Matrix ITA / BA fare disconnect

[Gammel]

I find very good fares on MatrixITA but when I try to find them on BA.com I hit a brick wall. This is particularly true of multi-city itineraries. I know Matrix says to just present all the fare construction details to a travel agent.

1. How realistic is this?
2. What are the pitfalls?
3. I don’t see an option on Matrix for buying flexible tickets.
Can I assume the travel agent would manage that?

4. A corollary question to #3: In the past I’ve often booked a flt/hotel
‘holiday’ to avoid having to pay for the whole booking until a month before.
The trip I’m working on now is to Cairo but either BA’s vaunted IT has a bug
or they have no deals with any hotels in Cairo. I rather suspect the
latter.

Thanks!

[Jacob]

I can only comment on #4 – if the only reason to be booking a hotel is to make it “holiday”, remember that it doesn’t have to be at your destination or between your flights. You can book a night anywhere and anytime.

[memesweeper]

Gammel wrote:

I don’t see an option on Matrix for buying flexible tickets.

You can search for flexible fare class(es). For flex business, on BA, this is J. You’ll need to use the advanced codes.

I took a Matrix construction to an agent once, and they booked it. Clearly this is no guarantee, but just because the website can’t do not assume an agent can’t.

To avoid fully flex pricing look for “select” and “select plus” fares, which are available through travel agents — not ba.com — and are refundable. Useful if booking outside the BWC window, or if you just want to avoid being stuck with another voucher.

[Gammel]

If they don’t show any hotels available how can I book a ‘holiday’?

I talked to my local travel agent and she said no probs.
Need to ask her about booking the hotel.

[The Original Nick]

Call Amex Travel with all the details.

[e14]

Are you sure they are available on BA is the fare basis something like the following

Fare 1: Carrier BA INX1C8S4 BUD to LIH (rules)
Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code I
Covers BUD-HEL (Business), HEL-LAX (Business), LAX-LIH (Business)
£463.61
Fare 2: Carrier AA INX1C8S4 LIH to BUD (rules)
Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code I, J
Covers LIH-LAX (First), LAX-LHR (Business), LHR-BUD (Business)
£452.90
United States Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee (AY)
£8.80
United States APHIS Passenger Fee Passengers (XA)
£3.10
United States Customs User Fee (YC)
£4.80
Finland Air Transport Supervision Charge (XU)
£0.80
Finland Passenger Fee International Transfer (WL)
£4.20
United States Immigration User Fee (XY)
£5.50
US International Arrival Tax (US)
£31.20
Hungary Airport Departure Tax (HU)
£23.80
Hungary Security Charge (FE)
£4.30
Carrier-imposed surcharge (YQ)
£141.30
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge Departures (UB)
£16.85
Carrier-imposed surcharge (YR)
£141.30
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF)
£3.60
Subtotal per passenger
£1,306.55
Number of passengers
x1
Subtotal For 1 adult
£1,306.55
This ticket is non-refundable.

This might just book on BA, but then the first two lines would be carrier BA

Either paste the fare up so we can have a look or get Rob or Rhys to give you my contact email

Cheers
e14