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Currently sat at home waiting for a call from the vet, and over on another thread JNB availability is being discussed. As a distraction I had a look on SeatSpy, and noticed quite a lot of F seats on the return sector in September.
Knowing how SeatSpy can be (i.e. wrong), I checked a couple of random dates in September on ba.com and those seats are there, peeps. 85k avios plus £293. 3/4 seats on some flights.
Make me happy, HFP friends, and get booking!
Make me happy, HFP friends, and get booking!
You sound like you’re on commission 😀
Just happy to pay it forward … (except when the same question’s been asked every day for a week. That just makes me cranky 😂)
Currently sat at home waiting for a call from the vet, and over on another thread JNB availability is being discussed. As a distraction I had a look on SeatSpy, and noticed quite a lot of F seats on the return sector in September.
Knowing how SeatSpy can be (i.e. wrong), I checked a couple of random dates in September on ba.com and those seats are there, peeps. 85k avios plus £293. 3/4 seats on some flights.
Make me happy, HFP friends, and get booking!
This is what I saw last year, F comes free alot (although it isn’t great on that A380, it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Was worth cancelling my BA J CPT to LHR and rebooking as F JNB-LHR for the few extra Avios and less cash.
Ok, help me out here! We have 2-4-1 business class seats for our return from Joburg in September. There is one first available on the same day/flight, but two firsts are available the following day (and I would absolutely consider staying an extra day to swap). First weirdly seems to cost fewer Avios (85,000) than business (90,000)… am I reading that right?
Could I cancel our business flights, book the firsts, wait for our 2-4-1 voucher to reappear and then get it applied retrospectively? I’m tempted!
Ah, scrap that. The seats have gone whilst I’ve been browsing … will keep an eye out, though.
Ok, help me out here! We have 2-4-1 business class seats for our return from Joburg in September. There is one first available on the same day/flight, but two firsts are available the following day (and I would absolutely consider staying an extra day to swap). First weirdly seems to cost fewer Avios (85,000) than business (90,000)… am I reading that right?
Could I cancel our business flights, book the firsts, wait for our 2-4-1 voucher to reappear and then get it applied retrospectively? I’m tempted!
While it is essentially a cancel and rebook, don’t cancel and wait for the voucher. Call BA and they should do it all on the same call, so no risk of losing out on the First seats and potentially the business seats, if they don’t reappear.
Just be aware that if you have CW and F on the same booking, BA may “recalculate” the surcharges so you end up paying more cash. But yes, in the absence of RFS in F (for now), avios pricing is lower than CW, and (quick explanation) taxes are dependant on the departure country.
Ok, help me out here! We have 2-4-1 business class seats for our return from Joburg in September. There is one first available on the same day/flight, but two firsts are available the following day (and I would absolutely consider staying an extra day to swap). First weirdly seems to cost fewer Avios (85,000) than business (90,000)… am I reading that right?
Yes you’re reading it correctly, it was exactly my experience but I had to stay an extra 3 days, no biggie 🙂
Call and ask. The agent did all mine over the phone in one hit, but I didn’t have a 2-4-1 in play.
Some also showing on December 20th and 24th now, not sure if they have just appeared or I missed them first time round!
We have secured first seats… Coming back a day early, but that’s very much worth it. Thanks very much for the tip, NorthernLass!
Yes, I’m going in F in October, as there was availability in F but not J for one of the dates I needed. That meant I couldn’t use a Barclays voucher, but I’m sure I can find another use for that.
Having secured our F tickets, I’m now idly wondering why BA would release so many on the JNB-LHR route, nine months ahead. There were no fewer than six available on one of the days I looked at – three for each of the two daily flights (these have now gone).
Is this to do with sales algorithms or is it something else?
Presumably to do with expected occupancy based on historical loadings, but all related the murky world of dynamic pricing and maximising revenue. Ultimately if, based on previous knowledge, they expect a significant number of seats to be empty, selling them for something is better than not selling them at all. If the customers think they are getting a good deal at the same time it’s a potential win win situation.
Either that or somebody just screwed up.
Low season due to spring weather, reduced demand in F due to less business travel, wrong time of year for wealthy leisure travellers, lots of people not wanting to fly the A380 due to unreliability of BA’s fleet. Better food and service via DOH, there’s dozens of factors that impact revenue management.
Also idly speculating – is the ultimate aspiration here for this flight to be cancelled and re-routing offered in QR F?!
Never flown F, much of the reviews online even from our trusted hfp blogger which I cant remember right now. Stating F wasnt worth it. Is there a gulf in difference?
Just about. Better service, much better F & B (especially compared with the pretty poor CW offering just now), free seat selection if you haven’t got status. F lounges (don’t know what the set up is at JNB). CCR if flying from T5, still a lovely experience though the spa treatments are much missed. Access to You First to deal with any issues.
Great redemption value if you can work it so you’re not paying BA’s surcharges ex-LHR – and this may well be what makes it worth it (as opposed to paying cash).
Never flown F, much of the reviews online even from our trusted hfp blogger which I cant remember right now. Stating F wasnt worth it. Is there a gulf in difference?
Simple answer, yes. There’s a huge gulf in every aspect, even vs Club Suite and old First cabins.
Just about. Better service, much better F & B (especially compared with the pretty poor CW offering just now), free seat selection if you haven’t got status. F lounges (don’t know what the set up is at JNB). CCR if flying from T5, still a lovely experience though the spa treatments are much missed. Access to You First to deal with any issues.
Great redemption value if you can work it so you’re not paying BA’s surcharges ex-LHR – and this may well be what makes it worth it (as opposed to paying cash).
JNB Also has a nice looking restaurant inside the lounge for those travelling in First… Though I have only been able to see that from the business class area 🙂
Just about. Better service, much better F & B (especially compared with the pretty poor CW offering just now), free seat selection if you haven’t got status. F lounges (don’t know what the set up is at JNB). CCR if flying from T5, still a lovely experience though the spa treatments are much missed. Access to You First to deal with any issues.
Great redemption value if you can work it so you’re not paying BA’s surcharges ex-LHR – and this may well be what makes it worth it (as opposed to paying cash).
JNB Also has a nice looking restaurant inside the lounge for those travelling in First… Though I have only been able to see that from the business class area 🙂
Indeed it’s a good menu and the staff are fantastic – the only issue is it has limited seating so if both F cabins are full and people from the later flight have checked in early, then you may have to wait in the Biz lounge for a table to clear. They still come out and take your food & drinks order from the First menu though.
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