The Airline Industry’s Problem with Absolutely Ancient IT

[Z'Loth]

I found this video by Wendover Productions on YouTube quite interesting. Some of the underlying technology is decades old, although some of Southwest's IT problems are glossed over. 

 

 

[klfrodo]

Thanks for the link. Wendover Productions does a very good job.

[Globaliser]

On 3/10/2023 at 1:59 PM, Z'Loth said:

Some of the underlying technology is decades old ...

 

It's more of a problem with the underlying architecture, isn't it? That's what's decades old, and that's what tends to limit what can be done in any situation in which interlining may be relevant (even if many individual bookings within that architecture don't involve interlining).

[Red Rock Feaver]

Hello, I am hoping to get some help.

We are flying to Heathrow June 7, American Airlines then on to Shannon on Air Lingus, back to Heathrow June 16 to board cruise ship ( Princess ) for Norway cruise, returning to Heathrow July 1 here is where we have an issue. Our flights were all booked with Princess EZAir long ago. All said American Airlines ( except for the UK flights) our return flight says flight # 7000 American Airlines operated by BA. When we try to select our seats it takes us to BA and shows different seating chart and says we have no seats. On our original booking it says we are in seat 2K and 2F now it says we have no seat. No one at BA or AA will help us.

[Globaliser]

1 hour ago, Red Rock Feaver said:

All said American Airlines ( except for the UK flights) our return flight says flight # 7000 American Airlines operated by BA. When we try to select our seats it takes us to BA and shows different seating chart and says we have no seats. On our original booking it says we are in seat 2K and 2F now it says we have no seat. No one at BA or AA will help us.

 

What did BA say when you called?

 

I don't understand why there should be two different seating charts, because both the BA prime flight number (BA289) and the AA codeshare number (AA7000) are displaying the same seating chart at the moment:

 

Departing LHR on 01/07/23 for PHX
Flying BA flight 289 in Business/Club

        A       E   F       K   
1       -       -   -       -       
2       +       -   -       +       
3       -       -   -       +       
4       -       -   -       +       
5       -       -   -       +       
6       +       -   -       +       
7       +       -   -       +       
        A       E   F       K   

        A       E   F       K   
10      X       -   -       X       
11      +       +   +       +       
12      +       +   +       +       
13      +       +   +       +       
14      +       -   -       +       
        A       E   F       K   

 

Departing LHR on 01/07/23 for PHX
Flying AA flight 7000 in Business/2-Cabin US First

        A       E   F       K   
1       -       -   -       -       
2       +       -   -       +       
3       -       -   -       +       
4       -       -   -       +       
5       -       -   -       +       
6       +       -   -       +       
7       +       -   -       +       
        A       E   F       K   

        A       E   F       K   
10      X       -   -       X       
11      +       +   +       +       
12      +       +   +       +       
13      +       +   +       +       
14      +       -   -       +       
        A       E   F       K   

Seats
Premium Only             P                        
Available                +                        
Handicap-Accessible      H                        
Paid & Premium           #                        
Occupied                 -                        
Blocked                  X                        
Lavatory                 L                        
Paid                     $                        

Location
Exit Row                 E                        
Wing                     W                        
Upper Deck               U                        

[Red Rock Feaver]

BA said we don’t have seats. The reservation says American Airlines 7000 operated by British Airways Jet Airbus A359 Business class.American Airlines Flt 7000 shows a different seating plan.

 

[Globaliser]

6 minutes ago, Red Rock Feaver said:

BA said we don’t have seats.

 

Did you ask to have seats allocated?

 

6 minutes ago, Red Rock Feaver said:

The reservation says American Airlines 7000 operated by British Airways Jet Airbus A359 Business class.American Airlines Flt 7000 shows a different seating plan.

 

The second seat map I posted above is for AA7000 on 1 July 2023. It was taken live at the time of my post. As you can see, it's the same seat map as for the prime flight number BA289, including which seats are occupied or not.

[Red Rock Feaver]

Hopefully we have 2E and 2F

 

Thanks for your help, we will see if this is what we have.

[Globaliser]

11 hours ago, Red Rock Feaver said:

Hopefully we have 2E and 2F

 

2EF are "occupied" on both the BA289 and the AA7000 seat maps above, so they may well be yours. But you should be able to check this on each airline's website if you have the correct booking references for both the AA booking and the BA booking.

[Red Rock Feaver]

Thanks, will have to wait until our TA returns from her trip on Monday.

[Red Rock Feaver]

I have heard that travel from the cruise terminal to Heathrow on July1 may be slow due to an event. We have a transfer thru Princess and our flight isn't until the afternoon. Do you think we will have enough time?

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, Red Rock Feaver said:

I have heard that travel from the cruise terminal to Heathrow on July1 may be slow due to an event. We have a transfer thru Princess and our flight isn't until the afternoon. Do you think we will have enough time?

I would ask this on the Britain board. Locals will have more knowledge of what the event is and it's impact.

[em-sk]

On 3/14/2023 at 12:07 PM, Red Rock Feaver said:

BA said we don’t have seats. The reservation says American Airlines 7000 operated by British Airways Jet Airbus A359 Business class.American Airlines Flt 7000 shows a different seating plan.

 

 

At the end of the day what matters is what British Airways has in their computer system.  They are the ones operating the flight.  American Airlines is simply reselling it.

 

Your TA should be able to sort it out.

 

[jollyjones]

19 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

I would ask this on the Britain board. Locals will have more knowledge of what the event is and it's impact.

 

Probably means the Pride March.

https://prideinlondon.org

 

[Globaliser]

21 hours ago, Red Rock Feaver said:

I have heard that travel from the cruise terminal to Heathrow on July1 may be slow due to an event. We have a transfer thru Princess and our flight isn't until the afternoon. Do you think we will have enough time?

 

24 minutes ago, jollyjones said:

Probably means the Pride March.

https://prideinlondon.org

 

I can't see how Pride would have any effect on a transfer from Southampton to Heathrow. And Red Rock Feaver's flight isn't until 14.40 anyway.