QR flight number prevents upgrade
Apr 18, 2018, 4:14 pm
#1
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QR flight number prevents upgrade
I've just booked myself a trip LHR/DPS via DOH. The ticket is now not changeable without quite a cost. I am in business class throughout, but opted for my final segment (DOH/LHR) to be on BA - not because I think the business class service on BA will remotely compare to QR.... but because I saw an Avios upgrade into First.
So I make the booking, and then call the Gold Line - and am told bluntly that I cannot have the upgrade, despite being a BA Gold member flying on BA metal, because the ticket number and flight number are QR.
Is there anything I can do about this? I can hardly give expression to how ****** off I am! I would happily buy an upgrade at the airport if still available - but presumably that would require me to clear customs and immigration to get to the BA ticket desk at DOH...?
Any advice most welcome.
So I make the booking, and then call the Gold Line - and am told bluntly that I cannot have the upgrade, despite being a BA Gold member flying on BA metal, because the ticket number and flight number are QR.
Is there anything I can do about this? I can hardly give expression to how ****** off I am! I would happily buy an upgrade at the airport if still available - but presumably that would require me to clear customs and immigration to get to the BA ticket desk at DOH...?
Any advice most welcome.
Apr 18, 2018, 4:20 pm
#2
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In order to do a UuA you need to be on a BA issued ticket - i.e. one starting 125-..., and you need to be on a BA flight number. As you are booked under the QR codeshare you can't UuA. In terms of getting an upgrade the only thing may be to hope for a cash airport upgrade to be available.
I must admit I am not clear if you booked with BA or QR? However, BA have a 24 hour cooling off period so if you did book with them you can cancel for a full refund. I am not sure if QR offer something similar if you booked with them.
I must admit I am not clear if you booked with BA or QR? However, BA have a 24 hour cooling off period so if you did book with them you can cancel for a full refund. I am not sure if QR offer something similar if you booked with them.
Apr 18, 2018, 4:24 pm
#3
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Just to add some more detail, here is the section from the TP thread on UuAs:
Upgrading Using Avios (UuA) & Gold Upgrade Vouchers (GUF)
A quick note on doing UuAs is that you can do these for exEU itineraries (or you can apply a GUF if you have any). The following restrictions for UuAs apply though:
Summary guide to bookings which can be upgraded with Avios:
A BA Holiday booking (flights & hotel) is UuA'able and treated as a TA booking, so a booking including non BA flights could not be UuA'ed. Also a BA Holiday booking which was made using a TA can not be UuA'ed.
Note that even if booked direct with BA on a 125-... ticket you can't UuA BA marketed and AA operated flight. The BA flight must be both BA marketed and operated.
There is more information on UuA'ing TA bookings here.
A quick note on doing UuAs is that you can do these for exEU itineraries (or you can apply a GUF if you have any). The following restrictions for UuAs apply though:
Summary guide to bookings which can be upgraded with Avios:
- BA issued tickets (can include other carriers) ^
- TA issued (on BA stock) booking with only BA flights ^
- TA issued (on BA stock) booking with other carriers
- Tickets issued on non-BA stock
A BA Holiday booking (flights & hotel) is UuA'able and treated as a TA booking, so a booking including non BA flights could not be UuA'ed. Also a BA Holiday booking which was made using a TA can not be UuA'ed.
Note that even if booked direct with BA on a 125-... ticket you can't UuA BA marketed and AA operated flight. The BA flight must be both BA marketed and operated.
There is more information on UuA'ing TA bookings here.
Apr 18, 2018, 4:28 pm
#4
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I booked with QR - hence being on the QR number/ticket. It was very much more expensive to have a 125- ticket. And, having gone back to check the flights, it is, in fact, the only flight I can take within time limits that I have to observe. But it is very frustrating.
Can one do cash upgrades in transit at airports without going landside?
Can one do cash upgrades in transit at airports without going landside?
Apr 18, 2018, 4:40 pm
#5
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I booked with QR - hence being on the QR number/ticket. It was very much more expensive to have a 125- ticket. And, having gone back to check the flights, it is, in fact, the only flight I can take within time limits that I have to observe. But it is very frustrating.
Can one do cash upgrades in transit at airports without going landside?
Can one do cash upgrades in transit at airports without going landside?
On the other hand BA will cancel that service pretty readily so there is a chance you will end up on a QR service anyway. If you were in BA First on Avios then you'd probably end up in QR business class (and the excess Avios refunded).
Apr 18, 2018, 5:09 pm
#6
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Ah well - I'm an older fool, and thanks to the advice above, a wiser one. At least it is a daytime flight, although I'm not sure my body will know the difference, the amount I'm flying that week! Thank you, all.
Apr 18, 2018, 7:03 pm
#8
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Apr 19, 2018, 2:07 am
#10
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Going landside at DOH is not difficult at all (unless you have a passport from a 3rd-world country). Visa fees were removed many months ago and there is a dedicated immigration area for J/F passengers.
I would say that in J/F, going in and out of Qatar will take a maximum of 15 minutes longer than transiting airside even if you get to skip airside transfer security, unless you get lost (DOH is a big airport)
I would say that in J/F, going in and out of Qatar will take a maximum of 15 minutes longer than transiting airside even if you get to skip airside transfer security, unless you get lost (DOH is a big airport)
Apr 19, 2018, 2:43 am
#11
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Going landside at DOH is not difficult at all (unless you have a passport from a 3rd-world country). Visa fees were removed many months ago and there is a dedicated immigration area for J/F passengers.
I would say that in J/F, going in and out of Qatar will take a maximum of 15 minutes longer than transiting airside even if you get to skip airside transfer security, unless you get lost (DOH is a big airport)
I would say that in J/F, going in and out of Qatar will take a maximum of 15 minutes longer than transiting airside even if you get to skip airside transfer security, unless you get lost (DOH is a big airport)
As there's a reasonable chance of the BA flight being subbed for QR metal, UUA might not have made any sense, anyway.
Apr 19, 2018, 2:55 am
#12
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Apr 19, 2018, 3:02 am
#13
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Apr 19, 2018, 3:19 am
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