Choosing Seats with BA?

[Rach78]

Hi,
I have been playing the flight waiting game for this October. Today I have seen flights from Glasgow plus car hire with BA (plus cash back) at a price I am ok with. I wanted to know if anyone with experience thinks its worth paying £100 for all of us to pre book seats? I am a very nervous flyer and do worry about being up the back or separated from my husband but should we be ok if we do on line check in 24 hours in advance? Has anyone any experience of this?
Thanks in advance!
Rachel

 

[orangetiggs]

I wouldnt pay to prebook seats and im a nervous flyer, if your doing online check in 24 hours in advance i would think you would get seats together.

I dont personally agree with the airline charging to book seats as its preys on people like us who are nervous at flying

 

[chmurf]

paying to prebook seats is beyond me
many arilines will provide this service free of charge.
I'll fly continental and we can prebook our seats as soon as billing is processed, and change seat assignments online as much as we want on empty seat positions.

Is it worth it ... well ... it depends on the time you check in.
For transatlantic, you are supposed to get to the airport 3 hours ahead of take off time.
If you come in early at the airport, you (almost) certainly will be seated together. If you come in late, you'll only be left with leftover seats.
It will also depend on how many passengers will be on your flight. If the plane is only at half capacity, you don't have to worry a bit.
If it's packed, then you'll basically fall behind those who prebooked, and then go on a first come first serve basis.

If you fly economy, you'll be with people who care about budget, so I doubt many will have spent the extra quids to prebook. So you'll mostly be on common grounds with other passengers in your part of the plane.
If you go to any higher classes, then maybe more people will have prebooked.

There is really no way to tell
If you want peace of mind, then go ahead with the £100

I know I wouldn't pay, and I might also try to find another airline. But I'm proud and stubborn, so when I'm asked to pay extra, I'd rather pay more for an all inclusive formula even though I know it's stupid

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

I wouldnt pay to pre book, online checkin 24 hours before you go and i am sure you will be fine. Been with ba 5 times and never been separated from oh and never paid to pre book

 

[queendisney]

Well there we differ.....I def would pay the extra but I don't have children and I fly VA mostly (who don't charge at present anyway, but I would pay if they did!) as DH and I always go for the two seats at the back of the 747. If you don't pre-book these sort after seats you haven't got a chance leaving it because loads of people are after them. But I understand that BA do try and seat families together so with any luck you should be together anyway. Some times its worth it for peace of mind and its one less thing to worry about. I now PP said it's wrong as it plays into the hands of the nervous but I don't see it like that, I just don't want to be sitting in the middle of the plane or trapped by another passenger whom I am going to ask to move out the way countless times!! I consider it a small price to pay per person when you consider the cost of an upgrade!

 

[casinocolin]

Well there we differ.....I def would pay the extra but I don't have children and I fly VA mostly (who don't charge at present anyway, but I would pay if they did!) as DH and I always go for the two seats at the back of the 747. If you don't pre-book these sort after seats you haven't got a chance leaving it because loads of people are after them. But I understand that BA do try and seat families together so with any luck you should be together anyway. Some times its worth it for peace of mind and its one less thing to worry about. I now PP said it's wrong as it plays into the hands of the nervous but I don't see it like that, I just don't want to be sitting in the middle of the plane or trapped by another passenger whom I am going to ask to move out the way countless times!! I consider it a small price to pay per person when you consider the cost of an upgrade!

I totally agree with you.

We also dont won't to be trapped by another passenger whom we are going to ask to move out the way countless times. For peace of mind we believe it is well worth paying extra for if you can afford it.

 

[BethEJo]

I wouldn't pay to prebook.

I flew Gatwick to Orlando in June '11 with BA. There was a group of around 12 of us all on the same flight on our way to Disney International College Program.
We made sure we all signed into the online check-in as soon as it opened. We selected our seats individually, then posted them so each person chose their seat next to/in front of the previous one. We took our time doing this, but still, all 12 of us managed to sit together.

So, I'd risk it personally, but of course it brings with it no guarantees. £100 just seems like a lot of money....

 

[Rach78]

Thanks all for your advice. I think I will just leave it just now and do on line check in and hope for the best. Suppose all the seats go to Florida what ever happens! xx