How can BA afford its abysmal IT?
May 14, 2019, 2:00 am
#31
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,659
Pricing up the ticket at over £1000 more. The agent who gave me this price explained it was an economy price not premium economy hence the rather large difference. I did question this as I had done my homework - the difference in taxes/fees was £100 not forgetting the fact it isn’t possible to upgrade two classes with Avios.
I noticed this also happened on the website (when it worked). Luckily I rang again and got an agent who did book it for me at the correct price.
May 14, 2019, 2:14 am
#32
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oxford
Programs: Skyteam Elite+, VS Red, HHonours Diamond, Accor Plat
Posts: 629
A second case I've been charged is trying to do an open-jaw redemption with a 2-4-1 when both outbound and returns were within the booking window at the time. The agent insisted the fee was only waived when the return leg was outside the booking window when the first leg was booked and the return was added later despite it not being possible to even attempt an open-jaw redemption online.
May 14, 2019, 3:16 am
#33
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,667
The "Remember Me" tick box so called feature on the opening page of ba.com still doesn't seem to - has been like this for a couple of years now at least. Every time I go to ba.com I have to enter in my Exec number every single time despite the tick being in the box.
All just sloppy, unprofessional and gives the feeling an organisation just CBA to get things right
All just sloppy, unprofessional and gives the feeling an organisation just CBA to get things right
May 14, 2019, 5:22 am
#34
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Ambassador
Posts: 168
The "Remember Me" tick box so called feature on the opening page of ba.com still doesn't seem to - has been like this for a couple of years now at least. Every time I go to ba.com I have to enter in my Exec number every single time despite the tick being in the box.
All just sloppy, unprofessional and gives the feeling an organisation just CBA to get things right
All just sloppy, unprofessional and gives the feeling an organisation just CBA to get things right
May 14, 2019, 5:58 am
#35
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It is not simply the IT, it is the approach. BA has too many silos and relies on staff to do things which ought to have been automated over a decade ago. Given that BA and AA have a JV across the North Atlantic, including both carriers' most profitable international route, e.g. JFK-LHR, it would seem that the time is ripe to adopt AA's software and to move on.
AA is far from perfect, but many functions such as ticketing all but the most complex itineraries and complex changes, are automated. The ability to route inbound calls 24/7, to an open call center, as well as the ability of phone agents to handle IRROPS rebooking as though at the airport, makes life easier for both the passenger and the carrier.
AA is far from perfect, but many functions such as ticketing all but the most complex itineraries and complex changes, are automated. The ability to route inbound calls 24/7, to an open call center, as well as the ability of phone agents to handle IRROPS rebooking as though at the airport, makes life easier for both the passenger and the carrier.
May 14, 2019, 8:35 am
#36
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
May 14, 2019, 10:02 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
A second case I've been charged is trying to do an open-jaw redemption with a 2-4-1 when both outbound and returns were within the booking window at the time. The agent insisted the fee was only waived when the return leg was outside the booking window when the first leg was booked and the return was added later despite it not being possible to even attempt an open-jaw redemption online.
May 14, 2019, 10:51 am
#38
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,208
The "Remember Me" tick box so called feature on the opening page of ba.com still doesn't seem to - has been like this for a couple of years now at least. Every time I go to ba.com I have to enter in my Exec number every single time despite the tick being in the box.
All just sloppy, unprofessional and gives the feeling an organisation just CBA to get things right
All just sloppy, unprofessional and gives the feeling an organisation just CBA to get things right
May 14, 2019, 2:25 pm
#39
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oxford
Programs: Skyteam Elite+, VS Red, HHonours Diamond, Accor Plat
Posts: 629
Where did you get the idea I changed something? The entire trip was booked in one single phone call LHR-PEK returning HKG-LHR three weeks later using 2-4-1. I was charged the phone booking fee despite my protests, the agent insisted that the waiver only applied to adding the return leg via the phone if the outbound had been booked before the return dates were available. You cannot book this online, the usual advice to book as 2 separate one-way redemptions doesn't work if you want to apply a 2-4-1. There is therefore no way to avoid the £35 fee for BA's shocking IT system.
May 14, 2019, 3:14 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Where did you get the idea I changed something? The entire trip was booked in one single phone call LHR-PEK returning HKG-LHR three weeks later using 2-4-1. I was charged the phone booking fee despite my protests, the agent insisted that the waiver only applied to adding the return leg via the phone if the outbound had been booked before the return dates were available. You cannot book this online, the usual advice to book as 2 separate one-way redemptions doesn't work if you want to apply a 2-4-1. There is therefore no way to avoid the £35 fee for BA's shocking IT system.
May 14, 2019, 6:29 pm
#41
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: CX, BA
Posts: 91
I agree, extremely frustrating, BUT, I always chuckle when it does not recognise LHR..................
May 14, 2019, 6:46 pm
#42
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
May 15, 2019, 12:08 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
May 15, 2019, 12:13 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,667
It is because strangely although you are specific and definite in entering the actual destination airport code, the system seems to think you may want to fly to somewhere in France, not Frankfurt
May 15, 2019, 1:52 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
BOH ... I think I can accept their logic on this one. The general public are not as attuned to airport codes as we are, so are likely to use the city name.
I have the same 'airport name' issue when inputting JER ... either Jersey or Jerez de Frontera.
I have the same 'airport name' issue when inputting JER ... either Jersey or Jerez de Frontera.