Do You Have to Pay for Seat Selection on British Airways?

British Airways Seat Selection is free unless you’ve booked a Basic ticket. Scroll down to find out more about the airline’s seat selection policy and fees.

Flying with British Airways and want to enjoy every inch of your journey? Choose your preferred seat in advance and sit beside your travel companion to cherish beautiful memories. But before you jump into the process, let’s find out the seat selection fee to avoid any hiccups later on.

Whether or not you have to pay  British Airways seat selection fee depends on various factors, including your fare type and cabin class. The guide provides all the information about the airline’s seat selection policy, process, and fee. Read on to get further details. 

What is the British Airways Seat Selection Fee?

British Airways allows passengers to choose their seats for free within 24 hours of the flight departure unless they have booked a Basic ticket. If you are an Executive Club member, you’ll get Avios if you pay for your seat on the British Airways flight. Here are the details.

• Seats are available for free on British Airways flights from the time of booking until check-in.

• Exit Row seats can be selected on long-haul flights for free from 24 hours before the departure.

• Basic tickets are excluded from this benefit, and passengers with Basic tickets must pay to choose their seats. 

• You can pay for your seats in advance using a credit or debit card or Avios. 

How to Choose Your Seat on a British Airways Flight?

Passengers can choose their seats either at the time of booking or afterward through Manage My Booking tab. Let’s find the step-by-step instructions here. 

• Head to the Manage My Booking tab on the homepage.

• Log into your account using your Booking Details. 

• Go to the “Seating” option and tap on “View or change seats for this flight”.

• Browse the seating map to learn about the available seat options.

• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. 

• Pay the seat selection fee if you have booked a Basic ticket.

• Once done, the airline will send you a confirmation email regarding the same. 

If you don’t choose your seats in advance, the airline will randomly assign you a seat upon check-in. However, it doesn’t guarantee that you will sit beside your travel companion throughout the journey. 

How to Change or Upgrade Your Seat on British Airways Flight?

Want to upgrade your seat? Go to the British Airways Change Flight tab and make adjustments accordingly. You can change your seat anytime before the flight departs. Here’s how. 

• Use the Manage Booking tab.

• Find your trip details.

• Go to the Change Flight option and click “Seating”.

• Upgrade your seat.

• Pay the fare difference, if any, to confirm your choices.

Here are some things to know about changing seats on British Airways flights.

• You must pay the fare difference if you move to a higher priced seat. However, the airline won’t refund the difference if you choose a lower-priced option.

• If you change your flight after choosing your seat, then you must select a seat again on the new flight.