LHR-HEL £280 BA code Finnair operated (Aug) Business rtn
Mar 6, 2022, 4:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: BAEC OW Gold/Emerald
Posts: 538
LHR-HEL £280 BA code Finnair operated (Aug) Business rtn
Just booked this fare through worldairfares.com for flights in August and ensuring I fly on Finnair's A350.
Finnair prices were £550 (no hold luggage), BA over £1K.
Booked yesterday, expecting to hear that fare is no longer available blah blah but sent an email asking if the booking request can be honoured and within 60 minutes received BA booking code- result.
Generally I don't do 3rd parties but thought this was a risk worth taking. Fare also being offered by Travelup a few pounds cheaper but I would only use them as a very last resort.
Finnair prices were £550 (no hold luggage), BA over £1K.
Booked yesterday, expecting to hear that fare is no longer available blah blah but sent an email asking if the booking request can be honoured and within 60 minutes received BA booking code- result.
Generally I don't do 3rd parties but thought this was a risk worth taking. Fare also being offered by Travelup a few pounds cheaper but I would only use them as a very last resort.
Mar 6, 2022, 10:31 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 641
Just looked randomly on the website of AY - AY1332 and AY1338 operated by A359 are widely available throughout August for GBP 280 in Business Light and GBP 335 in Business Classic, both book in Class I and will therefore earn 80 TP in BA EC. Thus no reason to book through OTA.
Mar 6, 2022, 10:53 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAGGL, A3G, Accor Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, LHW Sterling
Posts: 1,308
Just looked randomly on the website of AY - AY1332 and AY1338 operated by A359 are widely available throughout August for GBP 280 in Business Light and GBP 335 in Business Classic, both book in Class I and will therefore earn 80 TP in BA EC. Thus no reason to book through OTA.
Mar 6, 2022, 11:08 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,037
Not showing up on Google Flights nor ITA at that price...
It all depends on whether you trust that OTA...
Best way is to search times that the 330/350 operate and then select flights... Here is a nice weekend in August...
It all depends on whether you trust that OTA...
Best way is to search times that the 330/350 operate and then select flights... Here is a nice weekend in August...
Mar 6, 2022, 12:45 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: BAEC OW Gold/Emerald
Posts: 538
At the price paid, I thought it was worth a gamble using an OTA on this occasion.
Mar 6, 2022, 6:41 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
Haven't heard of that OTA but I've used Travelup and many others over the years and never had a problem. But I've never used them for anything other than straightforward flight only bookings and I've never had to change or cancel bookings through them. I understand that's where the problems start, so IMHO it's really a gamble whether either COVID or Putin will mess with the plans.
Apr 7, 2022, 3:44 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,627
I booked this over the weekend with Crystal for travel in July. It appears that I may have paid over the odds at £261. A350 both ways, but food reports are a cause for concern (no choice of mains). It appears that AY are changing shorthaul meal offerings in May, so hopefully there will be something reasonable by July.
Booking reference and eticket number received, both of which are recognised on the AY web site.
Booking reference and eticket number received, both of which are recognised on the AY web site.
Apr 11, 2022, 4:00 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Apr 11, 2022, 1:16 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Multiple locations
Programs: AAdvantage ExPlat LT Gold, BA Silver, Aegean Star Gold
Posts: 5,037
£247 for a weekend Aug 12-14
It seems that searching for the times that widebodies operate and play with the time-schedules is the best way to find it...
It seems that searching for the times that widebodies operate and play with the time-schedules is the best way to find it...