British Airways silver - the 4 eligible flights?
Apr 26, 2017, 2:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 9
British Airways silver - the 4 eligible flights?
I will have enough tier points for BAEC silver status in a few months. However, I will need to take 4 eligible BA flights in order to get silver status. I'm planning a trip to LAS with BA, with a connection in LHR, which will be 4 BA flights.
The flights are considerably cheaper booking through an on-line travel agent rather than direct with BA (this one happens to be travel trolley). However, the statement regarding the 4 eligible flights on the BA website reads "Reward flights and agency or industry discounted bookings do not qualify." Am I too assume every agency booking is not eligible towards my tier status?
i.e. I -have- to book via BA direct?
The flights are considerably cheaper booking through an on-line travel agent rather than direct with BA (this one happens to be travel trolley). However, the statement regarding the 4 eligible flights on the BA website reads "Reward flights and agency or industry discounted bookings do not qualify." Am I too assume every agency booking is not eligible towards my tier status?
i.e. I -have- to book via BA direct?
Apr 26, 2017, 2:37 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: US of A
Programs: Delta Diamond, United 1K, BA Blue, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,775
I will have enough tier points for BAEC silver status in a few months. However, I will need to take 4 eligible BA flights in order to get silver status. I'm planning a trip to LAS with BA, with a connection in LHR, which will be 4 BA flights.
The flights are considerably cheaper booking through an on-line travel agent rather than direct with BA (this one happens to be travel trolley). However, the statement regarding the 4 eligible flights on the BA website reads "Reward flights and agency or industry discounted bookings do not qualify." Am I too assume every agency booking is not eligible towards my tier status?
i.e. I -have- to book via BA direct?
The flights are considerably cheaper booking through an on-line travel agent rather than direct with BA (this one happens to be travel trolley). However, the statement regarding the 4 eligible flights on the BA website reads "Reward flights and agency or industry discounted bookings do not qualify." Am I too assume every agency booking is not eligible towards my tier status?
i.e. I -have- to book via BA direct?
Booking via the likes of Expedia still counts as eligible flights, so assuming that every online travel agency booking is not eligible is not correct. However, I cannot say for sure with respect to that one, since some smaller ones may be using creative ways to offer cheaper fares.
I think I will go ahead and book the cheaper option.
Apr 26, 2017, 2:48 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: North East
Programs: Hilton HHonors, BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,204
Yes, welcome....my manners these days. There are many differing types of fare that are included under that umbrella, which someone else may be able to elaborate on far better than myself. As a general rule though fares that online travel agents have available to the public are not usually these. As an example, private group or corporate fares arranged by a travel agent that may be provided at an industry discounted special rate may not qualify. Also some staff schemes etc.
Apr 26, 2017, 2:51 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 9
Yes, welcome....my manners these days. There are many differing types of fare that are included under that umbrella, which someone else may be able to elaborate on far better than myself. As a general rule though fares that online travel agents have available to the public are not usually these. As an example, private group or corporate fares arranged by a travel agent that may be provided at an industry discounted special rate may not qualify. Also some staff schemes etc.
Apr 26, 2017, 2:52 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: KLM, BA Silver, Etihad
Posts: 918
Yes, welcome....my manners these days. There are many differing types of fare that are included under that umbrella, which someone else may be able to elaborate on far better than myself. As a general rule though fares that online travel agents have available to the public are not usually these. As an example, private group or corporate fares arranged by a travel agent that may be provided at an industry discounted special rate may not qualify. Also some staff schemes etc.
Also are there any other restrictions, avoid and TP with corporate rates?
Apr 26, 2017, 3:16 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: North East
Programs: Hilton HHonors, BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,204
As for specific fares, I don't have an adequate answer unfortunately. Hopefully with the vast knowledge base on hand here someone will shed more light on this as it's an interesting question.
Apr 26, 2017, 4:28 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,595
In my experience this refers to industry discounted (staff tickets) and agency discounted (travel agency staff tickets). These are specifically not eligible for avios nor do they count towards the magic 4 required for status.
Tickets sold via an agent or a consolidator (third party) would be eligible however. I know this is not always the case at other airlines (DL springs to mind) however at BA relatively few fares are ineligible fortunatley.
Tickets sold via an agent or a consolidator (third party) would be eligible however. I know this is not always the case at other airlines (DL springs to mind) however at BA relatively few fares are ineligible fortunatley.
Apr 26, 2017, 4:48 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,492
Air Travel forum on TripAdvisor is useful for checking reviews if you put the agency name into the search (you may ultimately decide to book elsewhere)
Feb 2, 2018, 7:23 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,041
They have changed the text on BA.COM, the line about codeshare has been removed and the first line is repeated
Eligible British Airways flights are:
Before it said
BA flights are:
Eligible British Airways flights are:
- British Airways operated flights, including franchises and BA CityFlyer.
- British Airways operated flights, including franchises and BA CityFlyer.
- Flights operated by Iberia, included franchises, with an IB flight number.
Before it said
BA flights are:
- flights operated by British Airways, including franchises and BA CityFlyer
- codeshare flights on other carriers with a BA flight number
- flights operated by Iberia, including franchises* , with an IB flight number
Feb 2, 2018, 8:18 am
#13
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW London
Programs: BAEC Silver; Hilton Diamond;a miscellany of other hotel non-statuses
Posts: 3,607
They have changed the text on BA.COM, the line about codeshare has been removed and the first line is repeated
Eligible British Airways flights are:
Before it said
BA flights are:
Eligible British Airways flights are:
- British Airways operated flights, including franchises and BA CityFlyer.
- British Airways operated flights, including franchises and BA CityFlyer.
- Flights operated by Iberia, included franchises, with an IB flight number.
Before it said
BA flights are:
- flights operated by British Airways, including franchises and BA CityFlyer
- codeshare flights on other carriers with a BA flight number
- flights operated by Iberia, including franchises* , with an IB flight number
But don't let that stop the panic commencing
...
Feb 2, 2018, 9:48 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK, Peak District near MAN
Programs: BA- blue, BD,DL
Posts: 2,027
They are not codeshares/operated by partner airline etc.