-
Datapoint for anyone planning to exploit existing status whilst crediting elsewhere. I had a recent trip, booked conventionally on the BA website. I had reason to call BA about something else, so asked for
FQTV: Alaska Airlines
FQTS: BAto be set. A few hours later I checked on (I think) the RAM site and saw two frequent flyer numbers. I checked in, used the lounge, and waited to see what happened.
What happened, quel surprise, was my flight was credited to BA Club for a miserable return of Avios and new TPs, and nothing appeared in my Alaskan account.
Not going to complain about this, as the credit to Alaska would have been negligible too, but I will be not be bothering with the approach again. I will try and switch frequent flyer number entirely for long as I hold BA status, but only after seat selection and perhaps a lounge visit.
It really is pathetic isn’t it?
So far the only way I have found is to have your BA number removed entirely and for the transaction to be ended. Then add your frequent flyer number of choice via the BA web site. If you can’t it means the BA or another number is present.
@memesweeper – do you know whether BA put the two FF numbers in the correct respective fields? Which FF number appeared on your boarding card?
@memesweeper – do you know whether BA put the two FF numbers in the correct respective fields? Which FF number appeared on your boarding card?
the boarding pass showed BA, which (and I might be wrong) was what I was expecting
@memesweeper – do you know whether BA put the two FF numbers in the correct respective fields? Which FF number appeared on your boarding card?
the boarding pass showed BA, which (and I might be wrong) was what I was expecting
That’s why your points/miles credited to BA as that’s the FQTV. I don’t know whether the two schemes were put in the wrong fields or whether at some stage BA has overridden or overwritten the AS number to the BA default of both fields being the same but the points/miles posted correctly.
… or whether at some stage BA has overridden or overwritten the AS number to the BA default of both fields being the same…
I think BA is doing this.
… or whether at some stage BA has overridden or overwritten the AS number to the BA default of both fields being the same…
I think BA is doing this.
Agreed, I really think BA want people to credit to their scheme even if it’s a bit naughty. I had a friend who booked an IB flight MAD-LON on ba.com (annoyingly he was logged in so filled in his BA info) when he went to IB to check in, he changed the frequent flyer no. to his IB account which is what showed on the boarding pass yet the avios/nTPs credited to his BA account despite changing it.
That’s why your points/miles credited to BA as that’s the FQTV.
as it happens, I can still call up the flight on Royal Air Maroc’s site and two FF numbers are showing, AS first and BA second. Perhaps, despite repeating myself several times and asking the agent to repeat back what he’d done, he did it the wrong way round. But if that was the case, why did I get Club check in and lounge access with a guest?
I think BA is doing this.
Probably not the case here… to quote Hanlon’s Razor Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by incompetence.
…
I think BA is doing this.
Probably not the case here… to quote Hanlon’s Razor Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by incompetence.
It’s happened to me twice.
They’re not that incompetent.…
I think BA is doing this.
Probably not the case here… to quote Hanlon’s Razor Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by incompetence.
It’s happened to me twice.
They’re not that incompetent.I think @jdb is correct, and what showed on my BP was the earning, not the status, frequent flyer number. Why I got status benefits I’ve no idea. With two FFNs still showing on the booking I can only assume they were the wrong way round.
If it’s happened to you, twice, then BA may well be deliberately frustrating efforts to credit elsewhere.
Why I got status benefits I’ve no idea.
Well, consider the situation where FQTS is oneworld sapphire and FQTV is emerald – should the passenger only be granted sapphire benefits?
Why I got status benefits I’ve no idea.
Well, consider the situation where FQTS is oneworld sapphire and FQTV is emerald – should the passenger only be granted sapphire benefits?
Why would anyone intentionally credit to a scheme with higher status than the one they are using for status benefits from (and not crediting to)? But, were someone so foolish, I would expect they get the lower status benefits.
Given I have no status in Alaskan I would expect — if that’s the status FFN — I should get no benefits.
Why would anyone intentionally credit to a scheme with higher status than the one they are using for status benefits from (and not crediting to)? But, were someone so foolish, I would expect they get the lower status benefits.
