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 Ł10 discount; Ł15 on LHR-PRG; and Ł20 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 Ł7 to Ł21 per sector as a minimum, with differential pricing employed for better seats (e.g. an exit row on LHR-DUB was Ł23 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 9, 2015, 2:03 am
#1052
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
Programs: I go wherever the content takes me.
Posts: 5,698
No, that's what the Priority Pass is for. The quality of lounges available is variable but no more so than BA outstations...
EasyJet Plus gives you free seat selection, plus airport handling like speedy boarding and fast bag drop.
EasyJet Plus gives you free seat selection, plus airport handling like speedy boarding and fast bag drop.
Mar 9, 2015, 2:55 am
#1053
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
Certainly no celebration of how 97% of redemptions will cost the same or fewer Avios like previous wholesale changes.
In the words of my father:
Dramatically reduced avios earning
Dramatically more expensive reward flight saver spending
Loss of seat selection on hand baggage only
British Airways, it's over.
In the words of my father:
Dramatically reduced avios earning
Dramatically more expensive reward flight saver spending
Loss of seat selection on hand baggage only
British Airways, it's over.
Mar 9, 2015, 3:04 am
#1054
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Glasgow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Sixt Platinum, HHons Diamond
Posts: 927
Also some fastrack security such as at my home airport - EDI, but generally I find that mainly that is not the case at most destinations. However it is a benefit for me given all my home location.
Mar 9, 2015, 3:06 am
#1055
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,541
I would agree that U2+ + PP = silver benefits "plus" as you effectively get anytime lounge access, free access to row 1 seats, and typically, in practice an empty middle seat on non-full flights if you choose your seat assignment to the front in a row where one other seat is taken.
Also bear in mind that since your Silver card (or Gold or GGL for that matter) won't get you an assigned seat, if this matters to you, you also need to start factoring that cost on the other side of the equation.
So it is not Ł400 vs 0. Rather, if you typically travel HBO like I do and you want equivalent service, it will be Ł400 (on U2+PP) vs Ł15 x shorthaul Y one way trips (on BA).
Last point, just a reminder that on return trips, U2 allows you to take a same day earlier return flight for free. Truth be told, their frequencies mean that it only is a realistic option on some of their busiest routes, but I have used it myself 3 or 4 times and it always worked perfectly well. No question asked and put on the next available flight from the time I reached the airport, even when I was travelling on a Ł15 ticket!!
Last edited by orbitmic; Mar 9, 2015 at 3:30 am
Mar 9, 2015, 3:13 am
#1056
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Mar 9, 2015, 3:26 am
#1057
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,552
And a 2nd piece of hand luggage from 19 March if you have easyJet Plus card or buy an upfront/extra legroom seat.
Mar 9, 2015, 3:35 am
#1058
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: not far from MUC
Posts: 6,620
Mar 9, 2015, 3:40 am
#1059
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Canterbury, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Diamond + Ambassador, Accor Gold, Avis President's Club, Heathrow Rewards
Posts: 2,471
Personal experience is somewhat anecdotal by definition, but I've had quite a few substantial delays of late as a direct result of the hand luggage fiasco. This has a further implication in that the process of taking luggage off people to put in the hold at the gate (which I have seen happen a lot more in recent times than I can remember from the past) also messes up the priority boarding as they put the pax affected in the holding area behind the scanners, so when priority boarding starts it's nothing of the sort.
Well, I do travel on my own money pretty much all of the time. I'm not very much affected by the recent changes other than the fact that my Silver card will earn me less Avios in future since I never travel on HBO and pretty much always book in a premium cabin. I can live with the reduced Avios for Silvers as it does not seem unreasonable to me that some distinction between Silver and Gold is made as long as it's reasonable.
However, the general trend over the last 2 years or so has been for BA to continue to erode its products and FFP. As such, I'd happily move my business to another airline, but as you say there is just not enough of an alternative at the moment and I still quite like the LH product in combination with the Britishness of BA.
