A BA loop hole to make money ?
Jul 14, 2019, 10:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 101
A BA loop hole to make money ?
I was speaking with a PA who worked with an EPA who booked first class travel for a number of executives in a sports team.
A EPA at another sports team who would be flying her excutives First on the same flight knew they had booked out the cabin between them.
Everynow and then they would book a fully refundable FIrst class fair on their own Amex knowing that first was oversold.
Turn up at the airport, head to the check-in desks once there boss' had gone thru security and await to be told they would need to be downgraded to J or take a refund and collect some comp and avios.
brave? Stupid? genious?
A EPA at another sports team who would be flying her excutives First on the same flight knew they had booked out the cabin between them.
Everynow and then they would book a fully refundable FIrst class fair on their own Amex knowing that first was oversold.
Turn up at the airport, head to the check-in desks once there boss' had gone thru security and await to be told they would need to be downgraded to J or take a refund and collect some comp and avios.
brave? Stupid? genious?
Jul 14, 2019, 10:34 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,197
Would probably work, although there is a possibility of a Fraud Act offence as well.
The problem is that, if the algorithm were choosing people based on fare paid then the PA showing up last would probably have the highest fare and therefore be the least likely to be downgraded (ignoring status, which is probably lower, because they never fly anyway!)
So there would be a lot of anomalous behaviour on the account, and compensation is 3/4 of the fare paid - it's not IDB or delayed arrival, and if you chose to fly on a later flight you wouldn't get the statutory compensation. So you'd be reliant on an ex gratia offer even though you never fly. Seems questionable to me.
The problem is that, if the algorithm were choosing people based on fare paid then the PA showing up last would probably have the highest fare and therefore be the least likely to be downgraded (ignoring status, which is probably lower, because they never fly anyway!)
So there would be a lot of anomalous behaviour on the account, and compensation is 3/4 of the fare paid - it's not IDB or delayed arrival, and if you chose to fly on a later flight you wouldn't get the statutory compensation. So you'd be reliant on an ex gratia offer even though you never fly. Seems questionable to me.
Jul 14, 2019, 10:50 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,176
There have been many cases in the US where people tried this sort of deliberate manipulation - booking flexible tickets then last minute cancelling them so there would be room in the F cabin for an upgrade for their proper ticket
It does not usually end well for those trying this on - usually by having their account closed and all miles lost and being banned from flying on that airline.
Also what's an 'EPA' ??
It does not usually end well for those trying this on - usually by having their account closed and all miles lost and being banned from flying on that airline.
Also what's an 'EPA' ??
Jul 14, 2019, 1:04 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK - Hampshire & London
Programs: Mucci de Guardian des Celliers des Grands Crus 1e Classé, plus BAEC.
Posts: 2,731
Jul 14, 2019, 1:08 pm
#8
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK - Hampshire & London
Programs: Mucci de Guardian des Celliers des Grands Crus 1e Classé, plus BAEC.
Posts: 2,731
I was speaking with a PA who worked with an EPA who booked first class travel for a number of executives in a sports team.
A EPA at another sports team who would be flying her excutives First on the same flight knew they had booked out the cabin between them.
Everynow and then they would book a fully refundable FIrst class fair on their own Amex knowing that first was oversold.
Turn up at the airport, head to the check-in desks once there boss' had gone thru security and await to be told they would need to be downgraded to J or take a refund and collect some comp and avios.
brave? Stupid? genious?
A EPA at another sports team who would be flying her excutives First on the same flight knew they had booked out the cabin between them.
Everynow and then they would book a fully refundable FIrst class fair on their own Amex knowing that first was oversold.
Turn up at the airport, head to the check-in desks once there boss' had gone thru security and await to be told they would need to be downgraded to J or take a refund and collect some comp and avios.
brave? Stupid? genious?
He/she is clearly underworked if they have the time and inclination to try this.
Jul 14, 2019, 2:42 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
I'm glad somebody asked! Wikipedia didn't offer much that would make any sense in the context of the OP... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPA_(disambiguation)
Jul 14, 2019, 2:45 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 101
Jul 14, 2019, 4:38 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Balham - Gateway to The South
Programs: BA Bronze
Posts: 2,020
....but why ???
It is an overly complicated way of trying to game the system.
Do you need a team of people in order to book out the cabin?
** It’s late and I may have misunderstood...but.,,.why??
It is an overly complicated way of trying to game the system.
Do you need a team of people in order to book out the cabin?
** It’s late and I may have misunderstood...but.,,.why??
Jul 14, 2019, 11:33 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: MAN/JNB
Programs: KL/BMI/BA
Posts: 410
Reminds me of the guy who repeatedly booked refundable F tickets so he could spend the day in the First class lounge eating & drinking, then off load himself from the flight and claim a full refund. I think it was Lufthansa and they successfully sued him when they caught om what he was up to.
Jul 14, 2019, 11:33 pm
#15
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: 63,735
The core story is unlikely for BA since First is only overbooked by one seat, and this would go down to zero in the weeks before departure. Moreover a late switch to a 17 seater could make this an expensive way to fly.
