BA block Avios wine purchase
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Programs: Delta; BA; Marriott; Hilton; Best Western; Emirates
Posts: 18
BA block Avios wine purchase
This time of year is when I, plus probably many others, want to use their Avios to "buy" wine on-line through the BA web site. I recognise it is a good and rare benefit that BA has provided here. Today marks the start of the third week in which it has not been possible to make a "purchase". The site allows me to select the wine sought, and put it in a basket. It has been impossible to checkout i.e. spend my Avios, complete the "purchase". This is despite many attempts over the last 14 days. BA Customer Service was notified and their response in essence is that the problem is complex, and IT is working on it. No real apology, and to cap it all, prices i.e. Avios cost displayed for my particular selection have been hiked by over 10% during this period. This BA response is very poor, and tardy, and is a Scrooge-like attempt to save costs. The IT resource clearly has been told "Guys - don't rush at this job ticket, every day we are saving money on this". Have other members had similar experiences?
#2
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,431
I assume you have tried to do this using a different browser to see if that works? I seriously doubt that BA are deliberately trying to block you from making this purchase. If they didn't want people to spend Avios in this way, they wouldn't offer the option in the first place.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Near Edinburgh
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 9,034
Don't put down to malice what can easily be explained by incompetence. Some might argue, in the case of BA's IT, that should always be the starting position.
#5
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 15,958
Just tried this on my account : using MS Edge the screen went white and froze after selecting a case and then clicking "Go to Basket"; on Chrome it worked OK and took me through to the payment stage.
These kind of "works only on some browsers" problems on ba.com have been all-too-frequently reported over the past few months.
These kind of "works only on some browsers" problems on ba.com have been all-too-frequently reported over the past few months.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,053
I'm amazed that the BA wine club is allowed to advertise themselves as "the UK's no 1 wine club". Instead of wasting your Avios, join The Wine Society (which is a mutual organisation and therefore maybe isn't legally a "club", thus allowing BA's claim)
#8
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BD Gold, BAEC Gold, Hilton HHonors
Posts: 861
I had this problem a while ago, except I was purchasing flights rather than wine. From my interactions with the Gold line (and social media team ) I really do believe it's incompetence rather than malice!
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,245
BA wine is a white label of Laithwaits, isn't it? They claim to be the no.1 destination for buying wine online.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Programs: Delta; BA; Marriott; Hilton; Best Western; Emirates
Posts: 18
Your suggestions are superb. I can now enthusiastically affirm that Membership of FlyerTalk has been of direct and undeniable benefit to me. I have now tried using Chrome, and have competed the purchase just fine. Thank you for your suggestions. This whole sorry episode is a great illustration of my inability to think outside the box. I must agree that perhaps the BA website, or Kimberley of their Customer Service team, might have suggested "try a different browser if your first attempt does not succeed". I am now a wiser man, slightly shamefaced, and looking forward to having a drinks at BA's expense.
#13
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,512
In fact, I may have to pay them a visit tomorrow. Definitely helps when you are only a 10 minute drive from their showroom...