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, 7:03 am
#121
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
Programs: I go wherever the content takes me.
Posts: 5,698
Nail on head. I'm exactly the same. I travel HBO even in CE based on that very principle.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:04 am
#122
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: 09/27
Programs: BA, TK, EK
Posts: 767
Exactly this - BA should be increasing capacity to meet growing demand but can't due to LHR politics. Therefore the only way to increase profit is by raising prices.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:04 am
#123
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: LGW
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 762
Like many on here I've been critical of LCCs. However, for the last year I've flown with easyJet virtually every week on the EDI-STN-EDI route. With only 2 exceptions they have been absolutely fine.
The 06:40 from EDI is almost always early and as I'm normally in Row 1 I can be at the Europcar desk within 5 mins of being on stand and depending on how busy they are I an reach my office in Brentwood by 8:45.
I often wonder how the do it for the price. Last week I had to buy 3 'fill-in' return flights as my plans to work those week in Glasgow fell through. This was not booking well in advance but for this week and a fortnight after and another fortnight after that.
Removed picture
That works out at £26 per flight and includes my Row 1 seats.
Note the taxes and charges: £78. How BA can justify their rip-off fees is beyond me.
From 19th March I'll also be allowed a laptop bag:-
http://mediacentre.easyjet.com/stori....g07XIWLG.dpuf
For those blindly stuck to BA shorthaul I'd say this; "Open you eyes. There are other alternatives."
The 06:40 from EDI is almost always early and as I'm normally in Row 1 I can be at the Europcar desk within 5 mins of being on stand and depending on how busy they are I an reach my office in Brentwood by 8:45.
I often wonder how the do it for the price. Last week I had to buy 3 'fill-in' return flights as my plans to work those week in Glasgow fell through. This was not booking well in advance but for this week and a fortnight after and another fortnight after that.
Removed picture
That works out at £26 per flight and includes my Row 1 seats.
Note the taxes and charges: £78. How BA can justify their rip-off fees is beyond me.
From 19th March I'll also be allowed a laptop bag:-
http://mediacentre.easyjet.com/stori....g07XIWLG.dpuf
For those blindly stuck to BA shorthaul I'd say this; "Open you eyes. There are other alternatives."
Loyalty on SH will no longer matter for us, the cheapest and best times should work enough for us.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:06 am
#124
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: Still a lowly Blue with BA but inching towards Bronze. Managed to get to KLM Silver!
Posts: 4,310
Mar 2, 2015, 7:07 am
#125
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ATL
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 200
My reading of the situation is that BA is going down the SAS route of creating product differentiation within the economy cabin. Next, more will be stripped from HBO only, then it will be re-branded as Euro Traveller Saver, and/or what we currently know as Euro Traveller non-HBO will be upgraded in name only to Euro Traveller Plus. At the same time CE will vanish from some routes, leaving a choice between economy or LCC-style economy (the current situation on SAS and a few others). In this situation I would also expect to see lounge access & fast track extended to full fare economy shorthaul (mirroring Business UK).
This sounds to me like it could well be right on the mark... You would have thought that doing it one go would make a lot more sense, though (like ripping off a band aid)
Mar 2, 2015, 7:09 am
#126
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
HBO fares - Have to pay to select seat in advance [even for GCH/SCH/BCHs]
Yet again a thread full of hysteria over a minor change. As usual, most posters look at it solely from their personal perspective and moan because something too good to be true has had to come to an end.
BA launched HBOs as a discount to standard Y fares. It was in some ways a marketing gimmick, but it did offer a small saving for those willing to forego checked luggage. The problem is it was just too successful and for frequent business travellers too generous.
Result? Huge issues with excessive amounts of hand luggage. Lack of strict enforcement hasn't helped, but if even pax only took their entitlement, there is still too much hand luggage.
BA's solution - offer an even less frills product by removing seat selection from HBO fares in the hope more will opt for a standard fare with a luggage allowance that will actually use, or at least get in more money to make good some of the costs of the HBO discount.
Perhaps removing seat selection from GCHs is a bit harsh and perhaps there is a case for free selection at OLCI or 7 days out for SCHs. Who knows whether BA considered that, but decided against it.
What I do think is a given is that many see the HBO fare as the standard fare for the flight and resent paying what they is in fact the standard fare, even when they do actually need checked luggage. Witness the number of threads on here about putting in a single CE leg to get a luggage allowance on an entire itinerary, or requests for advice on how to purchase one standard fare and a number of HBO fares so whole family can take their luggage using extra status bags without all buying standard fares.
It may seem harsh, but what BA are saying is we can offer you a really cheap no frills fare but it is just that whatever your status; or for not much more you can have a standard fare with all the trimmings. The choice is yours.
Before the introduction of HBO fares, there was no option to get a cheaper fare by foregoing part of the service. Unfortunately, BA now feel commercially that they need to modify the service reduction offered by the HBO fares. Presumably they have an objective in terms of revenue and operational criteria. If this measure doesn't achieve it, then maybe lounge access will be next.
