IcHot

Petty theft? I do hope that those F seats fly empty and there is zero revenue and that BA stole from their own pocket.

It is an old travel trick to look at all the fare buckets when doing a short notice flight because F may be cheaper than economy at that point. Is that theft?

Gatwick Alan

I cant agree that this was not an obvious pricing error, my test is to ask people who aren't regular travellers and see what they say. On this one they said "sounds too cheap".

However I think BA muddied the waters with the twitter response.

The people who are travelling just acted faster than BA systems do, and should be allowed to complete the journeys as I think a contract is in place.

I often book via AA.com as I find it a better website and will do so even more so now.

BA have created a real mess now in respect of what is a sale fare and what is a mistake. I would be reluctant to book a fare which appears a bargain in case it is withdrawn.

christravelblog

Did BA sent out any emails now? If not, what if a regular traveller, not somebody into error fares had booked this.
Its really strange.

To be honest I have sympathy to both parties.
But BA is making a mess with so many errors lately. How can we know if something is a promo in the future? Where is the line between error and a normal promo? at 50% ? 25%? 10%?

IcHot

If we ask regular travelers what they think of some of the legit BA F fares, they laugh at it as an overpriced joke.

The LCC are winning the war. If customers get treated this way by BA, why pay extra for the supposedly better service?

Single_Flyer

It will be interesting to see if AA still gives miles for the flights. So far I haven't heard anything from AA (at all). Seem like if they aren't going to give miles they should notify us.

BA4EVER

I think we are missing the point here. It cannot be the responsibility of a consumer to have to guess whether something is a mistake or a promotion. Even if these were priced at £10, there are plenty of companies, airlines included, who offer loss-leader publicity generating or loyalty capturing promotions. It's not our job to have to question if we are paying enough.

Furthermore, this is not a mom and pop company that can be devastated by taking a loss. Fares that can be purchased without subterfuge and are ticketed should be honored, period. Airlines have to accept accountability for their public facing platforms.

There is nothing morally wrong with taking advantage of a great deal.

bafan

AA probably has better customer relations but which company has the better finances ? I guess BA takes the tougher line in order to ensure it avoids bankruptcy, which would affect far more people.

flipper747

This is exactly what I mean!!

DFB_london

How odd, you all knew by your presence on here this was a v obvious mistake fare. The German precedent was clear and yet some feel hard done by? To stare the blindingly obvious in the face and be surprised suggest that perhaps a basic common sense check is needed: if you can t learn from history you re doomed to repeat it. thus no sympathy from here - you all knew the likely outcome so get over it.

FlyerTalker6245

The cheapest in economy return from Prague to Cancun I can find in the month October -November is a 10 nighter and costs £584.

There's no way any First class sale would undercut the cheapest economy ticket. No way. End of.

The whole "I didn't realise this was a mistake. But look BA, I'm a really really frequent valued customer" argument, to quote Joe Lycett "doth butter no parsnips".

bafan

+1

JamilD

Both are financially healthy. In 2014, American Airlines Group had a profit of $4.2 bn, IAG had a profit of €1.4 bn.

It's just that American Airlines sees the loss incurred by honoring these fares as less of a concern, than the increase in their brand value and loyalty of their customers.

shefgab

Exactly. A few years ago I flew from London to Milan on Ryanair for 1p. Yeah, unbelieveably cheap. Obviously that was a mistake? No, that was the actual fare including c/c fee. It got people talking, and people booking.

Airlines run so many deals, including premium cabins under cutting economy, that knowing what is a flash sale/deal/mistake is really a lot less clear cut, especially with viral marketing. Who's to say that having a 10 minute flash sale on your website "New York for £50" is a mistake, or an excellent marketing ploy to get people onto the website and telling their friends about it. Word spreads like wild fire nowadays - much cheaper than print advertising! And didn't BA have a sale on Concorde in it's final years for something like £100 one way?

BA give customers a very useful 24 hour cooling off period. If there is a genuine mistake, BA have the resources to find it within that time period and cancel a mistake they have made. Going beyond that 24 hours, then cancelling without a good reason and adequate email/telephone contact is not acceptable in 2015.

Caciucco

1p? Damn, that's twice as good as my 2p to Pisa!

HIDDY

Not all Flyertalkers really care either to be honest....I for one don't give a monkey's.

I'm pretty sure the general public wouldn't unless you happen to be an 80 year old granny with a zimmer frame off to see the grandchildren in Mexico for the first time.