How to avoid Economy Basic in ITA
Nov 26, 2018, 11:04 am
#1
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How to avoid Economy Basic in ITA
Hi all,
I am looking on ITA for flights to USA for next year, I keep finding ones with are economy basic but I would like to be able to pick my seats (especially if I end up on AA and have the option of MCE and bulkhead seats). I am aware that for AA, it is simply a case of adding "f ~bc=B" as their Economy Basic fares are always booked into B class, but with BA, this is not the case (I am happy to be corrected here!).
Any suggestions?
I am looking on ITA for flights to USA for next year, I keep finding ones with are economy basic but I would like to be able to pick my seats (especially if I end up on AA and have the option of MCE and bulkhead seats). I am aware that for AA, it is simply a case of adding "f ~bc=B" as their Economy Basic fares are always booked into B class, but with BA, this is not the case (I am happy to be corrected here!).
Any suggestions?
Nov 26, 2018, 4:07 pm
#3
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Thanks for your reply @ptr120, it isn't just to book seats, it is to ensure checked baggage as well. From what I understand, as a BA silver, I won't get any checked baggage at all on BA flights but get to pick my seat whereas on AA I get checked baggage but not to pick my seats. The latter is preferable here (my wife cannot pack light) but both would be the most preferable option!
Nov 26, 2018, 7:03 pm
#4
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BA status, even AA status, does not get one free seat selection on BE international fares. Either one pays or a seat is randomly assigned at check-in from what is left. Same for domestic, but even with payment, can't make the selection until 48 hours prior to flight time.
These tickets are also a terrible deal as they are wholly inflexible, e.g. must be flown exactly as ticketed or become worthless.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ic-economy.jsp
These tickets are also a terrible deal as they are wholly inflexible, e.g. must be flown exactly as ticketed or become worthless.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...ic-economy.jsp
Nov 26, 2018, 7:13 pm
#5
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@Often1, thanks for that, I had been basing my knowledge off the following table:
(taken from page 5 of here: https://loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/...e-guide_en.pdf) Is this table now out of date?
Lack of flexibility is not that important to me, I am used to buying the cheapest economy tickets and therefore used to having pretty much zero flexibility. But I am trying to avoid these fares anyway, hence looking for a way to exclude them from ITA Matrix!
(taken from page 5 of here: https://loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/...e-guide_en.pdf) Is this table now out of date?
Lack of flexibility is not that important to me, I am used to buying the cheapest economy tickets and therefore used to having pretty much zero flexibility. But I am trying to avoid these fares anyway, hence looking for a way to exclude them from ITA Matrix!
Nov 27, 2018, 1:46 am
#6
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If you're set on flying with BA on a Standard Economy fare, I don't quite see why it matters? The cheapest flight you can find will still be the cheapest flight, because for all of them you'll have to pay a bit extra for the Standard Economy fare.
If it's a choice between AA and BA then surely you'd be foolish not to choose the former, seeing as you have the option of MCE seats?
If it's a choice between AA and BA then surely you'd be foolish not to choose the former, seeing as you have the option of MCE seats?
Nov 27, 2018, 1:53 am
#7
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Thanks for your reply @ptr120, it isn't just to book seats, it is to ensure checked baggage as well. From what I understand, as a BA silver, I won't get any checked baggage at all on BA flights but get to pick my seat whereas on AA I get checked baggage but not to pick my seats. The latter is preferable here (my wife cannot pack light) but both would be the most preferable option!
To answer you question - no, there is no way to avoid BE on BA because BA offers BE up to H class rather than one specific booking class as AA does.
Nov 27, 2018, 3:06 am
#9
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Yep, that table is out of date, it doesn't apply (it was bizarre from the beginning). There is a new table for luggage though (since june 2018) - where luggage is dependent on marketing AND operating carrier as well.
But anyway, for the OP, just add about 80-100 GBP to the total fare per person, that will book you on the "Standard" fare.
Essentially, luggage wise with/on BA:
-with a BA ticket: no free baggage on any carrier with any status.
-if BA is operating your flight, no free baggage with any status (independent of who is marketing your flight).
Checked baggage status holders Basic TA fares IB/AY/AA/BA.
But anyway, for the OP, just add about 80-100 GBP to the total fare per person, that will book you on the "Standard" fare.
Essentially, luggage wise with/on BA:
-with a BA ticket: no free baggage on any carrier with any status.
-if BA is operating your flight, no free baggage with any status (independent of who is marketing your flight).
Checked baggage status holders Basic TA fares IB/AY/AA/BA.
Last edited by tobsw; Nov 27, 2018 at 3:11 am Reason: Added link.
Nov 27, 2018, 4:19 am
#10
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If you're set on flying with BA on a Standard Economy fare, I don't quite see why it matters? The cheapest flight you can find will still be the cheapest flight, because for all of them you'll have to pay a bit extra for the Standard Economy fare.
If it's a choice between AA and BA then surely you'd be foolish not to choose the former, seeing as you have the option of MCE seats?
If it's a choice between AA and BA then surely you'd be foolish not to choose the former, seeing as you have the option of MCE seats?
Nov 27, 2018, 4:23 am
#11
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But in such a case you do need AA flights. By booking AA marketed but BA operated flights you'll get both free seat selection (operating carrier driven), and free baggage (marketing carrier driven). All you need is to book AA*BA flights.
To answer you question - no, there is no way to avoid BE on BA because BA offers BE up to H class rather than one specific booking class as AA does.
To answer you question - no, there is no way to avoid BE on BA because BA offers BE up to H class rather than one specific booking class as AA does.
Yep, that table is out of date, it doesn't apply (it was bizarre from the beginning). There is a new table for luggage though (since june 2018) - where luggage is dependent on marketing AND operating carrier as well.
But anyway, for the OP, just add about 80-100 GBP to the total fare per person, that will book you on the "Standard" fare.
Essentially, luggage wise with/on BA:
-with a BA ticket: no free baggage on any carrier with any status.
-if BA is operating your flight, no free baggage with any status (independent of who is marketing your flight).
Checked baggage status holders Basic TA fares IB/AY/AA/BA.
But anyway, for the OP, just add about 80-100 GBP to the total fare per person, that will book you on the "Standard" fare.
Essentially, luggage wise with/on BA:
-with a BA ticket: no free baggage on any carrier with any status.
-if BA is operating your flight, no free baggage with any status (independent of who is marketing your flight).
Checked baggage status holders Basic TA fares IB/AY/AA/BA.
And @tobsw, please note what I said in my previous reply, unfortunately it has been the case (on not just one occasion) whereby adding Ł100 per ticket or so was not representative of the fare difference when I had tried to book with BA on the phone.
Nov 27, 2018, 4:39 am
#12
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Nov 27, 2018, 5:32 am
#13
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I'm not sure the new table is correct. I booked on AA tickets and AA codes and checked bag on BA flight. My reservation had outbound on BA and return on AA + BA as operating carriers. I used original table when booking and I'm silver with BA.
Nov 27, 2018, 5:38 am
#14
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The valid table for checked baggage is the one I posted. The other one, posted by Wilsnunn was the first one published in march, but was replaced by the new one (essentially, it was very weird that baggage was only dependent on marketing carrier...).
So if your are Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald, if you want free luggage, make sure to book on AA on AA metal. That way you get free luggage. But then you can not choose seats for free.
So if your are Ruby, Sapphire or Emerald, if you want free luggage, make sure to book on AA on AA metal. That way you get free luggage. But then you can not choose seats for free.
Nov 27, 2018, 5:59 am
#15
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When did you book this itinerary?