Probably by mistake. But OK, so if FQTS is empty, should you get no benefits even when FQTV has status?
Does an empty FQTS automatically get populated by whatever is input into FQTV?
Is it clear that BA have the functionality? If they do their staff are clueless to how it works. Their IT is a mess – major baggage outage just yesterday – so I think is questionable that they even have the functionality.
The only way I have gotten things to work is to have BA remove all FQT details and then update with new details via either BA.com or FJ
Is it clear that BA have the functionality? If they do their staff are clueless to how it works. Their IT is a mess – major baggage outage just yesterday – so I think is questionable that they even have the functionality.
The only way I have gotten things to work is to have BA remove all FQT details and then update with new details via either BA.com or FJ
Yes, it’s a basic Amadeus/BABS functionality that has been in place for tens of years.
Is it clear that BA have the functionality? If they do their staff are clueless to how it works. Their IT is a mess – major baggage outage just yesterday – so I think is questionable that they even have the functionality.
The only way I have gotten things to work is to have BA remove all FQT details and then update with new details via either BA.com or FJ
The baggge issues yesterday weren’t of BAs own making. It was caused by the two IT systems that reconciles bags and the one that sends baggage messsages between baggage systems aand airlines.
And many airlines were affected as the IT providers works for many airlines.
explanation here – https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-british-airways-club/2197520-22-jun-global-baggage-outage-affecting-ba-flights.html
…The baggge issues yesterday weren’t of BAs own making. It was caused by the two IT systems that reconciles bags and the one that sends baggage messsages between baggage systems aand airlines.
And many airlines were affected as the IT providers works for many airlines.
explanation here – https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-british-airways-club/2197520-22-jun-global-baggage-outage-affecting-ba-flights.html
Sounds like a HAL lack of investment in baggage systems problem, nothing new in this.
@Richie – not sure why you are blaming HAL as it was a global problem following a SITA messaging failure. The specific system that failed as a result is one used by BA and the major US airlines. Absolutely nothing to do with HAL.
I’m not sure where you come up with the lack of investment narrative either. HAL wasn’t allowed by the regulator to build a new baggage system inside T2 so is obliged to use the antiquated one in T1 so now have to pay much more to retrofit one which will have the very latest Beumer technology as featured on HfP when they won the tender. A BRF is also being built as part of the project.
It’s worth noting also that under the current regulatory model it suits HAL to invest as much as they possibly can; it’s the airlines and regular who stop them. Are you aware how much ongoing investment there is in the current regulatory settlement? It’s quite a big issue that together with the projects to close T3 and demolish T1 plus the expansions of T2 and T5 plus a third runway might add up to £60-70bn. That’s a lot to fund!
This morning I attempted to make a new booking on BA NOT logged into my BA account purposely to put my AY account into the booking. After eight attempts, I gave up. While Finnair plus is on the dropdown menu, all efforts to put the number in were met with an error message. I believe this is quite deliberate by BA.
This morning I attempted to make a new booking on BA NOT logged into my BA account purposely to put my AY account into the booking. After eight attempts, I gave up. While Finnair plus is on the dropdown menu, all efforts to put the number in were met with an error message. I believe this is quite deliberate by BA.
Call up and ask. Then use Royal Air Maroc’s site to check it has been done.
Thanks for the further information @JDB
This morning I attempted to make a new booking on BA NOT logged into my BA account purposely to put my AY account into the booking. After eight attempts, I gave up. While Finnair plus is on the dropdown menu, all efforts to put the number in were met with an error message. I believe this is quite deliberate by BA.
I had this this every time I booked too. Now I book while logged in, however I untick the include FF number box so my BA number is not involved and complete the booking, then go straight to MMB and it add my RJ number no problem.
Typical BA IT failure, same number won’t add on one page but does on another. Millions spent well on their IT ‘revamp’.
New website still doesn’t allow me to select my saved card details so still having to enter every time I book. Whoever is accountable for their IT should have been shown the gang plank long ago.
Is it clear that BA have the functionality? If they do their staff are clueless to how it works. Their IT is a mess – major baggage outage just yesterday – so I think is questionable that they even have the functionality.
