New fares enhanced (no more free changes [before departure day])
Aug 24, 2016, 4:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
New fares enhanced (no more free changes [before departure day])
h/t HfP
It seems the new fare structure was too good to be true
From the HfP article:
As of last Friday, ‘Plus’ fares can no longer be changed for free except on the day of departure. Changes made in advance will now incur a change fee, usually Ł35 out of the UK, as well as the difference in fare.
‘Plus’ tickets bought before last Friday are exempt and can be changed for just the fare difference.
It seems the new fare structure was too good to be true
From the HfP article:
As of last Friday, ‘Plus’ fares can no longer be changed for free except on the day of departure. Changes made in advance will now incur a change fee, usually Ł35 out of the UK, as well as the difference in fare.
‘Plus’ tickets bought before last Friday are exempt and can be changed for just the fare difference.
Aug 24, 2016, 4:28 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,517
Extremely annoying. Yet another enhancement BA, it looks like they have an entire team solely dedicated to trying to figure out in which other ways they could scr*w passengers a little bit more every week.
Aug 24, 2016, 4:44 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
If this had been part of the rules when the changes were announced, it would have caused barely a ripple.
But to introduce it, then snatch it away again a few weeks later, frankly smacks of incompetence (and malicious incompetence at that)
But to introduce it, then snatch it away again a few weeks later, frankly smacks of incompetence (and malicious incompetence at that)
Aug 24, 2016, 4:50 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: MME (midway between NCL and LBA)
Programs: BA Gold, AF/KL Gold, Hilton Gold, Nordic Choice Gold
Posts: 743
Totally agree, I changed a BA flight yesterday and was actually surprised when the TA told me that there was no change fee.
Aug 24, 2016, 4:54 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LCY
Programs: Mucci des Ancients Matelots
Posts: 769
Yes it is but for how long?
The fact that this has only been here for a few weeks shows that they're willing to introduce something with great fanfare, lap up the applause and then remove it again.
Seriously. I can't rely on BA to deliver anything they advertise now. If I buy a CW ticket now for xmas, I think I can guarantee a bed and a flight. Everything else including food, drink and IFE seems to be up for removal at any time.
Although I'm silver for another 17 months, it's definitely time to abandon BAEC and go with the best option per flight. Not necessarily the cheapest the best all round option (Take note BA!).
The fact that this has only been here for a few weeks shows that they're willing to introduce something with great fanfare, lap up the applause and then remove it again.
Seriously. I can't rely on BA to deliver anything they advertise now. If I buy a CW ticket now for xmas, I think I can guarantee a bed and a flight. Everything else including food, drink and IFE seems to be up for removal at any time.
Although I'm silver for another 17 months, it's definitely time to abandon BAEC and go with the best option per flight. Not necessarily the cheapest the best all round option (Take note BA!).
Aug 24, 2016, 5:39 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,767
Aug 24, 2016, 5:53 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
I'm organically at c3000 TPs this year and all other things being equal will keep my Gold card until Mar 2018.
In the next few months I will probably shell out a few hundred quid to get to 3500 and my GUF1 award, but more likely on AA/AY than BA tbh.
After that, who knows ? I certainly won't be busting a gut to hit 5000 - what's the point, after all BA seem to hold me in contempt...
In the next few months I will probably shell out a few hundred quid to get to 3500 and my GUF1 award, but more likely on AA/AY than BA tbh.
After that, who knows ? I certainly won't be busting a gut to hit 5000 - what's the point, after all BA seem to hold me in contempt...
Aug 24, 2016, 5:59 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 538
h/t HfP
It seems the new fare structure was too good to be true
From the HfP article:
As of last Friday, ‘Plus’ fares can no longer be changed for free except on the day of departure. Changes made in advance will now incur a change fee, usually Ł35 out of the UK, as well as the difference in fare.
‘Plus’ tickets bought before last Friday are exempt and can be changed for just the fare difference.
It seems the new fare structure was too good to be true
From the HfP article:
As of last Friday, ‘Plus’ fares can no longer be changed for free except on the day of departure. Changes made in advance will now incur a change fee, usually Ł35 out of the UK, as well as the difference in fare.
‘Plus’ tickets bought before last Friday are exempt and can be changed for just the fare difference.
Aug 24, 2016, 6:07 am
#12
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,476
Anyone hear the sound of a dripping tap?
I'm not personally too bothered about this, because most of my dates are fixed and my main use of Plus fares is to re-position from an ex-EU, giving me the option to move flight times to take advantage of an early arrival or mitigate a delay.
For most people, I can see this is a serious downgrade. I wonder if someone will remember to turn the tap off before there's a catastrophic flood?
I'm not personally too bothered about this, because most of my dates are fixed and my main use of Plus fares is to re-position from an ex-EU, giving me the option to move flight times to take advantage of an early arrival or mitigate a delay.
For most people, I can see this is a serious downgrade. I wonder if someone will remember to turn the tap off before there's a catastrophic flood?
Aug 24, 2016, 6:07 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci. And BA Gold – previous awards - Gold 11, Silver 7, Bronze 4.
Posts: 4,233
Yes it is but for how long?
The fact that this has only been here for a few weeks shows that they're willing to introduce something with great fanfare, lap up the applause and then remove it again.
Seriously. I can't rely on BA to deliver anything they advertise now. If I buy a CW ticket now for xmas, I think I can guarantee a bed and a flight. Everything else including food, drink and IFE seems to be up for removal at any time.
Although I'm silver for another 17 months, it's definitely time to abandon BAEC and go with the best option per flight. Not necessarily the cheapest the best all round option (Take note BA!).
The fact that this has only been here for a few weeks shows that they're willing to introduce something with great fanfare, lap up the applause and then remove it again.
Seriously. I can't rely on BA to deliver anything they advertise now. If I buy a CW ticket now for xmas, I think I can guarantee a bed and a flight. Everything else including food, drink and IFE seems to be up for removal at any time.
Although I'm silver for another 17 months, it's definitely time to abandon BAEC and go with the best option per flight. Not necessarily the cheapest the best all round option (Take note BA!).
Aug 24, 2016, 6:16 am
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
BA is on the hunt for shaking out more money out of its "valuable customers" while providing less in return to those customers.
Can't wait to see when the next massive BAEC devaluation hits. That's money too.
Aug 24, 2016, 9:29 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Brighton and Hove, UK
Programs: LH FTL, BA Silver, Thameslink Delay Repay
Posts: 1,248
Meh. The one time I actually tried to use that was when I discovered that - unlike Easyjet and Ryanair - you can only change to flights to the same destination airport. Brilliant when you're somewhere with 5+ daily LHR flights, but you're booked on the only LGW flight of the day. 