Micro-nation BAEC membership?
May 15, 2017, 8:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,712
Micro-nation BAEC membership?
I recently left the UK for a small semi-independent nation in the Caribbean. Independent enough for its own entry in the "Country" list on BAEC in any case.
It looks like I was the first BAEC member from there, as it took about 2 months to get BA tech support to change my country of membership in my address, but it eventually got there.
Now though, I seem to have gotten myself in a spot of bother. It turns out that I'm unable to search for Avios on ba.com (I always get a message telling me the system is down), and on calling the BA Silver line in the UK I was told they were no longer able to help me with any Avios bookings. They suggested calling the US, but I hung up after 30min on hold - I'm also sceptical that the US is going to be more internationally oriented than BA head office? I also did the usual "hang up and try again" trick, but got India whose systems are apparently completely down.
Three questions for you all:
It looks like I was the first BAEC member from there, as it took about 2 months to get BA tech support to change my country of membership in my address, but it eventually got there.
Now though, I seem to have gotten myself in a spot of bother. It turns out that I'm unable to search for Avios on ba.com (I always get a message telling me the system is down), and on calling the BA Silver line in the UK I was told they were no longer able to help me with any Avios bookings. They suggested calling the US, but I hung up after 30min on hold - I'm also sceptical that the US is going to be more internationally oriented than BA head office? I also did the usual "hang up and try again" trick, but got India whose systems are apparently completely down.
Three questions for you all:
- Has anyone else come across this kind of issue from a country without its own BA office? I thought the offices were globalised a few years ago?
- Does anyone have any suggestions of what I should be doing differently in navigating the different offices, call centres and support systems to try to get this fixed?
- Can someone please please please do me a favour and let me know if there is any Business or First Avios availability on any LON-NYC single routing anytime between the 20th and 22nd of May?
May 15, 2017, 8:14 am
#2
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,240
Well that's an unusual one for sure.
If you have an address in the UK I'd suggest you revert to that address as I can't see any advantage of having it set locally.
No luck with the CW or F availability either. Best I can see is WTP on the 183 on 5/20.
If you have an address in the UK I'd suggest you revert to that address as I can't see any advantage of having it set locally.
No luck with the CW or F availability either. Best I can see is WTP on the 183 on 5/20.
May 15, 2017, 8:56 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,712
May 15, 2017, 9:47 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,712
Bonaire St Eustatious and Saba.
Anyways, I realised that I could book on avios.com, so I've tentatively booked myself a WT fare for now - though according to a(nother) agent I was speaking to I can't select a seat until check-in as it's a new ultra-low end type of WT ticket (is that now a thing for Silvers?). I am not feeling a lot of love for BA at the moment.
I spent all last week on the phone to them getting myself back up to Silver after they downgraded me from Bronze as some RJ flights took months to post. The last agent couldn't even tell me if they were looking to fix my account or not.
Anyways, I realised that I could book on avios.com, so I've tentatively booked myself a WT fare for now - though according to a(nother) agent I was speaking to I can't select a seat until check-in as it's a new ultra-low end type of WT ticket (is that now a thing for Silvers?). I am not feeling a lot of love for BA at the moment.
I spent all last week on the phone to them getting myself back up to Silver after they downgraded me from Bronze as some RJ flights took months to post. The last agent couldn't even tell me if they were looking to fix my account or not.
May 15, 2017, 10:05 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK - Hampshire & London
Programs: Mucci de Guardian des Celliers des Grands Crus 1e Classé, plus BAEC.
Posts: 2,731
[QUOTE=EuropeanPete;28314056]Bonaire St Eustatious and Saba./QUOTE]
I wasn't even close.
I've now learnt my new fact of the day. I sympathise with your struggles EuropeanPete, is there a particular benefit to changing the BAEC country of residence in this case?
I wasn't even close.
I've now learnt my new fact of the day. I sympathise with your struggles EuropeanPete, is there a particular benefit to changing the BAEC country of residence in this case?
May 15, 2017, 10:07 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,712
I was just trying to be accurate, but I think I'm about to transfer it back to the UK. This is not working out for me.
May 15, 2017, 10:28 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LON, ACK, BOS..... (Not necessarily in that order)
Programs: **Mucci Diamond Hairbrush** - compared to that nothing else matters (+BA Bronze)
Posts: 15,112
Bonaire St Eustatious and Saba.
Anyways, I realised that I could book on avios.com, so I've tentatively booked myself a WT fare for now - though according to a(nother) agent I was speaking to I can't select a seat until check-in as it's a new ultra-low end type of WT ticket (is that now a thing for Silvers?). I am not feeling a lot of love for BA at the moment.
I spent all last week on the phone to them getting myself back up to Silver after they downgraded me from Bronze as some RJ flights took months to post. The last agent couldn't even tell me if they were looking to fix my account or not.
Anyways, I realised that I could book on avios.com, so I've tentatively booked myself a WT fare for now - though according to a(nother) agent I was speaking to I can't select a seat until check-in as it's a new ultra-low end type of WT ticket (is that now a thing for Silvers?). I am not feeling a lot of love for BA at the moment.
I spent all last week on the phone to them getting myself back up to Silver after they downgraded me from Bronze as some RJ flights took months to post. The last agent couldn't even tell me if they were looking to fix my account or not.
