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Booked Aer Lingus transatlantic, Aer Lingus out, British Airways back (LHR) - Can't get seats for BA

  • 30-07-2025 12:34AM
    #1
    Lando Griffins OTHER HALF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭


    So we booked Aer Lingus DUB-SFO, and MIA-LHR (as no DUB flight that date and suited to get home). All booked on Aer Lingus - but the MIA-LHR leg is British Airways (with LHR-DUB as a final flight).

    As special occasion, we went business class both ways.

    We got our Aer Lingus booking confirmation, and picked seats out. Aer Lingus wouldn't allow us pick our Business seats for the British Airways MIA-DUB - giving us a British Airways booking confirmation and asking us to contact BA to sort out seats. (Also business class). Rang BA - they could see the BA booking reference and passengers on their system but said Aer Lingus hadn't "assigned a ticket to the booking reference" so we were to ring Aer Lingus and sort that out. Sounded weird.

    Anyway, back onto Aer Lingus who said load of tosh, flights booked and the BA rep was talking through his hóle. Rang back BA - different agent - "yep, very odd, we see your booking reference but can't assign seats as no ticket assigned. Perhaps a server delay or something, try ringing us in 24 hours".

    24 hours later - same stuff - BA - "we don't see a ticket, albeit we see your BA booking reference". WTF. So we can log onto BA, see our booking, all seems fine, but can't book seats having spent a small fortune for business class for the occasion. More worrying, BA telling us they can't see a "ticket assigned" for the BA booking reference, even though they can access our names, flight details, etc. But they can't do anything with the booking. "Try again in 24 hours".

    Now, this might all work out next February when the flight is. But having paid a significant sum, we'd like to ensure that as a couple we have seats together. Worse still, if BA don't see the "ticket", we don't relish finding out the day of the flight that there is no booking at all.

    All very odd.

    Advice appreciated.



Comments

  • #2
    Noxegon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,672 ✭✭✭Noxegon


    I've had similar experiences when booking with multiple airlines. It's not exactly a solution to your present scenario, but I'd suggest that if seating is important to you you're better off sticking with one.

    I develop Superior Solitaire when I'm not procrastinating on boards.ie.



  • #3
    Rock Steady Edy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 458 ✭✭Rock Steady Edy


    I'd second the above.

    In terms of resolving your current query, I'd identify a back-up Aer Lingus option you are most happy with coming back, and then call Aer Lingus and say to them that you want them to sort out the seat situation with them on the BA flights, and if they can't do that, switch you to the alternative Aer Lingus flight. You shouldn't be wasting your time if the BA / AL IT systems can't talk to each other.

    Your contract is with AL, so they are the ones that should resolve the issue.

    Another option, if there really are no suitable AL return flights that suit, is to ask AL to cancel the return leg (if they can't resolve the issue) and book it directly with BA.



  • #4
    LiamaDelta
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 920 ✭✭✭LiamaDelta


    Also BA don't allow free seat selection until 24/48 hours before the flight, even on business class. Ultimate stingyness.



  • #5
    Lando Griffins OTHER HALF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭Lando Griffins OTHER HALF


    Back onto British Airways today - they talked to supervisors etc and insisted absolutely no ticket issued on their end, even though there is a BA booking reference. Said I'd have to ring Aer Lingus and insist that they "assign the ticket to BA through Openworld". (I thought Aer Lingus left OpenWorld, but anyway).

    Rang Aer Lingus again - same stuff - call staff checked with supervisors etc., "nothing to do with Aer Lingus", "all a British Airways problem". Told them my contract was with them, and I'm awaiting a supervisor call "within 3 hours", which will likely repeat the same nonsense.

    I have to return on the day in question, so the BA flight is the one I need. Regardless, as others have said, if Aer Lingus sell these seats they can't just wash their hands. Well, they are trying to!

    Gonna try the official complaint form but have had useless experience with that in the past.

    Still can't understand how BA have a booking reference, but no ticket. I thought one would rely on the other existing, but seemingly not.



  • #6
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 30,385 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123683939#Comment_123683939

    Still can't understand how BA have a booking reference, but no ticket. I thought one would rely on the other existing, but seemingly not.

    This is not uncommon at all when booking through travel agents (which, in essence, is what is happening here). When I book flights for work I can have a booking reference and see the flight on the website for weeks before the ticket is actually issued.

    Aer Lingus left OneWorld (though will presumably rejoin it eventually). I can only assume OpenWorld is some kind of ticketing software as that would make more sense in the context.

