AA/BA/AY/IB Long Haul basic unbundled / HBO fares announced
#152
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,232
little difference for status pax?
Just been offered the econ basic fare for a JNB turn, and trying to get my head around the differences (except for the Ł60 difference which is very easy to get my head around).
For a silver, who doesn't travel with checked bags anyway, am I right in thinking that there is effectively no difference between basic and standard econ? I still get seat selection, fast track, lounge access, priority boarding and a pittance of avios/TPs?
Thanks for any input/advice/guidance.
For a silver, who doesn't travel with checked bags anyway, am I right in thinking that there is effectively no difference between basic and standard econ? I still get seat selection, fast track, lounge access, priority boarding and a pittance of avios/TPs?
Thanks for any input/advice/guidance.
#153
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,769
Yes correct, though it may knock your Group from 2 to 3 (not sure if that is an error or not, but I've seen complaints about it). The only oddity is that if you AUP it may cost more than a conventional WT ticket, which is understandable enough. And your chance of an OpUp will presumably reduce since the cost of the ticket is one of multiple factors that go into the sausage machine.
#154
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BG
Programs: BAEC Silver, TK Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 827
I bought a ticket when these fares were first released for Christmas and booked a BA operated flight under the AA code deliberately as at that time it was announced that in this case I would have baggage included. I tried calling BA but was told that baggage has never been included in these fares. Is this just a case of tough luck and pay for the bags or is it worth complaining (and if so, to who?)
#155
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: South East England
Programs: Status with BA Exec Club; KrisFlyer; Hilton Honors; IHG One; Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 543
[DELETED]
#156
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,769
I bought a ticket when these fares were first released for Christmas and booked a BA operated flight under the AA code deliberately as at that time it was announced that in this case I would have baggage included. I tried calling BA but was told that baggage has never been included in these fares. Is this just a case of tough luck and pay for the bags or is it worth complaining (and if so, to who?)
#157
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,639
Apart from some speculation on Flyertalk about this, I can't recall any official advice along these lines. If you have some print-out to say this, then all well and good. If not, I suspect your best approach is to ring AA and get them to put you on to AA metal instead.
However when I was looking at buying one of these fares earlier in the year I couldn’t find it again anywhere. So it was probably either taken down or I imagined it all along. Either way it definitely wasn’t officially released.
In the end I managed to get pretty much my target price also with car hire and luggage booking AA under BA codes through BA Holidays, but that is obviously no help to the poster above. I suppose only helpful thing to say is if starting in London BA will let you check your hand luggage if you wish if the issue is taking liquids through rather than size/weight.
#158
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BG
Programs: BAEC Silver, TK Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 827
You can see the detailed rules on page 5 of the document on the Travel Trade website
The original text can still be found here : https://loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/...e-guide_en.pdf
#159
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,769
I see this link which was posted after the initial announcement has now been updated with the new information. It links directly to the BA website.
The original text can still be found here : https://loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/...e-guide_en.pdf
The original text can still be found here : https://loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/...e-guide_en.pdf
#160
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Silver, M&M, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,223
So what happens if you have combination of flights operated by two different carries? For example LHR-SFO on BA and then SFO-LAX on AA. Which baggage allowance for BA status holder takes precedence? I know, I would get random seat on AA and could choose one on BA, but baggage is not something you can take on only one flight but not other.
#161
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SAN, MIA, GOT
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 349
I know that AA basic eco books into B class but what booking class does a BA segment book into? I have tried to simulate a booking by choosing Economy basic GOT-LHR-MIA all BA legs and short haul segments book into S and long haul into O class. Funny enough if I choose economy standard I get the same booking classes. Does that mean I can still check a bag with eco basic?
#162
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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AA and BA take different approaches here. On BA it is controlled by fare basis, not booking class. So you can't look at a fare bucket and decide it is HBO or not. AA does indeed reserve B for this purpose.
#163
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 17
Sorry for question but I can't work out whether a oneworld Emerald would be able to select seats free of charge on an AA segment booked as Basic?
#164
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,639
#165
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SAN, MIA, GOT
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 349
No, buuuut If you are super nice to the AA lounge agent they might change your seat for free. I got MCE bulkhead on the 77W instead of a middle seat in the back allocated by the computer.