Upgrade booking that I didn't pay for
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 8
Upgrade booking that I didn't pay for
I have an issue where I'm unable to upgrade a booking with Avois because of two reasons:
1. I'm not the credit card holder on the booking
2. There is another passenger traveling under the same booking reference that is not part of household account (Is it a colleague at work).
I called BA and the CSR told me that I'm unable to upgrade with the booking because I'm not the credit card holder on the booking and the upgrade would still result in additional taxes / surcharges (which I understand).
I would like to resolve this without going to the credit card holder (company CEO) and asking him to perform what seems like an annoying task of calling customer service, splitting tickets into two booking references and adding my credit card for the upgrade.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
1. I'm not the credit card holder on the booking
2. There is another passenger traveling under the same booking reference that is not part of household account (Is it a colleague at work).
I called BA and the CSR told me that I'm unable to upgrade with the booking because I'm not the credit card holder on the booking and the upgrade would still result in additional taxes / surcharges (which I understand).
I would like to resolve this without going to the credit card holder (company CEO) and asking him to perform what seems like an annoying task of calling customer service, splitting tickets into two booking references and adding my credit card for the upgrade.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
#2
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,476
Welcome cd21419
I have an issue where I'm unable to upgrade a booking with Avois because of two reasons:
1. I'm not the credit card holder on the booking
2. There is another passenger traveling under the same booking reference that is not part of household account (Is it a colleague at work).
1. I'm not the credit card holder on the booking
2. There is another passenger traveling under the same booking reference that is not part of household account (Is it a colleague at work).
But I hope you get it sorted, don't forget to tell us how it works out, and I hope we see plenty more of you here. Welcome on board.
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, AF Gold, some hotels...
Posts: 547
There is absolutely no reason why you could not do it all by yourself.
You have first to call BA and get the booking split into 2 PNRs. You cannot do this step online unfortunately. No one is going to ask you for the credit card details - only potentially if you are the credit card holder. (I won't advise what your answer should be at that point).
Once you have your own PNR you can UUA online. The payment of extra taxes and surcharges can be done on a new credit card, it does not have to be the same that was used on the base booking.
Am sure your CEO has better things to do than meddle with your company travel - and you may not want him to know you upgrade your company bookings.
You have first to call BA and get the booking split into 2 PNRs. You cannot do this step online unfortunately. No one is going to ask you for the credit card details - only potentially if you are the credit card holder. (I won't advise what your answer should be at that point).
Once you have your own PNR you can UUA online. The payment of extra taxes and surcharges can be done on a new credit card, it does not have to be the same that was used on the base booking.
Am sure your CEO has better things to do than meddle with your company travel - and you may not want him to know you upgrade your company bookings.
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, AF Gold, some hotels...
Posts: 547
Indeed. I had (maybe mistakenly) assumed cd21419 and their CEO were of the same sex. If this is not the case it may be a problem indeed, as you clearly highlighted.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 8
Could be another option?
There are 6+ reward tickets still available from WT+ to Business. I'm friends with the colleague that is also on my PNR. Could I add him as a friends a family and upgrade both of us online? I have a ton of avois and I'm earning enough on this flight to cover both upgrades. I also assume that I would be able to pay for the additional taxes with my own card.
I'm not that familiar with friends and family.
Thanks for all the help thus far!
There are 6+ reward tickets still available from WT+ to Business. I'm friends with the colleague that is also on my PNR. Could I add him as a friends a family and upgrade both of us online? I have a ton of avois and I'm earning enough on this flight to cover both upgrades. I also assume that I would be able to pay for the additional taxes with my own card.
I'm not that familiar with friends and family.
Thanks for all the help thus far!
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, AF Gold, some hotels...
Posts: 547
Could be another option?
There are 6+ reward tickets still available from WT+ to Business. I'm friends with the colleague that is also on my PNR. Could I add him as a friends a family and upgrade both of us online? I have a ton of avois and I'm earning enough on this flight to cover both upgrades. I also assume that I would be able to pay for the additional taxes with my own card.
I'm not that familiar with friends and family.
Thanks for all the help thus far!
There are 6+ reward tickets still available from WT+ to Business. I'm friends with the colleague that is also on my PNR. Could I add him as a friends a family and upgrade both of us online? I have a ton of avois and I'm earning enough on this flight to cover both upgrades. I also assume that I would be able to pay for the additional taxes with my own card.
I'm not that familiar with friends and family.
Thanks for all the help thus far!
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,083
Once I upgraded my wife (travelling alone) for money during OLCI - she was asked to show the CC (mine!) at the counter and as she didn't have it, she had to phone me and hand it to the agent. Don't know what would've happened is she had travelled without checked luggage and had just marched to the gate.
#12
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,676
Wasn't there a thread recently on FT about how BA will only speak to the person named in the booking irrespective of who actually paid for the booking?
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,642
I don't know when BA regards itself as having a binding contract (on the terms of the ticket and fare) with the passenger, but presumably this could become binding no later than when the passenger presents himself for travel.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 8
Just a quick follow up.
I was able to add the other passenger on my friends and family list. Unfortunately, that took too long and the reward flights were gone. I then signed up for AwardNexus and a reward on the return flight become available a few days later. I was able to upgrade us both to CW from WT+ for 30K points and 84 from PVG to LHR.
Hoping that an outbound reward becomes available.
Thanks for everyones help!^
I was able to add the other passenger on my friends and family list. Unfortunately, that took too long and the reward flights were gone. I then signed up for AwardNexus and a reward on the return flight become available a few days later. I was able to upgrade us both to CW from WT+ for 30K points and 84 from PVG to LHR.
Hoping that an outbound reward becomes available.
Thanks for everyones help!^
#15
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,653
Hi to help you guys out BA can disuss any booking with passenger and credit card holder as long as you give name and then can confirm some security questions.
On a commercial booking with cash purchased direct with BA the passenger or cardholder can make changes provided they pay on a card in their name.
Im explaining this way because on an avios booking the executive club card holder who would have paid and used their points is the only one able to change the booking. Of course an executive club nominee can also discuss and make changes for thenmember on any abios or commercial booking where we see the exec member named.
On travel agency bookings its slightly different again. Typically the credit/debit card details including person paid doesnt show up in the booking so we would need to speak to the passenger to discuss or make changes.
****As a further note be aware that unless you select the person paying isnt travelling if you book on ba.com the cardholder name will default to the passenger. This then leaves us in the unfortunate situation where someone calls saying they are the cardholder but can we cant speak to them!!! Also this can look like fraud and therefore is taken very seriously and can cause serious problems for a passenger. So please be careful!*******
******** all opinions are my own and do not represent those of either BA or IAG*****
On a commercial booking with cash purchased direct with BA the passenger or cardholder can make changes provided they pay on a card in their name.
Im explaining this way because on an avios booking the executive club card holder who would have paid and used their points is the only one able to change the booking. Of course an executive club nominee can also discuss and make changes for thenmember on any abios or commercial booking where we see the exec member named.
On travel agency bookings its slightly different again. Typically the credit/debit card details including person paid doesnt show up in the booking so we would need to speak to the passenger to discuss or make changes.
****As a further note be aware that unless you select the person paying isnt travelling if you book on ba.com the cardholder name will default to the passenger. This then leaves us in the unfortunate situation where someone calls saying they are the cardholder but can we cant speak to them!!! Also this can look like fraud and therefore is taken very seriously and can cause serious problems for a passenger. So please be careful!*******
******** all opinions are my own and do not represent those of either BA or IAG*****