T-355 online or call – which gives quicker access to reward flights ?
Discuss today's stories:
-
Hi
Tried finding a thread on this but without luck.
From reading various threads it seems that you can call the US number at 1 am to book flights. Are these flights available from midnight on-line ? So presumably available to book online before they are available via a call centre ?
TIA
No.
Let me explain. When you book online, the tickets are not yours until you pay. You think they are yours, in your basket, but they are still showing for everyone else too. It will take you a few minutes to add all the passenger details, card details and hit ‘Pay’.
The call centre agents pull the flights immediately and no-one else can get them whilst you are giving all your personal details.
So …. unless you are very fast in typing in passenger and payment details, a call centre again will have put the flights on hold for someone on the line.
It’s midnight GMT so 1am when we’re on BST. The call centre doesn’t see the availability any earlier than the website or vv (but can hold the seats quicker as @Rob says)
But you could struggle on the phone as you’ll also need to time that perfectly. At least online gives you some level of control. In the end, there are 4 people in the world who will get those seats and if they’re all as desperate as each other, it’s pot luck in the end.
It definitely is luck of the draw, but I would add we have been lucky 3 years in a row now, each time chasing all 4 club seats during school holidays and on popular routes, so it is possible. We always have a B plan though.
But you could struggle on the phone as you’ll also need to time that perfectly. At least online gives you some level of control. In the end, there are 4 people in the world who will get those seats and if they’re all as desperate as each other, it’s pot luck in the end.
it’s not perfect timing for phone, it’s just a bit of luck to get an agent who’s willing to be ready to click the button at seat release time. Nothing stopping someone being on the phone and separately trying to reserve the tickets on their computer at same time.
I thought BA had stopped people in the UK from using the US call center a few months ago.
Has this now changed?
I thought BA had stopped people in the UK from using the US call center a few months ago.
Has this now changed?
I used the US number this month. I’d be surprised if BA were against this. I frequently make travel plans while being in different timezones. Would they really want to loose business to competitors by rejecting my calls? They could of course choose to release award availability during UK business hours at say 6am UK time, but do not.
What competitors?
If your using a 2-4-1 you can only use it by calling BA. No one is calling from the UK to book cash flights then.
BA don’t like people using the US number as that office closes at 8PM Eastern / 1am UK time
If you have time to trawl through the “booking the return with the 241” thread there are numerous posts documenting mixed success with the US number, it seems to depend on which agent you get.
Yeah, I’ve read several pages of the ‘booking the return with the 241’ thread and your chances of success do seem to be a bit random. Thought I’d stumbled upon an online solution but had forgotten about the BST/GMT differential.
Whilst reading the thread I’ve come across a couple of US numbers. What is the current one please ?Yeah, I’ve read several pages of the ‘booking the return with the 241’ thread and your chances of success do seem to be a bit random. Thought I’d stumbled upon an online solution but had forgotten about the BST/GMT differential.
Whilst reading the thread I’ve come across a couple of US numbers. What is the current one please ?I’d encourage you to give the ‘book the 241 return’ thread a full read, so much info in it.
In terms of the number to call, depends on your exec club level. If you log in to Ba.com, go to contact us, there is a drop down list for countries.
Having a plan b is important, whether that is coming back earlier / later then initially planned, or looking for a different airport you could fly back from etc. a lot depends on how popular the route is. Typically getting a club redemption to/from NYC is going to be easier than Sydney.
Always have backup plans. Some of our best holidays have been where we’ve gone with what’s available rather than having a fixed itinerary, including a few trips in F. E.g. take advantage of being able to book avios flights as 2 singles (or one return booked by phone) at no extra cost to have a 2 centre holiday.
Thanks for all your help….I’ll dig into the 241 thread again with a bottle of malt at my side 🙂
What competitors?
If your using a 2-4-1 you can only use it by calling BA. No one is calling from the UK to book cash flights then.
BA don’t like people using the US number as that office closes at 8PM Eastern / 1am UK time
My point is surely BA want a round the clock service for calls as do customers. If I’m in the west coast of the US I don’t want to wait for London to open to place a call to them. Therefore, it all depends where in the world you are at the time you wish to make a booking cash or otherwise.
If only it were possible to make all these bookings online …!
Never had problem online. However passenger is always wife and I, the only 2 people in household account . Payment is Amex in account and BA is on Amex express list
I meant if it were possible to do such things as make open jaw bookings and whatever else BA’s IT can’t deal with, there wouldn’t be as many people calling BA!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
