j_x

My Avios booking for F on BA203 on Jan 9 was downgraded to J on BA239 for the same day, because 203 has been cancelled (PNR is for FCO - LHR - BOS).
I'm wondering what you guys would do in this case.
I have been wanting to try the LHR Concorde Room for some time and also have never flown F ever before in my life (even if the general consensus is that BA F is just world's best J).
If I take the J downgrade, could I still negotiate a way to get access to the Concorde Room or some other compensation?
For price, I paid 88K Avios for F, whereas J would've been 100K Avios at time of booking, so I'm not sure I'm even entitled to compensation given F was cheaper, especially for schedule changes so far before the flight.
I could potentially shorten my trip by a day to take F on 239 on Jan 8 (772 I think based on Club World seating chart) or 203 (A380). Would you take the A380 over the 772?
I could also add a connection in JFK to try the Chelsea Lounge, but adding a connection and also a worse customs entry point just to see a lounge seems stupid.

nufnuf77

You don�t have to take action immediately - there is no rush. Ba will offer you any other F service you want or moving dates etc.
i personally wouldn�t count on ccr access if you accept the downgrade.

doctor

May I ask the fees. I booked same flight F in December for 176K and $1960, round trip.

j_x

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I paid ~$400 in fees

j_x

Yeah, I'm aware that I don't need to act immediately - just trying to size up my options here. Do you have a personal take on what you would do here?

steveholt

I don't think any of us can say what's important to you. Is visiting the Chelsea Lounge important to you? Do you want as much time in F as possible? Is it no big deal to move your trip by a day? Did you call and see if BA will accommodate you in F on 239?

j_x

- Unless the Chelsea lounge is worth an extra 5hrs + extra connection on the itinerary, I don't think that it's that important to me. I fly through London much less so CCR is more of a draw
- LHR - BOS vs LHR - JFK aren't that much of a difference in airtime of F, right?
- Moving end of trip up by a day is not a big deal - will probably end up doing this
- 239 on Jan 9 does not have F - believe it is config 77L.

makin'miles

F is not being operated on any LHR-BOS services on either the 9th or 10th. There is one F seat remaining in the 239 (19:05 departure) on the 8th.

If a nonstop in F is important to you and you�re flexible, consider locking this in. If you�re okay connecting, I�d do nothing now as you�ll have a lot of options via JFK, in particular.

BA may also adjust the aircraft to offer F (although January isn�t too too far out). I know early January is a less busy time, but surprising to see them pull F off the route entirely on certain days.

j_x

Yeah, I just tried moving it to the 8th on 239 - I think the schedules are being moved around a lot right now. When I looked just a few hours ago, there was a A380 operating 203, but now that's gone too.
Frustratingly, MMB won't let me change, and I need to wait until the morning here in the US to call them up. Worst comes to worst I will connect through JFK.

Andriyko

I have not visited the new JFK lounges yet, but if you have never flown F before and this may be your one chance for a while, I'd absolutely connect at JFK to check out both the CCR at LHR and the new lounges at JFK.

Hennebou

Just an FYI -- I'm not sure you would be able to access to the Chelsea lounge in JFK if you did LHR --> JFK (in F) and then connected to JFK --> BOS.

Lounge access is only for passengers in First / "Flagship" on international routes or transcontinental routes (e.g. JFK-LAX). The flight from JFK to BOS would be a short-haul flight, and therefore I am not sure it would qualify for lounge access (even though you flew in to JFK on international F).

Usually lounge egibility is based on your onward flight, not the flight you just took. Here it doesn't seem to be specified anywhere, so you could try your luck, however I wouldn't add a 5 hour connection just for that.

https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...rk-jfk#lounges
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/...um-lounges.jsp

Cymro

OneWorld absolutely does allow lounge access based on the arriving flight, provided that the inbound is long haul (>5h) and the outbound is shorthaul (<5h). Previously the Concorde Room wasn't OneWorld, but AA/BA have merged their lounge access options somewhat with the rollout of the new lounges at JFK.

steveholt

The Chelsea lounge is fine but doesn't do much for me. YMMV.

LHR-BOS vs LHR-JFK isn't much difference, but you could choose to route LHR-ORD and get an extra hour or so of time in F.

Selpol

I had my flight cancelled the day before I was due to fly and rebooked with a connection- local US number had a prerecorded message stating they were too busy and to call again later. I called the UK you first number and was taken care of with minimal hold time- just FYI.

cauchy

OP, before you rebook note that you’ll get the EC261 downgrade compensation if you fly in business. This is 75% of the points used, pro rata for the distance involved. In other words, you’ll get a business class seat for economy points. There will also be a 75% calculation for the fuel fees etc they charged you.

Just a thought- you might be better off with a business nonstop from LHR, plus being 75% of the way towards your next first redemption, rather than having first class to jfk and a US domestic connection.