Inconsistent fare constructs and issues with booking codeshare flights with BA
Apr 5, 2016 | 3:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,615
Inconsistent fare constructs and issues with booking codeshare flights with BA
I have just tried to book a return from LAS to NCL for June. Two separate routings:
LAS - PHX - JFK - LHR - NCL - LHR - LAS (Booking classes A,A,I,J,J,T) which BA cannot price in spite of a $4150 price on Matrix
LAS - PHX - PHL - LHR - NCL - LHR - LAS (Booking classes A,A,I,J,J,T) which BA can price at $4150
Both fares show as the same IHX8S3E3 fare rules so I am not sure why I can't get a price for the first. BA say it's because the I class on the JFK - LHR sector can't be combined with the A class on the domestic US flights, but it can obviously be combined with the I class on the PHL - LHR sector.
Outward travel is 23rd June, return on 27th if anyone on here can shed any light?
Also, when I asked the agent to try using the AA codeshare for the JFK - LHR flight, I was told that they can no longer price BA operated flights using the AA or IB codeshare flight numbers - it has to be the BA flight number. This is apparently a new directive from management to explicitly clarify what was apparently a policy more honoured in the breach than the observance before. Wrists have been slapped from what I was told.
LAS - PHX - JFK - LHR - NCL - LHR - LAS (Booking classes A,A,I,J,J,T) which BA cannot price in spite of a $4150 price on Matrix
LAS - PHX - PHL - LHR - NCL - LHR - LAS (Booking classes A,A,I,J,J,T) which BA can price at $4150
Both fares show as the same IHX8S3E3 fare rules so I am not sure why I can't get a price for the first. BA say it's because the I class on the JFK - LHR sector can't be combined with the A class on the domestic US flights, but it can obviously be combined with the I class on the PHL - LHR sector.
Outward travel is 23rd June, return on 27th if anyone on here can shed any light?
Also, when I asked the agent to try using the AA codeshare for the JFK - LHR flight, I was told that they can no longer price BA operated flights using the AA or IB codeshare flight numbers - it has to be the BA flight number. This is apparently a new directive from management to explicitly clarify what was apparently a policy more honoured in the breach than the observance before. Wrists have been slapped from what I was told.
Apr 5, 2016 | 3:14 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Edi
Posts: 2,210
I have just tried to book a return from LAS to NCL for June. Two separate routings:
LAS - PHX - JFK - LHR - NCL - LHR - LAS (Booking classes A,A,I,J,J,T) which BA cannot price in spite of a $4150 price on Matrix
LAS - PHX - PHL - LHR - NCL - LHR - LAS (Booking classes A,A,I,J,J,T) which BA can price at $4150
Both fares show as the same IHX8S3E3 fare rules so I am not sure why I can't get a price for the first. BA say it's because the I class on the JFK - LHR sector can't be combined with the A class on the domestic US flights, but it can obviously be combined with the I class on the PHL - LHR sector.
Outward travel is 23rd June, return on 27th if anyone on here can shed any light?
Also, when I asked the agent to try using the AA codeshare for the JFK - LHR flight, I was told that they can no longer price BA operated flights using the AA or IB codeshare flight numbers - it has to be the BA flight number. This is apparently a new directive from management to explicitly clarify what was apparently a policy more honoured in the breach than the observance before. Wrists have been slapped from what I was told.
LAS - PHX - JFK - LHR - NCL - LHR - LAS (Booking classes A,A,I,J,J,T) which BA cannot price in spite of a $4150 price on Matrix
LAS - PHX - PHL - LHR - NCL - LHR - LAS (Booking classes A,A,I,J,J,T) which BA can price at $4150
Both fares show as the same IHX8S3E3 fare rules so I am not sure why I can't get a price for the first. BA say it's because the I class on the JFK - LHR sector can't be combined with the A class on the domestic US flights, but it can obviously be combined with the I class on the PHL - LHR sector.
Outward travel is 23rd June, return on 27th if anyone on here can shed any light?
Also, when I asked the agent to try using the AA codeshare for the JFK - LHR flight, I was told that they can no longer price BA operated flights using the AA or IB codeshare flight numbers - it has to be the BA flight number. This is apparently a new directive from management to explicitly clarify what was apparently a policy more honoured in the breach than the observance before. Wrists have been slapped from what I was told.
