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Forums Frequent flyer programs British Airways Executive Club Aircraft changed on a 241 redemption – advice sought

  • mrsam 6 posts

    Hi all,

    I’m looking for help with a slightly irritating situation. I recently booked a 241 redemption for my family to fly LHR -> SFO in Club in May ;24. At the time of booking, I checked the plane and seat configuration to confirm we were flying a 777 with Club Suite. Since booking, BA have changed the aircraft so the other departure that day uses the 777 and we are on an A380 with the old Club World seating. I’d like to rearrange the booking to get Club Suite, but I can’t see any alternative availability around the same time, probably because I don’t have a 241 in my account anymore.

    What would you recommend as the best course of action? I’m guessing it’s too optimistic to wait and hope the aircraft switches back so I imagine the best thing to do is call Customer Services to see if they can see any other availability. Have people had success with this in the past?

    Thanks!

    NorthernLass 9,476 posts

    You have no protection against equipment changes so your only option is to cancel your flights and rebook, if there is another service with CS (though this could also change, I always look at CS as a bonus if it happens!)

    Another option is to select seats on the upper deck which I think would be quite exciting unless you’ve done it before. This has happened to us on our DXB flight in December but thanks to being Silver I could book any CW seats for free and am quite looking forward to sitting “upstairs”!

    If you give exact dates, I or another reader with an unused 241 for could check “extra” availability when we have a minute!

    executiveclubber 490 posts

    Another option is to select seats on the upper deck which I think would be quite exciting unless you’ve done it before. This has happened to us on our DXB flight in December but thanks to being Silver I could book any CW seats for free and am quite looking forward to sitting “upstairs”!

    I’m all for optimism but I think old CW compared to Club Suites might as well be a different airline for the difference in quality and style. Such a shame their old A380s aren’t a patch on Emirates (and even they’re pretty dated).

    BA Flyer IHG Stayer 2,770 posts

    Very few airlines offer a free change if they change the plane type.

    If you want to change to the other flight then (a) there needs to be avios availability and (b) you’ll have to pay the change fee and if applicable any difference in the cash element.

    And you’re still relying on them not changing the plane type again.

    mrsam 6 posts

    Thanks for the advice. I did think it could be fun for us to be upstairs on the A380, but all in all, I would much prefer to have the Club Suite if possible. My instinct is the best option is to see if it’s possible to change flight to one with a Club Suite and pay the change fee (I used the long-haul RFS for the cash portion so hope there wouldn’t be more cash to pay). As you observe, it wouldn’t protect us if BA changes the aircraft again, but at least our chances of going CS are better as of right now.

    If you give exact dates, I or another reader with an unused 241 for could check “extra” availability when we have a minute!

    This is a really kind offer, NorthernLass – thank you! If you do have a moment, we are somewhat flexible but were looking to go out in the first week of May and come back two weeks later around the 19th or 20th.

    Thanks for all the insight so far.

    executiveclubber 490 posts

    Just had a look for you.

    I see there’s business availability with an Amex 241 on 1st May on a 777, BA0287.
    And 6 seats on the way back on 19th May on a 777, BA0286.

    In fact there’s also availability on a 777 the day after the above, for both your outbound and your return. Good luck!

    AJA 1,325 posts

    Personally I’d do nothing for the time being. You are not guaranteed any.particular aircraft when you book. May 2024 is a long time away and there may be further changes between now and then so your flight may switch again to a CS equipped aircraft

    mrsam 6 posts

    Thanks, executiveclubber! I really appreciate the search. Looks like there’s currently plenty of availability.

    Personally I’d do nothing for the time being. You are not guaranteed any.particular aircraft when you book. May 2024 is a long time away and there may be further changes between now and then so your flight may switch again to a CS equipped aircraft

    This has definitely occurred to me too. But presumably the longer one leaves it the less availability there is on other flights. Is there a sweet spot at which point it’s safest to make the switch, knowing the aircraft is unlikely to change again?

    AJA 1,325 posts

    I don’t know if there is a sweet spot. BA can change aircraft even on the day.

    The other issue as you rightly mention is the possibility that reward availability might reduce though the destination and the number of daily flights is more likely to determine Avios availability.

    As I said I would do nothing but YMMV. I am not saying you mustn’t cancel and rebook but I also point out that BA might swap the plane on the new flight you choose as well.

    zapato1060 795 posts

    Im due to fly my first ever CW with BA LHR to Shanghai. Is the CW that bad that I should be worried?

    JDB 5,659 posts

    Im due to fly my first ever WC with BA LHR to Shanghai. Is the WC that bad that I should be worried?

