Air Belgium operating BA route
Jan 30, 2019, 8:05 am
#48
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: 63,766
A new service for the Air Belgium aircraft - it is being used as a wet lease on Newark NYC.
1 April to 8 June
BA185 to EWR, BA184 EWR-LHR
Customer Guidelines
- First Travellers can rebook to other services, get a full refund, or accept business cabin travel. This would get a part refund, but would allow CCR access and First TPs/Avios
- WTP passengers can ask for Business travel too, or downgrade to economy, and get a part refund. No full refund option. If travelling economy then WTP TPs and Avios still applies.
Anyone thinking of making changes should reflect before accepting alterations to the booking since one one involuntary move is allowed.
1 April to 8 June
BA185 to EWR, BA184 EWR-LHR
Customer Guidelines
- First Travellers can rebook to other services, get a full refund, or accept business cabin travel. This would get a part refund, but would allow CCR access and First TPs/Avios
- WTP passengers can ask for Business travel too, or downgrade to economy, and get a part refund. No full refund option. If travelling economy then WTP TPs and Avios still applies.
Anyone thinking of making changes should reflect before accepting alterations to the booking since one one involuntary move is allowed.
Jan 30, 2019, 9:02 am
#51
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,203
A new service for the Air Belgium aircraft - it is being used as a wet lease on Newark NYC.
1 April to 8 June
BA185 to EWR, BA184 EWR-LHR
Customer Guidelines
- First Travellers can rebook to other services, get a full refund, or accept business cabin travel. This would get a part refund, but would allow CCR access and First TPs/Avios
- WTP passengers can ask for Business travel too, or downgrade to economy, and get a part refund. No full refund option. If travelling economy then WTP TPs and Avios still applies.
Anyone thinking of making changes should reflect before accepting alterations to the booking since one one involuntary move is allowed.
1 April to 8 June
BA185 to EWR, BA184 EWR-LHR
Customer Guidelines
- First Travellers can rebook to other services, get a full refund, or accept business cabin travel. This would get a part refund, but would allow CCR access and First TPs/Avios
- WTP passengers can ask for Business travel too, or downgrade to economy, and get a part refund. No full refund option. If travelling economy then WTP TPs and Avios still applies.
Anyone thinking of making changes should reflect before accepting alterations to the booking since one one involuntary move is allowed.
Jan 30, 2019, 9:05 am
#52
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,365
Just got hit by this. We are in paid (miles + copay) Club World. We can't take the later EWR flight because it doesn't connect to our VCE flight. JFK was given as an option in an email and JFK is less than ideal for us; any hope of swapping to PHL? PHL flights are actually cheaper now (sigh) than EWR/JFK. We are in WT+ on the return, but that isn't affected since we're on the later LHR-EWR flight.
Jan 30, 2019, 9:08 am
#54
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,203
We could, the flight times still work. Is Air Belgium an 'upgrade' over BA? Signs seem mixed. Hows that A342 reliability?
If we can get flights to/from PHL out of this, I'd be happy. Overall not happy if what CWS said is true...that WT+ are getting a "free" upgrade to business, yet I paid Avios and Cash to secure business.
If we can get flights to/from PHL out of this, I'd be happy. Overall not happy if what CWS said is true...that WT+ are getting a "free" upgrade to business, yet I paid Avios and Cash to secure business.
Jan 30, 2019, 9:13 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: BA GGL, A3*G, Mucci de l'expertise des Apps
Posts: 3,365
We could, the flight times still work. Is Air Belgium an 'upgrade' over BA? Signs seem mixed. Hows that A342 reliability?
If we can get flights to/from PHL out of this, I'd be happy. Overall not happy if what CWS said is true...that WT+ are getting a "free" upgrade to business, yet I paid Avios and Cash to secure business.
If we can get flights to/from PHL out of this, I'd be happy. Overall not happy if what CWS said is true...that WT+ are getting a "free" upgrade to business, yet I paid Avios and Cash to secure business.
If you phone, they will almost certainly let you switch to PHL though, don't think you will get much argument against that.
Jan 30, 2019, 9:15 am
#56
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 439
We could, the flight times still work. Is Air Belgium an 'upgrade' over BA? Signs seem mixed. Hows that A342 reliability?
If we can get flights to/from PHL out of this, I'd be happy. Overall not happy if what CWS said is true...that WT+ are getting a "free" upgrade to business, yet I paid Avios and Cash to secure business.
If we can get flights to/from PHL out of this, I'd be happy. Overall not happy if what CWS said is true...that WT+ are getting a "free" upgrade to business, yet I paid Avios and Cash to secure business.
Jan 30, 2019, 9:39 am
#57
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,203
Just out of interest, if BA had e-mailed you and told you that a Finnair A340 was operating the flight, would you also immediately feel like you want to switch?
If you phone, they will almost certainly let you switch to PHL though, don't think you will get much argument against that.
If you phone, they will almost certainly let you switch to PHL though, don't think you will get much argument against that.
The effect is, I was originally booked in the WT+ cabin, and would have received the free upgrade. I actually think this is the right route to take for the sake of passenger satisfaction. If I was in WT+ and upgraded for free to Air Belgium Business, I would have been happy. I don't begrudge my fellow passengers. However, since I did pay the difference in avios and cash to Club World, I'd really rather fly the airline I booked. If this is a way to get a flight out of my home airport, I'd like to try. Of course I wouldn't begrudge anyone about an op-up in EWR or PHL. If they let me switch to PHL I am a happy customer as likely all of the WT+ people are in EWR. Everyone wins that way...
Jan 30, 2019, 9:44 am
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM; BA GLD
Posts: 17,248
Actually no I wouldn't think of switching as I have enjoyed my Finnair flights. AY and Air Belgium aren't quite the same though (i.e. plane goes tech, etc). Up thread there was talk of them potentially going under. If it was AY or AA operating the flight, I wouldn't be switching. Good point to think about though. Thanks for the data point about PHL, let's hope so.
Jan 30, 2019, 9:55 am
#59
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,345
Having done Air Belgium once, I personally wouldn't do it again if I was booked in CW or F, for those reasons and the dreadful service, but others seem to have had a more positive experience. If I was booked in WT+ then any flat-bed seat would be better so I'd take the upgrade and load up an iPad.
Jan 30, 2019, 10:02 am
#60
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,203
Yes, if they had the same shockingly bad IFE entertainment and uncomfortable seats.
Having done Air Belgium once, I personally wouldn't do it again if I was booked in CW or F, for those reasons and the dreadful service, but others seem to have had a more positive experience. If I was booked in WT+ then any flat-bed seat would be better so I'd take the upgrade and load up an iPad.
Having done Air Belgium once, I personally wouldn't do it again if I was booked in CW or F, for those reasons and the dreadful service, but others seem to have had a more positive experience. If I was booked in WT+ then any flat-bed seat would be better so I'd take the upgrade and load up an iPad.