Do BA oversell First?
Apr 29, 2018, 8:11 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: BA GGL & GFL, EK Platinum
Posts: 78
i couldn’t reserve a seat after booking the flight so knew that something was up and an agent who I telephoned confirmed that the flight had been oversold.
apparently everyone checking in was asked to do a voluntary downgrade but refused. Being a GGL didn’t trump anybody else who already had a seat reserved.
Apr 29, 2018, 8:18 am
#17
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,878
BA handled all of the partial refund for me. I had nothing to do / claim. The refund took about 6 weeks though! Special Services were gobsmacked about the downgrade.
i couldn’t reserve a seat after booking the flight so knew that something was up and an agent who I telephoned confirmed that the flight had been oversold.
apparently everyone checking in was asked to do a voluntary downgrade but refused. Being a GGL didn’t trump anybody else who already had a seat reserved.
Apr 29, 2018, 8:23 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: BA GGL & GFL, EK Platinum
Posts: 78
i received 75% of the cash I paid but 0% of the avios used to reduce the amount paid.
Apr 29, 2018, 8:26 am
#19
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,878
Apr 29, 2018, 8:33 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: HKG
Programs: BA GGL & CCR
Posts: 600
Yes, and people seem to accept it... AND also in the post enhancement era that the onus is on customers to chase customer service for a refund, be patient in waiting for them
to process it and grateful for an apology by way of poorly formatted script email.
...out of interest, any other airlines oversell their 1st class cabin?
to process it and grateful for an apology by way of poorly formatted script email.
...out of interest, any other airlines oversell their 1st class cabin?
Apr 29, 2018, 8:33 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: BA GGL & GFL, EK Platinum
Posts: 78
Apr 29, 2018, 9:02 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,625
What happens if you have a cash booking in J with UUA to F, but then get bumped back to J? Do you just get your Avios returned or do you get a cash refund based on what would have happened if you paid all in cash?
Apr 29, 2018, 9:38 am
#24
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: 63,716
EC261 would say that if you are ticketed then you get the 75% provision based on the total fare paid, though it's a bit tricky to work out the reimbursement at this point. I would expect to see 75% of Avios returned, 75% of cash, minus a deduction for any APD differential (none in this scenario), Passenger Service Charge and any other charges like that, while excluding the Carrier Surcharge.
Apr 29, 2018, 1:53 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Oslo
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 204
Just out of curiosity, is there anything you can do to reduce the risk of being offloaded or downgraded due to an oversold cabin? Early OLCI, paid/selected seat, status, single traveller/travelling in a party of 2 or more, intricate itiniary with multiple legs, travelling with kids - or none of the above or something else?
Apr 29, 2018, 2:00 pm
#27
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: 63,716
- Check in at the first opportunity
- Have a status card (to some extent)
- Have a non published fare from another airline's plating
- Have a confirmed seat (either via status or purchase, this is the single most important factor as far as I can tell, it's those without seats who need to be found one)
- Book long in advance
- Have an on carriage flight afterwards (connection on the same PNR)
- Have a special meal (which also inhibits upgrades)
- Have children on the booking
Apr 29, 2018, 3:19 pm
#28
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, HHonors
Posts: 313
Yes, and people seem to accept it... AND also in the post enhancement era that the onus is on customers to chase customer service for a refund, be patient in waiting for them
to process it and grateful for an apology by way of poorly formatted script email.
...out of interest, any other airlines oversell their 1st class cabin?
to process it and grateful for an apology by way of poorly formatted script email.
...out of interest, any other airlines oversell their 1st class cabin?
Jun 28, 2019, 10:44 am
#30
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 464
Any idea if they oversell on the JFK-LCY route? My friend is flying BA2 tonight and OLCI shows unavailable for his PNR (2 pax), plus seat map now shows as completely full. I'm wondering if he might have had seats already auto-assigned since T-24? A bit unnerving. With single J cabin, obviously not possible for an upgrade or downgrade.
Last edited by slice; Jun 28, 2019 at 11:58 am
