British Airways sets seat charges

[KK Lee 5]

British Airways sets seat charges

 

British Airways passengers will have to pay to choose their seats before they travel from October, the airline says.

 

The charges will affect those seeking to ensure they sit together on a flight and people with a preference for window, aisle or emergency exit seats.

 

Prices range from £10 per person for European economy flights, to £60 for long haul trips in business class.

 

Consumer group Which? said it was "disappointing to see British Airways jumping on the bandwagon".

 

BA said it would "give customers more control over their seating options". The new charges will come into force on 7 October.

 

'Extra charges'

 

The airline currently allows passengers to reserve seats in the 24 hours prior to departure.

 

The new charge - aimed at passengers wanting to reserve seats earlier than this - will be £20 on long-haul economy or short flights in business class, while a seat in an emergency exit row will cost £50.

 

This can be booked between 10 and four days before take-off.

 

A BA spokeswoman said: "Customers frequently request specific seats, but in the past we've only been able to confirm them 24 hours in advance or on the day.

 

"We know people want to secure them in advance and have real control over their flying experience. This will allow them to do that."

 

Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday, said travellers had become used to budget airlines charging them for a service that used to be included in the "headline price".

 

"We know from our members that people really don't like these extra charges - they'd much rather see a headline price that includes everything," she said.

 

"BA is still giving some people the chance to reserve their seat for free in the 24 hours before departure, but if you aren't quick enough off the mark, you could find yourself sitting on the other side of the plane from your family or partner.

 

"It's no way to start a holiday."

 

The move comes as the airline attempts to bolster its balance sheet after a £401m loss in the last financial year.

 

And it follows BA's decision to cut luggage allowances and abolish free meals on short flights.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8274200.stm

 

Unless BA is moving toward LCC business model or LH, AF/KL are following soon, not sure how long they can add surcharges before pax leaving them.

 

[Hakan 2]

very idiotic decision while announced profit loss and request "be self-sacrfie" from all employees. very interesting "market strategy" against to customer during crisis.

[Geoff R. 0]

Stupid decision in my eyes. For the extra money they get out of passengers willing to pay this stupid fee I wonder how much money will they lose from passengers who say goodbye to BA and fly on another airline.

 

What next for BA?

 

 

Geoff

[Naim 6]

I posted the same BA seat story 8 hrs ago and it got immediately moved to 'oneworld news' thread above. Frankly I don't think many ppl bother to check the pinned threads since their titles are so generic. I mean 'oneworld news' or 'lcc news' or ... could be about anything. I never read them myself, because I prefer to read specific topics.

[Pieter C. 5]

I posted the same BA seat story 8 hrs ago and it got immediately moved to 'oneworld news' thread above. Frankly I don't think many ppl bother to check the pinned threads since their titles are so generic. I mean 'oneworld news' or 'lcc news' or ... could be about anything. I never read them myself, because I prefer to read specific topics.

 

In order to avoid 'loitering' the MW website with too many different BA or KL or LH topics, it was decided long ago to place these news-items under the pinned Alliances, or LCC pinned threads...why not read them ? They're pinned for your convenience and easy to find !