Wow you won’t believe how I landed two BA First Class 747 nose seats

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Luck was in the air!

In August, I went to a wedding in England, and to get home I booked a roundtrip leaving Stockholm that had a mix of FinnAir business and Club World. We llew FinnAir through Chicago to LA, and then the return would originate in Chicago on BA metal. Roughly 6 weeks before my flight, BA released a ton of award avail and I was able to upgrade my flight to first using 20k Avios. ( one of the best uses of Avios IMO). Then Dave and I did a weekend trip to Shanghai. All was changed.

THE WEEKENDWARRIOR in Dave grew fast and he needed another trip.

Well, it just so happened, that I was headed to London for just 2 nights, right before New Years. Done deal! Dave grabbed a BA club world ticket using Avios in the hopes that another First Class seat would peel off on my flight.

Dave was on BA294 and I was on BA296.

Time passed and while seats continued to open in other cabins, routing, etc…they didn’t open how we wanted.

We were flying to the same place, on different flights. ENTER: BA’s same day change.

I thought, since I was on a revenue ticket, I would be able to call in 24 hours in advance and change my flight to his. Since there were 7 seats open ( out of 14) I didn’t see much of an issue with me switching First Class cabins. My flight, 296, had a full cabin and I figured BA would oblige the switch.

After 2 calls, and speaking with executive club I was informed that since I was upgraded with Avios, an Avios seat needed to be available in order to execute the change.

No dice. Gonna have to try at the airport…

Monitoring avail like a hawk, I finally arrive in Chicago.

The seat avail hadn’t changed. I forgot to screen cap it, but 1A and 1K were both still avail when I arrived 4.5 hours ahead of the earlier flight. I was first in line at check-in and waited for half and hour for them to open. Dave was delayed flying in, and I had his record locator just in case I could effect any change.

Once open I first asked the agent if I could switch to the earlier flight.

She needed to ask the ticketing desk behind the counter, and while she was gone I got Dave on the phone. I heard the counter over offering paid upgrades. After a quick consult she came back and printed off a new boarding pass for me.

BYAH!!!!!! Obstacle one was accomplished

I then asked if it was possible for Dave to upgrade over the phone on an award ticket. She went back to the ticketing desk and came back with a smile

YES! He could. The upgrade price was $709 and he pulled the trigger. We both confirmed seats on the same flight in First Class in seats 1A and 1K. Normally, I’m not sure the $709 is worth it, but to do that with your bestie I MEAN!!!!!!! CAHMONNNNNN!

I was allowed to put it on my credit card and she processed his upgrade.

Where there is a will, there is a way!