British Airways to charge flyers up to £60 to reserve seat

British Airways has decided to charge passengers up to £60 each way to reserve their seats on flights. The new charging system comes into effect on October 7.

Published: 28 Sep 2009

British Airways has decided to charge passengers up to £60 each way to reserve their seats on flights. The new charging system comes into effect on October 7.

The new charges will affect people who want to ensure they sit together on a flight, or anyone with a preference for seats next to a window or an emergency exit or in an aisle.

Prices will range from £10 for each leg of a short haul economy class seat, to £50 for an exit row seat and £60 for an international one-way restricted fare business class seat, or £120 for a return flight.

The airline has already stopped serving meals in economy class on European flights and the second meal in business class on a long-haul flight is to be downgraded to a snack. It is also seeking advertisers for its website and boarding passes. BA lost £401 million last year and is looking for ways to boost its revenues and cut costs.

A BA spokesman 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.

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