EX-EU flights and that last leg
Sep 10, 2014, 1:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: The Big Smoke
Programs: BAEC Silver, Accor Platinum, Marco Polo Gold
Posts: 38
EX-EU flights and that last leg
Hi All,
There has been much comment on here regarding dropping the last leg of an EX-EU flight. From what I understand on here is that doing so is fine regarding you don’t make a regular habit out of it.
The issue I want to query is how regular is regular. I will shortly be in a position where I will have done so 3 times in 1 calendar year. Is this likely to cause a problem, or are BA after much more frequent ‘droppers’?
Thanks
There has been much comment on here regarding dropping the last leg of an EX-EU flight. From what I understand on here is that doing so is fine regarding you don’t make a regular habit out of it.
The issue I want to query is how regular is regular. I will shortly be in a position where I will have done so 3 times in 1 calendar year. Is this likely to cause a problem, or are BA after much more frequent ‘droppers’?
Thanks
Sep 10, 2014, 2:17 am
#2
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,967
Hi All,
There has been much comment on here regarding dropping the last leg of an EX-EU flight. From what I understand on here is that doing so is fine regarding you don’t make a regular habit out of it.
The issue I want to query is how regular is regular. I will shortly be in a position where I will have done so 3 times in 1 calendar year. Is this likely to cause a problem, or are BA after much more frequent ‘droppers’?
Thanks
There has been much comment on here regarding dropping the last leg of an EX-EU flight. From what I understand on here is that doing so is fine regarding you don’t make a regular habit out of it.
The issue I want to query is how regular is regular. I will shortly be in a position where I will have done so 3 times in 1 calendar year. Is this likely to cause a problem, or are BA after much more frequent ‘droppers’?
Thanks
Sep 10, 2014, 2:30 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,891
Nobody knows, but that would make me uncomfortable.
I've done it twice, and both times were enforced (first time I couldn't get a second visa for a certain old origination country, and second time I had to fly elsewhere for work rather than take the final leg - there wasn't time to finish the itinerary and come back).
I've done it twice, and both times were enforced (first time I couldn't get a second visa for a certain old origination country, and second time I had to fly elsewhere for work rather than take the final leg - there wasn't time to finish the itinerary and come back).
Sep 10, 2014, 3:09 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ireland
Programs: VS Silver, EK Gold, BA GGL/CCR
Posts: 487
I would personally look at defining "regular" as a % of the ex-EU trips you've made rather than a simple count.
If you've done 10 in the year and dropped three then that wouldn't concern me too much as plans change etc..
If you've done three and dropped three I think it's starting to look more like something that was planned from the outset....
For example, I'm based in Ireland and there have been occasions where I have dropped the last sector to stay on a few days in London due to changed plans. Even though I've probably done this 4/5 times no-one has ever asked me about it - but then it's maybe only 10-15% of my trips.
If you've done 10 in the year and dropped three then that wouldn't concern me too much as plans change etc..
If you've done three and dropped three I think it's starting to look more like something that was planned from the outset....
For example, I'm based in Ireland and there have been occasions where I have dropped the last sector to stay on a few days in London due to changed plans. Even though I've probably done this 4/5 times no-one has ever asked me about it - but then it's maybe only 10-15% of my trips.
Sep 10, 2014, 3:23 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GfL, Marriott PlatfL/Ambassador, TP Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,656
All these FT-invented "issues" around dropping the last segment on an ex-EU ticket are hilarious.
Can anyone provide evidence that BA ever took action against someone who dropped the last segment of an ex-EU ticket?
Can anyone provide evidence that BA ever took action against someone who dropped the last segment of an ex-EU ticket?
Sep 10, 2014, 4:23 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,740
Sep 10, 2014, 5:03 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GfL, Marriott PlatfL/Ambassador, TP Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,656
Sep 10, 2014, 6:58 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,286
These discussions pop up once a month and are hilarious.
I drop my final leg regularly. By regularly I mean on average once a month. And have been doing so for the past 4+ years. No audit. No BA Gestapo on my doorstep.
Fundamentally dropping an ex EU leg is no different in English law to buying a MacDonalds meal deal instead of a burger and fries separately. The package deal is cheaper than the individual items purchased separately and I buy the package having no intention of drinking my soda. MacDonalds have no cause of action by which to pursue me for the difference in cost between my meal deal and the separate items if I decide not to consume the soda.
Sep 10, 2014, 7:03 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,891
Also, try using that argument if you ever want to drop the FIRST leg of an itinerary...
Sep 10, 2014, 7:10 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GfL, Marriott PlatfL/Ambassador, TP Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,656
There's a lot of scaremongering on FT with no real evidence that I've seen so far that someone was targeted by BA for this practice.
Sep 10, 2014, 7:11 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,740
But if an unnamed European airline can do this - why can't BA? The T&Cs we all agreed to on joining the programme gives them the right to do so.
There are many tens of other threads, down the years, detailing the loss of Avios or the audit of an account although the OP always reports in the first post that nothing wrong or unusual was done by them. I wouldn't like to assume that none were triggered by habitual last-leg dumping.
There are many tens of other threads, down the years, detailing the loss of Avios or the audit of an account although the OP always reports in the first post that nothing wrong or unusual was done by them. I wouldn't like to assume that none were triggered by habitual last-leg dumping.
Sep 10, 2014, 7:12 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,809
Sep 10, 2014, 7:20 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GfL, Marriott PlatfL/Ambassador, TP Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,656
But if an unnamed European airline can do this - why can't BA? The T&Cs we all agreed to on joining the programme gives them the right to do so.
There are many tens of other threads, down the years, detailing the loss of Avios or the audit of an account although the OP always reports in the first post that nothing wrong or unusual was done by them. I wouldn't like to assume that none were triggered by habitual last-leg dumping.
There are many tens of other threads, down the years, detailing the loss of Avios or the audit of an account although the OP always reports in the first post that nothing wrong or unusual was done by them. I wouldn't like to assume that none were triggered by habitual last-leg dumping.
I'm not asking for much. Just one single thread/article/blog entry.
Sep 10, 2014, 7:25 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GfL, Marriott PlatfL/Ambassador, TP Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,656
Am I supposed to believe that they would now spend a fortune to get their auditing software right to catch the evil ex-EU travellers? And then what? Pursue this in court? Or close their Avios accounts (and in the process lose a customer that was nonetheless spending money)?