Check your BA paid for seat choices!

[kristieuk]

I just went into my booking to do the Advanced Passenger info, and noticed that for no apparent reason, our seats have been shifted. We booked (and paid £20 each for) rows 16, 17 and 18 A, B and C

BA have moved me and our 2 dd's to row 33, and kept DH at the front with the rest of the family! It's not because of a disability or anything because we have lost seat 16 C, DH is still in B, and A shows as available. 16 D is also available for the person that we have lost seat C to!

Been on hold for 15 minutes now waiting to see if this can resolved....

 

[kristieuk]

30 mins....

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Not good - hope you get is sorted out

 

[2Tiggies]

Not acceptable. If they can't sort you must demand your £20 per person back.

 

[kristieuk]

Well, some progress made. Eventually I was told that there is some new legislation regarding the provision of seating for disabled passengers even if there are no such passengers yet booked on a flight, and BA are not now allowing pre-booking of seats that would best suit those with difficulties.

There is actually no-one allocated 16C right now, but it has been blocked, as has the rest of the row apart from A and B which we can have The long and short of it is we have lost 16c, and have 18d instead. We are now 2 / 3 / 4 in rows 16 17 and 18, which is much better row 33!

I did complain that they should notify passengers as soon as the seats were moved because I may not have noticed and only have discovered it at check in, when there would have been very little choice left. Unsurprisingly, I am not the first to make that complaint and they are hoping to change their policy on this soon. We would also have been entitled to a refund if we chose to cancel our prebooked seats.

On the upside, they have allocated our seats for the return journey for free, as a goodwill gesture

 

[2Tiggies]

On the upside, they have allocated our seats for the return journey for free, as a goodwill gesture

Good! It's the least they could do. So glad you got it sorted. BTW, I would have claimed the cost of my phone call unless it was free too .

At least you are all seated more or less together now. After all, it is a family holiday and it's not like a quick trip round the block. Now you can relax about it.

 

[kristieuk]

That's exactly why we pay the £20 - it just gives the peace of mind in the run up to holiday, we have been split previously and it just makes for so much hassle on a 9 hour flight. I know a lot of people disagree with charging for seat allocation, but for us it is worth it and we just build it into the cost of the flight. I am just glad I noticed - and that it has been resolved. Thanks for your kind wishes

 

[snookhams]

Just thought that I would check ours having read this post - well good job I did, our outbound flights were OK, but our return flights, we had been moved, away from the extra legroom seats to mid row almost at the back of the plane. When I rang them they could not tell me why this had happened well, I asked that they be put back but that can't happen apparantly, can't change someones seat! but they did mine and that I had paid for and no notification. Managed to get DH an extra leg room seat and me and DS are in the row behind - which is not too bad but have asked for a refund as this is not what I booked and paid for- I am waiting for customer services to comeback to me will let you know

 

[2Tiggies]

Just thought that I would check ours having read this post - well good job I did, our outbound flights were OK, but our return flights, we had been moved, away from the extra legroom seats to mid row almost at the back of the plane. When I rang them they could not tell me why this had happened well, I asked that they be put back but that can't happen apparantly, can't change someones seat! but they did mine and that I had paid for and no notification. Managed to get DH an extra leg room seat and me and DS are in the row behind - which is not too bad but have asked for a refund as this is not what I booked and paid for- I am waiting for customer services to comeback to me will let you know

They will probably sort this out. Why they have to wait for a supervisor to authorise a refund on a service not delivered is always beyong me, but anyway ......

If you don't get your refund you have good grounds for dispute. However I would be surprised if they don't sort it out for you.