Buying mixed economy and business fare
Jul 30, 2018, 5:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 816
Buying mixed economy and business fare
I am looking to buy a fare from LHR to DUB. Economy (plus) out and business return. This doesn’t seem to be possible for any dates, even though it’s possible on other routes. I can even price it on ITA (N out, I return). Is this the norm for DUB?
My main consideration is the baggage allowance on the return leg. I could
1. Buy a business return
2. Buy a return plus fare with extra baggage on return leg (cheaper than above but with only 23kg bags rather than 32kg).
3. Buy a return plus and hope for an online offer to upgrade the return leg only - would this be possible before flying the outward leg?
Thanks
My main consideration is the baggage allowance on the return leg. I could
1. Buy a business return
2. Buy a return plus fare with extra baggage on return leg (cheaper than above but with only 23kg bags rather than 32kg).
3. Buy a return plus and hope for an online offer to upgrade the return leg only - would this be possible before flying the outward leg?
Thanks
Jul 30, 2018, 6:13 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,198
Do you have any status with BA? That will affect the allowances and, therefore, what you will need to buy.
If you can buy N out and I return in ITA then it's likely you can pick up the phone and book it. BookWithMatrix can price it correctly in Priceline but says that both legs are economy, so there may be issues.
I know that some of the cheaper (non-flex) Dublin fares don't allow mixed class bookings - not sure why.
If you can buy N out and I return in ITA then it's likely you can pick up the phone and book it. BookWithMatrix can price it correctly in Priceline but says that both legs are economy, so there may be issues.
I know that some of the cheaper (non-flex) Dublin fares don't allow mixed class bookings - not sure why.
Jul 30, 2018, 9:44 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 816
Do you have any status with BA? That will affect the allowances and, therefore, what you will need to buy.
If you can buy N out and I return in ITA then it's likely you can pick up the phone and book it. BookWithMatrix can price it correctly in Priceline but says that both legs are economy, so there may be issues.
If you can buy N out and I return in ITA then it's likely you can pick up the phone and book it. BookWithMatrix can price it correctly in Priceline but says that both legs are economy, so there may be issues.
I have no status with OW. This is a positioning flight for a *A long haul. Occasionally I use LH or LX, (we miss you BD), but usually price and scheduling means this isn’t viable. I hence try and use BA, at least on the return leg.
Booking them as two one-ways is about the same price as a CE return so no gain there. (Aren’t short haul one-ways typically more expensive than when booked as a return on BA? My limited experience tells me so).
I might use use a call centre. I assume that will cost an extra £10.
Jul 30, 2018, 9:54 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
Jul 31, 2018, 12:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold-GGL
Posts: 1,185
Fair enough; I have only ever had a need to book one-way ticket or a return, never looked into booking a return as 2 x one way trips. My partner does a lot of one way trips and doesn't think the cost difference is significant.
Jul 31, 2018, 12:40 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
If you've never tried booking a round trip using two one-way tickets, you may never have seen just how costly your suggestion could prove to be.
Jul 31, 2018, 12:46 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 2,181
Since this cannot be booked online, BA should waive the fees for booking this through a call center. when you start your conversation with the agent, tell them you want to do something that you tried to do online but couldn't (because this was a mixed-class itinerary).
Jul 31, 2018, 11:31 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Glasgow and Asia
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hotels.com Gold
Posts: 510
I am looking to buy a fare from LHR to DUB. Economy (plus) out and business return. This doesn’t seem to be possible for any dates, even though it’s possible on other routes. I can even price it on ITA (N out, I return). Is this the norm for DUB?
My main consideration is the baggage allowance on the return leg. I could
1. Buy a business return
2. Buy a return plus fare with extra baggage on return leg (cheaper than above but with only 23kg bags rather than 32kg).
3. Buy a return plus and hope for an online offer to upgrade the return leg only - would this be possible before flying the outward leg?
Thanks
My main consideration is the baggage allowance on the return leg. I could
1. Buy a business return
2. Buy a return plus fare with extra baggage on return leg (cheaper than above but with only 23kg bags rather than 32kg).
3. Buy a return plus and hope for an online offer to upgrade the return leg only - would this be possible before flying the outward leg?
Thanks
We used to always use this when non-status for Ski gear. Buy a CE one way and get the extra bag on the other.
Aug 1, 2018, 12:51 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 215
This appears to be an online problem with the BA website for routes with multiple LON airports. I've had it with both GLA and AMS. You also get the same problem if you try and book a mixed HBO and plus fare (often want SDC flexabilty on the return). Easy to book over the phone, and they do waive the booking fee eventually (has taken some convincing sometimes).
More info on this on https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1862657-news-basic-fares-hbo-become-combinable.html
More info on this on https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1862657-news-basic-fares-hbo-become-combinable.html
Aug 1, 2018, 1:47 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
That is a very strange bug indeed...! No problem making such a booking to other airports (tried OTP), but DUB just won't have it. A long and winding phone call it is. As others say: request the booking fee to be waived, as BA doesn't offer online purchase for such a ticket (likely due to IT balls-up, so it's not your issue).
Aug 1, 2018, 2:18 pm
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 816
One thing to note is. In the past BA would give you CE baggage on a mixed cabin booking CE+ET This is "not" the case. You now get CE on CE and on the ET leg you get ET baggage allowance.
We used to always use this when non-status for Ski gear. Buy a CE one way and get the extra bag on the other.
We used to always use this when non-status for Ski gear. Buy a CE one way and get the extra bag on the other.
Aug 1, 2018, 2:34 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 816
This appears to be an online problem with the BA website for routes with multiple LON airports. I've had it with both GLA and AMS. You also get the same problem if you try and book a mixed HBO and plus fare (often want SDC flexabilty on the return). Easy to book over the phone, and they do waive the booking fee eventually (has taken some convincing sometimes).
More info on this on https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1862657-news-basic-fares-hbo-become-combinable.html
More info on this on https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1862657-news-basic-fares-hbo-become-combinable.html
Aug 2, 2018, 1:58 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: South East, UK
Programs: BA Gold / GfL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,432
Same issue with LHR-GLA. No possibility to combine Economy Basic or Plus with a Business fare, online at least. I haven't tried calling, so not sure if this is an IT issue or something specific to fare rules on these routes. It certainly was possible on the GLA route in the past.
Aug 2, 2018, 2:10 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Central Scotland, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 286
I had a similar query for EDI-LHR. I wanted CE outbound and ET return for 2 pax. I was advised to book online and call within 24 hours to amend the booking in the free amendments/ changes/ cancellations window. In the end I decided against upgrading at time of booking, partly due to hassle but also when you think about it as a separate transaction of £140 rather than an incremental £300ish to £400ish it felt rather expensive.
Being fickle and inconsistent, I later took a POUG on the outbound. And being lucky, we got an Op-Up on the inbound. Obviously you can’t rely on this happening.
Being fickle and inconsistent, I later took a POUG on the outbound. And being lucky, we got an Op-Up on the inbound. Obviously you can’t rely on this happening.