Misleading and Deceptive Redemption Price Quotes
Jan 29, 2022, 11:46 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG, HHonors Diamond, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 3,581
Looks like BA has been fined $40k for this before -- https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/eo-2016-3-9
In mitigation, British Airways states that the circumstances that gave rise to the Complaint were caused by an inadvertent programming error that affected redemption ticket sales on a limited number of routes available on ba.com involving sectors operated by US Airways.
Jan 30, 2022, 1:50 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,659
I’d disagree that ‘it is not a price quote’. After all it says ‘Total Price’ and quotes a price. I’d call that a quote.
Yes it says the exact cost is on the next page, but frankly if the exact price has absolutely no bearing to the price shown on the selection page, there shouldn’t be a price shown on that page.
Yes it says the exact cost is on the next page, but frankly if the exact price has absolutely no bearing to the price shown on the selection page, there shouldn’t be a price shown on that page.
The prices shown are intended to help you choose your most appropriate journey. The exact total will be shown after you have selected your outbound flight and may be higher than the amount shown on this page.
Jan 30, 2022, 2:03 am
#19
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
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Posts: 15,924
Jan 30, 2022, 2:04 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: WAW ✈ LHR ✈ GLA
Programs: BA GfL/GGL/CCR, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,500
Last edited by megaloman; Jan 30, 2022 at 2:10 am
Jan 30, 2022, 2:05 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: RTW
Posts: 677
Has long since been the same on GRU-LHR - for Business Class fees & taxes double after supposed "Total Price" to over GBP200.
Just received an email from Sean Doyle asserting that "the spirit of transparency... is the ethos we’re striving to promote at British Airways in 2022"
Interestingly if book same BA flight/cabin via AA Miles it's only $12.
Just received an email from Sean Doyle asserting that "the spirit of transparency... is the ethos we’re striving to promote at British Airways in 2022"
Interestingly if book same BA flight/cabin via AA Miles it's only $12.
Jan 30, 2022, 2:12 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
Why is this so hard for them to get right? Is the pricing that dynamic, or subject to change? I've never had any sort of variations like this with any other airline I have booked with so why is this a "well-known" peculiarity that they seem unable to fix?
Jan 30, 2022, 2:15 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold-GGL
Posts: 1,184
It does have the feel of a bait and switch type tactic.
If the price on the first page is the base fare without taxes, etc. what information are they missing at that point which prevents them from supplying a more accurate figure?
If the price on the first page is the base fare without taxes, etc. what information are they missing at that point which prevents them from supplying a more accurate figure?
Jan 30, 2022, 2:35 am
#24
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, TK Elite, HHonors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 7,691
Jan 30, 2022, 3:04 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
I’d disagree that ‘it is not a price quote’. After all it says ‘Total Price’ and quotes a price. I’d call that a quote.
Yes it says the exact cost is on the next page, but frankly if the exact price has absolutely no bearing to the price shown on the selection page, there shouldn’t be a price shown on that page.
Yes it says the exact cost is on the next page, but frankly if the exact price has absolutely no bearing to the price shown on the selection page, there shouldn’t be a price shown on that page.
Jan 30, 2022, 3:13 am
#26
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Manchester
Programs: VA (Plat), QR (OWE), BAEC (Silver), AY (Gold), HH (Diamond)
Posts: 165
Seems deceptive to me, as it may cause people to behave a certain way prior to landing at the final page, decisions that may not be made the same way if the true price was reflected on that page.
If the price can't be displayed correctly then just don't display it.
If the price can't be displayed correctly then just don't display it.
Jan 30, 2022, 3:19 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
BA only has a "virtual monopoly" if you insist on flying the same airline all the time. You may want to do that because of the extra benefits from doing so, but you would then need to recognise that it's your choice to accept all the aggravations that come with choosing to do business with BA. Unless your travel patterns are very unusual, or your employer is paying and gives you no options, nobody is forcing you to fly BA.
Jan 30, 2022, 6:25 am
#28
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,120
Jan 30, 2022, 7:02 am
#30
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ORD, LHR, FCO
Programs: BA Gold, etc. etc.
Posts: 1,402
Another crazy thing is that the same itinerary is initially priced at 32500 Avios + $490.93 if ba.com is opened on Firefox or Microsoft Edge vs 32500 Avios + $ 320.93 on Chrome!!!! One couldn't make this up! 
