Booked flights to ALC in Business via MAD but seat in Economy! Confused..
Sep 27, 2025 | 7:14 pm
#61
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Programs: Ba Silver ( for now!)
Posts: 896
This was explained to you a few months ago and I will try again now, perhaps you’ll be more willing to listen.
There is a difference between cabin and class. You bought an I class fare, which can only be booked into the Business cabin when I class is available. It wasn’t, so you were put in economy instead. You had the choice of buying a D class fare, which was available on both legs, but chose not to. There was nothing wrong, and you were not ‘ripped off’.
There is a difference between cabin and class. You bought an I class fare, which can only be booked into the Business cabin when I class is available. It wasn’t, so you were put in economy instead. You had the choice of buying a D class fare, which was available on both legs, but chose not to. There was nothing wrong, and you were not ‘ripped off’.
the op was sold business on all ticket confirmations and did not get it. I would do them for a downgrade.
if he is in economy it should say so. It is not difficult. Economy and business are different products.
Sep 28, 2025 | 2:07 am
#62
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, LH SEN, HH Gold, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 5,547
The new BA website looks like it has been programmed with the probably well-meaning intention of keeping everything simple and catering smoothly to requests. Unfortunately many trips many of us call simple are not so to the new system. When I ask for business class I don’t necessarily mind having the main flight in business and the feeder flight in Economy but only when I am told so before I make my decision to book.
I have replicated the experience described by the OP and this information is most definitely obfuscated. You can see if you click on individual flight numbers exactly which cabin has been selected but you have to know to do so. In my opinion this is definitely misleading the consumer.
Indeed business class was available for the combined flights I selected but only in a higher booking class than was available for the first sector. In my opinion the new BA website was not fulfilling the search criteria correctly or even giving the consumer the option to do so.
I have replicated the experience described by the OP and this information is most definitely obfuscated. You can see if you click on individual flight numbers exactly which cabin has been selected but you have to know to do so. In my opinion this is definitely misleading the consumer.
Indeed business class was available for the combined flights I selected but only in a higher booking class than was available for the first sector. In my opinion the new BA website was not fulfilling the search criteria correctly or even giving the consumer the option to do so.
Sep 28, 2025 | 2:15 am
#63
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci. And BA Silver– previous awards - Gold 13, Silver 7, Bronze 4.
Posts: 7,683
The new BA website looks like it has been programmed with the probably well-meaning intention of keeping everything simple and catering smoothly to requests. Unfortunately many trips many of us call simple are not so to the new system. When I ask for business class I don’t necessarily mind having the main flight in business and the feeder flight in Economy but only when I am told so before I make my decision to book.
I have replicated the experience described by the OP and this information is most definitely obfuscated. You can see if you click on individual flight numbers exactly which cabin has been selected but you have to know to do so. In my opinion this is definitely misleading the consumer.
Indeed business class was available for the combined flights I selected but only in a higher booking class than was available for the first sector. In my opinion the new BA website was not fulfilling the search criteria correctly or even giving the consumer the option to do so.
I have replicated the experience described by the OP and this information is most definitely obfuscated. You can see if you click on individual flight numbers exactly which cabin has been selected but you have to know to do so. In my opinion this is definitely misleading the consumer.
Indeed business class was available for the combined flights I selected but only in a higher booking class than was available for the first sector. In my opinion the new BA website was not fulfilling the search criteria correctly or even giving the consumer the option to do so.
And as for the lack of clarity of what you are getting when you book… though I am not a legal expert, the new website, IMHO, sails close to making people enter into what may be regarded as an Unfair Contract in law.
Sep 28, 2025 | 3:38 am
#64
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold for Life (GGL), TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 8,352
This compares very negatively with American Airlines website, for example. There you are given a warning that one of your flights is in the lower cabin and you are given an option to buy a ticket where all of the flights are in the premium cabin.
Sep 28, 2025 | 8:41 am
#65
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: CAMRA GGL (Gold Card Holder/Lifetime membership)
Posts: 897
BA's website is not very helpful for situations like this. As others have pointed out, as a passenger you a) must be aware that such a thing (being put into economy on a business class fare) is even possible, b) check each flight details in order to see which cabin you ended up in. And then, as you correctly pointed out, there is no option to select a more expensive business class fare where all of the segments are in business class (if that is your preference).
This compares very negatively with American Airlines website, for example. There you are given a warning that one of your flights is in the lower cabin and you are given an option to buy a ticket where all of the flights are in the premium cabin.
This compares very negatively with American Airlines website, for example. There you are given a warning that one of your flights is in the lower cabin and you are given an option to buy a ticket where all of the flights are in the premium cabin.
Sep 28, 2025 | 8:51 am
#66
formerly JackDann
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 2,240
Whilst booking there would have been a few occasions that would have indicated that only the LHR-MAD flight was in Business class.
Outside of a pop-up alert to tell you, it’d be hard to say there is much more that could be done. Certainly wouldn’t say it’s a con. If you are unhappy and within 24hrs of booking you can always call up and cancel.
Outside of a pop-up alert to tell you, it’d be hard to say there is much more that could be done. Certainly wouldn’t say it’s a con. If you are unhappy and within 24hrs of booking you can always call up and cancel.
On the new website it’s different.