 256 posts

    Update – although I had booked flight, I saw my Exec number wasn’t associated with the booking but my partner’s was. How bizarre. Added it and now can select seats for free.

    rams 256 posts

    I’ve previously managed to select seats as bronze through the Iberia app. It did show charges, but closing down the app before payment made the selection “stick”.

    Just wanted to confirm this worked. Great tip @mrwhite

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