I have a $300 CR-credit that I would like to apply to some BA flights. When I look online for the itinerary I want, I am able to find the flights on BA.com for about $1140.

However, when I call in to book the same flights using the CR-credit (as this can not be done online), the BA agents give me a price of $1427 - somewhat higher than the BA.com price, which renders the CR-credit almost totally useless. When I ask for an explanation of the price difference, the telesales agents say quite openly tell me that BA.com regularly offers better prices than the telephone sales channel. Without a hint or irony, they then told me that luckily, my CR-credit will absorb the price difference, so I'll be no worse off for calling.

Can this be real?

Or more constructively: does anyone here know of a workaround that would allow me to access the online price-levels and still apply the CR-Credit?