[1958]

Have a look at the BA 11 recent history. Several delays, and one or two cancellations.
Given this, such a connection is too risky for me.

[1958]

Unfortunately, I have found QF Avios availability to be sparse – and often only available “at short notice” (ie a couple of weeks before the flight). Also, I suggest that you be flexible regarding SFO or LAX – ie if LAX comes up, jump on it.
Not very helpful – but it may help you to plan.

[1958]

Useful, fulsome report.
Regarding your Jetstar experience – It’s what we all face if we didn’t collect points!
(We face Jetstar Hawaii to Sydney in four months time, having got Upper / Business as far as Hawaii).

[1958]

Learn from my experience.
I booked BA for LHR to SCL, and wanted to return from EZE to Madrid on Iberia. The agent told me to wait for a fare quote – and when it came the next day, it seemed very high. I then did a dummy booking for EZE to MAD on a different date (on BA.com), and got a much lower price.
I then asked the agent to check with the fare team – and the revised “fee” was less than half the original quote.
Do your homework!

[1958]

CamFlyer wrote:

I am approaching 2 years since I closed my BAPP – this offer is well timed for me. However, I received a refund on the card (a refund for a defective product purchase) approximately 9 months after the cancellation. Will the refund impact the two year calculation?

Phone up Am Ex and ask.
My experience is that a refund on the BAPP did not invalidate my two year gap.
However, for Virgin a refund did invalidate the gap (as confirmed by phone).
Mind the gap!

[1958]

Learn from my experience….
We flew LHR to SIN using a companion voucher, and had a separate ticket from SIN to Perth on Qantas – scheduled for four hours after we landed in SIN.
Our flight from LHR was delayed – and instead of a leisurely stop in SIN, we had a rush. (We were able to use the excellent SIN baggage transfer desk – as BA would not book our luggage beyond SIN).
Next time I would overnight in SIN, then travel down the next day.
Should add – We love Perth and Margaret River. Both are wonderful in January through March. Rottnest is a “must”, and we loved coastal walks throughout WA.

[1958]

At 3.40pm pn 6 August, I received the following email from Virgin Atlantic. Note the phrase, “We have arranged agreements with several other airlines”….

Rebook or Reroute (direct bookings with Virgin Atlantic)
We have arranged agreements with several other airlines to help accommodate your travel needs. If you would like to be rebooked onto an alternative flight on another carrier. please click here for ways to contact us, and our team will assist you.

Alternatively, if you would like to reroute to an alternative Virgin Atlantic destination, please click here. No change fees will apply, however, any difference in fare will be charged.

[1958]

Thanks @JDB. Points noted. I hope that once the Virgin / AF / KLM systems issue is fixed, then we may be able to transfer to AF or KLM.
We have a complex booking – Leg 1 is to SFO, Leg 2 is PVG to London. Hence, if we go down the “refund” route, we wouldn’t get much cash back (as the SFO flight becomes a “One Way”, which has a high redemption cost.

[1958]

I am on a reward ticket – and the only option that I have been offered is “China Eastern or a refund”.
My partner is not keen to fly MU (and of course, we would have no 261 rights on a one-way ticket from PVG on MU) – but Virgin will not budge, even after an email to the CEO.

[1958]

@John – I said that “I have been offered” because IHG sent me an email with the offer. I didn’t search for the deal, it was offered to me.
Hope that this is clear to you.

[1958]

PeteM wrote:

Cheeky VS!

Indeed – If one clicks on the “Refund” tab (and follows through), then one loses the right to alternative flights.
Very cheeky!

[1958]

BA Flyer IHG Stayer wrote:

You cannot mix cash and avios bookings.

Nor can a 2-4-1 be used on AA flights.

If this was me if do the US domestic flight the day before the long haul BA flight.

Wise advice. Most travel insurance will not cover the cost of a missed connection unless sufficient time is allowed in the booking. (My cover insists on 24 hours).

[1958]

I booked Iberia business for Feb 2025 in March 2024 (through BA, with a 241). Downloaded the Iberia app – but couldn’t select my seats on the app.
I then called Iberia. No wait. Spoke to an agent who booked the seats that I wanted – at no cost.
Some can select using the app – but I could not (and the phone call was very easy).

[1958]

@SandsofEss – Don’t wait 48 hours. Get on the phone to BA well before the 48 hours are up.

