cziwkga

Although I often travel on semi-flex fares on UK domestics, I have rarely needed to exploit the flexibility they offer. A recent experience has suggested that I may not fully understand the rules that apply, or perhaps that agents have differing interpretations of the rules - or even that both these things are true

So, I'm seeking either information gained from experience, or from someone who believes they truly understand the fare rules, and in particular the part that applies to fee-free changes on the day of travel. In particular - is there a time limit for requesting that change? Does it have to be made before the departure time of the originally-booked flight? Does it have to be made before special cut-off time before the new flight?

I ask because last week I was booked on an evening departure (18.35) from LHR to EDI on a semiflex ticket. On the day my plans changed leaving me free much earlier than I had expected. I thought I might just make the 16,30, but certainly the 17.35. I got to the customer service desk at 15.31. I was surprised to be told that if I wanted to get on the 16.30, there would be a fare difference to pay. The agent said that fee-free changes could only be made more than 1hr before the departure time of the new flight. I didn't argue, switched to the 17.35 and sampled the wine offerings in the lounge instead.

This week I booked another semi-flex for the same LHR-EDI flight. I looked closely at the conditions during the booking process and nowhere could I see this rule mentioned. On this occasion, there's a significant chance that I won't get to LHR in time to make conformance, which will mean a much later flight. I want the flexibility to be on the earlier flight if possible, and to have a fee-free change to the later flight if it isn't. Semi-flex seems ideal for this. But I'm now concerned about when and how I have to make the change. Does it have to be done before the original departure time, or is it more like a fully-flex ticket on the day? If I check in for the original flight online, does that make a difference?

Thanks for any insight anyone can offer.

Prospero

Does this help?

http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/...horthaul-fares

KARFA

The fare rules regarding changes are shown on ba.com when you get to the quote page, like this:

TyneTraveller

I was just about to say the easiest way to double check is exactly how KARFA had suggested, on the booking screen under the fare rules section. However after quickly checking booking into the cheapest semi flex without on the day change fees, it appears the OP is actually correct. Most of the basic info is there, but I can't find anything that says "At least 1 hour’s notice must be given prior to the scheduled departure time."

Clearly the rules were correctly applied, but without Prospero's link one would maybe struggle to find this rule.

710 77345

Looks like this is another example of a BA.com error - is there a thread where it can be reported?

KARFA

Good point, I didn't realise that the 1 hr notice was not shown on the quote page.

TyneTraveller

Neither did I until looking further into it......highly odd as it's a key rule of the fare not to make readily available.

DPW

I've bought 'H' and 'B' class semi-flex fares (on domestics) before and not been allowed to change on the day, despite there being plenty of available seats. BA were only selling 'R' fares on the day, which I must say always seems to be the case. So, if 'H' and 'B' domestic fares don't seem to be available on the day, how exactly is one supposed to utilise the benefit of a semi-flex ticket? Is it all just a big con?

TyneTraveller

Now that is interesting. I didn't know that the same selling class has to be available to changed semi-flex tickets on the day, and am still not sure that that's correct. Were you perhaps trying to change within the hour as above, for which the rule isn't overly easy to spot?

They're not the type of tickets that suit my needs as a general stand, but if the rules are adhered to correctly by the traveller and agents alike, I think they represent quite good value for on the day flexibility compared to the other fully flexible options (and H/B offer full TP's too)? I wouldn't describe them as a con, just a bit more digging around on the rules is needed before purchase/transfer on all sides.

710 77345

Selling class on the day doesn't matter - sounds like you had a staff member who hadn't been properly trained. I'd have been chasing a refund after that!

patentlyobvious

I've found the same. Unable to use semi-flex to change on the day of travel since I was advised the same fare class must be available on the earlier flight, not simply available seats, and there were no more seats in the class I had booked. Since this, I have stopped buying semi-flex as I can't have a reasonable level of certainty that I will be able to change.

TyneTraveller

My understanding is that on H/B bucket tickets, that should not be the case.

Most tickets are to some extent flexible on the day incurring a change fee (usually £60 for domestic flights) and the difference in fare between original ticket and the ticket cost available at the time of change.

710 77345

Wow. Just wow.

The whole point of these tickets is to allow changes as long as there is a seat free (regardless of bucket). Waterside lurkers - look and see how your good ideas to compete against Easyjet are being let down by poor training & controls, and costing your company hard cash.

corporate-wage-slave

Welcome to Flyertalk DPW, welcome in particular to the British Airways board. It's great to see new people joining up with us here, so thank you for the question. As indicated the fare rules will indicate the semi flex nature rather than the fare buckets H/B etc but the fare buckets are useful in terms of a having a free transfer or not for other tickets. At H level I would normally expect at least some flexibility.

Having said that, I've looked at LHR to NCL and to EDI for travel today, a busy Friday. NCL there is no H available today, there aren't so many services, they're looking quite full and it's now showing Y9 H0 for all services. EDI is more complex, but the evening flights are filling up, but there is some H available (e.g. the very late BA1464 - a 767 at 20:55 and unpopular with weekly commuters, is showing:
J9 C9 D9 R9 I9 Y9 B7 H3 K2 M0 LC VC NC QC OC SC G1
The G1 tells me this flight is not full by any means.

So in short, you need to be careful with tickets other than semi flex. If ticketed in Y, it is probably OK, but won't be cheap normally, but if at B and below is probably best for mid week, middle of the day travel on less busy services.

When BA says R only, it's typically in the final hour before departure, it's not routine for further out.

710 77345

This is totally wrong; you don't need to be careful or pay for more expensive fares if you just want to change on the day. As long as it is a semi flex fare - even a (relatively) cheap one - then you can switch on the day to a plane that has one seat available for sale at a full Y price.