Originally Posted by dougzz

They have no way of knowing the value of the trip to an individual, so why not seek volunteers?

Originally Posted by orbitmic

To be honest, i dont think they are worried that they will be downgraded because they have a 2-4-1 but rather that they will be top of the downgrade pecking order if anybody is and personally, i think that they are completely right. Regardless of whether 2-4-1 are targeted as such, as others have pointed out there may be numerous reasons notably related to commercial value, which make a 2-4-1 companion a likely pick. I'm genuinely not sure why this would even be shocking. Some mention surprise that ba would downgrade part of a party rather than solo travellers, but that seems genuinely odd to me as such a policy would typically result in ba always choosing to downgrade business travellers (most likely to fly as groups or families), which would be entirely counter-productive. As for the argument the system is probably not sophisticated enough, I wholly disagree, the whole point of the upgrade/downgrade part of the system is to enable airlines to specify the basis of commercial priority and value. The whole idea that ticket costs could not or would not be part of it sounds rather unconvincing.

Originally Posted by dougzz

A lot of what is said here points greatly towards BA seeking volunteers as a way out of this. The trip somonsmith describes would potentially be spoilt by a one person downgrade, whilst many a business traveller doing F frequently would happily trouser £500 to sit amongst the hoi polloi of CW. They have no way of knowing the value of the trip to an individual, so why not seek volunteers?

Originally Posted by KARFA

They are worried and I have seen the posts and threads on here over the last few months.

Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave

They do seek volunteers if the overbooking is identified early, those checking in during the first hour or so (out of the 3 hours) may well be offered the option. There are separate threads elsewhere describing the nuts and bolts of it, suffice to say it's a form of double jeopardy and not one I would really recommend. Thereafter, if the downgrade procedure is later on then BA doesn't always look for volunteers, particularly not to those already checked in, and given the checked luggage situation you can understand why it is hassle.

What they should do, in my opinion, is take advantage of their App technology to send Notifications to existing checked in customers inviting them to go Customer Services if they are willing to accept £x. They could even tailor it to identify particular segments, such as HBO single travellers, or perhaps those who are on cheap tickets and therefore very happy to be bribed on to the next service.

Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave

They do seek volunteers if the overbooking is identified early, those checking in during the first hour or so (out of the 3 hours) may well be offered the option. There are separate threads elsewhere describing the nuts and bolts of it, suffice to say it's a form of double jeopardy and not one I would really recommend. Thereafter, if the downgrade procedure is later on then BA doesn't always look for volunteers, particularly not to those already checked in, and given the checked luggage situation you can understand why it is hassle.

What they should do, in my opinion, is take advantage of their App technology to send Notifications to existing checked in customers inviting them to go Customer Services if they are willing to accept £x. They could even tailor it to identify particular segments, such as HBO single travellers, or perhaps those who are on cheap tickets and therefore very happy to be bribed on to the next service.

Originally Posted by orbitmic

Yes they are worried: what I'm saying is that people are not so much worried all 2-4-1 will be downgraded (some are not many) but more are worried when they see their flight is zeroed out(or nearly) in F that IF there is a downgrade they are vulnerable elements, and in my view, regardless of the specifics of the case discussed in this case that's not unreasonable if only for plenty of logical indirect reasons.

Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave

They do seek volunteers if the overbooking is identified early, those checking in during the first hour or so (out of the 3 hours) may well be offered the option. There are separate threads elsewhere describing the nuts and bolts of it, suffice to say it's a form of double jeopardy and not one I would really recommend. Thereafter, if the downgrade procedure is later on then BA doesn't always look for volunteers, particularly not to those already checked in, and given the checked luggage situation you can understand why it is hassle.

What they should do, in my opinion, is take advantage of their App technology to send Notifications to existing checked in customers inviting them to go Customer Services if they are willing to accept £x. They could even tailor it to identify particular segments, such as HBO single travellers, or perhaps those who are on cheap tickets and therefore very happy to be bribed on to the next service.

Originally Posted by KARFA

No. Many of the, have been worried when the flight hasn't been remotely full and are under the impression BA are just downgrading reward and 2-4-1 bookings systematically regardless of how full the cabin is.

Originally Posted by Disco Volante

It's very easy for BA to set these people's minds at rest, isn't it?

Originally Posted by aircrashsurvivor

Travelling soon in a "full" F cabin as all seats are showing occupied (although Ba.com is still willing to sell 1 seat in F not 2) YYZ to LHR
on a 2:4:1, assuming it doesn't "oversell" by that 1 seat they seem to willing to oversell the cabin by... we will be fine but if it does oversell are there any suggestions that may avoid being downgraded such as checking in at T-24hrs or getting to the airport early.... or is the selection for downgrade selection completely independent of either number of people on the booking, method of fare (reward, 2:4:1 full payment) status.....assuming it's oversold and no one is either asked to downgrade or offers ?
or am I worrying over nothing.
It happens to be my 60th birthday on the travel date so we thought it would be a treat as we usually travel east in CW.....

Originally Posted by Disco Volante

It's very easy for BA to set these people's minds at rest, isn't it? One post on here, from BA, would do it. And yet still there is no response. Why wouldn't BA want to set the record straight? It would mean no more speculation on Head for Points, a well-regarded website with no axe to grind. It would mean no more speculation on FT. And it would head off a potentially difficult conversation with Amex, who is BA's partner in the very lucrative BA Amex card. Why wouldn't BA want to say "We don't do this"?

Originally Posted by NWIFlyer

So why, on that basis, would anyone reignite a thread which had been dormant for 6 weeks - given the speed with which these things end up unseen at page 15 - and cause potential further speculation plus anxiety for likely no reason?