Whilst this reduces something previously offered, it still provides more choice than there was before as it continues to offer a lower cost option. Standard fares haven't increased in price and if they now offer items that you really value then may be HBOs are not for you.
BA launched HBOs as a discount to standard Y fares. It was in some ways a marketing gimmick, but it did offer a small saving for those willing to forego checked luggage. The problem is it was just too successful and for frequent business travellers too generous.
Result? Huge issues with excessive amounts of hand luggage. Lack of strict enforcement hasn't helped, but if even pax only took their entitlement, there is still too much hand luggage.
BA's solution - offer an even less frills product by removing seat selection from HBO fares in the hope more will opt for a standard fare with a luggage allowance that will actually use, or at least get in more money to make good some of the costs of the HBO discount.
Perhaps removing seat selection from GCHs is a bit harsh and perhaps there is a case for free selection at OLCI or 7 days out for SCHs. Who knows whether BA considered that, but decided against it.
What I do think is a given is that many see the HBO fare as the standard fare for the flight and resent paying what they is in fact the standard fare, even when they do actually need checked luggage. Witness the number of threads on here about putting in a single CE leg to get a luggage allowance on an entire itinerary, or requests for advice on how to purchase one standard fare and a number of HBO fares so whole family can take their luggage using extra status bags without all buying standard fares.
It may seem harsh, but what BA are saying is we can offer you a really cheap no frills fare but it is just that whatever your status; or for not much more you can have a standard fare with all the trimmings. The choice is yours.
Before the introduction of HBO fares, there was no option to get a cheaper fare by foregoing part of the service. Unfortunately, BA now feel commercially that they need to modify the service reduction offered by the HBO fares. Presumably they have an objective in terms of revenue and operational criteria. If this measure doesn't achieve it, then maybe lounge access will be next.
Whilst this reduces something previously offered, it still provides more choice than there was before as it continues to offer a lower cost option. Standard fares haven't increased in price and if they now offer items that you really value then may be HBOs are not for you.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:10 am
#127
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wassenaar, NL
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 709
I guess the vast majority of the UK public don't care about the enhancements....
Mar 2, 2015, 7:10 am
#128
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,846
Given BA have gone from operating Tristars, 757/767 on domestic/shorthaul to generally operating A319/20/21 with a bias towards the smaller Airbii I'm not sure this is strictly true.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:10 am
#129
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Programs: Tufty Club (Gold), BAGA Gymnastics level 4, 440yds swimming certificate
Posts: 2,533
I bet some out of touch BA idiot (read Manager) will have assumed that card holders don't often use HBO fares so this proposed change is a low impact.
Hopefully said idiot is currently packing up his or her hotdesk.
Hopefully said idiot is currently packing up his or her hotdesk.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:10 am
#130
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,570
The cynic in me said that they were deliberately allocating poor seats in the hope of getting people to pay to change. But I'm sure that BA wouldn't consider such a tactic here...
Mar 2, 2015, 7:11 am
#131
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: Still a lowly Blue with BA but inching towards Bronze. Managed to get to KLM Silver!
Posts: 4,310
But, pointing things out, you have easy jet plus, which only applies to the person with it?, and at £150 pa that is not cheap for a family of four, whereas on BA if we book with a bag we get 4 seats return with the current one silver card holder, 3 bronzes. Cannot remember how much normal seat selection or exit row is, 3 of us are 6"2...
Loyalty on SH will no longer matter for us, the cheapest and best times should work enough for us.
Loyalty on SH will no longer matter for us, the cheapest and best times should work enough for us.
I'm not suggesting someone doing on flight a year with U2 should get a Plus card. Even if one of you does have a card you can get Speedy Boarding and seat assignment for £12 in Row 1 or £8 for rows 2-5.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:11 am
#132
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Spalding
Programs: BA Bronze,Accor.Flightdiary.net/liamvad
Posts: 667
So,I only use HBO fares,currently I have to pay to get a seat that I like,its only free if I do it 24 hours ahead,now,If they(BA) are going to allocate my seat at the time of booking,it could be that in fact it is a seat I want,in which case it will save me money,so could be a winner for some.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:11 am
#133
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold / Hilton Diamond / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,537
[QUOTE=
For those blindly stuck to BA shorthaul I'd say this; "Open you eyes. There are other alternatives."[/QUOTE]
There are alternatives but not at LHR where capacity restraints are strangling competition.....This is what is allowing BA to do this ....they have no competition from Easy Jet or Ryanair at LHR and what competition there is is other legacy carriers offering transport to single destination (countries or city pairs)
STN GLA is great but not if you are 30 west of LHR on the M4. It is unlikely that you would choose to travel to STN for such a journey and similarly if you live near STN then it is unlikely that you would choose LHR for almost any European flight.
BA needs to face real competition and the barriers to entry at LHR need to eased either via a 3rd runway or a Boris Island.