Despite being affected only fairly modestly by the recent changes, I've started to think about how I could reorganise myself on a different pattern. The business deal has always been that I give my business to BA and in return I get a decent set of benefits. With the latter getting more and more eroded, I'm soon going to end up not bothering with the former either.
Mar 9, 2015, 3:49 am
#1060
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,552
True, but in that time IMO, many of BA's competitors have put clear water between their product and BA's, especially on LH. They are betting the cabins will still be full regardless. Maybe, maybe not.
Mar 9, 2015, 12:27 pm
#1061
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: DUB / BHD
Programs: BAEC CCR, BAEC Lifetime GGL, Hilton Hhonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 176
Your Response from BA Customer Relations
Interesting response. First sent my feedback to GGL who thence sent my comments to GGL Customer Relations. Some of the commentary is quite cut and paste however I am glad to see some hope of a review of the decision towards the end of the message:
Dear Docgasman
Thanks for your email about the change to our Hand Baggage Only fares. As a Gold Guest List member, I totally understand your annoyance that you will no longer be able to select your seat at the time of booking. I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.
I'd like to take this opportunity to explain why the decision was made to remove free seating from Hand Baggage Only fares.
Our Hand Baggage Only fares are currently available on a number of routes from our three London airports. This type of fare allows customers to take advantage of a cheaper fare, while continuing to receive a generous hand baggage allowance.
From the research we’ve done it’s clear these fares appeal to many different people, from those who are travelling light, to people who may not mind where they sit on the aircraft. When travelling on these fares you can still benefit from allocated seating at check-in, in-flight refreshments and British Airways’ renowned service.
The change to our Hand Baggage Only fares has been made so we’re able to compete more effectively in a challenging market by offering competitive fares to more routes than ever before.
I totally agree that it seems unfair to impose the same policy on Gold Guest List members as Bronze members and non Executive Club members. We're closely monitoring feedback about the change to our Hand Baggage Only policy and I've passed on your comments to our Customer Experience team.
I genuinely hope that the policy is re-evaluated and that free seating is reintroduced for our high value passengers.
I understand why you feel we should reduce the benefits we offer our Bronze members and I appreciate that boarding is busier now Bronze members have priority boarding. I've fed back your suggestions to one of the managers within the Executive Club.
Thanks for contacting us and for your useful comments. We value your loyalty as a very high value Gold Guest List member and I hope you enjoy your flight to London City on Wednesday.
Best regards
Gold Guest List Customer Relations
British Airways
Dear Docgasman
Thanks for your email about the change to our Hand Baggage Only fares. As a Gold Guest List member, I totally understand your annoyance that you will no longer be able to select your seat at the time of booking. I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.
I'd like to take this opportunity to explain why the decision was made to remove free seating from Hand Baggage Only fares.
Our Hand Baggage Only fares are currently available on a number of routes from our three London airports. This type of fare allows customers to take advantage of a cheaper fare, while continuing to receive a generous hand baggage allowance.
From the research we’ve done it’s clear these fares appeal to many different people, from those who are travelling light, to people who may not mind where they sit on the aircraft. When travelling on these fares you can still benefit from allocated seating at check-in, in-flight refreshments and British Airways’ renowned service.
The change to our Hand Baggage Only fares has been made so we’re able to compete more effectively in a challenging market by offering competitive fares to more routes than ever before.
I totally agree that it seems unfair to impose the same policy on Gold Guest List members as Bronze members and non Executive Club members. We're closely monitoring feedback about the change to our Hand Baggage Only policy and I've passed on your comments to our Customer Experience team.
I genuinely hope that the policy is re-evaluated and that free seating is reintroduced for our high value passengers.
I understand why you feel we should reduce the benefits we offer our Bronze members and I appreciate that boarding is busier now Bronze members have priority boarding. I've fed back your suggestions to one of the managers within the Executive Club.
Thanks for contacting us and for your useful comments. We value your loyalty as a very high value Gold Guest List member and I hope you enjoy your flight to London City on Wednesday.
Best regards
Gold Guest List Customer Relations
British Airways
Mar 9, 2015, 12:35 pm
#1062
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
Sounds like some members of the company might not be in agreement here.
