Another 241 downgrade story - from F - with no [EC261] compo
#211
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,189
I'm really unsure why some posters are getting their underwear contorted over BA prioritising for downgrade those who will cost them least to remove from the oversold cabin. Doing anything else would be folly.
#212
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,459
Companies don't generally respond to speculation, unless it is to their advantage to do so.
I'm really unsure why some posters are getting their underwear contorted over BA prioritising for downgrade those who will cost them least to remove from the oversold cabin. Doing anything else would be folly.
I'm really unsure why some posters are getting their underwear contorted over BA prioritising for downgrade those who will cost them least to remove from the oversold cabin. Doing anything else would be folly.
#213
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,459
BA may not be able to respond in the negative to the accusation that they deliberately downgrade 2-4-1 customers when they don't control all their outstation staff properly. There are plenty of accounts of station managers in some places who believe that 2-4-1 and Avoid customers are inferior to cash customers and openly treat them worse.
BA could state they do not do this, to be followed soon after by another incident of a customer downgraded "because you didn't really pay for your ticket" from the Middle East or another place.
That would only further confirm, in the mind of suspicious customers, that they are duplicitous and inconsistent.
BA could state they do not do this, to be followed soon after by another incident of a customer downgraded "because you didn't really pay for your ticket" from the Middle East or another place.
That would only further confirm, in the mind of suspicious customers, that they are duplicitous and inconsistent.
#214
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,189
You can make a reasonable assumption that the cost of the ticket is a pretty big factor in that. Where the cost of a ticket is recorded in the system as nil, you can be fairly confident who is going to be at the top of the downgrade list...
#215
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Because BA has had a presence on this forum at least 10 years, and continues to monitor it closely. And because the thread refers to an article on one of the UK's most influential and (and now award winning) travel blogs, whose journalists are invited by BA to BA events. And because between FT and HFP thousands of BA's and Amex's customers are reading this story, and thinking "I wonder if there's anything in this?".
It's rather naive to think BA doesn't have a social media strategy, and isn't aware of what is being said.
By not responding BA adds to the speculation. By responding BA could end it.
It's rather naive to think BA doesn't have a social media strategy, and isn't aware of what is being said.
By not responding BA adds to the speculation. By responding BA could end it.
There is a difference between "having a presence" or "monitoring it closely" and answering questions from every Tom, Dick and Harry.
There is is also a difference between "having a social media policy" or "being aware of what is being said" and engaging on every thread. I'm sure they are aware of what is said on the Daily Mail website but I don't see them getting involved in every thread there.
Apart from occasional announcements and things like missing Avios BA hasn't engaged on here meaningfully for a long time.
Indeed it was on HfP and Raffles attends BA events. So what? The point of bloggers is to provoke comment as that is what drives traffic to the blog. It doesn't mean BA needs to have an answer for everything.
I can't imagine there are that many people on here worried. There have been what 2 or 3 examples on here and as already pointed out interest on here was such that the thread had been dormant for 6 weeks before you bumped it. Doesn't exactly seem front of mind.
Seriously what are you expecting BA to say here? It is highly unlikely but occasionally it may happen for operational reasons?
If I started a thread along the lines of "will my flight be late" or something similarly speculative would you expect BAA to jump in?
#216
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Is this a known fact or guesswork/speculation on your part?
#217
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Bournemouth
Programs: BA Gold Virgin Atlantic Silver Hilton Honors Silver
Posts: 13
Hi
Long time lurker first time poster thought Id add my experience, used my 2016 & 2017 241s in August and September respectively for 2 round trips to Orlando without any problems-admittedly only in J class.
Thanks for all tips
Long time lurker first time poster thought Id add my experience, used my 2016 & 2017 241s in August and September respectively for 2 round trips to Orlando without any problems-admittedly only in J class.
Thanks for all tips
#218
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,095
Overall, downgrades on BA are not that common, so even if they do downgrade Avios and 2-4-1 customers more than cash customers, neither group of customers will experience it often. A less frequent traveller would be unlikely to experience it at all. Some routes are known to have downgrades more often than others, of course, but it is still good to keep the size of the overall problem in perspective.
This doesn't mean BA should downgrade Avios and 2-4-1 customers and particularly not without similar compensation (therefore cost to BA) as a cash customer, but they're not doing it that often to anyone.
#219
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,083
However the BA Forum Dashboard is full of many golden nuggets and a worthwhile read if you haven't already done so.
#220
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, several other less interesting cards...
Posts: 3,710
Now Raffles has certainly piqued my interest. I would be pretty miffed if it were to happen on the first flight but I'd probably shrug my shoulders and deal with it on my return. F-J is not the end of the world. However things would not be the same on the latter flight where the choice would be to travel or not as there are few alternative options.
Yes, downgrades happen. Yes, they are infrequent. Yes, the chances of it happening to you are minimal. However that is not what we are talking about here. It is the specific downgrading of Amex 2-4-1 pax. With that in mind, Mr Volante has a quite legitimate point.
#222
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: LONDON
Posts: 415
I think 2 or 3 examples in the last few months is enough to provoke some concern or request for information on a forum which is related to the issue. I do wonder why there is the need to jump to BA's defence so readily.
#223
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
What do you think they will say on an internet chat board that they wouldn't tell you directly?
If I am buying goods or services and have a concern I call the supplier. I don't go making anonymous comments in an internet chat room and hope the supplier might see it and decide to respond. Nobody does that with the expectation of being taken seriously.
#224
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 106
I was concerned about this due to flying with the misses and baby next year to SJC (787), so once we got our reward seats, I tried a a cash booking for 7 people to take it to 9 seats but it wouldn't let me, could only book another 6 seats in the cabin. It's definately route dependant where they allow overbooking in F I think. I'm going to take a stab in the dark that it's 747/777/a380 routes more than 787 routes due to the 14 seats? Would be interested to know if any downgrades have happened on 787 routes?
#225
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Somewhere between SFO and LAX...FYI aka FAT
Programs: BAEC - back to lowly blue. Marriott - Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 464
I was concerned about this due to flying with the misses and baby next year to SJC (787), so once we got our reward seats, I tried a a cash booking for 7 people to take it to 9 seats but it wouldn't let me, could only book another 6 seats in the cabin. It's definately route dependant where they allow overbooking in F I think. I'm going to take a stab in the dark that it's 747/777/a380 routes more than 787 routes due to the 14 seats? Would be interested to know if any downgrades have happened on 787 routes?
Last edited by JayeJ; Oct 11, 2017 at 4:24 pm Reason: clarification