Dreaded award BA flight change for short haul
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: Alaska Airlines 100K MVP, Oneworld Emerald, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 197
Dreaded award BA flight change for short haul
I was waiting for the schedule change LYS-LHR-SjC-SEA, But the substitute is outrageous. We all know how challenging it is to find U space across the pond, but now I need to start over. I had picked ideal layover time at LHR, etc. now I’m in coach with a barely legal layover time at LHR. Of course I’m still being charged 60K/pp because LYS-LHR is U…..Grrrrr
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
#8
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Of course, a return would get you back to LYS for fewer dollars overall. AY is a good option for EU, but pretty late in the game for this summer & fall.
James
#9
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,597
For October I have a paid cash BA ticket SEA-LHR-FRA, returning BER-LHR-SEA in PE. The total price was $1560. I bought because I need the miles to requal for MVP Gold (not gonna make 75K this year). Given those prices, it makes little economic sense to use miles for BA travel if the award cost is 120K + ~$1K.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
For October I have a paid cash BA ticket SEA-LHR-FRA, returning BER-LHR-SEA in PE. The total price was $1560. I bought because I need the miles to requal for MVP Gold (not gonna make 75K this year). Given those prices, it makes little economic sense to use miles for BA travel if the award cost is 120K + ~$1K.
If you are downgraded on an ex-UK or ex-EU flight (or any flight on a UK or EU carrier) you are due a certain percentage refund (depending on distance) of the fare (prorated by distance of you were downgraded for only some segments). For anything over 3500km it's a 75% refund. This applies to fare, miles, and carrier surcharges -- you get 75% back of what you paid. This is even true if you booked F and were downgraded to J.
Furthermore if your downgrade results in lower taxes being due (eg from premium cabin to econ ex-UK, resulting in a lower APD) you should get the difference in taxes refunded.
The airline may just try to refund you the fare difference but you should not accept this.
I'm not quite sure how this works if you booked through a third party (eg AS) but I don't believe that there is a carveout for third party bookings. If AS wants to sell flights to and from the UK/EU they have to follow the regs there, just like foreign carriers and travel agents that sell flights that touch the US have to follow DOT regs (eg, 24-hour cancellation).
You can probably get more information on other forums (the UK regs are essentially copied and pasted from EU regs, with obvious changes like converting fixed compensations from euros to pounds)
#11
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Just looking at BA award travel from SEA to LHR. Why does BA , for Partner Business ask for 70,000 on some flights? It is a 3 cabin plane.
AS award chart has business at 60,000 and First at 70,000. Most are 60,000 but there are some at 70,000.
AS award chart has business at 60,000 and First at 70,000. Most are 60,000 but there are some at 70,000.
#12
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVPG 75K, BA Silver, AC, AF/KL, AV, VS | Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 457
#13
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,293
Checking daily for award travel next fall on BA. I have not been able to book any Business / club world or First awards showing on AS site. Tried other departing cities and dates, it always comes back as error, try again later.
Called MVPG line and they said that awards on site are not always current availability. 🙄
Checked BA Avios award calendar which show A few days with PE seat award only.
Frustrated that AS continues to show awards that do not exist for BA.
Called MVPG line and they said that awards on site are not always current availability. 🙄
Checked BA Avios award calendar which show A few days with PE seat award only.
Frustrated that AS continues to show awards that do not exist for BA.