I was TOLD (like a school child) when I phoned in the last week, by an agent who managed much to my amazement to make a complete sentence no matter what the context that only used the words 'non refundable' and 'non changeable', it was actually quite funny to listen to her using those words in each and every sentence (did she have a cue card?). Not matter how silly, it was long the lines of 'would you like to go out for coffee', 'yes of course but as long as it is non changeable and non refundable!'

The main fun was when I said that of course taxes are refundable, which caused an audible inhalation of breath followed, by silence and the voice of success when she announced that (note this was after I heard her cursing to her colleague next to her who told her of BA success formula for that little trick). Yes taxes were refundable as long as you have not begun your journey - 'not sure on the legality of that statement' and that for each ticket it was subject to a £15 processing fee and that I would have to process an infants ticket as well as that was part of the PNR - the infant paid £3 in taxes so that starts us off at - £12!

I was also TOLD that this could only be done via manage my booking BEFORE the first flight, and would take 3 months etc etc.

So after that I have let it sit on the backburner for the past few days until I bother again, but I feel they have a corporate policy of yes some people end up not taking flights, and we used to love cashing in on the free taxes but now we have been caught let's make it as tough as possible to get at least something back -as if the free money they had for a flight not taken, the ability to resell your seat is not enough....

Oh, and to cap it off she wrote in BOLD in the booking. That each person access my booking is to tell me that it is 'nonfundable and non-changeable'. Of course it is it, is an /I/ fare, but I do not need to be treated like some cheat or criminal if I phone and ask a question on seat requests for instance. I learnt that from the next person who I changed seating with, who was wondering what I did to annoy someone else so much? 'as I seemed pleasant enough..'

Rant mode off...

Mark
p.s. this has nothing to reflect on the good service I have recieved at checkin and in the air.