XmaX

Cambridge terminal isn't too bad, actually. This is the gate area:


Should be more than sufficient for 32 people, especially if some of them go to the lounge.

paul4040

Still no redemption fares loaded on this route. I think, given the low number of public seats available, this is deliberate and the strategy going forward.

Bah!

teflon

Is that WRY?

headingwest

Anybody flown this route yet? Or found redemption flights?

Why doesn't BA ever fly to any of the Baltic Republics?

paul4040

I've searched many times. No redemption availability whatsoever on any flight, so I think we can forget about it altogether!

crystal_cad

I am happy to welcome you to Gothenburg and be a Tourist Guide

Once you find redemption availability !

wilko1

Can golds force availability? Or GGLs use a joker?

BA6501

Yes and yes.

paul4040

I'd like to see someone try forcing availability... It's an idea though...

Calchas

But can these be done on non-BA metal?

This is not a "BA mainline" flight, and as far as I can see the terms do not spell out whether Gold Priority awards can be used here.

BA6501

I'm pretty sure mainline includes CityFlyer and Sun-Air (i.e. franchises & subsidiaries)? I used to be able to force availability on BMED and it was similarly worded.

BA0197

I wonder if this will be subject to the new BAEC requirement of releasing 4 award seats on every flight- considering it is not operated by BA?

Calchas

I know that for instance, Reservation Assurance is not available on franchisees, and the word 'mainline' is used to exclude the franchisees.

"Reservation Assurance ( previously known as Reservation 24) provides an Economy (World Traveller, Euro Traveller and Domestic) seat on a chosen British Airways Mainline flight, when the flight is full. Unfortunately we are unable to offer this benefit on British Airways services operated by our franchise carriers."

This suggests to me that the franchisees did not want to be part of this, perhaps because then they have overbooking problems to deal with. But whatever the reason it seems to me the franchisees can opt out of the more onerous Executive Club benefits if they want.

Anyway, this is actually not so helpful because the Gold Priority Award never says anything about "mainline". However I would not be surprised to hear that excuse from the call centre

I don't know quite what the relationship is but these are not mere wet leases. The franchisee seems to have a lot of responsibility or freedom for deciding how they will run their businesses, open routes and set fares. So it may well be that the franchisees did not want to open Avios seats when presumably they get more money from revenue ticket sales than they would get from Avios Group ltd.

I think someone would have to try it to see how it worked.

Obviously I am not going to use a joker but I might try a priority award

paul4040

I am tempted to try a Priority Reward. Do you have to phone to do this?

*prepares printed TnCs for lengthy discussion with agent*

Calchas

Yes

30 day notice required

perhaps a few of us should do it on the same flight