Significant fare reduction [since booking]
Jan 18, 2024, 6:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: AA
Posts: 116
Significant fare reduction [since booking]
Good afternoon
I just noticed that a fare I booked (first class) some time ago is now $800 less than when I booked. Is it possible to call and try to get an adjustment/credit or not? I booked two tickets so that's $1600 total difference. I'm just curious. The money is out of my account now so I won't cry over spilled $$ but I thought I would ask you wise BA people if there is a way.
I just noticed that a fare I booked (first class) some time ago is now $800 less than when I booked. Is it possible to call and try to get an adjustment/credit or not? I booked two tickets so that's $1600 total difference. I'm just curious. The money is out of my account now so I won't cry over spilled $$ but I thought I would ask you wise BA people if there is a way.
Jan 18, 2024, 6:02 pm
#2
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,991
Nope. I am afraid you don’t have any recourse here. Just like anything else in life, it’s inevitable week after you buy something there will be a sale where you could have got the same thing 20% cheaper.
Jan 18, 2024, 6:07 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,034
Another view
I just noticed that a fare I booked (first class) some time ago is now $800 more less than when I booked. Is it possible to call and try to get an adjustment/debit credit or not? I booked two tickets so that's $1600 total difference. I'm just curious. The money is in out of my account now so I won't cry over spilled $$ but I thought I would ask you wise BA people if there is a way.
Jan 18, 2024, 6:16 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: AA
Posts: 116
Agreed. It was a chance I took when I booked but I figured if anyone knew any way to "work" it you guys would. I wouldn't have booked when I did if I wasn't prepared to pay the fare. I did have a thought...if I called and changed to an earlier flight, same day, which is also cheaper, aside from a change fee, would I get a credit on the difference?
Jan 18, 2024, 6:17 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: AA
Posts: 116
Another view
I just noticed that a fare I booked (first class) some time ago is now $800 more less than when I booked. Is it possible to call and try to get an adjustment/debit credit or not? I booked two tickets so that's $1600 total difference. I'm just curious. The money is in out of my account now so I won't cry over spilled $$ but I thought I would ask you wise BA people if there is a way.
Jan 18, 2024, 7:35 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
While I don't blame for BA not offering a refund or a credit in case of a fare deduction, however, as a datapoint, American Airlines does let you do this on some tickets ( those with no change fee ) so if someone is expecting the price of a BA TATL ticket to drop, purchasing with AA, then cancelling for a credit and then rebooking it with the credit would make sense.
Jan 19, 2024, 12:24 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: London (née Melbourne)
Programs: Qantas Platinum (Oneworld Emerald)
Posts: 988
I don't really know about the UK as I haven't tried it, but if you came back with the receipt a week later to most stores in Australia they'd either refund you the difference or give you a gift voucher with store credit.
Jan 19, 2024, 12:32 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,866
My guess is that most first fares booked into F will be refundable and that most booked into A won't be.
If you make the new booking and find you can't refund the old one, then you can use the 24 hour cool off to cancel the new ones.
Your bank account \ credit card is going to be down the cost of two sets of tickets anyway until one or other is refunded if you do it yourself rather than on the phone, this may be a problem for some people.
[EDIT] F fares for LHR-SIN are refundable but they cost more than twice (non-refundable) A fares (£11k versus £4.5k)
Last edited by DeathSlam; Jan 19, 2024 at 12:41 am
Jan 19, 2024, 12:38 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,347
I once tried to return an item in the UK where the price had dropped and they were only willing to refund the new lower price - though a complaint to the head office resulted in a refund and letting me keep the item.
Jan 19, 2024, 12:46 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Silver, IHG Gold
Posts: 454
Nothing wrong with asking. I do this with hotel bookings all the time (via flexible bookings) and I generally see my hotel rooms fall below the pre-paid price eventually if I book far in advance.
Check your ticket restrictions - if it's cheaper to refund and rebook go for it.
I don't think flight tickets are as easy as some hotel bookings to change sadly. For Marriott at least, I just update my existing booking to the same room at the lower rate.
Not sure why there are some odd replies with a passive aggressive tone to them for a mere post asking.
Check your ticket restrictions - if it's cheaper to refund and rebook go for it.
I don't think flight tickets are as easy as some hotel bookings to change sadly. For Marriott at least, I just update my existing booking to the same room at the lower rate.
Not sure why there are some odd replies with a passive aggressive tone to them for a mere post asking.
Jan 19, 2024, 12:57 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Surrey
Programs: BAEC - Gold
Posts: 885
Sometimes I’ve had it with a BA holiday that an upgrade processed after purchase (at a time like the OP describes) leads to an overall refund. This was especially true during the pandemic with some of the crazy price fluctuations.
Jan 19, 2024, 1:05 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 2,343
I often use Google Flights to get alerted about price changes for the tickets I am interested in. On most occasions I get an alert for a good price and pull the trigger about 8-10 weeks in advance. I roughly save 30-40% or more compared to peak prices. Maybe to consider for the future.
Jan 19, 2024, 1:09 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,866
Yes, so the method used to book (TA, BA, BAH) makes a difference, the fare booking class makes a difference (F, A), and the route and operating carrier also makes a difference (likelihood of changes and IIROP).