British Airways customers can now use their miles -Avios – to cover, or part, of the cost to select their seat. Gold, Silver and Bronze members will still be able to select seats for free, and free seat selection for all customers at check-in 24-hours before departure remains.
Until today, customers who did not have access to free seat selection could choose to pay to select their seats. This includes all customers (with the exception of those travelling on Basic fares) who will continue to be able to select their seats for free at online check-in, which opens 24 hours before departure, and at the airport. Those customers travelling on Basic fares will continue to be allocated a seat at check in.
Now, customers will also have the option to choose to use Avios, the currency of the British Airways Executive Club, to reduce the cost of seat selection, or to cover the cost in full.
World Traveller Plus cabin on a British Airways Boeing 777 at London Gatwick on 04 March 2018
(Picture by Nick Morrish/British Airways)
Customers who do not have access to free seat selection, and do not wish to pay, will continue to be able to select their seat for free when check-in opens 24-hours before departure.
British Airways already offers free seat selection for Gold and Silver members of the British Airways Executive Club from the time they book, and also offers free seat selection for Bronze members seven days before their flight departs. The move, therefore, will be of the biggest benefit to Blue members who can now choose to use their Avios, instead of cash, to select their seat.
The move offers members of the British Airways Executive Club another way to spend their Avios. Members can already spend their Avios on reward flights, upgrades, or to cut the price of a ticket through Avios part payment. On top of this, Avios can be spent on 60,000 partner hotels and on 50,000 sight-seeing experiences and excursions around the world.
James Hillier from the British Airways Executive Club said: “We already offer the ability to collect and spend Avios on a wide range of flights, holidays, trips and experiences but today’s exciting development gives members of the British Airways Executive Club another way they can choose to spend their Avios.
“It will be of particular benefit to those in the Blue tier, and we hope this further demonstrates to these members the benefit of being part of, and collecting Avios through, the Executive Club.”
Through the British Airways Executive Club, members can collect Avios and Tier Points on flights, as well as on everyday spending with household-name partners across retail, travel and credit cards. They can also collect with hundreds of popular retailers on the British Airways Avios eStore.
The opportunity to fully cover the cost of selecting seats, or cover part of the cost, using Avios, is available on all British Airways operated flights and can be actioned through Manage My Booking on ba.com or through the contact centre. Customers who do not wish to spend Avios but do want to select their seats, will still be able to pay the cash amount.
These changes are just one of a number of ways that the airline is improving experiences and offering more choice for its customers. Earlier this year it was announced World Traveller customers will receive a renewed food offering on board including, on longer flights, a full second meal, while in Club World new dining and White Company bedding is being rolled out across the network. These changes come as part of the airline’s £4.5 billion investment for customers over the next five years.
