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  • JonnyFlyer 4 posts

    I’ve booked a BA Business Class Reward flight from Inverness to Heathrow and a JAL First Class Reward flight from Heathrow to Tokyo on the same day with Avios and cash but on two seperate bookings. Is there a way of combining the two flights before I check in so that my luggage will go straight through to Tokyo and more importantly if the Inverness to Heathrow leg of my trip is delayed I will be put on the next available Heathrow to Tokyo flight? I’m feeling a little nervous about the current situation as twice in the last year my flight to London from Inverness has been delayed. I’m even considering booking a flight to London the night before the Tokyo flight for some added insurance. Especially if there is no guarantee I’d be put on a later Tokyo flight if the Inverness one is delayed.

    SJ 55 posts

    The two bookings cannot be linked onto one PNR and BA will not check the luggage through. Neither airline will owe you any protection if you miss the LHR-HND flight.

    This means that you will need to collect baggage at T5 and transfer over to T3 to check in for the JAL flight. How much time do you have between flights?

    I would be inclined to head down to London the night before.

    JDB 6,252 posts

    @JonnyFlyer – JAL may put you on another flight as a matter of goodwill but has no obligation to do so and may not necessarily keep you in first class on rebooking. JAL also won’t do anything automatically if you miss the flight – you will need to contact BA or them. I’m not sure when your flights are, but in the current very unsettled weather which is causing many cancellations and delays, it’s quite high risk.

    Ihar 485 posts

    I would guess your travel insurance won’t help you either in such an event. Book a flight/hotel the night before – you can relax a bit more in the lounge before your flight! Missing your flight could be a costly option.

    NorthernLass 10,516 posts

    Always go to LHR the night before, get a good night’s sleep and make the most of the lounge and first class service the next day! LHR hotels are quite reasonable.

    You should be able to cancel your domestic flight for 50p at the moment.

    Ihar 485 posts

    You should be able to cancel your domestic flight for 50p at the moment.

    You do know the OP is from Inverness?? 50p – why not just grab the shirt from my back 😂 (My wife is from Yorkshire so the northern jokes are a’plenty). But absolutely be relaxed and enjoy a wonderful trip.

    NorthernLass 10,516 posts

    Lol, I’m not NorthernLass for nothing! My OH was born over the border in Yorkshire and is currently in therapy over our impending vet’s bill …

    JonnyFlyer 4 posts

    Thanks for everybody’s advice, I’ve listened to
    You all and booked a flight for the day before and a night in the T4 Premier Inn which I always use and is amazing value at around £50 a night.

    drdan 134 posts

    Spot on with the premier inn!!

    My choice very time..

    drdan 134 posts

    And eat at the crowne plaza restaurant..about 5mins before you get to the P I along the walkway from T4

    Matt 458 posts

    You booked the JL on avios through BA? You could have booked the INV-LHR on the same booking when you made it or you could, for a £35 change fee add it to your JL booking (if the INV-LHR flight was available to book on Avios). If it’s on the same booking then your luggage would be checked through and your connection protected.

    Going the day before is safer than a same day self transfer, but much less safe than a connection.

    NorthernLass 10,516 posts

    I never thought of that, but I guess if you can do it on IB, you can do it on JAL!

    JDB 6,252 posts

    You booked the JL on avios through BA? You could have booked the INV-LHR on the same booking when you made it or you could, for a £35 change fee add it to your JL booking (if the INV-LHR flight was available to book on Avios). If it’s on the same booking then your luggage would be checked through and your connection protected.

    Going the day before is safer than a same day self transfer, but much less safe than a connection.

    Yes, I wondered why they were on separate tickets. One ticket should also save the APD.

    JonnyFlyer 4 posts

    You booked the JL on avios through BA? You could have booked the INV-LHR on the same booking when you made it or you could, for a £35 change fee add it to your JL booking (if the INV-LHR flight was available to book on Avios). If it’s on the same booking then your luggage would be checked through and your connection protected.

    Going the day before is safer than a same day self transfer, but much less safe than a connection.

    Thanks Matt
    The Tokyo leg is first class and BA only offers Economy or Business class to Heathrow so I think this is why I couldn’t book the two flights under the same booking? I’ll try phoning BA and see if they’ll do what you suggested and combine the two bookings. Although my experience of phoning BA has not been great in the past.

    JDB 6,252 posts

    @JonnyFlyer – BA won’t be able to combine the bookings which isn’t them being difficult, just how international airline booking systems work. BA can however, subject to Avios availability, add the INV-LHR sector to your JAL flight booking in either club or economy – the mix with JAL F doesn’t matter. In theory, by doing this you should save c.£200 APD because INV is exempt as long as your London transit is under 24 hours.

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