Mar 9, 2015, 12:40 pm
#1063
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cambridgeshire
Programs: Varies
Posts: 1,298
Interesting response. First sent my feedback to GGL who thence sent my comments to GGL Customer Relations. Some of the commentary is quite cut and paste however I am glad to see some hope of a review of the decision towards the end of the message:
Dear Docgasman
Thanks for your email about the change to our Hand Baggage Only fares. As a Gold Guest List member, I totally understand your annoyance that you will no longer be able to select your seat at the time of booking. I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.
I'd like to take this opportunity to explain why the decision was made to remove free seating from Hand Baggage Only fares.
Our Hand Baggage Only fares are currently available on a number of routes from our three London airports. This type of fare allows customers to take advantage of a cheaper fare, while continuing to receive a generous hand baggage allowance.
From the research we’ve done it’s clear these fares appeal to many different people, from those who are travelling light, to people who may not mind where they sit on the aircraft. When travelling on these fares you can still benefit from allocated seating at check-in, in-flight refreshments and British Airways’ renowned service.
The change to our Hand Baggage Only fares has been made so we’re able to compete more effectively in a challenging market by offering competitive fares to more routes than ever before.
I totally agree that it seems unfair to impose the same policy on Gold Guest List members as Bronze members and non Executive Club members. We're closely monitoring feedback about the change to our Hand Baggage Only policy and I've passed on your comments to our Customer Experience team.
I genuinely hope that the policy is re-evaluated and that free seating is reintroduced for our high value passengers.
I understand why you feel we should reduce the benefits we offer our Bronze members and I appreciate that boarding is busier now Bronze members have priority boarding. I've fed back your suggestions to one of the managers within the Executive Club.
Thanks for contacting us and for your useful comments. We value your loyalty as a very high value Gold Guest List member and I hope you enjoy your flight to London City on Wednesday.
Best regards
Gold Guest List Customer Relations
British Airways
Dear Docgasman
Thanks for your email about the change to our Hand Baggage Only fares. As a Gold Guest List member, I totally understand your annoyance that you will no longer be able to select your seat at the time of booking. I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.
I'd like to take this opportunity to explain why the decision was made to remove free seating from Hand Baggage Only fares.
Our Hand Baggage Only fares are currently available on a number of routes from our three London airports. This type of fare allows customers to take advantage of a cheaper fare, while continuing to receive a generous hand baggage allowance.
From the research we’ve done it’s clear these fares appeal to many different people, from those who are travelling light, to people who may not mind where they sit on the aircraft. When travelling on these fares you can still benefit from allocated seating at check-in, in-flight refreshments and British Airways’ renowned service.
The change to our Hand Baggage Only fares has been made so we’re able to compete more effectively in a challenging market by offering competitive fares to more routes than ever before.
I totally agree that it seems unfair to impose the same policy on Gold Guest List members as Bronze members and non Executive Club members. We're closely monitoring feedback about the change to our Hand Baggage Only policy and I've passed on your comments to our Customer Experience team.
I genuinely hope that the policy is re-evaluated and that free seating is reintroduced for our high value passengers.
I understand why you feel we should reduce the benefits we offer our Bronze members and I appreciate that boarding is busier now Bronze members have priority boarding. I've fed back your suggestions to one of the managers within the Executive Club.
Thanks for contacting us and for your useful comments. We value your loyalty as a very high value Gold Guest List member and I hope you enjoy your flight to London City on Wednesday.
Best regards
Gold Guest List Customer Relations
British Airways
Mar 9, 2015, 12:49 pm
#1064
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: scotland/EDI
Programs: BAEC , M&M , VIRGIN FC , FLYING BLUE
Posts: 1,438
whether it eventually results in reversals of decisions only time will tell
but if the do reverse the decision I would only see it happening for GGL not regular golds
Mar 9, 2015, 1:07 pm
#1065
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
Programs: I go wherever the content takes me.
Posts: 5,698
HBO fares - Have to pay to select seat in advance [even for GCH/SCH/BCHs]
It's very unusual for an agent to give their personal opinion ("I totally agree") in a CS response. Interesting!