Originally Posted by FrancisA

Yet again a thread full of hysteria over a minor change. As usual, most posters look at it solely from their personal perspective and moan because something too good to be true has had to come to an end.

BA launched HBOs as a discount to standard Y fares. It was in some ways a marketing gimmick, but it did offer a small saving for those willing to forego checked luggage. The problem is it was just too successful and for frequent business travellers too generous.

Result? Huge issues with excessive amounts of hand luggage. Lack of strict enforcement hasn't helped, but if even pax only took their entitlement, there is still too much hand luggage.

BA's solution - offer an even less frills product by removing seat selection from HBO fares in the hope more will opt for a standard fare with a luggage allowance that will actually use, or at least get in more money to make good some of the costs of the HBO discount.

Perhaps removing seat selection from GCHs is a bit harsh and perhaps there is a case for free selection at OLCI or 7 days out for SCHs. Who knows whether BA considered that, but decided against it.

What I do think is a given is that many see the HBO fare as the standard fare for the flight and resent paying what they is in fact the standard fare, even when they do actually need checked luggage. Witness the number of threads on here about putting in a single CE leg to get a luggage allowance on an entire itinerary, or requests for advice on how to purchase one standard fare and a number of HBO fares so whole family can take their luggage using extra status bags without all buying standard fares.

It may seem harsh, but what BA are saying is we can offer you a really cheap no frills fare but it is just that whatever your status; or for not much more you can have a standard fare with all the trimmings. The choice is yours.

Before the introduction of HBO fares, there was no option to get a cheaper fare by foregoing part of the service. Unfortunately, BA now feel commercially that they need to modify the service reduction offered by the HBO fares. Presumably they have an objective in terms of revenue and operational criteria. If this measure doesn't achieve it, then maybe lounge access will be next.

Whilst this reduces something previously offered, it still provides more choice than there was before as it continues to offer a lower cost option. Standard fares haven't increased in price and if they now offer items that you really value then may be HBOs are not for you.