New Rules for BA Holidays/Double TPs – Read Before Booking!

[Skywalker]

Whatever BA’s reasons, to genuine customers not gaming the system, it will look like they’re penalising people for living somewhere where there aren’t direct flights to their chosen destination.

Nice(!)

[Skywalker]

I just re-read – Is it when people make multiple journeys to and from UK as part of a BA holiday – that’s the type of journey that won’t count?

And if that is the case – did that type of journey actually count to begin with??

😮

[NorthernLass]

I read it that trips which contain more than one departure from the UK won’t earn double TPs. Domestic flights don’t involve leaving the UK so presumably won’t fall foul of the rules. It’s not very well worded though, because if this is correct it means that (e.g.) LHR-EDI-LHR-AMS-LHR-EDI would earn double TPs, but LHR-AMS-LHR-BER-LHR-EDI wouldn’t, even though each trip consists of 6 sectors each earning 40 TPs normally. So in theory you could have a BA holiday which doesn’t leave the UK at all earning the double TPs, but one with a couple of hops to the continent doesn’t.
So I really don’t know how that squares with the “spirit” of the rules!

[Gavin454]

Skywalker wrote:

Whatever BA’s reasons, to genuine customers not gaming the system, it will look like they’re penalising people for living somewhere where there aren’t direct flights to their chosen destination.

Nice(!)

That’s not what they’re doing. Indirect connections still count. They’re just trying to prevent people booking multiple trips leaving the UK under the umbrella of one holiday booking (eg fly from the UK to Sofia, back to the UK, then to Athens, and back to the UK again, all under the same booking).

[freckles]

NorthernLass wrote:

I read it that trips which contain more than one departure from the UK won’t earn double TPs. Domestic flights don’t involve leaving the UK so presumably won’t fall foul of the rules. It’s not very well worded though, because if this is correct it means that (e.g.) LHR-EDI-LHR-AMS-LHR-EDI would earn double TPs, but LHR-AMS-LHR-BER-LHR-EDI wouldn’t, even though each trip consists of 6 sectors each earning 40 TPs normally. So in theory you could have a BA holiday which doesn’t leave the UK at all earning the double TPs, but one with a couple of hops to the continent doesn’t.
So I really don’t know how that squares with the “spirit” of the rules!

There is however this part of the T&C’s which infers the trip must leave the UK
e) The total trip length (time between first flight departing the UK and final flight returning to the UK) cannot exceed 30 days.
Also reference under part 4 about standard TP being awarded on return to UK.

Although nothing explicitly saying domestic trips including 5 days/nights hotel/car are excluded

[Skywalker]

Gavin454 wrote:

Skywalker wrote:

Whatever BA’s reasons, to genuine customers not gaming the system, it will look like they’re penalising people for living somewhere where there aren’t direct flights to their chosen destination.

Nice(!)

That’s not what they’re doing. Indirect connections still count. They’re just trying to prevent people booking multiple trips leaving the UK under the umbrella of one holiday booking (eg fly from the UK to Sofia, back to the UK, then to Athens, and back to the UK again, all under the same booking).

Gavin454 wrote:

I just re-read – Is it when people make multiple journeys to and from UK as part of a BA holiday – that’s the type of journey that won’t count?

And if that is the case – did that type of journey actually count to begin with??

😮

My response above (I think it’s misquoted as you due to some weird formatting)

^ I did re-read it, and your answer answers my question – thanks!

[Richie]

JDB wrote:

Richie wrote:

It’s a shame BA didn’t get the Ts & Cs right first time back when this promotion was launched. Gamers will always play a game if they can.

It really isn’t a matter of getting the terms right first time; the original terms were simple, very reasonable and I’m sure drafted in good faith. The provision of terms in this manner is good for most of us.

BA should not have to and, as a practical matter, cannot draft terms to cover every eventuality so they rely to an extent upon catch all terms. They have amended the published terms at least twice, more for clarity and the benefit of the ordinary passenger than the oiks who have decided to exploit what was already a generous offer. That’s greatly to the detriment of most of us. BA has clearly spotted what’s going on and hopefully these people will get their comeuppance and lots of attempted ill gotten points won’t be earned.

