Improvements to Gold Upgrade Voucher bookings
Jan 16, 2020, 7:37 pm
#136
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Silver
Posts: 175
I had some questions about how this would work based on various comments upthread and in the main Gold Upgrade Voucher thread, so I thought I’d pass along my own experience.
I made a “package holiday” booking through BA Holidays. The booking included a codeshare flight operated by AA. I think the BA Holidays phone line was closed when I made the booking, so I made the booking on line and then called after the fact to apply the voucher. The agent was able to apply it with no problem.
The agent noted that they couldn’t upgrade the AA-operated flight, but the presence of the code share flight didn’t pose a barrier to upgrading the BA-operated flights.
Between the time I booked and when I called, the A class fare bucket went to 0 on one of the flights, so they weren’t able to upgrade that flight. But, I knew that was a possibility when I booked and I wouldn’t have chosen different flights anyway, so I’m satisfied with the outcome. But, in the future, if I really want the upgrade to work and I am flexible on flights, I will probably call and make the booking through the phone to apply the voucher at the time of booking. But, as I said, I’m happy with the result in this case. And, I’ve setup an ExpertFlyer alert to let me know in the unlikely event the A class bucket reappears later.
So, in short:
All told, I’m happy with the outcome. Well done to BA for making the upgrade vouchers easier to use.
I made a “package holiday” booking through BA Holidays. The booking included a codeshare flight operated by AA. I think the BA Holidays phone line was closed when I made the booking, so I made the booking on line and then called after the fact to apply the voucher. The agent was able to apply it with no problem.
The agent noted that they couldn’t upgrade the AA-operated flight, but the presence of the code share flight didn’t pose a barrier to upgrading the BA-operated flights.
Between the time I booked and when I called, the A class fare bucket went to 0 on one of the flights, so they weren’t able to upgrade that flight. But, I knew that was a possibility when I booked and I wouldn’t have chosen different flights anyway, so I’m satisfied with the outcome. But, in the future, if I really want the upgrade to work and I am flexible on flights, I will probably call and make the booking through the phone to apply the voucher at the time of booking. But, as I said, I’m happy with the result in this case. And, I’ve setup an ExpertFlyer alert to let me know in the unlikely event the A class bucket reappears later.
So, in short:
- As others have noted, BA Holidays is certainly able to process these.
- The presence of a code share flight (sold as BA XXXX, operated by another airline) didn’t pose a problem to using the certificate on the BA Holidays booking.
All told, I’m happy with the outcome. Well done to BA for making the upgrade vouchers easier to use.
Last edited by Infinite Possibilities; Jan 16, 2020 at 9:54 pm
Jan 17, 2020, 2:11 am
#137
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, several other less interesting cards...
Posts: 3,712
Thanks
We are in the process of updating the wiki as there have been a few changes to the GUF as well as things we have learnt from posted experience. We thought it would be a quick process but there is a lot to do!
We are in the process of updating the wiki as there have been a few changes to the GUF as well as things we have learnt from posted experience. We thought it would be a quick process but there is a lot to do!
Jan 17, 2020, 2:27 am
#138
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,635
What am I doing wrong?
I've a couple of GUFs to use, want to use them on a new cash booking to upgrade from WTP to CW. My understanding from the top of the thread is that as long as there is availability in "I" I should be able to do this direct with BA.
Attempting to redeem on BA shows zero availability, despite ExpertFlyer showing 9 available seats at the I fare for both flights that day (LON-LAS 10 Oct for reference).
Am I missing something?
Attempting to redeem on BA shows zero availability, despite ExpertFlyer showing 9 available seats at the I fare for both flights that day (LON-LAS 10 Oct for reference).
Am I missing something?
Jan 17, 2020, 3:48 am
#139
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 489
What’s your point of sale (POS) on the Expertflyer query? You should do a POS search based on the same country where your account is registered.
Jan 17, 2020, 4:23 am
#141
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,635
Trying to do it online (thought it would be a quick and easy redemption), I'll give them a call instead ^
Feb 1, 2020, 10:35 pm
#142
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Singapore
Programs: BAEC GFL (Only took 30 years)
Posts: 500
I've a couple of GUFs to use, want to use them on a new cash booking to upgrade from WTP to CW. My understanding from the top of the thread is that as long as there is availability in "I" I should be able to do this direct with BA.
Attempting to redeem on BA shows zero availability, despite ExpertFlyer showing 9 available seats at the I fare for both flights that day (LON-LAS 10 Oct for reference).
Am I missing something?
Attempting to redeem on BA shows zero availability, despite ExpertFlyer showing 9 available seats at the I fare for both flights that day (LON-LAS 10 Oct for reference).