[1958]

@JDB Your comment about the BA experience in F being crew dependent also applies to Club. We had a very poor crew for our flight from LHR to SIN last December, then an excellent crew on the leg from SIN to SYD.
The first crew took two hours to come up with an “express supper” – whilst the second crew served that dish within 30 minutes.

[1958]

JDB wrote:

Ihar wrote:

Are BA missing any new orders due to Boeing’s backlog?? Am sure someone will know, but it could be a reason the old style cabins aren’t being taken out of service for refresh…? I wouldn’t want to fly yin-yang style, but older Club/First is OK.

There is a delay in deliveries but as BA is short of aircraft (like many airlines) they can’t take the older Dreamliners out of service just for the new seating installation. There is also a worldwide shortage of seating and associated refit kit. The combination of all these factors will slow the rollout substantially.

@JDB – You have summarised the various issues well. People may not like to hear it, but you have described the reality facing airlines today. I would also add staff shortages (flight crew and engineers) to the list.
I wonder if there is any opportunity for “decommissioned aircraft” (such as some A-380s) to be recommissioned.

[1958]

I think that you are in a good position. There are loads of flights from Tokyo to Singapore, so my advice is to retain your current reservations for a few months, whilst monitoring HND to LHR flights. (Possibly through Seatspy).
If you do decide to fly back via Singapore, then I would advise arriving in Singapore the day before your flight, as most travel insurance insists on a minimum connection time.
Enjoy your Japan visit.

[1958]

Jackp27 wrote:

Hi there,

I am looking soon to book my first open-jaw flight with my BA Amex companion voucher

I am looking to book the outbound on Iberia between Madrid and Santiago Chile in Business and then return from Buenos Aries to London with a stop in Madrid but with a connecting flight so the bags are checked all the way.

I believe this would be possible but just wanted to double check that i would:

A) Avoid business class UK APD, despite the return leg arriving back to LHR
B) this be possible as my departure and arrival airports are both different and not just one.

Any advice would be appreciated but I would assume that subject to availability i can just call BA to book this with both the outbound and inbound using the same tier of avios/cash options?

I booked exactly this itinerary a month ago (to travel in Feb 2025). So, it’s possible to book, and I have the flights confirmed in my Iberia app.
Not only do you save considerable £s on APD, you also spend fewer Avios points. The only issue I had was that the BA agent couldn’t give me a cost quote immediately – and had to send a question to the Revenue Team.

[1958]

I have been to WA three times – and my suggestion regarding one-way car rental is to consider reversing the trip. So, instead of flying to Exmouth then driving back, consider driving there then flying back.
When I planned a Brooke trip, the one-way charge was very different depending on the direction of travel.
(And whilst I love Margaret River, I wouldn’t visit there in September. Far better to visit during December to April).

[1958]

I would suggest you consider splitting the five people into two groups (with one adult in each group).
Particularly for Virgin, the fees associated with a round trip (return) are far less than the fees associated with a “mixed” trip (Virgin one way, and BA the other).
I have done this a few times in the past, and saved significant amounts. The strategy also provides lots to talk about (“We got this on BA; Did you get that on Virgin, etc).
So, try a few “trial runs” and see the costs.

[1958]

Just reading this thread does my heart good.
There is so much knowledge / experience on HFP – and subscribers are very willing to share.
My Tasmanian experience is very old (from 1994), but the island is full of friendly natives (mostly human). The early 1990s saw the establishment of more vineyards in Tasmania (often converted from apple orchards), and also a load of B&Bs / cafes opened up.
In summary, a great place to visit – but the weather is quite changeable, and driving times can be long.

[1958]

@corking – sounds a great trip. We are planning something similar, but we intend to spend 4 days in Chile’s Lake District, then cross over to Bariloche, before flying home from B.A.
Any ideas on an “even better” trip?

[1958]

If something goes wrong (such as a late arrival or a delay at passports), your insurance will probably not cover the costs from missing a short connection.
I have done a 4-hour connection at Singapore (probably the world’s most efficient airport, and no requirement to go through passport control when in transit) – but I was nervous, and probably wouldn’t do it again.

[1958]

Well, after deducting interest charges, Virgin Atlantic made a loss of £139 million in 2023. (Note that it’s 2023, as we are only part way through 2024).
The owners say that they are optimistic – but they have a huge debt burden. Not a great business model.

[1958]

BA.com is useless on “Where we fly”. Still lists Nantes and Quimper as destinations in France – but there are no flights to either of these airports in 2024.