BA same day change – too good to last?

[The real Swiss Tony]

So I just used SDC again today. Bought a ticket for £80 and swapped for one of the last seats available on the plane which was selling for £425.

Appreciate it’s not a risk free game but am feeling far too much love towards BA for this so my assumption is that this – like my silver membership – cannot last…

[JDB]

I think SDC actually works quite well for BA and the passenger, so hopefully will remain. There was a brief analysis of it earlier this month by Oliver Ranson about SDC as part of a larger analysis of fares and probability models.

[AJA]

I also think it will remain. Remember while you got a relative bargain there are others who will have paid a higher price initially and potentially swapped for a cheaper fare earlier in the day. And I think the numbers of passengers actually doing SDC is relatively low – far more passengers just book and fly as scheduled.

[SamG]

IIRC @BA Flyer IHG Stayer can attest to it not always working out and ending up on a 7am flight home !

I’ve used it a couple of times but only once to get a cheaper ticket (from Nice- similar savings to you, paid £70 and flew home on a flight that was selling for €600 when I booked). Usually it’s a work trip where I’ve finished up early and pricing was probably similar at the time of booking

[Ihar]

I didn’t think it was guaranteed even if there are seats?? I imagine BA decide whether to allow it, based on loadings and probabilities of selling free seats. And you might not have the cheapest seat anyway so even if they needed the seat the might bump someone else.

If implemented correctly, should be a win-win! Did is recently on a trip to AMS as my darling wife was enjoying lunch so much she wanted to stay for dessert and another drink! Who am I to deny her 🤣