@JDB are you disappointed by the introduction of the 30 day limit for a holiday?

[ZoeB]

Hmm so does Jersey count as Uk? Did London – Jersey – London – Athens – London last time. Do we think this would still be compliant?

[NorthernLass]

Well JER flights are classed by BA (to all intents and purposes) as UK domestic, so I suspect it’ll be fine, even though the Channel Islands are not counted otherwise as part of the UK. So oiks and miscreants who do EDI-LHR-JER-LHR-GLA-LGW with 5 days’ car hire in there somewhere may still stand to gain double (ill-gotten!) TPs.

So, if this is correct, by BA’s reckoning, leaving the UK for the Channel Islands isn’t actually leaving the UK, but leaving the UK for other British territories like BDA, GCM, PLS, etc, is!

But I guess we won’t know for sure until someone tries it. As posted above, domestic holidays aren’t specifically excluded, but there is a reference to leaving and returning to the UK, so who knows?!

[JDB]

@JDB are you disappointed by the introduction of the 30 day limit for a holiday?[/quote]

@Richie, yes, I’m very disappointed for the people who genuinely book 30+ day holidays who are quite numerous in the winter months. It’s quite unfortunate that they have been caught up in this rule to curb some of the more ridiculous artificial constructs. I’m sure you wouldn’t but, whatever you do, in planning any BAH itinerary, don’t follow the advice of our resident gamekeeper turned poacher who is utterly clueless.

[WaynedP]

If BA’s IT were up to the job, they could easily prevent customer abuse by limiting double TP points to the two longest legs of any multi-leg itinerary only.

That would still be a generous TP bonus to anyone who genuinely needs to fly to their overseas destination from the regions via London.

[Lady London]

It’s inconvenient for me because I do really need more than 30 days away for perfectly good reasons. In fact I doubt I will bother now. Easy enough to book my flights car and any hotel separately. As being a single traveller BA’s holiday offering wasn’t any cheaper, would have been slightly more convenient and the tier points would have meant I’d have booked more trips.

But if I can’t stay away long enough where I’m going then there is no point.

I also think BA will struggle to refuse to honour the deal for multicentre holidays. There’s one obvious reason why but I’m not going to put it here. Just think about it and you will see where their refusal would come unstuck even with the new ts and cs.

[LD27]

We tried to book a BA holiday to Sofia earlier this year to include car hire. We were unable to add car as there were “none available for your destination”. We contacted Avis directly who also confirmed they had no cars available for rental during the period we were looking at, so had to go elsewhere. We arrived at Sofia airport and collected our car. The Avis/Budget collection area was full of presumably unwanted cars ………

[JDB]

Richie wrote:

JDB wrote:

Richie wrote:

It’s a shame BA didn’t get the Ts & Cs right first time back when this promotion was launched. Gamers will always play a game if they can.

It really isn’t a matter of getting the terms right first time; the original terms were simple, very reasonable and I’m sure drafted in good faith. The provision of terms in this manner is good for most of us.

BA should not have to and, as a practical matter, cannot draft terms to cover every eventuality so they rely to an extent upon catch all terms. They have amended the published terms at least twice, more for clarity and the benefit of the ordinary passenger than the oiks who have decided to exploit what was already a generous offer. That’s greatly to the detriment of most of us. BA has clearly spotted what’s going on and hopefully these people will get their comeuppance and lots of attempted ill gotten points won’t be earned.

@JDB are you disappointed by the introduction of the 30 day limit for a holiday?

@Richie, yes, I’m very disappointed for the people who genuinely book 30+ day holidays who are quite numerous in the winter months. It’s quite unfortunate that they have been caught up in this rule to curb some of the more ridiculous artificial constructs. I’m sure you wouldn’t but, whatever you do, in planning any BAH itinerary, don’t follow the advice of our resident gamekeeper turned poacher who is utterly clueless.