    It is what it is! We are flying back from Shanghai in a few weeks – it’s now three hours longer than it used to be at 14h25, and it is a daytime flight, but still rather dreading it. On the outbound, as it’s overnight, for me, the issue of CW (beyond second rate food/service) is being in the aisle seat which is very exposed so you get knocked by BA staff who clomp up and down all night and knock the seat in addition to any passengers. The flights to Beijing are 777 with CS.

    AJA 1,325 posts

    @zapato1060 No BA CW is not bad although it is definitely an old design and the aisle seats are not private.

    I actually quite like the fact that your feet don’t go into a coffin. I always manage to get a decent sleep on those seats and I like eating facing my OH. If travelling solo just raise the privacy divider.

    The biggest issue is climbing over other passengers if you need to get up and move around if you dont have an aisle seat. But the window seats are much more private especially with the privacy divider raised. The other minor complaint can be the IFE screen is not the biggest.

    tiriavpo 331 posts

    Im due to fly my first ever CW with BA LHR to Shanghai. Is the CW that bad that I should be worried?

    Not at all – although I think you mean CW rather than WC – which wouldn’t be so nice!

    OP – You don’t say what ‘family’ but in CW you could get 4 seats together in the middle downstairs, which could be good with kids, or go for the front cabin upstairs which feels more cosy. All of the window seats upstairs have lots of extra storage.

    There are pros and cons to both seats but the overall experience will be much more down to the crew on the day than the cabin itself.

    JDB 5,659 posts

    Im due to fly my first ever CW with BA LHR to Shanghai. Is the CW that bad that I should be worried?

    Not at all – although I think you mean CW rather than WC – which wouldn’t be so nice!

    OP – You don’t say what ‘family’ but in CW you could get 4 seats together in the middle downstairs, which could be good with kids, or go for the front cabin upstairs which feels more cosy. All of the window seats upstairs have lots of extra storage.

    There are pros and cons to both seats but the overall experience will be much more down to the crew on the day than the cabin itself.


    @tiriavpo
    – downstairs = with the suitcases. It’s a 787-9 with a First cabin for the use of BA staff. There’s a two row CW cabin behind F and then a four row one the other side of the galley.

    mrsam 6 posts

    OP – You don’t say what ‘family’ but in CW you could get 4 seats together in the middle downstairs, which could be good with kids, or go for the front cabin upstairs which feels more cosy. All of the window seats upstairs have lots of extra storage.

    It’ll be me, my wife, and our then 20-month-old daughter, who’ll be travelling on her mum’s lap. I would really like to try the CS seat, but I have also read that maybe we are better off with two window seats together in the old CW. It’s our first time trying business so will probably base the decision on other people’s reports.

    dougzz99 642 posts

    CW vs CS has been done to death. What I’d offer is that whilst CS is a modern design, with a sense of privacy, the actual seat/padding is nicer in CW in my opinion, and no foot coffin. There’s the step-over issue, either stepping over or being stepped over. For me a rear facing seat with the slight incline of the plane provides a really nice sleeping position.

    As a couple with a small child you may find CW more suitable than CS, simply because there are genuine pairs of seats which CS doesn’t have. On the A380 15E/F are a pair with direct aisle access either side as a result of the bulkhead. They’re the bassinet seats which you may get with a baby.

    Lastly I’d offer that BA business may not compare to Asian/ME airlines, but it’s night and day different to economy and economy plus services. You’ll have real space and the food/drink is fine in aircraft terms.

    NorthernLass 9,476 posts

    I’d definitely go for middle pair in CW with a toddler, you can spread out more and it’ll be easier to pass the little one over and give her more floor space (there isn’t much in CS, it’s really not designed for sharing!) With the dividers up on each side, it’ll be like a private booth for the 3 of you.

    Joecooljoe 49 posts

    Totally agree with northernlass – with a lap inf old cw might be better – take two middle seats and there’s a floor area for the toddler as well as easy to transfer between you two

    mrsam 6 posts

    Thanks all for the advice. I’ve reserved seats 14 E and F, which are the rear bulkhead seats with the bassinet. Sounds perfect for us. If the aircraft changes back to one with CS I’ll be pleased to try out the product, but am actually very happy with this CW set up for our family.

    R 61 posts

    As it gets closer in time it’s less likely it’ll switch again because it’s easier to upgrade capacity than downgrade. I actually think CW is more comfortable, especially for sleeping.

    If you’re with a toddler, you may want to consider the seats upstairs towards the front of CW. That way you can let the toddler run around in the huge empty space at the bottom of the stairs for a bit.

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