pauldb

This is what I get for a book&upgrade MUC-LHR. Not explicit on the cash cost, but +5,750 avios as the OP is seeing.

megaloman

Agent made a mistake, it should be 4500 peak / 4000 off-peak for an upgrade. The problem is their computer system suggests the incorrect value... it's down to the way BA has implemented the Avios for RFS "trial" - they've essentially lowered the RFS to £1 (£0.50 per segment) and adjusted redemption values.

The Geek

If you try to do it online it's always 2k above the old tables / cost and has been since May. Not the agents mistake, however it is either an IT error side effect of the new RFS pricing, or a deliberate devaluation by BA. Perhaps someone can ask them which it is.

megaloman

Few weeks ago I was trying to book a Gold Priority Reward, got quoted 24000 avios + £0.50 where I was expecting to pay 15000 avios + £17.50. At first agent told me it was the new and correct pricing (a bit steep price of 9000 avios for £17 saving if you ask me!), when I asked for a supervisor, they suddenly could do the 15k avios + £17.50 as an exception, asking the reason agent has read the email which said "if customer is not happy with the new higher pricing, they should be offered the *standard* avios pricing". It required a manual processing I was told, but could be done.

Had a similar issue for my sister's ticket booked with avios, when I called to change the booking, I was asked to pay up 5000 avios (or whatever the avios for RFS was at the time), again at first agent was sure it was the right price, but when I asked for the supervisor, suddenly agent understood what *standard* avios rate was.

Unfortunately, BA has taken the reward price calculator offline, which is not helpful.

wmaciej

I'm about to make a redemption for my parents, and this new pricing is kicking in. WAW-LHR-DXB offpeak premium economy used to be 32.5k avios (6.5k for short haul and 26k for long haul). Now I am being quoted 11k for the short haul, which is consistent with the new pricing where one pays £1 for taxes, but they don’t seem to allow old pricing. I've challenged it saying that it's been 6.5k rather than 11k one way, but received this response:
Any recent success stories on getting the *standard* avios pricing on connecting itineraries?

megaloman

This is illogical and whoever come up with this at BA, has no idea how ticketing works. For routes like WAW-LHR-DXB taxes are calculated based on departure and destination, so you essentially pay your standard taxes plus 5.5k avios extra for RFS fee (aka taxes).

Call up again and ask the agent to dig the email out about changes. The email says if customers are not happy with the new prices, they should be offered *standard* avios prices.

wmaciej

this was two GGL agents who gave me this figure and insist it is correct... I’ll call later to discuss further and escalate if I get nowhere...

wmaciej

Called in, asked for recalculation of avios - all done and number as expected. Looks that the system is wired to charge the higher amount, but the difference promptly refunded. Fantastic service

megaloman

Which proves that agents are lacking training and often make up their own rules if they're unsure what to do.

SK AAR

Was this before or after reservation being ticketed that you contacted BAEC for recalculation?

I was hit by the same back in Oct during the 50% off Avios sale, where I simply couldn't figure out on which basis the high number of Avios for CPH-LHR-MEX or CPH-LHR-GRU had been calculated. At the end I had to swallow the higher than expected Avios and I didn't take it up later with BAEC (and I don't intend to now, only for future reference).

wmaciej

before, I called and said the avios figure looks off and I think it should be X. The agent recalculated and confirmed it to be X.

Tafflyer

This is all so confusing and illogical. Any redemption combining a SH flight with another flight calculates incorrectly. It has become increasingly difficult to find an agent willing to correct this. I have been complaining about this for over a year now. Really stupid is if you try and book a SH flight using an account not entitled to book an RFS, you will continue to see the “standard” rate offered. Since YQ is currently really low on SH this results in an Avios and cash cost lower than those of us entitled to book the supposedly advantageous RFS.

The Geek

Deleted.

wmaciej

This continues being a bloody nightmare to navigate. Most agents, including GGL ones, insist that it's perfectly reasonable that LHR-DXB sector in off-peak J is 50,000 avios, but the feeder AMS-LHR is 15,000, while it should be 7,750 - the same way as when it's booked as a standalone. A senior manager advised the agent to advise me to book them separately, but I should know that then I will lose protecting of it being a single PNR

megaloman

Booking them separately will affect taxes you need to pay - e.g. booking LHR-DXB-LHR will have higher taxes (£542.72) than AMS-LHR-DXB-LHR-AMS ticket (£349.42). Taxes are calculated based on departure and destination, so feeder segment should be charged at standard avios prices, not ones including RFS. Unfortunately BA has messed up, so the system prices at full avios prices, and no one at BA seems to have a clue what they've done.