No Change between LGW & LHR
Jun 7, 2019, 1:07 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Newcastle/London & Worldwide
Programs: BAEC Gold, Virgin Flying Club Silver
Posts: 818
No Change between LGW & LHR
I have a flight next week that I now noticed is available from LHR at an earlier (more convenient time) - im currently booked from LGW - when I try to change online it only shows me alternative Gatwick options and nothing from LHR even though there is tons of Avios availability from both - I love the flexibility of being able to change Avios bookings but is an airport change not allowed or can this be done manually via the Gold line? Insights appreciated as always.
Jun 7, 2019, 1:14 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,540
I have a flight next week that I now noticed is available from LHR at an earlier (more convenient time) - im currently booked from LGW - when I try to change online it only shows me alternative Gatwick options and nothing from LHR even though there is tons of Avios availability from both - I love the flexibility of being able to change Avios bookings but is an airport change not allowed or can this be done manually via the Gold line? Insights appreciated as always.
Jun 7, 2019, 1:17 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,771
I have a flight next week that I now noticed is available from LHR at an earlier (more convenient time) - im currently booked from LGW - when I try to change online it only shows me alternative Gatwick options and nothing from LHR even though there is tons of Avios availability from both - I love the flexibility of being able to change Avios bookings but is an airport change not allowed or can this be done manually via the Gold line? Insights appreciated as always.
Otherwise just call the Gold line and rebook - Ł35 change fee.
Jun 7, 2019, 1:20 am
#4
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: 63,821
Because of the airport change, the ticket needs to be reissued rather than revalidated. You could cancel online and rebook.if it's a single.
And if it's a RFS it really ought to be a single.....
And if it's a RFS it really ought to be a single.....
Jun 7, 2019, 5:37 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Newcastle/London & Worldwide
Programs: BAEC Gold, Virgin Flying Club Silver
Posts: 818
Ok had a disaster - cancelled and in the tiny few mins it took me to rebook - the 5 seats that showed available on the return vanished - called and managed to get a couple of seats but now flying to Stansted on Cityflyer instead of Heathrow 
I do sometimes book one way RFS but for some reason on this occasion I booked as a return. I have at least managed to get the earlier Heathrow option now though.
I do sometimes book one way RFS but for some reason on this occasion I booked as a return. I have at least managed to get the earlier Heathrow option now though.
Jun 7, 2019, 6:19 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
It should always be "rebook then cancel", unless that is for some reason not a viable option.
Jun 7, 2019, 6:28 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Newcastle/London & Worldwide
Programs: BAEC Gold, Virgin Flying Club Silver
Posts: 818
Anyone have any experience of the Stansted Cityflyer operation? Same as LCY im guessing?
Jun 7, 2019, 10:28 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,540
In which case calling was definitely the better option! Apart from seats disappearing, sometimes seats show as available and are not in the first place so in my view, cancelling before your new itinerary is secure is never the way to go...
Jun 7, 2019, 11:11 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Accor Live Limitless Gold, Hilton Honours Gold, Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1,807
- Check in desks not open all the time (they did not open until 1hr 30mins before my last CityFlyer flight from STN
- Lounge access is available but when I flew from STN it filled up VERY quickly with paying/Priority Pass customers and very quickly they had shut to further customers (this was not a school holiday or anything either, just a standard Saturday morning in October)
- No Fast Track security (although I remember seeing on a thread elsewhere that there was? For me as BAEC Silver in CE I did not have Fast Track)
Jun 7, 2019, 4:00 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Newcastle/London & Worldwide
Programs: BAEC Gold, Virgin Flying Club Silver
Posts: 818
Just like LCY except that you are from STN so the airport experience is completely different;
- Check in desks not open all the time (they did not open until 1hr 30mins before my last CityFlyer flight from STN
- Lounge access is available but when I flew from STN it filled up VERY quickly with paying/Priority Pass customers and very quickly they had shut to further customers (this was not a school holiday or anything either, just a standard Saturday morning in October)
- No Fast Track security (although I remember seeing on a thread elsewhere that there was? For me as BAEC Silver in CE I did not have Fast Track)
- Check in desks not open all the time (they did not open until 1hr 30mins before my last CityFlyer flight from STN
- Lounge access is available but when I flew from STN it filled up VERY quickly with paying/Priority Pass customers and very quickly they had shut to further customers (this was not a school holiday or anything either, just a standard Saturday morning in October)
- No Fast Track security (although I remember seeing on a thread elsewhere that there was? For me as BAEC Silver in CE I did not have Fast Track)
Jun 7, 2019, 8:54 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,344
Immigration may take some time as loads of FR flights land around 2300. The last train to Liverpool St is at 0030 so it shouldn't be very difficult to get home. You could also stay overnight at STN, or keep checking for availability to LHR/LGW and change it again...?
Jun 8, 2019, 12:34 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
There's National Express and Airport Bus Express services departing throughout the night to Victoria Coach Station, every 15-20 minutes on average, so reaching the centre won't be an issue. Tickets are easy to obtain from National Express and easyBus.