BA price gouging?
Jul 10, 2017, 1:11 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 24
I'm not sure I understand your AA comparison. BA and AA operate as a JV on that route. Expenses and revenue are shared and the net is split. You may have paid your money to AA, but half the net revenue goes to BA and vice-a-versa.
b/t/w - I am not hooked into BA particularly after - once again their quote (to Mauritius) was way over the competition - I flew in business on Emirates and Qantas in their A380's and both put BA Club to shame.
Jul 10, 2017, 1:35 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
OK, I get that, not the right comparison. BUT Virgin to NY is half the cost of BA. I never used to see that. It's the price discontinuity. Maybe edging up 10 - 20 % above your rival but at double the price you are giving away revenue.
b/t/w - I am not hooked into BA particularly after - once again their quote (to Mauritius) was way over the competition - I flew in business on Emirates and Qantas in their A380's and both put BA Club to shame.
b/t/w - I am not hooked into BA particularly after - once again their quote (to Mauritius) was way over the competition - I flew in business on Emirates and Qantas in their A380's and both put BA Club to shame.
The underlying assertion that BA is "gouging" is, without more, wrong. There are after all, many who are paying the BA price.
Jul 10, 2017, 1:37 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: UK (currently)
Programs: BA Gold (and many other greater and lesser distinctions)
Posts: 7,207
Here's a price gouge: Mrs FF99 recently had to fly back from Germany to LHR at very short notice owing to a family illness and I had to pay £540 for a one-way ET ticket. For that she did not even get a free coffee on the aircraft 
Add to that that I could not even get the Avios back for the return half of her original return ticket as it had been half flown, and I felt that we had been well and truly ripped off.
Add to that that I could not even get the Avios back for the return half of her original return ticket as it had been half flown, and I felt that we had been well and truly ripped off.
Jul 10, 2017, 1:57 pm
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 325
Here's a price gouge: Mrs FF99 recently had to fly back from Germany to LHR at very short notice owing to a family illness and I had to pay £540 for a one-way ET ticket. For that she did not even get a free coffee on the aircraft Add to that that I could not even get the Avios back for the return half of her original return ticket as it had been half flown, and I felt that we had been well and truly ripped off.
Add to that that I could not even get the Avios back for the return half of her original return ticket as it had been half flown, and I felt that we had been well and truly ripped off.How much was easyJet/Ryanair? How about the train?
In a nice neat way, we've come full circle. Someone asked why BA charges high prices. Then someone else showed why
Jul 10, 2017, 1:58 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA - DCA
Programs: BA Gold, American Airlines, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 5,075
There was a big pricing glitch if you tried to purchase on BA.com over the weekend - I saw the OP's "your fare is no longer available and is now <insert astronomical fare here>) several times. IAD-LHR return was pricing at over $3,000+ in coach and over $5,000 for premium economy even though the more realistic $900 and $1500 range fares were showing everywhere else...
The glitch is (for me at least) gone now as I was able to book a reasonable fare today.
The glitch is (for me at least) gone now as I was able to book a reasonable fare today.
Jul 10, 2017, 2:00 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: UK (currently)
Programs: BA Gold (and many other greater and lesser distinctions)
Posts: 7,207
You can be assured that I looked at all the options including a return ticket and this was the cheapest option. Train far too slow in the circumstances, and no other airline had a seat at the right time at a better fare.
Jul 10, 2017, 2:03 pm
#22
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,941
Jul 10, 2017, 2:12 pm
#23
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,163
Here's a price gouge: Mrs FF99 recently had to fly back from Germany to LHR at very short notice owing to a family illness and I had to pay £540 for a one-way ET ticket. For that she did not even get a free coffee on the aircraft Add to that that I could not even get the Avios back for the return half of her original return ticket as it had been half flown, and I felt that we had been well and truly ripped off.
Add to that that I could not even get the Avios back for the return half of her original return ticket as it had been half flown, and I felt that we had been well and truly ripped off.I also suspect that a ET return ticket where you throw away the return might have also been cheaper. Not always the first thing that comes to mind when you really need to travel urgently but all airlines, not only BA will happily "gouge" you when in that situation.
Jul 10, 2017, 2:13 pm
#24
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,208
Not sure this is a surprise. I switched to using aggregate search sites like Momondo or Expedia and then book the best value tickets for my routes, even if on other airline / alliance.
The savings made easily justify ditching perks of Silver or Gold, we are talking five figures £££ now since I ditched BA. .
The savings made easily justify ditching perks of Silver or Gold, we are talking five figures £££ now since I ditched BA. .
Jul 10, 2017, 10:33 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: london
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 266
I track the route via kayak or skyscanner at the same time so am comparing prices for BA and other carriers so not attached to BA but If there is a reason to book through BA - I sometimes do if I'm thinking of checking upgrade options which I don't get for the same flight in Expedia - then I check first thing in the morning.
I often find I check first thing - see a price, it may say something like 2 seats left at this price. I get approval to book but the price has gone up, presumably those 2 seats have gone. However if I then come back the next morning, it's back to the original price and climbs through the day. I have tracked this over multiple destinations over time and the behaviour seems consistent.
I often find I check first thing - see a price, it may say something like 2 seats left at this price. I get approval to book but the price has gone up, presumably those 2 seats have gone. However if I then come back the next morning, it's back to the original price and climbs through the day. I have tracked this over multiple destinations over time and the behaviour seems consistent.
Jul 11, 2017, 2:47 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, HH Diamond, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,219
This is a boring argument based out of the fact you wanted to book on to a very specific flight which is probably heavily booked so the fare class is increasing, and thus the price. There's still plenty of flights that week for <£1k, or you could just book with another airline!!