Expertflyer vs BA
#1
Original Poster




Join Date: Jan 2026
Posts: 17
Expertflyer vs BA
I finally managed to get my DONE RTW ticket priced and paid at BA (AA RTW desk said that they couldn't even look at a dates beyond 330 Days
Now trying to effect date changes as the correct flights roll out has been extremely painful with BA's India-based change ticket team having to refer to the Pricing Team for any amendments and that process taking up to 72 hours
Currently I have 21 flight bookings in my 12 flight itinerary
This morning I rejoined ExpertFlyer and checked flight AA1080 from SJO-DFW on 16-Jan-27. The EF tool is showing 7 "D" seats available but when I finally got through 25 minutes of BA's "BlackAdder" hold music, they told me that there were no D class seats available
Is there any explanation for this and is there anything I can do?
Regards
Tet
PS I would post the EF output but all my image uploads hang at 90%
Now trying to effect date changes as the correct flights roll out has been extremely painful with BA's India-based change ticket team having to refer to the Pricing Team for any amendments and that process taking up to 72 hours
Currently I have 21 flight bookings in my 12 flight itinerary
This morning I rejoined ExpertFlyer and checked flight AA1080 from SJO-DFW on 16-Jan-27. The EF tool is showing 7 "D" seats available but when I finally got through 25 minutes of BA's "BlackAdder" hold music, they told me that there were no D class seats available
Is there any explanation for this and is there anything I can do?
Regards
Tet
PS I would post the EF output but all my image uploads hang at 90%
#4



Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 7,220
2. Do you have flights within 24 hours of the SJO-DFW flight? There may be Married Segment Control (MSC) issues, too.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,610
Why are you booking with BA?
Second, even if you can't get flights that far out, I'm 99% certain that you will be able to get what you want later on. Just book the routing you want and do a free** date change later on.
**AA doesn't charge for date changes as long as the routing is the same.
Second, even if you can't get flights that far out, I'm 99% certain that you will be able to get what you want later on. Just book the routing you want and do a free** date change later on.
**AA doesn't charge for date changes as long as the routing is the same.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,910
I finally managed to get my DONE RTW ticket priced and paid at BA (AA RTW desk said that they couldn't even look at a dates beyond 330 Days
Now trying to effect date changes as the correct flights roll out has been extremely painful with BA's India-based change ticket team having to refer to the Pricing Team for any amendments and that process taking up to 72 hours
Currently I have 21 flight bookings in my 12 flight itinerary
This morning I rejoined ExpertFlyer and checked flight AA1080 from SJO-DFW on 16-Jan-27. The EF tool is showing 7 "D" seats available but when I finally got through 25 minutes of BA's "BlackAdder" hold music, they told me that there were no D class seats available
Is there any explanation for this and is there anything I can do?
PS I would post the EF output but all my image uploads hang at 90%
Now trying to effect date changes as the correct flights roll out has been extremely painful with BA's India-based change ticket team having to refer to the Pricing Team for any amendments and that process taking up to 72 hours
Currently I have 21 flight bookings in my 12 flight itinerary
This morning I rejoined ExpertFlyer and checked flight AA1080 from SJO-DFW on 16-Jan-27. The EF tool is showing 7 "D" seats available but when I finally got through 25 minutes of BA's "BlackAdder" hold music, they told me that there were no D class seats available
Is there any explanation for this and is there anything I can do?
PS I would post the EF output but all my image uploads hang at 90%
AA & AS flights use SABRE reservation system, Limit is 330 days out.
Why are you booking with BA?
Second, even if you can't get flights that far out, I'm 99% certain that you will be able to get what you want later on. Just book the routing you want and do a free** date change later on.
**AA doesn't charge for date changes as long as the routing is the same.
Second, even if you can't get flights that far out, I'm 99% certain that you will be able to get what you want later on. Just book the routing you want and do a free** date change later on.
**AA doesn't charge for date changes as long as the routing is the same.
The other thread of Tetrarch ---> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onew...l#post37585703
Better if everything for the same trip in one thread.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Feb 22, 2026 at 5:22 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QRPC PLT/OW EMD; Bonvoy LT Titanium
Posts: 14,571
In addition to what others have posted upthread, 1) EF isn't always 100% accurate, and 2) airlines don't always make all seats available to all partners.
However, they'll most likely still send your changed itinerary to the rate desk to check for changes in fees/taxes since the original ticket issue.
However, they'll most likely still send your changed itinerary to the rate desk to check for changes in fees/taxes since the original ticket issue.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,610
Sometimes but not always. It really depends on the carrier. For example, I just changed an AA LAS-ORD to move one day earlier. No rate desk, agent said it was an even exchange.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QRPC PLT/OW EMD; Bonvoy LT Titanium
Posts: 14,571
#11
Original Poster




