V upset 1 of 2 of us downgraded from First on Wedd Ann Trip
Nov 23, 2014, 12:27 pm
#151
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: 09/27
Programs: BA, TK, EK
Posts: 767
For contrast, I have only once been bumped on an oversold BA flight. I volunteered and a rerouting with both upgrade and EU261 was given. The senior agent made sure that the grey areas in EU 261 were interpreted to my advantage, which surprised and impressed me.
Nov 23, 2014, 7:12 pm
#154
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 494
All BA flights between LHR and AUH, in both directions, around the Grand Prix weekend have been full, and probabably overbooked in all cabins. Using a dummy booking to investigate the likelihood of an op up on the Friday AUH-LHR, I found that there was only one bookable seat, and that was in Y. The premium cabins all showed "no seats available", or words to that effect. So other carriers were probably also heavily or fully booked, but there could have ben a pair of seats in F on one of the BA flights to other destinations in the Emirates, with a long, but doable, taxi ride to AUH thrown in.
But that is all too late for the OP.
But that is all too late for the OP.
Nov 23, 2014, 8:02 pm
#155
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,850
How odd. AA consistently checks me in (either online or in person) for BA flights on 001 tickets.
Nov 24, 2014, 12:03 am
#156
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA, onePass
Posts: 317
We were only able to do OLCI for the first segment which was on AA. At the Admirals Club at DFW they tried to get us boarding passes for the BA segs but could not hence we had to present at the BA ticketing desk at EWR when they opened 3 Hours before the flight.
Nov 24, 2014, 12:35 am
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,772
It depends how well trained the AA check in people are and vice versa for AA flights and BA check in. Both can check in and print BPs for each other's flights but it seems slightly complex and some agents don't seem properly trained.
Last edited by Land-of-Miles; Nov 24, 2014 at 1:18 am
Nov 24, 2014, 12:38 am
#158
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC HHonours SPG EK Skywards QFF VS flying club
Posts: 137
Can't speak for welshgirl and boy but one has a sore head at work today! The most amazing weekend, a great race (and great racing day all round) and fantastic result. And the Who.......one word......Amazing! Shame Pharrell lost his voice on Sat night.
Perhaps next year could become a mini FT do??
Whilst back to the subject, I was sat next to a couple who were downgraded from J to WT+ on the Thursday flight. I have directed them to this site to peruse their EU261 options. And guess what, BA never mentioned EU261 to them once and merely offered them some poxy Avios! Maybe they will join in soon on the board.
Perhaps next year could become a mini FT do??
Whilst back to the subject, I was sat next to a couple who were downgraded from J to WT+ on the Thursday flight. I have directed them to this site to peruse their EU261 options. And guess what, BA never mentioned EU261 to them once and merely offered them some poxy Avios! Maybe they will join in soon on the board.
Nov 24, 2014, 1:49 am
#159
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, Priority Club, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 247
Can't speak for welshgirl and boy but one has a sore head at work today! The most amazing weekend, a great race (and great racing day all round) and fantastic result. And the Who.......one word......Amazing! Shame Pharrell lost his voice on Sat night.
Perhaps next year could become a mini FT do??
Whilst back to the subject, I was sat next to a couple who were downgraded from J to WT+ on the Thursday flight. I have directed them to this site to peruse their EU261 options. And guess what, BA never mentioned EU261 to them once and merely offered them some poxy Avios! Maybe they will join in soon on the board.
Perhaps next year could become a mini FT do??
Whilst back to the subject, I was sat next to a couple who were downgraded from J to WT+ on the Thursday flight. I have directed them to this site to peruse their EU261 options. And guess what, BA never mentioned EU261 to them once and merely offered them some poxy Avios! Maybe they will join in soon on the board.
Nov 24, 2014, 2:44 am
#160
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 5,656
I totally agree, sadly it's often simply the case that things won't be "resolved" until the flight closes, bearing in mind that if there are 15 people and 14 seats someone is potentially going to be disappointed. There are often things that the team can do, but they do usually take time sadly. However, any customer not being given the seat they paid for should always be treated with sensitivity and thought. The other issue is that the time between boarding and resolution doesn't allow for airport teams to engage in the refund element (I understand that this is an industry wide approach, although as technology advances I am sure this will change). The only piece undertaken there and then is the compensation, conversations and care.
I suspect at the moment, were they to resolve things there and then, it would cost far more in terms of cold hard cash going out of their accounts, than the kind of distress caused to Welshgirl but then being able to resolve things later.
It's not a customer focused approach and puts BA's screw ups ahead of the customer experience. Potentially understandable for some cabins, totally unacceptable for first class passengers, whether paid for in avios or cash.
Nov 24, 2014, 5:24 am
#162
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 5,656
As I stated I am sure as technology moves on this will change. Currently the time needed to derive the correct refund means this is not work the airport team can take on. It's pretty straight forwards for cash/ card tickets, slightly less so for award, and then onto part cash part award, corporate rates, travel agency specials etc etc etc. Once a consistent and quick mechanism can be supported it will be cheaper and easier to handle at the airport rather than with CR at which point it would be mad not to do it there and then.
I think you've hit the nail on the head; at present it's cheaper and easier for British Airways to push the issue to Customer Relations to handle, than it is to meet customer expectations there and then.
I absolutely know that you or anyone else at the airport doesn't want to let the customer down at all, but there's clearly been a commercial decision taken here that is not in the interests of the travelling passenger.
Nov 24, 2014, 11:40 am
#165
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: AA, onePass
Posts: 317
Quick question: If we can check in online 24 hours ahead ..... Can airline staff also check us in the evening before the actual flight which will be within that 24 hour period for both segments. We will be staying at Terminal hotel night before early 1st segment on AA to EWR which connects to BA flight later that day.