Aug 7, 2015, 5:53 am
Last edit by: NWIFlyer
Hand Baggage Only fares (HBO) are available on domestic and EuroTraveller routes. They are offered at a lower price to those able to travel without checked baggage on point to point journeys only - they are not offered with connections, stopovers or with Club Europe. There isn't a special fare bucket for HBO, it's just a discount to all domestic/ET fare buckets, so even expensive flexible tickets offer HBO. The discount varies depending on route. For example, going HBO on LHR-DUB gives a £10 discount; £15 on LHR-PRG; and £20 on LHR-ATH. Online Travel Agents often book into these fares (including building stopovers) and are sometimes less than transparent about the baggage restrictions during the booking process. HBO fares do not earn OnBusiness credits.
BAEC status passengers from Bronze upwards get advance seat choice with these tickets.
How to get seat allocation if HBO and without status:
- Pay up. You can pay up at OLCI if you don't like the seat. Costs vary from £7 to £21 per sector as a minimum, with differential pricing employed for better seats (e.g. an exit row on LHR-DUB was £23 in June 2017). Usually, but not always, this invalidates the cost saving of HBO. You can also pay up in Manage My Booking (MMB) before OLCI.
- Cancel OLCI at the "confirm contact details" stage. Go in again and/or later and you may be offered another seat.
- Corporate travel bookings still offer seating to HBO in some cases. Sometimes this ability is temporary and doesn't stick.
- Ask check-in or the lounge agent for a better seat, so far this seems to be possible. Lounge agents won't be able to assist where they aren't part of the ground handling for BA (e.g. LBA).
- If your airport has a Self Service Check In (SSCI) machine AND you do not print your boarding pass (see below) then you can select another seat there provided check-in is still open, typically up to 46 minutes before take off. So if you are being allocated a rotten seat and you can see better seats available, you can take a risk and complete/commence check-in later.
SSCI machines are available at: LHR, LGW, LCY, MAN, EDI (on the general purpose airport machines, but only those by the BA check-in area), NCE, BRU, OSL, BLL, AAR, MUC, AMS.
They are NOT available at: ABZ, BHD, GLA, LBA, NCL, DUB, CDG, ORY, SVG, DUS, TXL, MAH, CFU, OLB, CTA, CAG, FDH, ANE, UIP, BIO, HER, SVQ, PMI, BRI.
You can also do this operation the night before at LGW and LHR, details here.
By "printing boarding pass" we mean not selecting that option at OLCI, or saving, emailing, faxing and/or downloading the boarding pass on the App.
HBO fares - Have to pay to select seat in advance [free for GCH/SCH/BCHs @ 14 Jun 17]
Mar 2, 2015, 7:46 am
#166
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Essex, UK
Programs: BA Executive Club, AZ, VS, AA, UA
Posts: 602
I live in semi-rural west Oxfordshire and even for me, LHR is still #1 choice - it's a 60-75 minute drive. Next up in order are BRS (yuck, both for the journey there and the experience once there) BHX (which I like but route network is poor) and SOU. I'm certainly not going to drive to any other London airport if I have a choice. I think many other people are in the same boat.
Indeed there are, and were I in that position, I would be considering my options... although as I am c-w-s' worst nightmare and always, always check a bag unless it's a day trip (which I almost never do) I'm unaffected. I can understand the ire of those who are though, especially given you can pay a LOT for a HBO fare.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:49 am
#168
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
22nd Feb LGW-NCE BA2622 (might remembered the flight number wrong). Total passenger count: 18-ish, none in Business class, according to my eye witness and counting...
On the same day the easyjet flight LGW-NCE, almost full, according to the passengers I met later (shared a table on a cruise).
8:50 LHR departure on the same day to NCE, passenger count: 44-ish, according to a relative travelling on that flight.
On the same day the easyjet flight LGW-NCE, almost full, according to the passengers I met later (shared a table on a cruise).
8:50 LHR departure on the same day to NCE, passenger count: 44-ish, according to a relative travelling on that flight.
Both LGW and LHR flights to NCE often have 10 or more rows of CE completely full at all times of the year.