Join Date: Jan 2026
Posts: 17
Hi all,
Apologies for the double thread. I thought that my original thread was asked and answered so started anew. The required itinerary is listed below
From booking to halfway complete I have (so far) spent 9 hours and 20 minutes talking to BA...after falling flat with AA. I have paid a change fee under duress and with objections
Can someone confirm whether these are the latest rules from BA?
https://www.britishairways.com/cms/b...plorer3011.pdf
From this old thread:
BA RTW change fee hell. What can I do?

Regards
Tet
Apologies for the double thread. I thought that my original thread was asked and answered so started anew. The required itinerary is listed below
From booking to halfway complete I have (so far) spent 9 hours and 20 minutes talking to BA...after falling flat with AA. I have paid a change fee under duress and with objections
Can someone confirm whether these are the latest rules from BA?
https://www.britishairways.com/cms/b...plorer3011.pdf
From this old thread:
BA RTW change fee hell. What can I do?

Regards
Tet
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,910
....
From booking to halfway complete I have (so far) spent 9 hours and 20 minutes talking to BA...after falling flat with AA. I have paid a change fee under duress and with objections
Can someone confirm whether these are the latest rules from BA?
https://www.britishairways.com/cms/b...plorer3011.pdf
.................
From booking to halfway complete I have (so far) spent 9 hours and 20 minutes talking to BA...after falling flat with AA. I have paid a change fee under duress and with objections
Can someone confirm whether these are the latest rules from BA?
https://www.britishairways.com/cms/b...plorer3011.pdf
.................
That retype by BA does not have a revision date. Nor can I determine a pdf file date,
It has a comment "Please note that this is a summary only. Please refer to the fare rules for full details."
New & old routes in the same print out would help to understand you asked for,
https://www.oneworld.com/round-the-world
FAQ rules
https://assets.ctfassets.net/m9ph4qv...5_DEC_2025.pdf
#13



Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 7,220
Can someone confirm whether these are the latest rules from BA?
https://www.britishairways.com/cms/b...plorer3011.pdf
https://www.britishairways.com/cms/b...plorer3011.pdf
That being said, "Changes to date/time - unlimited free of charge" remains more or less valid. Basically, the 125USD fee should only be charged if there's a re-routing.
#14
Original Poster




Join Date: Jan 2026
Posts: 17
Come today and an utterly different experience with BA.
Over the last few days ExpertFlyer and BA have been in lockstep and both showing (very little) availability, I assume awaiting the BA Business Class sale. There was a brief flash of D class availability yestarday, but I was a bit slow and it was gone by the time I'd checked the other flights in EF
Come today and an utterly different experience with BA. Absolutely seamless. Changed flights - one early phone call to make six changes, an email from the pricing team confirming zero charges within an hour (as opposed to 294 and four days)
One call back to confirm and run through the details and final ticketing through within four hours.
Regards
Tet
Over the last few days ExpertFlyer and BA have been in lockstep and both showing (very little) availability, I assume awaiting the BA Business Class sale. There was a brief flash of D class availability yestarday, but I was a bit slow and it was gone by the time I'd checked the other flights in EF
Come today and an utterly different experience with BA. Absolutely seamless. Changed flights - one early phone call to make six changes, an email from the pricing team confirming zero charges within an hour (as opposed to 294 and four days)
One call back to confirm and run through the details and final ticketing through within four hours.
Regards
Tet

