British Airways Con NB

[whisper]

Just had a fascinating conversation with BA. regarding the booking of a return flight for my son who is at UCLA.
We needed a flight to the USA on Dec. 28th 2004 with a return on Dec 21st 2005.

BA are one of those airlines who's tickets are valid for 12 months - according to them !!!

Can't book the above because their system can't cope with it. What we must do is book the return to the UK for sometime in October - which is totally useless - then rearrange it early next year for the date we want.

This is accompanied by a penalty of £50 for altering the booking when it is them that won't give us the date we want in the first place. ??????

When we queried the honesty of this we were advised that the £50 charge is consideration for them ALLOWING (their word) us to book this 12 month ticket.

What a farce. Are the other airlines run on a similar basis ?


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[mjf]

I had this once because the time table was not published!

Ended up with an 'open' return which was changed to a confirmed seat nearer the return date.

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[mikewilkes]

What does their advert say ......

" The world's favourite airline " ?????



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[deborahann]

Your problem re the booking of the return flight, is caused by all airline systems not being able to cope with more than 10 months I think it is, ahead of the current date. You would not be able to book both dates on line either for the same reasons, with any airline.

BA probably have an open return ticket option, but it is probably cheaper to take a lower fare and pay the £50 to change the date. If you make it plain to BA, in writing or whatever when you book, you are only booking the October date, cos you can't yet book for December they might, just might, not charge you the £50 when you change the date. BA are always nicer to passengers booking direct, rather than via an agent. An agent though would check out if any airline has a decent priced open return ticket option, though I doubt it, as this ticket type tends to be used by businessmen, hence the high price. hope this helps

<hr width=100% size=1>deborah on delft.
Nothing to do with Mucky Farter or hlb in drag

 

[[2068]]

You'll struggle to get a booking that far ahead on any airline - the flights might or might not exist, routings or aircraft (hence no of seats avail) might change etc...

dv.

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[PhilF]

eurostar would not let me book online more than 90 days in advance, when the time came that I could book, all first class was full and I couldnt get a hotel room where I wanted it.
When I spoke to the travel company they said " you should have phoned" , whats the point of the internet then, none they said

ho hum

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[whisper]

Thanks Deborah, I'll try that.

Sounds like you had a nice time in the S.W. I only returned from Kingsbridge last week - weather not bad at all but boat slightly poorly so didn't travel far.

Back down again hopefully next week.
"Nice" to meet Haydn a couple of weeks ago. Think he'd had a heavy night, or does he always look like that /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

John

John

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[Magnum]

How about this one then. Booked some Club Class flights to Africa with BA. Changed my mind about the trip and requested an alternative destination. "Yes sir, you can do that, but only if you go up a class". I replied "but I'm already flying Club and paying the thick end of five large, how much extra do you want for First?". "Well sir, another 5 large ones will do nicely". So for the price of a small family car they'll take me to my new destination, which staying with Club would have cost an extra £200. "Can I just have a refund then?". "No". "Can I just pay an admin charge for your trouble and stay Club Class?". "No". Moral of the tale is - read the small print - all of it.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.magnumyacht.net>http://www.magnumyacht.net</A> - Princess P42

 

[hlb]

Cheeky bugger. Take notice of what Debs says, she's a consultant for airline bookings etc.

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Much more serious IMHO are the stories about BA and others, I expect, charging different fares for the same flights/seats depending on which country you live in. Needless to say, we Brits pay the most as a reward for our loyalty to our so-called flag carrier

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[hlb]

yes John, can confirm Haydn does always look like "he's had a bad night !" & after reading what he said about my experience in travel, he's going to have a bad day as well !!

as I wasn't actually some lowly "travel consultant" as haydn claims, I part owned & was MD for 12 years of one of the largest air travel companies in the uk & have recently sold another online air travel company. So I think I really should know what I am talking about. Anyway good luck with your BA booking & sorry to have missed your visit


<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[whisper]

Tee Hee.
Your relationship seems to be the same as mine with SWMBO, Ann, only of course in our case it is me that is always perfect.

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[mikewilkes]

Amsterdam and Paris are very close. Try using one of the " Sky Team".

p.s. I dont work for them but use them every month on long haul.



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[deborahann]

She's using my name in vain again. I think Deb is trying to say, she's a trolly dolly.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>deborah on delft.
Nothing to do with Mucky Farter or hlb in drag

 

[longjohnsilver]

Oho it's all gone very quiet from hlb towers, I wonder why??!!

And on the hlb webcam we have a pair of squirrels eating some very unusual small nuts..................................

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[jfm]

The thing about BA is the full J Class Club world is pretty expensive but hugely discounted if you buy Club Apex. About half the price. The catch is, you cant change it once booked. But Club World mostly doesn't fill up till last minute, so the best approach is always book pretty late, a few weeks before your travel (after you have done all your mind-changing). I'm not sure, but if First is not full and Club is, they will still sell Club tickets, cos they want the four-figures-per-seat revenue and they can bump someone (hopefully you) to First

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[MapisM]

Are the other airlines run on a similar basis ?

I can't answer really.
But for sure most of them are not actually "run", they're just carefully walking on the edge of bankrupcy...

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