British Airways - pay more to choose seat
 

Hi

My wife (with our children, one 5 year old and 6 month infant) traveled to Bangalore, India before me and I am traveling on a different departure date but set to return with my wife and children on the same date. I called in to request a seat for myself with my family on the departure flight.

I was rudely rejected straight away with a "rules" thrown at me and that since I had separate booking I could not have a seat allocated with my family and if I wanted one, I had to pay for it!

BUT I had to book separately since BA.com does not allow booking together if departure dates are different.

Is this normal procedure? Anyone know different?

Thanks!
-Lakshmi Kuve-

Unfortunately I think this is the case with most airlines. I rememeber flying with my wife from London to LAX a few years ago, with one airline I cannot remember which now. She had been visiting family in London so had booked a return flight at different times to me. Because I had to work, I joined in the UK later. Anyway, like with you, when I tried to arrange to get a seat with her it wasn't allowed! I insisted also that I would like an aisle seat, as I have a bad back. This was also denied, with the darn rule book shoved into my face. At home I have a best rated mattress topper bought here and so I am used to having my back, spine and shoulders soothed when I sleep. Well, my my my. You can imagine how displeased we were. I ended up cramped in between two rather large 'gents' from Newport. Chugging back cans of lager throughout the trip. My back was in agony. Not a flight that can be forgotten in a hurry.

Unfortunately, that is normal procedure for most airlines.

I've had one instance where the airline cross-linked the ticket reference numbers and said we will try our best (and it did work). But this is definitely an exception and completely at their discretion.

BTW - even if you pay for your seat, you will still need to pay for wife's and kids' seats to ensure that all of you sit together