Hold your flights and price
Mar 29, 2019, 8:10 am
#1
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,174
Hold your flights and price
Pardon me if this has been covered before.
I do not understand why sometimes you can hold your flight and other times you cannot. I have a slightly complicated routing open-jaw (thanks to the Gurus here) to the USA in November - all BA sectors - no codeshares all CW INV-LHR-MSY SAN - LHR-INV back . I cannot hold the booking. Yet a CE booking LHR-ATH, IST - LHR in November allows me to do this.
Are there any criteria that you collectively know about that means that some bookings one can, and others you cannot hold? I'm somewhat perplexed as I cannot see a common pattern, it appears random. Is it when seats in any class run short?
I cannot understand this, but I am certain that I will probably have the correct answer if I ask you all.
Thanksxxxxx
I do not understand why sometimes you can hold your flight and other times you cannot. I have a slightly complicated routing open-jaw (thanks to the Gurus here) to the USA in November - all BA sectors - no codeshares all CW INV-LHR-MSY SAN - LHR-INV back . I cannot hold the booking. Yet a CE booking LHR-ATH, IST - LHR in November allows me to do this.
Are there any criteria that you collectively know about that means that some bookings one can, and others you cannot hold? I'm somewhat perplexed as I cannot see a common pattern, it appears random. Is it when seats in any class run short?
I cannot understand this, but I am certain that I will probably have the correct answer if I ask you all.
Thanksxxxxx
Mar 29, 2019, 8:40 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
There are some countries excluded, though I don't see them in your routing
The full T&Cs are here: https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...r-flight-price
You do meet the 21 day requirement, so not 100% sure why it would not offer it, if you meet the other requirements listed.
Terms and Conditions
The full T&Cs are here: https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...r-flight-price
You do meet the 21 day requirement, so not 100% sure why it would not offer it, if you meet the other requirements listed.
Terms and Conditions
- Not available for flights departing within 21 days.
- Not available for flight+hotel or flight+car rental bookings.
- Cash & Avios / discounts and donations can’t be used when holding a booking
- Dates, journey or passenger mix cannot be changed once flights are held. You can however, change passenger names.
Last edited by BertieBadger; Mar 29, 2019 at 8:46 am Reason: Added T&Cs quote
Mar 29, 2019, 8:55 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: BA, Hilton
Posts: 2,091
Though the T&Cs do clearly say "selected British Airways and Iberia operated flights" so even meeting criteria about dates etc obviously does not guarantee it. I await the wisdom of c-w-s et al to see if there is any further info on how they make such selections
(I use this feature quite a lot myself)
(I use this feature quite a lot myself)
Mar 29, 2019, 9:11 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,659
Pardon me if this has been covered before.
I do not understand why sometimes you can hold your flight and other times you cannot. I have a slightly complicated routing open-jaw (thanks to the Gurus here) to the USA in November - all BA sectors - no codeshares all CW INV-LHR-MSY SAN - LHR-INV back . I cannot hold the booking. Yet a CE booking LHR-ATH, IST - LHR in November allows me to do this.
Are there any criteria that you collectively know about that means that some bookings one can, and others you cannot hold? I'm somewhat perplexed as I cannot see a common pattern, it appears random. Is it when seats in any class run short?
I cannot understand this, but I am certain that I will probably have the correct answer if I ask you all.
Thanksxxxxx
I do not understand why sometimes you can hold your flight and other times you cannot. I have a slightly complicated routing open-jaw (thanks to the Gurus here) to the USA in November - all BA sectors - no codeshares all CW INV-LHR-MSY SAN - LHR-INV back . I cannot hold the booking. Yet a CE booking LHR-ATH, IST - LHR in November allows me to do this.
Are there any criteria that you collectively know about that means that some bookings one can, and others you cannot hold? I'm somewhat perplexed as I cannot see a common pattern, it appears random. Is it when seats in any class run short?
I cannot understand this, but I am certain that I will probably have the correct answer if I ask you all.
Thanksxxxxx
Mar 29, 2019, 9:21 am
#5
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: 63,794
I don't actually know, but I too have seen it happen. It seems that too much complication - and this is an open jaw and mixed APD - takes away the option. So I am able to get this hold option on INV-LHR-MSY and INV-LHR-SAN.
I think the reason is that Multi City uses an older set of modules, perhaps not being fully maintained, and when it shows up the final calculation it somehow bypasses the 72 hour hold facility, which is relatively new. The final pricing does not follow the more recently updated final price screen, which has the hold in the bottom left panel. I believe you can call the Contact Centre for them to do it but it would be good if someone can confirm this based on a recent mult-city.
You do still have the 24 hour hold / refund option - which can now usually be cancelled online; and BA Holidays would be the other option to see if you can get this via a deposit process if a car or hotel is added.
Incidentally there is usually no need or cost advantage in returning to INV for the final sector, a return LHR would end up at a similar or perhaps lower cost.
I think the reason is that Multi City uses an older set of modules, perhaps not being fully maintained, and when it shows up the final calculation it somehow bypasses the 72 hour hold facility, which is relatively new. The final pricing does not follow the more recently updated final price screen, which has the hold in the bottom left panel. I believe you can call the Contact Centre for them to do it but it would be good if someone can confirm this based on a recent mult-city.
You do still have the 24 hour hold / refund option - which can now usually be cancelled online; and BA Holidays would be the other option to see if you can get this via a deposit process if a car or hotel is added.
Incidentally there is usually no need or cost advantage in returning to INV for the final sector, a return LHR would end up at a similar or perhaps lower cost.
Mar 29, 2019, 11:56 am
#6
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,174
I don't actually know, but I too have seen it happen. It seems that too much complication - and this is an open jaw and mixed APD - takes away the option. So I am able to get this hold option on INV-LHR-MSY and INV-LHR-SAN.
I think the reason is that Multi City uses an older set of modules, perhaps not being fully maintained, and when it shows up the final calculation it somehow bypasses the 72 hour hold facility, which is relatively new. The final pricing does not follow the more recently updated final price screen, which has the hold in the bottom left panel. I believe you can call the Contact Centre for them to do it but it would be good if someone can confirm this based on a recent mult-city.
You do still have the 24 hour hold / refund option - which can now usually be cancelled online; and BA Holidays would be the other option to see if you can get this via a deposit process if a car or hotel is added.
Incidentally there is usually no need or cost advantage in returning to INV for the final sector, a return LHR would end up at a similar or perhaps lower cost.
I think the reason is that Multi City uses an older set of modules, perhaps not being fully maintained, and when it shows up the final calculation it somehow bypasses the 72 hour hold facility, which is relatively new. The final pricing does not follow the more recently updated final price screen, which has the hold in the bottom left panel. I believe you can call the Contact Centre for them to do it but it would be good if someone can confirm this based on a recent mult-city.
You do still have the 24 hour hold / refund option - which can now usually be cancelled online; and BA Holidays would be the other option to see if you can get this via a deposit process if a car or hotel is added.
Incidentally there is usually no need or cost advantage in returning to INV for the final sector, a return LHR would end up at a similar or perhaps lower cost.
Mar 29, 2019, 7:19 pm
#7
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: 63,794
Yes I am able to replicate that too. I can think of various reasons why that would be, but I suspect the powers that be have spotted the loophole. However I don't know if the following helps you? It would have to be booked over the telephone though.