BA15 LHR-SYD 28th Dec Aircraft Swap / BA16 SYD-LHR
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Programs: BA Blue, Qatar Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 496
BA15 LHR-SYD 28th Dec Aircraft Swap / BA16 SYD-LHR
Hi all!
Flying back to London on BA16, 30th Dec. Just checked our seats (it’s just what I do), and with no notice, we’ve been moved. When I checked, the seat map is the old Club World and on expert flyer, every seat is actually taken.
This route is the same route BA advertises as being Club Suite on their instagram.
Is this aircraft swap likely to stick?
With the config change, is this flight now oversold in business?
I assume there is no point ringing BA to see if they would let us move onto BA16 on another day (such as +1 day). Booked with avios, no availability on other days as expected.
I wouldn’t mind as much if we had a choice of seats. Travelling as a couple, I don’t mind the middle pair. Instead, we’ve been split up.
For such a long flight, it’s safe to say we’re gutted. Yes, I know it’s a first world problem.
Flying back to London on BA16, 30th Dec. Just checked our seats (it’s just what I do), and with no notice, we’ve been moved. When I checked, the seat map is the old Club World and on expert flyer, every seat is actually taken.
This route is the same route BA advertises as being Club Suite on their instagram.
Is this aircraft swap likely to stick?
With the config change, is this flight now oversold in business?
I assume there is no point ringing BA to see if they would let us move onto BA16 on another day (such as +1 day). Booked with avios, no availability on other days as expected.
I wouldn’t mind as much if we had a choice of seats. Travelling as a couple, I don’t mind the middle pair. Instead, we’ve been split up.
For such a long flight, it’s safe to say we’re gutted. Yes, I know it’s a first world problem.
#5
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,379
Do either of you have a window / aisle? if so, there's a good chance you can swap these out for a middle pair onboard. As you know, it's usually when folks try to arrange the seat swap to get "better" seats in the process (over and above sitting together) that causes other passengers to dig their heels in and say no.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Programs: Ba Silver ( for now!)
Posts: 808
If it were me I would also be livid.
We went to Oz on a 787 and back on the 777 with suites. My girlfriend commented it was like being on a different airline.
I go out of my way to choose club suite routes and avoid ying yang.
I would ask at the airport to be moved to the following day.
I know the airline will hide behind terms and conditions etc but it is bait and switch and should be penalised.
We went to Oz on a 787 and back on the 777 with suites. My girlfriend commented it was like being on a different airline.
I go out of my way to choose club suite routes and avoid ying yang.
I would ask at the airport to be moved to the following day.
I know the airline will hide behind terms and conditions etc but it is bait and switch and should be penalised.
#7
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,150
If it were me I would also be livid.
We went to Oz on a 787 and back on the 777 with suites. My girlfriend commented it was like being on a different airline.
I go out of my way to choose club suite routes and avoid ying yang.
I would ask at the airport to be moved to the following day.
I know the airline will hide behind terms and conditions etc but it is bait and switch and should be penalised.
We went to Oz on a 787 and back on the 777 with suites. My girlfriend commented it was like being on a different airline.
I go out of my way to choose club suite routes and avoid ying yang.
I would ask at the airport to be moved to the following day.
I know the airline will hide behind terms and conditions etc but it is bait and switch and should be penalised.
#9
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,150
If it were me I would also be livid.
We went to Oz on a 787 and back on the 777 with suites. My girlfriend commented it was like being on a different airline.
I go out of my way to choose club suite routes and avoid ying yang.
I would ask at the airport to be moved to the following day.
I know the airline will hide behind terms and conditions etc but it is bait and switch and should be penalised.
We went to Oz on a 787 and back on the 777 with suites. My girlfriend commented it was like being on a different airline.
I go out of my way to choose club suite routes and avoid ying yang.
I would ask at the airport to be moved to the following day.
I know the airline will hide behind terms and conditions etc but it is bait and switch and should be penalised.
#10
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: London (née Melbourne)
Programs: Qantas Platinum (Oneworld Emerald)
Posts: 1,102
I've had the aircraft swap happen a few times flying to and from JFK - supposedly a "guaranteed" Club Suite route. Asking at check-in if I could move to an earlier or later flights with Club Suites I was practically laughed at.
When similar happened with Qatar, they proactively sent an email notification of the aircraft swap (and loss of Qsuite), and offered a free change to another flight.
If it's any consolation, I actually found the older CW seats to be more comfortable and get a better sleep in them.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: BOS & SFO
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 688
Back in 2021 I was able to move an SFO-LAX-LHR-BLR itinerary (BA280 LAX-LHR booked as 77W club suites, but got swapped to non-club suites) to SFO-DFW-LHR-BLR (DFW-LHR BA192 on a 78X with club suites) for these reasons. However this was about 1.5 weeks before departure.
#13
formerly JackDann
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 1,784
Not sure I get the 'bait and switch' notion. One buys transport from point A to a final point B in a specific cabin on an airline. Seats in a specific cabin change between different equipment and a switch is always possible. But you still fly in the cabin type to the destination. There is no bait here.
#14
Join Date: May 2023
Posts: 103
Nothing is ever guaranteed though. Marketing is one thing, practicality is quite another.
#15
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 90
Currently sat on BA15 and can confirm it’s G-STBC with old Club World. I have to say, I do feel sorry for people in CW - trips around this time of year are often a special trip which people have saved/waited a long time for, and to have the product changed so drastically with no recourse feels unfair. We were incredibly lucky and were upgraded to First purely by virtue of the aircraft change but we’re one of the few winners on this route.