Originally Posted by
TMOTEE
I booked a ticket online for a colleague in D class from PVG-LHR-JFK 1-way. Cost was around $4300. After not being able to select a seat I called BA and was informed that you could only do on line check in 24 hrs in advance due to the fare being a discount fare.
As a good flyer talker I then did some research here and found the thread about the new seating policy. I was completely shocked. While employees at my company do not fly BA a lot when they do it is always in paid J or F. After 3 more phone calls to different departments at BA I could not reach anyone with any sense of logic or reason. In fact I reached 1 VERY rude agent who began to lecture me about the purchase of the "discount" ticket instead of a full fare. I do not think a ticket costing over $4000 should be treated like a $398 special economy class ticket.
Eventually after so much frustration the ticket was cancelled and we rebooked on Virgin. I told the agent at BA this is what I was going to do and she actually said "That's fine sir, I can process that refund right now".
What type of company is this ? I always thought of BA as a great airline that catered to the premium market.
There will be no more bookings with BA from my company.
There really isn't any excuse for the BA agent to lose his/her cool but the policy is very clear and easily accessible via BA's website. No matter how hard you press them, like it or not, the policy is what the policy is and the agents you spoke to have no discretionary powers to grant you your wish.
I'm am interested if VS matched the price you originally paid BA. Whilst BA's D fare is refundable yet not high enough up the chart to provide an allocated seat at the time of booking, the fully flex J fare is. The J fare is available for a marginal uplift, well if you can call $550 marginal. The cheapest restricted Upper Class fare I can find on this route prices out $2,100 more at $6,846.
That's all academic now that you have your pre-assigned seats with a carrier you are happy to fly.
Happy travels