BA 'Mixed Class' First Class award - the runaround
 

Trying to book a First Class award on BA using my Aadvantage miles. LAX-LHR available @ 85,000 + $$

Trying to add a leg from LHR to anywhere in Europe. AA.com is no go. Called AA and said they are unable to 'add segments' like they used to. Said it must be all one class. Well, there is no First Class intra-europe. Must this be booked as two separate tickets?

Given the UK261 protections, I'd really like it booked at one ticket. I guess I can do via BA Avios, but any tips on getting AA to ticket? I'd like to deplete my AA miles for this trip. ;)

HUCA.

And to be clear, have you already booked LAX-LHR, and now are trying to add the LHR-XXX to an existing reservation?

Many agents are just terrible now at doing anything remotely "manual" with partner award tickets, if aa.com doesn't just spit it out to them then they say it's not available or no changes allowed or nothing they can do etc.

You cannot add a partner segment to an otherwise all AA award ticket. AA-only award tickets are all dynamically priced, book into the full booking codes F/J/W/Y and no changes are allowed (only redeposit/rebook allowed)

For you to be able to book LAX-LHR-XXX on a single award on First Class, LAX-LHR must be available in Z class, and LHR-XXX must also be available as an award ticket (doesn't have to be in first class, biz or economy can also be combined with the transatlantic first class segment). If it does not show up online, perhaps one of the two segments is not available as an award

Seems pretty clear that married segment availability and O&D based pricing applies to awards these days, just like it does with revenue fares. Not sure about UA, but it definitely also works this way with DL awards.

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If there is still inventory on the LAX-LHR segment, try a multi city booking with economy selected so that it shows all fare classes. Select F for the flight segment then whatever the highest class is available for the second. It will price both separately, but that is one way to get around it. If it errors out with the “this page has flown” page, it should still be on a temporary hold for you to call in (or text on the app) and get it ticketed.

I have done this before when trying to work through similar situations where results that xliioper shared would come up.

Is the reservation ticketed or still on hold? If it's on hold, just keep calling (HUCA) until you find an agent willing to add the connecting partner segment. Provided they can see the award availability, they absolutely can add it prior to ticketing. Just dealt with this exact issue this morning trying to add a JL domestic segment to a held award reservation, took 4 agents today (sometime it takes more) but eventually you'll find one who's willing and able to add the segment. After ticketing, IMO, it becomes much harder (though still not impossible).

-FlyerBeek

I have the LAX-LHR portion on hold.

When I do that, it prices out at 107K.

It reservation is still on hold. The LHR-LIN is available separately as is LAX-LHR-LIN in business. But, mixing classes is a no-go. Latest nonsense I got was "because First is not offered from LHR-LIN, it must be two separate awards".

If you have the miles, I’d just go that route and close it out. It seems like you’re sledding uphill and it may not be worth saving the 22.5k miles.

I like the "sledding uphill" analogy. Another..."fish or cut bait". I cut bait....After several phone calls where I was very patient. I just used Avios which was about the same with 30% transfer bonus.

Multiple phone agents said I would have to book as multi-city (and pay cumulative amount, i.e. 107K ) if a different class of service. News to me.....

I did have one agent tell me that if I wanted to make any changes, I would just need to cancel, start over, and do online. They wouldn't even take my record locator. What? Isn't that your job? I did also try booking as business class LAX-LHR-LIN and trying to change LAX-LHR to first. Also, a no-go. Must book as multi-city.

So, apparently, mixed class on award tickets is no longer an option. I also looked at the reverse europe-London-USA and same thing. Also, nothing available. If you want first class for over the pond, cannot combine with business class (i.e. club world) into London. Makes BA first class awards via Aadvantage very limited.

There are various reasons why it may not be available as a through award booking = the reasons given by the agent sound wrong but it could be wrong reasons but still unavailable

2 likely reasons could be

1 - Married segment availability - LHR-LIN may not be available in conjunction with LAX-LHR
2. Point of Commencement availability - with USA being point of commencement, it is LHR-LIN availability based on POC that matters - it may not be available with a USA POC but is available with a UK POC and so available standalong

If it is not available, I would just book a paid econoy ticket for LHR-LIN - it may only be GBP54 more expensive to purchase an economy ticket than the additional taxes/charges than a business award add on.

The flight is available (as are many others) from LHR-LiN and to literally anywhere else in EU. For business class (i.e. Club Europe). ALL are available with business class SFO/LAX/ORD/FE - LHR - MIL/CDG/MAD.......and the list goes on.

It's the mixed class with First on BA that is the issue.

There is NO availability for ANY first class (BA) connecting to Club World (BA) and vise versa. It's a definite blockage of mixed-class awards.

I can definitely work around. Just wanted to make others aware.