lowe4 upgrade to BA WT+ difficulties
Sep 9, 2004 | 8:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF WP(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,857
lowe4 upgrade to BA WT+ difficulties
My wife and I have LOWE4 reservations early November including a segment BKK-->LHR. I'm OW ruby (with QF). I have been discussing upgrading to WT+ but have been waitlisted on BA10. It seems there are a reasonable number of seats available SYD->LHR according to a friendly website but nothing joining at BKK. 
Alas xOWEx tickets in Australia need to be purchased well ahead of time. And while the seat may well become available in the end, if confirmed after my ticket has been issued it will require a ticket re-issue charge, adding about 15% ($AU75 @) to the cost of the upgrade.
Any similar experience from other OW flyers?
If so, the outcome?
Alas xOWEx tickets in Australia need to be purchased well ahead of time. And while the seat may well become available in the end, if confirmed after my ticket has been issued it will require a ticket re-issue charge, adding about 15% ($AU75 @) to the cost of the upgrade.
Any similar experience from other OW flyers?
If so, the outcome?
Sep 9, 2004 | 9:37 pm
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,593
BA used to offer an "upgrade on board" capability, whereby you pay the purser after you board with a WT boarding pass (and a WT seat assigned). But this may be considerably more expensive than the OWE WT+ upgrade fee which is a relative bargain as well as being unlikely to be available on this route as the WT+ seats often go before the flight. There is zero chance of WT+ seats for upgrade being released before the week of your flight; if you had a bit more status (2 levels more) you could ask for yield management to release a seat (some travel agents also have enough clout with BA to do this, if they have a lot of high-yield business).
Sep 10, 2004 | 12:57 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF WP(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,857
Thanks for the information. I have resigned myself to checking with BA
in BKK or HKG as to whether the seats are available.
AFAIK the onboard upgrade is theoretically still available.
But you only collect the mileage and status points from the WT boarding pass
And the differences would push my wife to the QF silver level for the year.
And it is her arthritis that instigated the potential spending of the money
for a bit of comfort on what will be the second longest leg of the trip
I did note that BA does not code share the WT+ seats with QF
in BKK or HKG as to whether the seats are available.
AFAIK the onboard upgrade is theoretically still available.
But you only collect the mileage and status points from the WT boarding pass
And the differences would push my wife to the QF silver level for the year.
And it is her arthritis that instigated the potential spending of the money
for a bit of comfort on what will be the second longest leg of the trip
I did note that BA does not code share the WT+ seats with QF
Sep 10, 2004 | 1:37 am
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 46,128
"Alas xOWEx tickets in Australia need to be purchased well ahead of time. "
I wasn't aware that it needed to be ticketed that far in advance ex AU; I thought it was around 14days before departure. See how long you can keep holding the reservations for would be my suggestion
You say that you have used a website to check; I would suggest giving BA a call since I have found that there can well be discrepancies
Dave
I wasn't aware that it needed to be ticketed that far in advance ex AU; I thought it was around 14days before departure. See how long you can keep holding the reservations for would be my suggestion
You say that you have used a website to check; I would suggest giving BA a call since I have found that there can well be discrepancies
Dave
Sep 20, 2004 | 3:03 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF WP(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,857
Originally Posted by number_6
There is zero chance of WT+ seats for upgrade being released before the week of your flight; if you had a bit more status (2 levels more) you could ask for yield management to release a seat (some travel agents also have enough clout with BA to do this, if they have a lot of high-yield business).
The reservations for my wife and I were split when she decided to stay on in the USA for another week. I was almost immediately was confirmed in WT+. Wife is still waitlisted.
As it is actually Mrs WF's FF account (and arthritis) that need the WT+ seat and points, perhaps some FF number changing on the boarding passes at checkin may be in order (if the one missing seat never appears - SYD-->LHR still shows T and W seats available)
How agreeable can expect checkin to be in BKK if I need to swap FF numbers.
WF
Sep 20, 2004 | 4:21 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SCL, MCT, LGW and a variety of 1W lounges in between.
Programs: BA Mucci (Seigneur et Ingenieur des Appareils Volants (Gold)), QF (WP and LTG), AA EXP, GF Gold
Posts: 3,931
Booking the LONE arranger
Hi,
What you could try to do is to book the LONEx with the WTP sector in it and hand over the cash, with the entitlement entered into the booking but confirmed in L with waitlist T. I cannot see why this would not be allowed and would not require ticket re-issue. It is not your first international sector so it does not need to be confirmed, even if it was, you could still do the confirmed L and waitlist T option.
Try it, I would like to know if I am barking up the wrong tree
What you could try to do is to book the LONEx with the WTP sector in it and hand over the cash, with the entitlement entered into the booking but confirmed in L with waitlist T. I cannot see why this would not be allowed and would not require ticket re-issue. It is not your first international sector so it does not need to be confirmed, even if it was, you could still do the confirmed L and waitlist T option.
Try it, I would like to know if I am barking up the wrong tree
Sep 20, 2004 | 4:45 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CX Gold MPO
Posts: 1,677
Originally Posted by spotwelder
Hi,
What you could try to do is to book the LONEx with the WTP sector in it and hand over the cash, with the entitlement entered into the booking but confirmed in L with waitlist T. I cannot see why this would not be allowed and would not require ticket re-issue. It is not your first international sector so it does not need to be confirmed, even if it was, you could still do the confirmed L and waitlist T option.
Try it, I would like to know if I am barking up the wrong tree
What you could try to do is to book the LONEx with the WTP sector in it and hand over the cash, with the entitlement entered into the booking but confirmed in L with waitlist T. I cannot see why this would not be allowed and would not require ticket re-issue. It is not your first international sector so it does not need to be confirmed, even if it was, you could still do the confirmed L and waitlist T option.
Try it, I would like to know if I am barking up the wrong tree
Actually what you should do is just find another date (hopefully just +/- 1-3 days from your actual travel date). Then Issue the ticket. Then immediately changed the date back to the original date (if T is still U/A book in L and WL in T). If they have seats available and given you are Ruby Oneworld, i am sure they will confirm it.
That way you don't have to miss out and pay the reissue fee. (despite there is still a chance you will loose out of the WT+, but I think it is worth the gamble.