Is it legal for British Airways to raise price on second page of booking?
Jul 25, 2022, 5:10 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Portland OR, USA
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there is no 25000 Avios option. you're conflating this one with the reference from the case cited by another user.
on the first screen it shows 13000 Avios + $64.80; on the second page it shows 13000 Avios + $199.60.
no. the miles required is still 13000 Avios. and there are still award seats available. and the price discrepancies between pages are still there if you search yourself.
the "taxes and fees" for the same ticket price couldn't possibly legally vary based on availability of seats, at least on grounds of discrimination.
they'd been caught doing it almost a decade ago, paid a pittance in fines, made insincere assurances that they fixed the issue, and have since continued to violate the law for years now.
perhaps this is why i say BA is too big for the DOT. 😏
on the first screen it shows 13000 Avios + $64.80; on the second page it shows 13000 Avios + $199.60.
no. the miles required is still 13000 Avios. and there are still award seats available. and the price discrepancies between pages are still there if you search yourself.
the "taxes and fees" for the same ticket price couldn't possibly legally vary based on availability of seats, at least on grounds of discrimination.
they'd been caught doing it almost a decade ago, paid a pittance in fines, made insincere assurances that they fixed the issue, and have since continued to violate the law for years now.
perhaps this is why i say BA is too big for the DOT. 😏
I have over 200k Avios in my account so thats certainly not the issue of the OP having not enough Avios. That's frustrating.
Jul 25, 2022, 5:28 pm
#32
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Anywhere
Posts: 6,565
I clicked Continue and it said I didn't have enough Avios to continue.
So I canceled my Aer Lingus award booking, which cost 20000 Avios + $110.90, paid the $55 cancellation fee, and transferred those EI Avios to BA.
...
Now my EI award seat is no longer available, and I see no alternative but to capitulate and book with the higher fees that were not disclosed initially.
So I canceled my Aer Lingus award booking, which cost 20000 Avios + $110.90, paid the $55 cancellation fee, and transferred those EI Avios to BA.
...
Now my EI award seat is no longer available, and I see no alternative but to capitulate and book with the higher fees that were not disclosed initially.
Jul 25, 2022, 5:30 pm
#33
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The JFK-LHR flights are 25k, so do not understand why you are not seeing that option. It does look like it is bugged in what its showing you for some reason,,, Out of interest, if you click more pricing options on the first screen (should be visible in the box at the bottom after you select the flight), what do you see?
And, as another poster confirmed, if you click through to finalize the redemption booking, the cash component more than triples, to $199.80 (for the same 13,000 Avios).
Jul 25, 2022, 5:32 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
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I have the same issue. Here's the screen grabs. I apologise in advance for the paltry Avios balance on my account 
Initial quote showing 13,000 Avios and $64.80
---
After you click "continue" the quote shows 13,000 Avios and $199.80
---
I am not surprised the OP is a little ticked off over this, especially after cancelling another booking and paying the cancellation fee to allow them to transfer Avios to make the booking with BA.
Initial quote showing 13,000 Avios and $64.80
---
After you click "continue" the quote shows 13,000 Avios and $199.80
---
I am not surprised the OP is a little ticked off over this, especially after cancelling another booking and paying the cancellation fee to allow them to transfer Avios to make the booking with BA.
Jul 25, 2022, 5:49 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 105
This is what shows on the UK site
So somehow on the US version, it is only giving you the max of the 13k option and the taxes of the 25k on the initial screen, which it then corrects to the 13k version (ish) on the next screen. I agree you should push this complaint and see if you can get them to honour the price
So somehow on the US version, it is only giving you the max of the 13k option and the taxes of the 25k on the initial screen, which it then corrects to the 13k version (ish) on the next screen. I agree you should push this complaint and see if you can get them to honour the price
Jul 25, 2022, 5:59 pm
#36
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This is what shows on the UK site
So somehow on the US version, it is only giving you the max of the 13k option and the taxes of the 25k on the initial screen, which it then corrects to the 13k version (ish) on the next screen. I agree you should push this complaint and see if you can get them to honour the price
So somehow on the US version, it is only giving you the max of the 13k option and the taxes of the 25k on the initial screen, which it then corrects to the 13k version (ish) on the next screen. I agree you should push this complaint and see if you can get them to honour the price
Jul 25, 2022, 8:10 pm
#37
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
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I had exactly the same issue pricing a one way J flight from DXB-LHR. On the website it said 50k AVIOS plus £222.40 in tax. When I went through to the next page it said the taxes were £276.10 plus same AVIOS. The wording on the first page is clear that it includes everything.
BA GGL said the first page was an average, it wasn’t an average of anything, and then said they would send to IT to investigate. I agree it is dishonest and possibly false advertising - you have reminded me to chase them for an answer to my query.
Regards
aks120
BA GGL said the first page was an average, it wasn’t an average of anything, and then said they would send to IT to investigate. I agree it is dishonest and possibly false advertising - you have reminded me to chase them for an answer to my query.
Regards
aks120
Jul 25, 2022, 9:45 pm
#38
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Jul 26, 2022, 1:27 am
#40
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Jul 26, 2022, 1:55 am
#41
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 25
File a consumer complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation and you'll find out:
https://www.transportation.gov/airco...umer-complaint
https://www.transportation.gov/airco...umer-complaint
Jul 26, 2022, 2:11 am
#42
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Regards
aks120
Jul 26, 2022, 2:14 am
#43
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I'd have thought if there was a previous DOT complaint upheld for exactly the same issue, quoting that and saying that BA had failed to address it would make them take notice?
This is quite an interesting discussion from a U.K. point of view, because legally here, I'd imagine BA would argue that these prices are considered an 'invitation to treat' and so not binding at the initial stage (although IANAL, I wonder if misrepresentation could also be a valid argument here). In any case, it appears the US takes a different view.
This is quite an interesting discussion from a U.K. point of view, because legally here, I'd imagine BA would argue that these prices are considered an 'invitation to treat' and so not binding at the initial stage (although IANAL, I wonder if misrepresentation could also be a valid argument here). In any case, it appears the US takes a different view.
Jul 26, 2022, 2:35 am
#44
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,550
I'd have thought if there was a previous DOT complaint upheld for exactly the same issue, quoting that and saying that BA had failed to address it would make them take notice?
This is quite an interesting discussion from a U.K. point of view, because legally here, I'd imagine BA would argue that these prices are considered an 'invitation to treat' and so not binding at the initial stage (although IANAL, I wonder if misrepresentation could also be a valid argument here). In any case, it appears the US takes a different view.
This is quite an interesting discussion from a U.K. point of view, because legally here, I'd imagine BA would argue that these prices are considered an 'invitation to treat' and so not binding at the initial stage (although IANAL, I wonder if misrepresentation could also be a valid argument here). In any case, it appears the US takes a different view.
Jul 26, 2022, 3:10 am
#45
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 501
Just out of curiosity what does the DoT fine BA for these violations?
Also, is there a way to file a similar complaint against BA but not involving the US? So does the EU/UK have a similar method?
Edit: not involving US for a short haul EU flight or long haul to Asia. Just not to/from US so no standing for DoT
Also, is there a way to file a similar complaint against BA but not involving the US? So does the EU/UK have a similar method?
Edit: not involving US for a short haul EU flight or long haul to Asia. Just not to/from US so no standing for DoT