BA fare discounts with AARP Master Thread
Jan 31, 2017, 10:46 am
#197
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SAV/HHH
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold (current GGL), HH Diamond
Posts: 1,293
i see that too, but it is quoting fares with the new discount if you ignore and continue.
Jan 31, 2017, 10:49 am
#198
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,797
Jan 31, 2017, 11:01 am
#199
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,029
Feb 7, 2017, 2:04 pm
#200
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SAV/HHH
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold (current GGL), HH Diamond
Posts: 1,293
Today I upgraded an AARP discounted ticket from CW to F. I booked the AARP discount online, then called the GGL line to upgrade with Avios.
Based on other recent threads, I was prepared for the request to be rejected. (In this case, I would have kept the CW ticket...in other instances, if rejected, one might want to cancel under the 24 hour rule.)
Maybe the agent let it slide because I am GGL. Or maybe the UK based GGL agents are not dealing with US-specific discounted tickets and I got lucky.
Note that while CW to F upgrades are generally good value, WT+ to CW upgrades are not always a good deal for these AARP discount tickets (or for any US originating BA tickets). When upgrading, BA charges the difference in taxes and fees between the cabins. For US originating tickets, that difference is currently $700 between WT+ and CW! (Actual taxes and fees are the same, this $700 is 100% BA "carrier surcharge".)
Feb 7, 2017, 3:52 pm
#201
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,486
Today I upgraded an AARP discounted ticket from CW to F. I booked the AARP discount online, then called the GGL line to upgrade with Avios.
Based on other recent threads, I was prepared for the request to be rejected. (In this case, I would have kept the CW ticket...in other instances, if rejected, one might want to cancel under the 24 hour rule.)
Maybe the agent let it slide because I am GGL. Or maybe the UK based GGL agents are not dealing with US-specific discounted tickets and I got lucky.
Based on other recent threads, I was prepared for the request to be rejected. (In this case, I would have kept the CW ticket...in other instances, if rejected, one might want to cancel under the 24 hour rule.)
Maybe the agent let it slide because I am GGL. Or maybe the UK based GGL agents are not dealing with US-specific discounted tickets and I got lucky.
Feb 7, 2017, 4:15 pm
#202
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SAV/HHH
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold (current GGL), HH Diamond
Posts: 1,293
Since late last fall, a few threads (including the one Jerry linked to above) have had people reporting that they were being told AARP discounted tickets could not be upgraded with Avios.
Feb 9, 2017, 2:38 pm
#203
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,715
Feb 9, 2017, 2:43 pm
#204
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
I've had BA front line staff tell me that AARP discounted tickets cannot be (1) upgraded (2) changed (3) split, when you have multiple pax on one PNR, etc. It has sometimes taken me several calls to resolve, sometimes required escalation, but I have always come out on top. The bummer is that the discount has now been halved, so nowhere near as lucrative when used in connection with the $1k-ish business class flash sales that have happened most years.
Feb 9, 2017, 4:11 pm
#205
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,486
Ah, yes, I've not done any since August.
Feb 9, 2017, 8:17 pm
#206
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SAV/HHH
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold (current GGL), HH Diamond
Posts: 1,293
That used to be the sweet spot (and sometimes still is)...but BA has been playing around with their surcharges, which makes WT+ to CW less attractive.
WT+ to CW upgrades are not always a good deal for these AARP discount tickets (or for any US originating BA tickets). When upgrading, BA charges the difference in taxes and fees between the cabins. For US originating tickets, that difference is currently $700 between WT+ and CW! Actual taxes and fees are the same, this $700 is 100% BA "carrier surcharge".
I've done this in the past with AARP tickets, but there are some reports since last fall of people being told by BA that these tickets cannot be upgraded.
If you're looking for a WT+ to CW upgrade...I'd suggest:
1) Verify CW award availability on your flights
2) Book on-line with AARP discount...mindful of the current $700 upgrade fee.
3) Immediately call to apply Avios upgrade. If rejected, ask them to cancel under the 24 hour rule, or pay the difference to remove the discount.
WT+ to CW upgrades are not always a good deal for these AARP discount tickets (or for any US originating BA tickets). When upgrading, BA charges the difference in taxes and fees between the cabins. For US originating tickets, that difference is currently $700 between WT+ and CW! Actual taxes and fees are the same, this $700 is 100% BA "carrier surcharge".
I've done this in the past with AARP tickets, but there are some reports since last fall of people being told by BA that these tickets cannot be upgraded.
If you're looking for a WT+ to CW upgrade...I'd suggest:
1) Verify CW award availability on your flights
2) Book on-line with AARP discount...mindful of the current $700 upgrade fee.
3) Immediately call to apply Avios upgrade. If rejected, ask them to cancel under the 24 hour rule, or pay the difference to remove the discount.
Mar 14, 2017, 11:59 am
#208
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Jerusalem
Programs: ba gold
Posts: 103
I noticed a couple of days ago that it stopped discounting WTP which is a bit weird because CW, WT and F it does show up cheaper so it might be some sort of bug or something
Mar 14, 2017, 2:11 pm
#209
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,960
Mar 15, 2017, 7:29 pm
#210
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 474
I have had the same problem. Now that I am ready to purchase the flights, the discount disappears. Anyone have any suggestions? There doesn't seem to be a phone number or any other way to report the glitch.