BA closes upper deck 747-400

[map]

Flying on a oneworld award rtw ticket (280k / J) and currently at DFW waiting to board BA192 to LHR aboard a 747-400.

Given we'd never before had the opportunity to fly the upper deck (nor are we likely to again), we made sure to reserve two seats in the upstairs cabin. Both were emergency exit aisle so we wouldn't have any trouble climbing over people from the window (and vice versa). Needless to say we were very excited!

That's where it all went downhill. Starting with a 30 minute exchange at check in where the BA staff alarmed us by saying my wife couldn't be "linked" with her ticket and therefore couldn't be boarded. Initially we were told that we had to resolve the issue with Qantas as that's who we booked our award flight with, but eventually sense prevailed and we were issued tickets.

i highlighted that our issued seats were not the same as booked. We were told the upper deck was closed because the elevator wasn't working. That doesn't make sense to me as I understood there were internal stairs to reach the upper deck.

So instead we have been moved to the centre D & E seats in row 20. No doubt it will be a crowded cabin if all of the upper deck has been crammed downstairs.

Will try our luck with cabin crew once we board but not looking like a promising overnight flight we had hoped!

Understand it is a first world problem but given how much planning went into the trip and reserving the seats feeling quite deflated...

 

[bam71]

I understand the elevator is a dumb waiter for food delivery from the galley downstairs. May be a WHS issue re hot food and drinks being carried up the stairs.

 

[serfty]

Assuming Apr 5th; ExpertFlyer indicates you have been lied to. I presume you had 63A and 63B preselected.

There are 13 seats occupied in the upper deck and four are blocked.

Results from https://www.ExpertFlyer.com

Seat Map Search:
Departing DFW on 05/04/17 for LHR
Flying BA flight 192 in Business/Club


        A   B       D   E   F   G       J   K   
17  W   -   -       -   -   -   -       -   -   W   
18  W   -   -       -   -   -   -       -   -   W   
19  W   -   -       -   -   -   -       -   -   W   
20  W   -   -       -   -   -   -       -   -   W   
        A   B       D   E   F   G       J   K   




            A   B       J   K   
60  U       -   -       -   -       U   
61  U       X   -       -   -       U   
62  U   E   X   -       -   -   E   U   
63  U   E   [highlight]+   +[/highlight]       -   -   E   U   
64  U       X   -       -   X       U   
            A   B       J   K   

 Seats
Premium Only             P                        
[highlight]Available                +[/highlight]                        
Handicap-Accessible      H                        
Paid & Premium           #                        
Occupied                 -                        
Blocked                  X                        
Lavatory                 L                        
Paid                     $                        


Location
Exit Row                 E                        
Wing                     W                        
Upper Deck               U

 

[serfty]

Probably moot as the flight is scheduled to depart in 25 minutes.

 

[map]

Not moot - after making our grievance clear, Fabio (CSR) has moved us upstairs to 63A & B. Much happier!

Thanks for the on-the-spot seat data Serfty - it wasn't needed ultimately (the move happened before I saw your post) but just goes to show what a shoddy job ground staff have done.

 

[serfty]

Well done!

Maybe (Shena) trying to save some prime seating for some mates ...

 

[mannej]

That must be the biggest pet peeve of a frequent traveler - ground staff who lie like this.

 

[Isochronous]

That must be the biggest pet peeve of a frequent traveler - ground staff who lie like this.

BA seem especially bad at this.

 

[RooFlyer]

Given that it appears that some pax were seated in the upper deck (and as indicated by serfty's EF), and that 63A and B were kept empty at the time of boarding, this doesn't appear to be a miscommunication between tech staff and the check-in staff.

Can anyone come up with a more likely explanation than a BA staff member 'arranged' for the OP and +1 to be bumped, and the seats left unoccupied for friend/themselves to be promoted into those seats in-flight?

Surely one of the more blatant cases of this sort of thing? Many thanks to map for posting about it.

If I were you map, I would complain loudly about this - if the airline management has any integrity, they should welcome hearing about this. That said, you WILL be fobbed off, but again, it would be nice for the travelling public in general if you were to persevere until you get a reasonable explanation from the airline.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Given that it appears that some pax were seated in the upper deck (and as indicated by serfty's EF), and that 63A and B were kept empty at the time of boarding, this doesn't appear to be a miscommunication between tech staff and the check-in staff.

Can anyone come up with a more likely explanation than a BA staff member 'arranged' for the OP and +1 to be bumped, and the seats left unoccupied for friend/themselves to be promoted into those seats in-flight?

Surely one of the more blatant cases of this sort of thing? Many thanks to map for posting about it.

If I were you map, I would complain loudly about this - if the airline management has any integrity, they should welcome hearing about this. That said, you WILL be fobbed off, but again, it would be nice for the travelling public in general if you were to persevere until you get a reasonable explanation from the airline.

I agree. Really annoying to be lied to and moved.

 

[amaroo]

Airlie and seating ... same for BA, as it is for QF, and no doubt all of them.

 

[samh004]

Not related to this issue, but I find I am constantly moved when flying BA. Admittedly, only a small sample size, and yet I still book with them and come back for more punishment. That's probably why they continue.

 

[TonyHancock]

Not related to this issue, but I find I am constantly moved when flying BA.

Me too....hoping for that tomorrow in fact.

 

[opusman]

Me too....hoping for that tomorrow in fact.

I don't think it's a move from J to F he is complaining about!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Not related to this issue, but I find I am constantly moved when flying BA. Admittedly, only a small sample size, and yet I still book with them and come back for more punishment. That's probably why they continue.

MrsTMA was moved from F to steerage on BA LHR SIN. She was less than impressed.

 

[defurax]

MrsTMA was moved from F to steerage on BA LHR SIN. She was less than impressed.

Maybe so she could have a sneak peek at BA's "New F" concept :mrgreen:

 

[serfty]

MrsTMA was moved from F to steerage on BA LHR SIN. She was less than impressed.

Was she able to leverage EU 261/2004 compensation of 75% of the cost of the ticket?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Was she able to leverage EU 261/2004 compensation of 75% of the cost of the ticket?

She got a visa reward card with £500 on it. Not good enough accordto EU261.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Maybe so she could have a sneak peek at BA's "New F" concept :mrgreen:

She has vowed to never to buy or fly BA F again.

 

[Jacques Vert]

... persevere until you get a reasonable explanation from the airline.

From BA? Fat chance!