No seats with booking

[West Sussex Tony]

I have just booked a business class flight to Tenerife, which departs in under 7 days’ time. On checking my seat allocation, it simply states ‘No seat’. I had exactly the same problem recently with a BA booking to Cancun.

Both checks on seat allocations were less than 7 days prior to departure, and as no seat had been allocated on either occasion, I felt that I had no choice but to pay for my wife and myself to have two seats next to each other. That’s cost me nearly £400 so far, and I had to cancel the Cancun trip.

Why are BA not allocating seats? Is this just another way of making passengers cough up for what was previously standard with a booking? We have been members of the Executive Club for decades, so can anyone tell me what BA are playing at? I would have phoned the Executive Club to ask the same question, but only have 6 days before I travel and couldn’t guarantee they’d answer by then!

[NorthernLass]

I’m not 100% sure this isn’t a wind-up post, but it’s been the case for several years now that unless you have at least Bronze status with BA, you have to pay to select seats prior to on-line check-in opening 24 hours before departure.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Hmm been a BAEC member for ages yet don’t know the seating policy (which has been in place for many years – at least 15 and probably longer) ?

And you cancelled a flight (and would have only got a small refund) because of a seating issue? You didn’t have to cancel at all.

In both cases BA would have allocated you a seat but won’t show it until OLCI if you have no status or 7 days before if your bronze.

And your last comment on the phone line is just silly.

[Gosia44]

As this is your first post I truly believe you have never flown with BA before. As @NorthernLass said, you only get a seat allocated at check-in 24h before departure unless you have at least Bronze status which I assume you do not. You can pay for a seat if want to secure a specific seat like window or aisle.

[travelmonkey]

BA aren’t quite Ryanair… they won’t actively split you up just to force you to pay for seats! However what you’re reporting is entirely normal for BA. Check in online 24hrs before your flight and you should be fine to get two seats together, albeit they maybe not in your preferred area of the plane. If you are extremely risk averse or the uncertainty is causing you anxiety then paying to choose your seats early may be worth it to you.