Very Confusing Information - who is the operator of my flight?
Mar 19, 2016, 8:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Hong Kong, occasionally in London
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Posts: 173
Very Confusing Information - who is the operator of my flight?
Hello folks,
I have booked on the IB website a flight (IB3179) from LHR to MAD for June in J class. All through booking the flight shows an A340-300 (343) operating, (and for obvious avgeek reasons I booked that flight and no other). But it was not until I received my e-ticket does it show that it was to be operated by BA under BA516. Confused, I tried calling BA and IB for clarifications but was given very dodgy replies. Can anyone here explain what's happening? I'm a CX GO member but this is my first time flying IB. First impressions have not been promising...
Thanks for your help and I look forward to reading your replies.
Adrian
I have booked on the IB website a flight (IB3179) from LHR to MAD for June in J class. All through booking the flight shows an A340-300 (343) operating, (and for obvious avgeek reasons I booked that flight and no other). But it was not until I received my e-ticket does it show that it was to be operated by BA under BA516. Confused, I tried calling BA and IB for clarifications but was given very dodgy replies. Can anyone here explain what's happening? I'm a CX GO member but this is my first time flying IB. First impressions have not been promising...
Thanks for your help and I look forward to reading your replies.
Adrian
Mar 19, 2016, 10:31 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: SCQ
Programs: IB+ Oro
Posts: 41
Hi,
I did this exact flight, BA516, last wednesday in J. When i booked it showed that it was operated by IB, when i was going to check in it told me it was operated by BA and directed me to BA website.
The aircraft used was an A330-300 operated by IB.
I did this exact flight, BA516, last wednesday in J. When i booked it showed that it was operated by IB, when i was going to check in it told me it was operated by BA and directed me to BA website.
The aircraft used was an A330-300 operated by IB.
Mar 19, 2016, 12:33 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,899
This is normal and IB/BA both sell the flight. It is operated by Iberia aircraft and crew for BA. I have taken this flight last year. It was a great flight and better than BA to be honest.
Just one word of warning sometimes they do an aircraft change to a A320/321 so just have that at the back of your mind. A few have got caught out with it and sadly there is nothing you can do.
Just one word of warning sometimes they do an aircraft change to a A320/321 so just have that at the back of your mind. A few have got caught out with it and sadly there is nothing you can do.
Mar 19, 2016, 3:22 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Valencia, Spain
Programs: LH SEN, A3*G, BAEC Gold
Posts: 154
AFAIK all Iberia flights from LHR T5 have BA code as main code and IB appears as code-share, due to how the BA/T5 systems work, but they are actually operated with Iberia aircraft and crews.
I *think* (but I'm not sure - just from observation) that you can differentiate them by the 1st digit of the flight number - 4xx are BA flights with BA aircraft and BA crews, 5xx are IB flights with IB aircraft and IB crews.
I *think* (but I'm not sure - just from observation) that you can differentiate them by the 1st digit of the flight number - 4xx are BA flights with BA aircraft and BA crews, 5xx are IB flights with IB aircraft and IB crews.
Mar 31, 2016, 4:06 am
#6
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Hello folks,
I have booked on the IB website a flight (IB3179) from LHR to MAD for June in J class. All through booking the flight shows an A340-300 (343) operating, (and for obvious avgeek reasons I booked that flight and no other). But it was not until I received my e-ticket does it show that it was to be operated by BA under BA516. Confused, I tried calling BA and IB for clarifications but was given very dodgy replies. Can anyone here explain what's happening? I'm a CX GO member but this is my first time flying IB. First impressions have not been promising...
Thanks for your help and I look forward to reading your replies.
Adrian
I have booked on the IB website a flight (IB3179) from LHR to MAD for June in J class. All through booking the flight shows an A340-300 (343) operating, (and for obvious avgeek reasons I booked that flight and no other). But it was not until I received my e-ticket does it show that it was to be operated by BA under BA516. Confused, I tried calling BA and IB for clarifications but was given very dodgy replies. Can anyone here explain what's happening? I'm a CX GO member but this is my first time flying IB. First impressions have not been promising...
Thanks for your help and I look forward to reading your replies.
Adrian
The flight is flown by IB, and operating as IB. But BA sort of charters the flight and sells the seats back to IB.
Just check in at the IB counter...
Apr 14, 2016, 3:55 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
Be glad you're in J. The pax get literally NOTHING in Y for IB flights. Had this experience today, didn't know that while BA has complimentary drinks/snacks, IB flights are buy-onboard for everything, including water.
Unfortunate because to the layperson, the system shows up as BA-proper flights. Even the phone agent was confused when I called in for seat assignments (b/c I hadn't realized it was an IB-operated flight). It's stupid to have two completely different levels of service on what's essentially a JV route.
Unfortunate because to the layperson, the system shows up as BA-proper flights. Even the phone agent was confused when I called in for seat assignments (b/c I hadn't realized it was an IB-operated flight). It's stupid to have two completely different levels of service on what's essentially a JV route.
May 8, 2016, 12:54 am
#10
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May 8, 2016, 2:39 am
#11
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MAD
Programs: IB+, BAEC
Posts: 3,106
It's not the most honest route, but go to the galley and say you need to take a pill and they'll give you a water no problem.
May 8, 2016, 3:53 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,899
Having just flown back on a four hour flight with EI I was able to purchase a hot sandwich and my choices of snacks and drink for around EUR13. Id much prefer that than so called ''free'' items that I do not enjoy. Choc hearts I can live without
May 9, 2016, 1:20 am
#13
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Location: QLA
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I have seen free cups of water given out on IB. It was exactly for the reason mentioned above for an elderly Man. I trust the crew to make good judgement in these things.
Having just flown back on a four hour flight with EI I was able to purchase a hot sandwich and my choices of snacks and drink for around EUR13. Id much prefer that than so called ''free'' items that I do not enjoy. Choc hearts I can live without
Having just flown back on a four hour flight with EI I was able to purchase a hot sandwich and my choices of snacks and drink for around EUR13. Id much prefer that than so called ''free'' items that I do not enjoy. Choc hearts I can live without
Fortunately I survived, and I knew better for my next IB flight the next day.At least with EI I would have expected it. Maybe I just haven't been paying close enough attention to the Oneworld airlines.
Still though (and I have a story coming up about it), it's tough to pick BA over IB on the LHR-MAD route when even the phone agents can't tell who's operating which flight.
May 9, 2016, 3:25 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,129
It's also tough as there are no BA flights from LHR between 7am and 2pm!
The phone agents IME have always very easily been able to tell which airline was operating the flight - even before looking into it. This was with BA, don't know how IB deals with this.
The phone agents IME have always very easily been able to tell which airline was operating the flight - even before looking into it. This was with BA, don't know how IB deals with this.