The only way I have gotten things to work is to have BA remove all FQT details and then update with new details via either BA.com or FJ
Yes, it’s a basic Amadeus/BABS functionality that has been in place for tens of years.
I am aware that the functionality exists indeed there are multiple other FQT.. codes for a myriad of other operations but not every airlines buys the functionality from Amadeus. The issue is has BA bought this and do the staff know about it. Have they been trained and what evidence exists that anyone has been able to use it correctly on a bA flight with credit to another carrier. I certainly have not on 8 sectors in 8 weeks. The staff in lounges, first wing and on the phones are clueless about this and as further evidence of this I copy the following from BA customer relations.
My first flights of the new era credited to BA despite the AY+ numbers being on the boarding passes. The reply from BA when they reversed the credit was to blame me for having the temerity to want to credit to anyone else.It went on to sa I had to ensure that there was simply one number in the booking.
I pushed back on the pointing outthat FQTS ad FQTV are used by airline sand asked specifically when BA would introduce this functionality, stating that as a silver card holder I wished to avail myself of my earned benefits but to credit to AY. This was BAs reply
+++
Thank you for getting back in contact with me about your status benefits. I hope you are well.
I’ve checked your account and can see that you currently hold Silver until 31 May 2026.
As a Silver member, you’ll collect eight Avios per qualifying pound (GBP) spent whenever you fly with British Airways or American Airlines, and seven Avios per qualifying euro (EUR) with Iberia. On other oneworld® airlines it depends on how far you fly, your choice of cabin and which airline you fly with.
You’ll now earn 1 tier point per pound (GBP) when you fly with us, book a British Airways Holidays package (where available), or for extras such as booking additional baggage. Plus, when you book flights and holidays with us until the end of 2025, you can now earn up to 550 bonus tier points on every flight.
To find out more about your Silver benefits, please use the following link:
https://www.britishairways.com/content/the-british-airways-club/about-the-club/tiers-and-benefits/silver-benefitsI hope this information is helpful and thank you for getting in touch.++
To put it mildly this is the single worst reply I have ever had from BA in over 20 years. It singularly failed to address the issue of FQTV etc and was a simple cut and paste on how the new club works. Questions I never asked.
They are a waste of space! The staff have no clue, they have even less interesta and this is across the organisation..
I have a fairly good understanding of Amadeus products and yes the ability to use these codes exists but there is no evidence BA bought them, uses them, or even wishes to
Have seen in a few places now that the best thing is to keep the Frequent Flyer number blank on the ticket, show what you have to for lounge whilst stating you are crediing to otheflr program and retro claim.
Pattern of BA behaviour seems to be deliberately not to train staff and we’ve seen this before on EC /UK 261 when BA staff members have made incorrect statements about passengers’ rights and / or faoled to complete the legal obligation in 261, to inform passengers of those rights.
If BA wishes to destroy its prpgram for most people then it’s really dog in the manger behaviour to block the exit doors for those loyalty members BA has tossed out.
@Paul – it’s a core Amadeus functionality, not any sort of paid add on. BA training time these days is about a quarter of that in the olden days as I experienced and competence isn’t properly tested. Not proper classroom teaching by people who really knew and enjoyed the system, but screen based then, like the bin men, you pick it up as you go along. Also, BA along with most call centre employers pays badly and offers pretty cr@p working conditions as well and WFH is a fiasco for this sort of business. The multi airline FF functionalities are such a minor thing, affecting so few passengers, there are far more basic things people report here daily that the staff need to learn.
It also shouldn’t be quite such a drama when a self help is still available to sort this out!
Your suggestion that the response from BA is the worst you have received in 20 years either means you haven’t communicated much with them or you don’t recognise that it’s a totally standard style of response from any large organisation that either can’t or doesn’t want to address a point you made. The CR agent probably had no idea what you were talking about and I’m not sure I would expect them to.
I don’t really buy the deliberateness conspiracy theory either, it’s more likely incompetence and some default that’s never previously been an issue. I doubt BA cares a hoot and it’s really too unimportant to trouble anyone.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
