Do you have any facts/data to back up that assertion?
Is it reasonable that there are never any seats for Avios bookings on LHR-SYD? Even booking almost a year in advance, the tiny number of seats released is insufficient to satisfy demand from those holding Avios.
Programs: Mucci Premiere Classe & des Chevaliers Toulousiens, BA G, *A G, FB G, ICH PA, Hertz PC, etc, etc
Posts: 12,140
Quote:
Originally Posted by nfh
Even booking almost a year in advance, the tiny number of seats released is insufficient to satisfy demand from those holding Avios.
I have redeemed on this route so that sort of disproves your assumption. There are many people fighting for a limited number of seats on 1 route. That would hardly constitute the proof for your assumption. It merely proves that supply outweighs demand. I think BA could fill a plane a day with people wanting to redeem on this route, do you suggest they do that?
__________________ Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.
I think BA could fill a plane a day with people wanting to redeem on this route, do you suggest they do that?
They should release enough seats to satisfy a reasonable demand. LHR-SYD is an extreme example; it's the same story for many other routes. If demand exceeds supply, then there is a problem that BA needs to address.
Is it reasonable that there are never any seats for Avios bookings on LHR-SYD? Even booking almost a year in advance, the tiny number of seats released is insufficient to satisfy demand from those holding Avios.
So your taking one person (yours) experience on a single route (LHR-SYD) and extrapolating it to:
British Airways doesn't release a sufficient number of seats to honour the number of Avios that it has issued.
Not quite the same thing.
EDIT: I see you later say its the same on many other routes - that still does not back up your statement.
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Gold, Priority Club Gold, SPG Gold, Hertz Gold, Wispa Gold... mmm... caramel...
Posts: 114
Quote:
Originally Posted by henkybaby
Well, the cloud was timely.
I sympathize with the OP although I have a genuine problem with people accusing other people of misleading them (and all the other things) since this would require intent. People should take more responsibility themselves instead of pointing to other people when things don't go as planned.
The cloud was timely although my initial enthusiasm and excitement about joining the FT online community has faded an awful lot faster that I expected. I certainly didn't expect to have to defend myself quite so robustly for nothing more than asking a simple question about reward seat availability.
Yes, I do believe I was misled by the BAEC rep I spoke to, but as I have said a few times now, I do not believe her intent was to mislead me, the problem was she was basing her assumption on prior experience and BA have clearly not briefed her on the changes to reward seat availability that have seemingly occurred this year. That is nothing more than an internal communication problem, but it has let to a less than stellar customer experience.
It's a shame that I can't share that with other BAEC members here without having to deal with some pretty heavy criticism. I mean "put the OP in his proper place"? Come on, that is deliberately inflammatory, cloud or no cloud.
Programs: BAEC Silver,clubcard,clubcard plus, BA Amex................ And Mucci x3 ;)
Posts: 7,557
Quote:
Originally Posted by nfh
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paralytic
Do you have any facts/data to back up that assertion?
Is it reasonable that there are never any seats for Avios bookings on LHR-SYD? Even booking almost a year in advance, the tiny number of seats released is insufficient to satisfy demand from those holding Avios.
I was trying to book LHR-SYD between December 2011 and March 2012 for my honeymoon in October 2012.
I was about to book paid Y when seats opened up as per my entry in ba97.
Seats do open up and for some reason they did in March for October.
I'm now left keeping my fingers crossed that two CE or F seats open up LHR-SIN so that my booking can be changed from wt. if not were still going to have a great time.
cs
__________________
Doesn't really seem to fit in on BA flyertalk anymore, hey ho, times change, I'm still around and might post from time to time, still read forum and PMs
Programs: Mucci Premiere Classe & des Chevaliers Toulousiens, BA G, *A G, FB G, ICH PA, Hertz PC, etc, etc
Posts: 12,140
Quote:
Originally Posted by nfh
They should release enough seats to satisfy a reasonable demand. LHR-SYD is an extreme example; it's the same story for many other routes. If demand exceeds supply, then there is a problem that BA needs to address.
All I can say: I hardly ever have a problem. However, flexibility rules my leisure travel so maybe I am not the best benchmark.
__________________ Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.
Programs: BAEC Silver,clubcard,clubcard plus, BA Amex................ And Mucci x3 ;)
Posts: 7,557
How rude, welcome to flyertalk McLovin
cs
__________________
Doesn't really seem to fit in on BA flyertalk anymore, hey ho, times change, I'm still around and might post from time to time, still read forum and PMs
I'm now left keeping my fingers crossed that two CE or F seats open up LHR-SIN so that my booking can be changed from wt. if not were still going to have a great time.
It's ridiculous that one's proposed strategy for getting a seat has to be to keep one's fingers crossed. If you have enough Avios, then you could have a reasonable expectation of always getting the seats you need, except at peak times, e.g. during the Olympics and Christmas etc.
They should release enough seats to satisfy a reasonable demand. LHR-SYD is an extreme example; it's the same story for many other routes. If demand exceeds supply, then there is a problem that BA needs to address.
I've some sympathy with this, clearly BA are there to sell seats and will never offer enough seats to meet demand. Having said that the current reward availability is pathetic and is devaluing the scheme, I'm surprised people are defending it.
Programs: BAEC Silver,clubcard,clubcard plus, BA Amex................ And Mucci x3 ;)
Posts: 7,557
Quote:
Originally Posted by nfh
Quote:
Originally Posted by cornishsimon
I'm now left keeping my fingers crossed that two CE or F seats open up LHR-SIN so that my booking can be changed from wt. if not were still going to have a great time.
It's ridiculous that one's proposed strategy for getting a seat has to be to keep one's fingers crossed. If you have enough Avios, then you could have a reasonable expectation of always getting the seats you need, except at peak times, e.g. during the Olympics and Christmas etc.
But how do I know that somebody else hasn't already booked the dates I wanted before I had chance ?
cs
__________________
Doesn't really seem to fit in on BA flyertalk anymore, hey ho, times change, I'm still around and might post from time to time, still read forum and PMs
Programs: Nothing that really matters anymore in NZ!
Posts: 1,316
Quote:
Originally Posted by nfh
It's ridiculous that one's proposed strategy for getting a seat has to be to keep one's fingers crossed. If you have enough Avios, then you could have a reasonable expectation of always getting the seats you need, except at peak times, e.g. during the Olympics and Christmas etc.
My bolding - but the OP's original post was initially about the lack of availability at a high peak period (further compounded by customer services staff who, with no malice and based on their previous experience - told him availability would probably open up)
He's not a one hit ranter and has stayed around to engage in the debate around availability - good on him. He's also far more relaxed about his travel plans than when he first posted - which is brilliant. And it seems Mrs to be is far less impressed/bothered/worried about the class of travel than McLovin thought (although its really nice the he wanted to get the best he could for her)
But please, lay off Henky. He was only pointing out how differently the OP had been responded to than is usual for people who don't do their research and have unrealistic expectations. It was not him who said "put the OP in his place"
And nfh, there are lots of other threads about "why is availability so bad" if you have anything new to bring to that debate
But how do I know that somebody else hasn't already booked the dates I wanted before I had chance ?
They probably have done, and were one of the people who stay up at 1am almost a year in advance to book the flights. That strategy shouldn't be necessary; BA should release enough seats to meet demand from those using Avios, otherwise Avios become effectively useless.