Apr 5, 2016 | 4:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: JAX
Programs: Ex-BA/AA/CP/LY staff, BA Blue, IHG Diamond, Marriott Silver, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 3,756
Short answer/suggestion: try asking again, but booking PHX-JFK in I class so that you are booked as A,I,I,J,J,T. If PHX-JFK is a 3 cabin aircraft, you probably need to be booked in business instead of first. You usually only get first on a business fare when there is no business cabin.
Long answer: I played in Amadeus, guessing at flight numbers, and plugged in the booking classes you listed, assuming using AA flight numbers LAS-PHX-JFK. I did a fare diagnostic and noticed that despite booking the AA flights both in A, the quote wanted the 2nd AA flight in I, of which there was limited/no availability. I entered it as a dummy segment and it straight quoted at USD4153.66.
Amadeus Fare Diagnostic is below. Note that despite me having booked the 2nd flight in A, the quote uses I. The 'error' message underneath simply says 'Invalid booking code' without drawing my attention to which one was wrong.
Long answer: I played in Amadeus, guessing at flight numbers, and plugged in the booking classes you listed, assuming using AA flight numbers LAS-PHX-JFK. I did a fare diagnostic and noticed that despite booking the AA flights both in A, the quote wanted the 2nd AA flight in I, of which there was limited/no availability. I entered it as a dummy segment and it straight quoted at USD4153.66.
Amadeus Fare Diagnostic is below. Note that despite me having booked the 2nd flight in A, the quote uses I. The 'error' message underneath simply says 'Invalid booking code' without drawing my attention to which one was wrong.
Code:
FXX/DS1-4F-IHX8S3E3,S5-6F-THX8S3E1
01 P1
LAST TKT DTE 08APR16 - SEE ADV PURCHASE
------------------------------------------------------------
AL FLGT BK DATE TIME FARE BASIS NVB NVA BG
LAS
XPHX AA 406 A 23JUN 0645 IHX8S3E3 23JUN23JUN 2P
XNYC AA 106 I 23JUN 0902 IHX8S3E3 23JUN23JUN 2P
XLON BA 176 I 23JUN 1930 IHX8S3E3 23JUN23JUN 2P
NCL BA 1326 J 24JUN 0925 IHX8S3E3 24JUN24JUN 2P
XLON BA 1325 J 27JUN 0900 THX8S3E1 27JUN27JUN 2P
LAS BA 271 T 27JUN 1230 THX8S3E1 27JUN27JUN 2P
USD 3101.00 23JUN16LAS AA X/PHX AA X/NYC BA X/LON BA
NCL E/XXX M1990.00IHX8S3E3 BA X/LON BA LAS
USD 681.00YQ M1110.50THX8S3E1 NUC3100.50END ROE1.000000
USD 5.50YC XT USD 17.80US USD 17.80US USD 3.96XA USD
USD 366.16XT 7.00XY USD 5.60AY USD 207.80GB USD 92.70UB
USD 4153.66 USD 13.50XF LAS4.50PHX4.50JFK4.50
> PAGE 2/ 4
>MD
OVERRIDE DIAGNOSTIC ENTRY USED *J*
FARE SUBJECT TO FARE CONSTRUCTION CHECKS
TICKET STOCK RESTRICTION
BG CXR: AA
PRICED VC BA - OTHER VC AVAILABLE AA
FARE VALID FOR E TICKET ONLY
TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
ENDOS NONREF AFTER DEPARTURE RESTRICTIONS APPLY//NONREF/REST
RICTIONS APPLY -BG:AA
05APR16 PER GAF REQUIREMENTS FARE NOT VALID UNTIL TICKETED
> PAGE 3/ 4
>MD
DIAGNOSTIC PANEL
FARE COMPONENT: LAS-AA-PHX-AA-JFK-BA-LHR-BA-NCL
1 IHX8S3E3 BA 1990.00 R NUC
INVALID BOOKING CODE
FARE COMPONENT: NCL-BA-LHR-BA-LAS
2 THX8S3E1 BA 1110.50 R NUC
NO FAILURE
> PAGE 4/ 4
Apr 5, 2016 | 4:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: JAX
Programs: Ex-BA/AA/CP/LY staff, BA Blue, IHG Diamond, Marriott Silver, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 3,756
Just used a 2 cabin PHX-JFK flight and A class worked - got USD4159.26, same fare bases.