Am I missing something?
On Matrix IATA, sales city Singapore, restrict to BA I fare, out 8 Nov to SYD from SIN and reverse 16 Nov, availability BA15 out, availability BA16 back.
Try to book with GUF using cash and voucher - no availability.
There must be something I'm not understanding.
Feb 1, 2020, 11:08 pm
#143
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,252
Same problem
On Matrix IATA, sales city Singapore, restrict to BA I fare, out 8 Nov to SYD from SIN and reverse 16 Nov, availability BA15 out, availability BA16 back.
Try to book with GUF using cash and voucher - no availability.
There must be something I'm not understanding.
On Matrix IATA, sales city Singapore, restrict to BA I fare, out 8 Nov to SYD from SIN and reverse 16 Nov, availability BA15 out, availability BA16 back.
Try to book with GUF using cash and voucher - no availability.
There must be something I'm not understanding.
If there I class availability I would suggest you book the underlying cash fare then call straight away to upgrade. Worse case you can cancel the cash fare within 24 hours.
Last edited by golfmad; Feb 1, 2020 at 11:35 pm
Feb 2, 2020, 12:05 am
#144
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Beijing
Programs: SK EBG, BAEC Gold
Posts: 935
Same problem
On Matrix IATA, sales city Singapore, restrict to BA I fare, out 8 Nov to SYD from SIN and reverse 16 Nov, availability BA15 out, availability BA16 back.
Try to book with GUF using cash and voucher - no availability.
There must be something I'm not understanding.
On Matrix IATA, sales city Singapore, restrict to BA I fare, out 8 Nov to SYD from SIN and reverse 16 Nov, availability BA15 out, availability BA16 back.
Try to book with GUF using cash and voucher - no availability.
There must be something I'm not understanding.
The book and upgrade online was originally designed to use redemption space with GUFs. I am not sure whether the systems have been upgraded to cope with what you are trying to do.
If there I class availability I would suggest you book the underlying cash fare then call straight away to upgrade. Worse case you can cancel the cash fare within 24 hours.
If there I class availability I would suggest you book the underlying cash fare then call straight away to upgrade. Worse case you can cancel the cash fare within 24 hours.
In addition the revenue class availability you need will be that based either on POS of the country of your BAEC-registered address, or that of the call centre you contact - I am not certain of exactly how this works (reward availability is at least based on your registered address).
Feb 2, 2020, 12:51 am
#145
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Singapore
Programs: BAEC GFL (Only took 30 years)
Posts: 500
Exactly - if you want to use a GUF voucher booking in to revenue class availability (I for Club World) then you will need to call BAEC to get this done (the online system doesn't even work many times with reward availability in terms of giving the correct price for the lower cabin fare due DIF fare structures). Either book the WTP fare now and call to upgrade, or call up to do both (but at the very least price up the underlying WTP fare to make sure you get quoted the correct figure when calling up ..).
In addition the revenue class availability you need will be that based either on POS of the country of your BAEC-registered address, or that of the call centre you contact - I am not certain of exactly how this works (reward availability is at least based on your registered address).
In addition the revenue class availability you need will be that based either on POS of the country of your BAEC-registered address, or that of the call centre you contact - I am not certain of exactly how this works (reward availability is at least based on your registered address).
Feb 2, 2020, 12:52 am
#146
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Singapore
Programs: BAEC GFL (Only took 30 years)
Posts: 500
The book and upgrade online was originally designed to use redemption space with GUFs. I am not sure whether the systems have been upgraded to cope with what you are trying to do.
If there I class availability I would suggest you book the underlying cash fare then call straight away to upgrade. Worse case you can cancel the cash fare within 24 hours.
If there I class availability I would suggest you book the underlying cash fare then call straight away to upgrade. Worse case you can cancel the cash fare within 24 hours.
Feb 2, 2020, 3:01 am
#148
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Singapore
Programs: BAEC GFL (Only took 30 years)
Posts: 500
Feb 2, 2020, 11:06 am
#149
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,635
Same problem
On Matrix IATA, sales city Singapore, restrict to BA I fare, out 8 Nov to SYD from SIN and reverse 16 Nov, availability BA15 out, availability BA16 back.
Try to book with GUF using cash and voucher - no availability.
There must be something I'm not understanding.
On Matrix IATA, sales city Singapore, restrict to BA I fare, out 8 Nov to SYD from SIN and reverse 16 Nov, availability BA15 out, availability BA16 back.
Try to book with GUF using cash and voucher - no availability.
There must be something I'm not understanding.
