Why would a BA holiday ask for full payment?

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Sep 6, 2022, 3:19 pm

#16

AJA_

Join Date: Jul 2019

Programs: BAEC Bronze, Mucci recipient

Posts: 1,792

I found this:

https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...posit-holidays

Which type of bookings are eligible for deposits?

Low online deposits can only be paid for bookings created as flight + hotel or flight + car packages or any two products booked via Customise Your Trip, this can exclude a flight. All flight only, hotel, car and experience only bookings, and any hotel, car or experiences added to a flight only booking are excluded from this offer.

So it looks like if you book a flight and then book a car or hotel afterwards to turn it into a linked arrangement you have to pay in full.

If you book flight and car or flight and hotel at the same time then it allows you to pay a deposit.

So i wonder if the way you're trying to book is causing the issue.

I also found out that Holidays secured with s deposit have to be paid in full 7 weeks before
See When is the full balance due? on the same link.

Anonba and SavvyTravel like this.

Sep 7, 2022, 3:58 am

#17

SavvyTravel

Join Date: Oct 2018

Location: UK

Programs: BA Gold, *A Silver, HH Gold, IHG Diamond

Posts: 500

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJA_

Low online deposits can only be paid for bookings created as flight + hotel or flight + car packages or any two products booked via Customise Your Trip, this can exclude a flight. All flight only, hotel, car and experience only bookings, and any hotel, car or experiences added to a flight only booking are excluded from this offer.

So it looks like if you book a flight and then book a car or hotel afterwards to turn it into a linked arrangement you have to pay in full.

Alas that doesn't cover what happened to me. In both outcomes, I was booking via the BA holiday page - which asks you if you want the entire term or just a part hire/stay. Full term = deposit. Part time = full fee. Not a flight booked first scenario (as the T&Cs rightly exclude) but a build-your-own-package. I did at one point think "ah you idiot" you selected the flights and then added the car, that's why it's not a 'holiday' but no that had no impact.

Very strange and something I'd like to get to the bottom of as I am hoping to get a couple more BA holidays booked in for the double TPs (as are quite a lot of others, I am sure).

Sep 7, 2022, 4:22 am

#18

simon1argyle

Join Date: Jan 2016

Posts: 66

When I booked my October trip to Florida back in June, I had to pay the full amount & that was for full accomodation & car hire for the duration. When I searched & booked though, rather than going through BA holidays I searched flight only then added the other items at each offered stage & will still be getting the double Avios bonus

Sep 7, 2022, 4:38 am

#19

Alan T

Join Date: Jul 2020

Location: UK

Programs: BAEC Gold

Posts: 253

I’ve had really inconsistent results over the years depending which route I use? The only one I’ve had reasonably consistent outcomes with, if it’s not a simple trip, is the custom trip builder, even if the flights are just return to the same destination. Usually I get offered a deposit option then?

I access it from the front end of BA.com.

Sep 7, 2022, 4:44 am

#20

Alan T

Join Date: Jul 2020

Location: UK

Programs: BAEC Gold

Posts: 253

Just did a dummy booking that way.

A week in Vegas in Nov, car for 3 nights mid trip, offering me the £150 deposit.

Sep 7, 2022, 4:52 am

#21

squeeler

Ambassador: Oneworld Alliance

Join Date: Jan 2007

Location: LON

Programs: BA Gold (GGL), Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, Marriott Gold

Posts: 2,221

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotair

Book the car for the full trip. Stay the first night in an airport hotel and pick up the car the next day - never had an issue with this

I did this in Tampa in January. I asked at one Avis desk if I could leave the car in the car park and was told 'no'. When I collected the keys, the lady told me that I was fine not to drive the car until the next day. When I tried to leave the car park the following day there was some kerfuffle at the gate, but I was eventually let out. And the double TPs were forthcoming.

Sep 7, 2022, 4:54 am

#22

Hydebear

Join Date: Dec 2012

Location: MAN, PSP

Programs: BAEC

Posts: 208

Oddly I tried to create a similar itinerary to that of the OP to see what happens using custom trip tool.

Example - Flights late Dec to SFO, pick up car day after arrival, hand back after 5 days in a different city, then get another after a day's break and return to SFO.

Deposit option is clearly there ... perhaps it's as simple as use another browser or make sure you go via the custom tool? It's an odd one certainly.

SavvyTravel and Alan T like this.

Last edited by Hydebear; Sep 7, 2022 at 5:00 am

Jun 13, 2023, 8:40 am

#23

jfknight

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: Surrey, UK

Programs: Hyatt: Plat, HH: Dia, Spg: Au, VS: Red, Accor: Plat, BAEC: Ag, Nordic Choice: Au

Posts: 197

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hydebear

I was having trouble with this also yesterday, I confirm Custom Booking Tool still fixes it as of June 2023.

This is the option you want:

Jun 13, 2023, 10:41 am

#24

OGG flyer

Join Date: Jun 2018

Programs: BA, Avis, Amex

Posts: 432

You are using the wrong page most likely. I had these issues in the past when booking hotel or car only for part of the trip. Don't use the page called "Flight and Hotel" or "Flight and car". You must use the custom booking page which is not that easy to find (I bookmarked it). The hotel or car needs to be for minimum 3 days I believe for deposit to work.
I now almost exclusively book flights with a car or hotel for part of the trip so I am very familiar with your issue