For those blindly stuck to BA shorthaul I'd say this; "Open you eyes. There are other alternatives."
[/QUOTE]There are alternatives but not at LHR where capacity restraints are strangling competition.....This is what is allowing BA to do this ....they have no competition from Easy Jet or Ryanair at LHR and what competition there is is other legacy carriers offering transport to single destination (countries or city pairs)
STN GLA is great but not if you are 30 west of LHR on the M4. It is unlikely that you would choose to travel to STN for such a journey and similarly if you live near STN then it is unlikely that you would choose LHR for almost any European flight.
BA needs to face real competition and the barriers to entry at LHR need to eased either via a 3rd runway or a Boris Island.
Mar 2, 2015, 7:11 am
#134
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plt
Posts: 2,607
Awful news. For me this is the last straw - I never looked at EZY before but now I'll look on EZY first for business travel, since the shorthaul points are so small and the only differentiating factor is the GF lounge (which is nice on outbound ex-UK, but inbound the Priority Pass option is usually just as good).
Mar 2, 2015, 7:15 am
#135
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,570
Yet again a thread full of hysteria over a minor change. As usual, most posters look at it solely from their personal perspective and moan because something too good to be true has had to come to an end.
BA launched HBOs as a discount to standard Y fares. It was in some ways a marketing gimmick, but it did offer a small saving for those willing to forego checked luggage. The problem is it was just too successful and for frequent business travellers too generous.
Result? Huge issues with excessive amounts of hand luggage. Lack of strict enforcement hasn't helped, but if even pax only took their entitlement, there is still too much hand luggage.
BA's solution - offer an even less frills product by removing seat selection from HBO fares in the hope more will opt for a standard fare with a luggage allowance that will actually use, or at least get in more money to make good some of the costs of the HBO discount.
Perhaps removing seat selection from GCHs is a bit harsh and perhaps there is a case for free selection at OLCI or 7 days out for SCHs. Who knows whether BA considered that, but decided against it.
What I do think is a given is that many see the HBO fare as the standard fare for the flight and resent paying what they is in fact the standard fare, even when they do actually need checked luggage. Witness the number of threads on here about putting in a single CE leg to get a luggage allowance on an entire itinerary, or requests for advice on how to purchase one standard fare and a number of HBO fares so whole family can take their luggage using extra status bags without all buying standard fares.
It may seem harsh, but what BA are saying is we can offer you a really cheap no frills fare but it is just that whatever your status; or for not much more you can have a standard fare with all the trimmings. The choice is yours.
Before the introduction of HBO fares, there was no option to get a cheaper fare by foregoing part of the service. Unfortunately, BA now feel commercially that they need to modify the service reduction offered by the HBO fares. Presumably they have an objective in terms of revenue and operational criteria. If this measure doesn't achieve it, then maybe lounge access will be next.
Whilst this reduces something previously offered, it still provides more choice than there was before as it continues to offer a lower cost option. Standard fares haven't increased in price and if they now offer items that you really value then may be HBOs are not for you.
BA launched HBOs as a discount to standard Y fares. It was in some ways a marketing gimmick, but it did offer a small saving for those willing to forego checked luggage. The problem is it was just too successful and for frequent business travellers too generous.
Result? Huge issues with excessive amounts of hand luggage. Lack of strict enforcement hasn't helped, but if even pax only took their entitlement, there is still too much hand luggage.
BA's solution - offer an even less frills product by removing seat selection from HBO fares in the hope more will opt for a standard fare with a luggage allowance that will actually use, or at least get in more money to make good some of the costs of the HBO discount.
Perhaps removing seat selection from GCHs is a bit harsh and perhaps there is a case for free selection at OLCI or 7 days out for SCHs. Who knows whether BA considered that, but decided against it.
What I do think is a given is that many see the HBO fare as the standard fare for the flight and resent paying what they is in fact the standard fare, even when they do actually need checked luggage. Witness the number of threads on here about putting in a single CE leg to get a luggage allowance on an entire itinerary, or requests for advice on how to purchase one standard fare and a number of HBO fares so whole family can take their luggage using extra status bags without all buying standard fares.
It may seem harsh, but what BA are saying is we can offer you a really cheap no frills fare but it is just that whatever your status; or for not much more you can have a standard fare with all the trimmings. The choice is yours.
Before the introduction of HBO fares, there was no option to get a cheaper fare by foregoing part of the service. Unfortunately, BA now feel commercially that they need to modify the service reduction offered by the HBO fares. Presumably they have an objective in terms of revenue and operational criteria. If this measure doesn't achieve it, then maybe lounge access will be next.
Whilst this reduces something previously offered, it still provides more choice than there was before as it continues to offer a lower cost option. Standard fares haven't increased in price and if they now offer items that you really value then may be HBOs are not for you.
That said, I did wonder how many pages this thread would get to before I saw the usual 'calm down dear' interjection that had to come from someone...