    Anyway, one way or another it is definitely Aer Lingus' problem.



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  • #7
    Phen2206
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 142 ✭✭Phen2206


    I saw a trip report on YouTube reasonably recently, and the poster had a similar issue trying to book J seats on a BA flight that had been booked with Aer Lingus. Somehow he managed to figure out that he was able to reserve the seats by putting the PNR/booking ref into, and managing the booking through, the Royal Jordanian website oddly enough. I would imagine there’s some old software link there from EI’s time in oneworld. I don’t know if that would be worth a shot!



  • #8
    flatty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,234 ✭✭✭flatty


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058420644/booked-aer-lingus-transatlantic-aer-lingus-out-british-airways-back-lhr-cant-get-seats-for-ba

    I'll give amnesty international a ring.



  • #9
    Lando Griffins OTHER HALF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭Lando Griffins OTHER HALF


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123684718#Comment_123684718

    thanks, unfortunately no look with Royal Jordanian 😄

    chatgpt tells me I should be looking for a BA e-ticket reference which is a different number to the Aer Lingus segment, so I'm gonna try pushing that angle next.



  • #10
    Van.Bosch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,018 ✭✭✭Van.Bosch


    the stress and time these stupid issues cause is infuriating!


    don’t envy you



  • #11
    Lando Griffins OTHER HALF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭Lando Griffins OTHER HALF


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123684812#Comment_123684812

    It's beyond infuriating. ps - the sworn promise that I would get a call from an Aer Lingus supervisor within 3 hours - never got the call. Why am I not surprised.



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  • #12
    pureza
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,206 ✭✭✭pureza


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123684802#Comment_123684802

    you need the BA pnr for the BA flights,it won’t work with the Aerlingus one

    Ask Aer Lingus for the BA pnr and try again

    Using finnair’s manage booking tool or Qantas might also work



  • #13
    steve-o
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 923 ✭✭✭steve-o


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123684802#Comment_123684802

    Aer Lingus have issued the tickets. You should have your ticket numbers on your booking confirmation. They will begin with 053 and cover the full journey. BA will not issue any tickets.



  • #14
    Lando Griffins OTHER HALF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭Lando Griffins OTHER HALF


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123685137#Comment_123685137

    Hi yes I've always had the BA prn. It's that they say the flight is not ticketed.



  • #15
    Lando Griffins OTHER HALF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭Lando Griffins OTHER HALF


    Yes I have the 053 tickets. For what it's worth, chatgpt tells me that with a code share you also need separate BA e-ticket numbers for the BA segments, which is also what BA are telling me. Until then they can't do anything with the booking which is only 'reserved' on their system.



  • #16
    Lando Griffins OTHER HALF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭Lando Griffins OTHER HALF


    Update: Got onto Aer Lingus again. Whilst refusing to accept there was anything wrong, they reissued the booking so I have new Aer Lingus ticket numbers and they swore BA would see them. I'll wait til tomorrow to ring BA!



  • #17
    Lando Griffins OTHER HALF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭Lando Griffins OTHER HALF


    2nd Update! Able to log into BA website and able to manage booking, book seats etc.

    So despite Aer Lingus saying they did nothing wrong, their actions in "re-issuing" my tickets and telling me it would be fine for BA, worked. I asked them did this mean there was something wrong with their original issue and got told "we don't know". But those fateful minutes I was told to hold on, and their return to tell me they re-issued, makes me suspicious that this was deffo an Aer Lingus issue. While the flights are a long way away, I'm glad I looked to manage seats, or there could have been surprises down the road.

    Absolute joke of customer service were Aer Lingus I have to say.



  • #18
    goingnowhere
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,425 ✭✭✭goingnowhere


    I'd blame BA here there are numerous stories of the BA system not ticketing flights or blocking/cancelling tickets

    EI had issued the tickets as the 053 ticket number existed and BA's systems were aware of the reservation.

    Best workaround is to reissue the ticket and cross fingers, that worked here

    Post edited by goingnowhere on


  • #19
    Lando Griffins OTHER HALF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84 ✭✭Lando Griffins OTHER HALF


    These issues clearly aren't once off. So Aer Lingus staff should have the training to know what the fix was (as the supervisor on my third call to them seemed to, as he re-issued the ticket).

    Waiting 30 minutes each time on the phone only to get people that don't want to solve an issue, just want to get you off the phone saying it's not their issue, ain't good enough.



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