Another lovely enhancement from BA
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at 09:04 by Tom Otley.
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FDOS_UKParticipantEdited 14 March 2016
The inability for some BA customers (some BAEC members) to select emergency exit seats on some shorthaul flights is not a change of policy, but due to IT problems.
Nonetheless, affected customers are being denied, de facto, a promised benefit.
7 Feb 2016
at 08:08
canuckladParticipantIf it’s true,the change in policy is utterly predictable.
BAEC membership must have the highest percentage per ratio, passengers to seats per flight than most airlines.
Consequently, this would negate the predicted revenue stream this odious extra ancillary charge forecast by the BA bean counters would add to the coffers. As I’ve mentioned before, companies these days expect loyalty and will reward loyalty as long as their loyal customers don’t interfere with profit margins.
Reminds me of why BMI offered free sandwiches and a drink to Gold customers in Y and then realized just how many gold customers flew EDI to LHR …..result…no more free drink !
7 Feb 2016
at 10:20
MrMichaelParticipantBritish Airways out to make a profit……disgraceful. I think all Gold & Silver BAEC members should return their cards and never fly BA again, even if BA are going to where they want to go and where they want to go from. It makes me sick that a company would put profit before the self interests and wallets of its most loyal customers…..capitalism has a lot to answer for. I think I might even sell my IAG shares in protest at this blatant profit making scam.
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7 Feb 2016
at 10:45
FDOS_UKParticipantcanucklad – 07/02/2016 10:20 GMT
Good theory. To add to that, after they reduced the CE seat pitch from 34″ to 30″, it didn’t take people very long to realise that row 1 and the exit rows were the only seats with more legroom and that probably encouraged quite a lot of people to start booking ET instead, so now BA appears to have stopped that option!
7 Feb 2016
at 10:46
FDOS_UKParticipantMrMichael – 07/02/2016 10:45 GMT
Bit rude not to communicate it, though, don’t you think?
And the website still says
Gold
“free seat selection at the time of booking for everyone in your travel party, whatever cabin you’re travelling in (except on hand baggage only fares). This even includes family or friends on other bookings as long as theyโre travelling in the same cabin and on the same flight”
Silver
“free seat selection at the time of booking, whatever cabin you’re travelling in, for everyone travelling with you in the same booking (except on hand baggage only fares and not including exit row seats on long haul flights)”
7 Feb 2016
at 11:02
rfergusonParticipantWill be fuming if the case.
Just tried a dummy shorthaul booking for late in the year. In both directions the only available seats to preselect as Gold start at the row directly after the exit rows.
Saying that, nothing has been communicated about it yet. It is unlike BA to instill a change before announcing it. I’ve noticed this kind of thing with short haul bookings in the past as ‘club’ is a flexible cabin so I guess they block out a number of rows that can be ‘flexible’ instead of having to move peoples selected seats later.
Be good to get an answer.
7 Feb 2016
at 11:06
canuckladParticipantMorning MrMichael,
I’ve nothing against companies making profit,profit is desirable as it allows for investment and future growth. Well managed controlled growth should naturally see profit grow on a progressive steady,balanced curve.
However greed and impatience ,plus a demanding stock market makes for bad bed fellows. The urge to invent ways to screw the customer for more cash becomes an irresistible choice. Done, so that profit growth is achieved not by managing the steady curve,but by stressing it to near breaking point.
Is BA so badly financially managed they’ll drop into the red by removing this benefit to loyal customers?
It’s more likely that BA top brass are in continual fear of not delivering more profit than they the year before.
A short term strategy,that one in the cycle will ultimately end in very predictable failure.7 Feb 2016
at 11:10
FDOS_UKParticipantrferguson – 07/02/2016 11:06 GMT
I thought that it may be a case of uncertainty about where the CE/ET boundary was, but I’ve found some cases where seats in front of the EE rows have availability, but the exits are blocked.
So it’s either a failry embarrassing IT mistake or an unnanoucned policy change.
Either way, not too impressive.
7 Feb 2016
at 11:15
rfergusonParticipantMaking J class passengers without FF status pay to select a J class seat on a long haul flight is cheap practise.
Withdrawing the facility for status holders to select a seat in Y on HBO fares was nasty.
Not allowing status holders to select an exit row in Y will be a major disappointment if rolled out – what other seats can be deemed ‘desirable’?
But….will people just quietly moan or will they use their wallets and move?
I think in the future BA shorthaul will be more and more aligned with the Vueling model.
7 Feb 2016
at 11:18 -
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