NCE must be one of BA's most profitable SH destinations as is demonstrated by the large number of flights and the fact that BA flies there from all three of its London bases.
I wouldn't read much into one (atypical) day. One swallow doesn't make a summer ...
Mar 2, 2015, 7:51 am
#169
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London UK
Programs: All Expired... :-(
Posts: 410
But then their corporate travel agent would book the HBO fare unless they could justify the need for checked luggage on a three-day business trip?
Mar 2, 2015, 7:51 am
#170
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA and UK
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Silver, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 1,351
As I said in the EC Devaluation thread- loyalty goes both ways. This is a further reason for me to not concern myself with who I fly. The race to the bottom continues. I have lost all faith in BA, regretably they are no longer worth any effort to fly with, even as a currently "valued Silver".
I feel BA will continue to take the p**s until their profits are effected, apparently being the most profitable of the EU three is not enough. By American standards, BA is a true LCC with this introduction on EU short-haul.
I feel BA will continue to take the p**s until their profits are effected, apparently being the most profitable of the EU three is not enough. By American standards, BA is a true LCC with this introduction on EU short-haul.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:53 am
#171
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hampshire
Programs: BA (Gold)
Posts: 41
Just when I was coming to terms with the last email.
I am surprised free seat selection at time of booking will not be kept as a perk for golds though. Shame Little Red are pulling the plug. Ideal time to pinch more custom, along with the LCC.
Our only hope is for everyone to write in about this most recent and quite shocking change. I doubt it will do much good, but then, we never know.
I am surprised free seat selection at time of booking will not be kept as a perk for golds though. Shame Little Red are pulling the plug. Ideal time to pinch more custom, along with the LCC.
Our only hope is for everyone to write in about this most recent and quite shocking change. I doubt it will do much good, but then, we never know.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:55 am
#172
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,106
Mar 2, 2015, 8:01 am
#173
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Executive Club, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 6
Doesn't really affect me as a good 95% of the times I'm not on HBO, but is pretty annoying see they are offering less and less to their frequent flyers...what will come next...?
Mar 2, 2015, 8:03 am
#174
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,212
Are HBO fares available for those connecting on the same ticket? If not then this doesn't concern them.
Mar 2, 2015, 8:04 am
#176
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA and UK
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Silver, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 1,351
And this effects people at the top of the BAEC. CWS, who I belive is a regular user of HBO fares, will now have this devaluation to deal with as well. It is making their most loyal customers question their rational for having a loyalty to a company that gives less and less loyalty back, I'm sure.
Mar 2, 2015, 8:04 am
#177
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Programs: BAEC Gold Guest List, Hilton Honours Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 2,303
This move is clearly to raise revenue and make people pay for exit rows and front row on domestic flights. I expect it's just a start for more revenue raising.
On a separate note (but kind of related) I was told in October at LGW that AUP are not eligible for HBO fares. Is this something that FT posters are aware of?
On a separate note (but kind of related) I was told in October at LGW that AUP are not eligible for HBO fares. Is this something that FT posters are aware of?
Mar 2, 2015, 8:05 am
#178
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hampshire
Programs: BA (Gold)
Posts: 41
Easyjet must be rubbing their hands. Ideal time for them to offer a status holder with BA a discount on their buy status scheme to allow free seat selection with their fares. And oh yes, a much lower credit card fee to show up BA again. An unlimited priority pass for the year and easyjets scheme for under £400. Not bad considering.
Mar 2, 2015, 8:10 am
#179
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
POUGs were still offered and many posted confirming this. (Who knows if that will change too?)
Mar 2, 2015, 8:10 am
#180
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wassenaar, NL
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 709
No lounge access for Domestic or HBO fare?
Reduced or no lounge access for guests on above?
No free on-board food and drink for above (or even S/H)?
Paying for first or second checked bag?
Paying for seat selection on further select fare buckets and redemptions (regardless of status?)
Increase in TPs required for Silver and Gold qualification?
Reduction in TPs earned of other carriers (210 US domestic F anomaly?)
Of course, it may be none of these but I would no longer be surprised by anything BA does....especially to the BAEC.