So both AAIJ and AIIJ are correct, it just depends on whether there is a business class cabin on the AA flights. If there is, A may not be used on that sector and I must be booked instead.
So both AAIJ and AIIJ are correct, it just depends on whether there is a business class cabin on the AA flights. If there is, A may not be used on that sector and I must be booked instead.
Apr 5, 2016 | 4:49 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,615
Thanks JAXBA - but I wasn't aware that there were three cabin flights on the PHX - JFK route. When I look at aa.com it only shows coach and first, no business.
The reason I wanted to be booked in First was to get 210 TPs on that sector rather than 140 that business would get me.
My TA has been able to get the same fare basis but in First on the AA106 from PHX to JFK but they can't redeem the e-voucher. So I am back to square one again.
The reason I wanted to be booked in First was to get 210 TPs on that sector rather than 140 that business would get me.
My TA has been able to get the same fare basis but in First on the AA106 from PHX to JFK but they can't redeem the e-voucher. So I am back to square one again.
Apr 5, 2016 | 6:02 pm
#9
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,615
Apr 5, 2016 | 7:10 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 10,006
Apr 5, 2016 | 7:16 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,615
One of the reasons for originally looking at flying through PHL was to try the 787 but it's a 777 on the day I want to fly. Flying through EWR was also an option but there's no I class available on that day either. Hence I looked at JFK so I could at least break the 2000 mile barrier and get 210 points. You're right - it's a real PITA.
Apr 5, 2016 | 10:30 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Abu Dhabi
Programs: BA Gold/OWE
Posts: 531
Expertflyer doesn't even show J inventory for AA106 PHX-JFK on 23 June, just F6 A5 P0 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 W7 V1 G0 S0 N0 Q0 O0. It's operated by a B738.
I can't see a BA codeshare on that flight but there are some IB codeshares via JFK, if that helps.
I can't see a BA codeshare on that flight but there are some IB codeshares via JFK, if that helps.
Apr 6, 2016 | 3:10 pm
#13
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,615
Finally after a lot of calls with BA and a very helpful member of the GGL night shift team in NCL I was able to get all of this sorted.
Itinerary is now LAS - PHX - JFK - ORY - LHR - NCL in First / Business including Open Skies (so interested to see what the Biz Bed experience will be like) for $3 more than the direct LHR routing and 40 extra tier points.
Return is unfortunately just in WT+ direct from LHR to LAS. My budget only stretches so far, and it's a daytime flight so not too fussed. Hopefully I can UUA closer to the return date.
Thanks again to all who commented and gave suggestions as to how to get this booked. FT at its best
Itinerary is now LAS - PHX - JFK - ORY - LHR - NCL in First / Business including Open Skies (so interested to see what the Biz Bed experience will be like) for $3 more than the direct LHR routing and 40 extra tier points.
Return is unfortunately just in WT+ direct from LHR to LAS. My budget only stretches so far, and it's a daytime flight so not too fussed. Hopefully I can UUA closer to the return date.
Thanks again to all who commented and gave suggestions as to how to get this booked. FT at its best
Apr 6, 2016 | 5:02 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 10,006
One thing I would suggest, if you have more trips to Europe planned, is to look at nesting your flights so you can buy tickets ex-Europe instead of ex-US.
Because, frankly, from the European perspective that price you've paid is a real stinker!
Because, frankly, from the European perspective that price you've paid is a real stinker!
Apr 6, 2016 | 6:16 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,615
Oh I know - I lived in BRU for almost 8 years so made the most of some very good ex-EU deals while I was there. Living in Las Vegas means that my travel patterns have changed quite a bit (more travel to Asia for example) and ex-EU tickets aren't really feasible unfortunately. The good thing is that I retain Gold as a result of this trip and the next decision is whether to push for a GUF2 again