oneworld - 7th US segment on AONE

After taking around 45 RTWs over the last 15 years, I have run into a BA bottleneck. I am booking a 16 segment RTW in A class which includes 7 US segments. The itinerary includes one economy sector, but it isn't the last of the 7. BA are arguing that, as the 7th segment in chronological order is A class, I must pay an additional $500 to fly SAN-LAX. All my previous RTWs have allowed me to elect any of the 7 segments as the designated extra one (at $150 extra) - in this case the 4th segment is economy.

I have done this many, many times in the past, both booking through BA and/or AA. Have the rules changed, or are BA simply wrong?

After taking around 45 RTWs over the last 15 years, I have run into a BA bottleneck. I am booking a 16 segment RTW in A class which includes 7 US segments. The itinerary includes one economy sector, but it isn't the last of the 7. BA are arguing that, as the 7th segment in chronological order is A class, I must pay an additional $500 to fly SAN-LAX. All my previous RTWs have allowed me to elect any of the 7 segments as the designated extra one (at $150 extra) - in this case the 4th segment is economy.

I have done this many, many times in the past, both booking through BA and/or AA. Have the rules changed, or are BA simply wrong?
We've debated this before and whether or not you are able to designate a segment depends upon the airline and who you are talking to at the time. AA has usually said no but BA has at times said yes (including your own experiences with BA). See:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld/897861-aone4-designating-extra-segments.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld/822658-extra-north-american-segment-aonex.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld/458937-one-extra-segment-costs-question.html

I'd simply open jaw the SAN-LAX and book the flight separately in economy. That should be much less than $500.

It's hardly worth the trouble for a 40 minute flight.

I'd simply open jaw the SAN-LAX and book the flight separately in economy. That should be much less than $500.

It's hardly worth the trouble for a 40 minute flight.

I looked at that when attempting a connection to CX. You might not be happy if SAN-LAX were booked too close to the flight date.

OTOH, a random date (15 May) shows SAN-LAX at $200 one way

YMMV

Fred

Yeah, not as cheap as some, but I did see US$126 for some flights.

You can take a shuttle service SAN-LAX for not much above 200 $, driving time with normal traffic is a bit over 2 hrs, rush hour around 3.