Can you Book a BA holiday and then not use hotel
Sep 19, 2011, 11:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Can you Book a BA holiday and then not use hotel
I've noticed if you book a BA holiday with no Saturday night you can often get a way cheaper fare (like Las Vegas Monday-Friday in October for £1500 in premium economy out of LHR) compared to £2,300 for the flights alone.
Do you have to use the hotel and if you don't can BA work that out and change the cost later?
Not sure of rules.
Thanks for any advice.
Do you have to use the hotel and if you don't can BA work that out and change the cost later?
Not sure of rules.
Thanks for any advice.
Sep 19, 2011, 11:19 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 20
I've noticed if you book a BA holiday with no Saturday night you can often get a way cheaper fare (like Las Vegas Monday-Friday in October for £1500 in premium economy out of LHR) compared to £2,300 for the flights alone.
Do you have to use the hotel and if you don't can BA work that out and change the cost later?
Not sure of rules.
Thanks for any advice.
Do you have to use the hotel and if you don't can BA work that out and change the cost later?
Not sure of rules.
Thanks for any advice.
Sep 19, 2011, 11:21 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Marriott Platinum BA Silver Hilton Platinum Avis Preferred BA AMEX Platinum
Posts: 11
I did think about that but the cheapest hotel was miles from the airport in Las Vegas and I am staying at the Pallazio - or whatever it is called... so was trying to avoid that... I've noticed it works for loads of routes where the fare without Saturday night can be ridiculous...
Sep 19, 2011, 11:24 am
#4
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 164
No you can't I only book through BA holidays so know from experience. The hotel will register you as a no show and BA will cancel the PNR and remember if its to the USA BAs site will ask you the address you will be staying in which must match you ESTA application address.
I think BAs system can highlight inconsistencies when they send it over to the US authorities for your advanced passenger information.
Edit:
BA holiday terms and conditions:
4. For all longhaul bookings, travel must include a Saturday night stay. Maximum length of stay is 355 days from the date of booking.
I think BAs system can highlight inconsistencies when they send it over to the US authorities for your advanced passenger information.
Edit:
BA holiday terms and conditions:
4. For all longhaul bookings, travel must include a Saturday night stay. Maximum length of stay is 355 days from the date of booking.
Sep 19, 2011, 11:38 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA CCR/GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,483
However, you don't have to supply your address on the ESTA "Enter the number and street of the location where you will stay while in the United States. Do not include the city and state in this field. Address Line 1 is optional to complete the application.If multiple locations are planned, enter the first address.
If the complete address is not known, enter the name of the hotel or location you will visit. You may update this information once confirmed"
Sep 19, 2011, 11:43 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: YVR/LBA
Programs: BA Exec Club (Gold)
Posts: 329
I highly doubt 'BAs system' have any access to ESTA information submitted direct by travellers to the US Goverment either. I imagine they just submit the advanced passenger information with the hotel address booked as part of the package holiday.
Edit - like what LondonAndy beat me to saying!
Last edited by Blenz101; Sep 19, 2011 at 11:44 am Reason: LondonAndy
Sep 19, 2011, 11:44 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
Don't know about BA, but have done it with AA. A quick call to the hotel to let them know what was going on ("staying with a friend instead of checking in") was all that was required; hotel is happy to keep the revenue and have an extra room to sell.
Either way, if you check-in in person remember that you can always check out by phone.
Either way, if you check-in in person remember that you can always check out by phone.
Sep 19, 2011, 11:46 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
Having read the APIS rules, that is correct; it's a one way feed (the government doesn't feed anything to the airlines; imagine the security risks and privacy implications of doing so!)
Sep 19, 2011, 11:47 am
#10
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 164
I could be entirely wrong of course.
Sep 19, 2011, 12:00 pm
#11
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I have done this with an Expedia flight and hotel package with no problems.
But, as its Vegas, the hotel can't be far from your other one so why not check in and nick the toiletries?!
But, as its Vegas, the hotel can't be far from your other one so why not check in and nick the toiletries?!
Sep 19, 2011, 1:55 pm
#12
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Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Actually, Vegas hotels can be ten miles or more apart. Not every hotel with a "Las Vegas" postal address is on the strip or downtown.
Originally Posted by Raffles
I have done this with an Expedia flight and hotel package with no problems.
But, as its Vegas, the hotel can't be far from your other one so why not check in and nick the toiletries?!
But, as its Vegas, the hotel can't be far from your other one so why not check in and nick the toiletries?!
Sep 19, 2011, 2:27 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Plat:US,DL (ex KL,AF,LX,LY) Gold:BA,VS (ex CO,UA).Plat.SPG,HGP Diam.HH. ICHG Plat RA. Amex Centurion
Posts: 673
You can circumvent the advance booking requirement on some domestic US routes by using expedia to add a random hotel night to the mix.
If you are booking last minute, the lower fare classes will never be bookable directly from the airline; but if you use expedia and book at least one hotel night (select the box which says "I need a hotel only for part of this trip") then they can sell you a package which will include the restricted fare class.
In the example of domestic AA, it will book in Q class - which is the same if you would make a booking through AA vacations.
Sep 19, 2011, 3:18 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: YVR/LBA
Programs: BA Exec Club (Gold)
Posts: 329
TSA will only be interested in the information from a security perspective, and is not connected to immigration.
'Government' will not catch you out on this loophole but if the hotel supplies lists to the travel agent with 'no shows' this may result in the airline being made aware (and the potential to cancel the ticket) seems to be the consensus.
Sep 19, 2011, 4:35 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,932
I have done this a few times, either booking a hotel for one night, or a car and then not using. Never had any comeback.
That said, I have also booked and used the hotel/car as BA happened to come out with the best deal I could find!
That said, I have also booked and used the hotel/car as BA happened to come out with the best deal I could find!
