upgrading BA flights booked in a package

Spirit_2

We have booked aholiday through a travel agent. We now think we would like to up grade the cabin we are in.

Have logged on to exec club but does not seem possible as we did not book these flights directly.

Can it be done? does the travel agent need to do it?
Can we use Avios or is it cash only?


Anyone experience of this?
Advice needed. Thank you

dickydonkin

You won't be able to upgrade with cash or Avios via ba.com with a TA booking as you have discovered. As I understand, BA will not have control over that booking so I suspect that if you wish to upgrade, it will need to be done through your TA.

There can also be problems if there is another airline on your itinerary.

Also, if you are booked in economy, some fare buckets are not eligible for upgrades.

shaun_from_Africa

I have this exact problem quite often as I fly dozens of times each year for work purposes and my tickets get booked through a business travel agent.
My ticket class sometimes means that they can be upgraded but the only way I can do this is to call BA and do it over the phone.


It will all depend on the class of ticket that you actually have as to whether or not an upgrade is possible.

Caz3121

and in addition there needs to be redemption availability in the class you want to upgrade to (if using Avios)...not easy on many routes
I would check redemption availability before even bothering with a call

leylandsunaddict

The airline won't be able to help with a flight that's been sold by the tour operator as part of a package. You need to contact your agent and they will contact BA Holidays.

SW17

Spirit wrote: »

We have booked aholiday through a travel agent. We now think we would like to up grade the cabin we are in.

Have logged on to exec club but does not seem possible as we did not book these flights directly.

Can it be done? does the travel agent need to do it?
Can we use Avios or is it cash only?


Anyone experience of this?
Advice needed. Thank you

Are you able to share some more detail on exactly what you've booked, e.g.

• Is it a true package or a "flight plus"?
• If a package, is the tour operator BA Holidays or someone else? Inclusive Tour fares cannot be upgraded with Avios.
• Are there any non-BA flights in the booking. You won't be able to Avios upgrade a booking made via a TA if this is the case.
• Are you able to see your booking class? If you can access the booking on BA.com in Manage My Booking, expand the sections with the flights and click on the "More Flight Details" link at the bottom of these sections. A pop-up should appear, at the bottom of which will be the Selling Class. If that letter is O, Q or G for any sector, you cannot upgrade that sector with Avios.
• What cabin are you trying to upgrade from / to? Good advice above to check reward availabilty in that cabin for your flights, as this is a non-starter (with Avios) if that availability does not exist. Cash upgrades may be possible (I'm not sure whether restrictions exist on those by selling class), but not likely to be very cost-effective, i.e. no more so than buying the higher cabin in the first place.

pollypenny

I wanted to do this last year, returning from China on a tour booked with Saga.

I rang BA and was told that flights, including possible upgrades, were sold to TAs at a discount. Therefore, it was not possible to use Avios to upgrade or to pay directly to BA.

As it turned out, the plane from Chengdu was nearly empty and we had a whole row each to stretch out. And a glass of champagne from a lovely steward, who'd been as excited about the pandas as us.

Former_MSE_Matt

Are you a frequent flyer miles or Avios wizard who never pays cash for a business class flight? If so, the Financial Times would like to interview you about how you manage it. Can you share your tips and tricks? If so, please email them at money@ft.com.

richardw

Ft.com just needs to read flyertalk

theonlywayisup

richardw wrote: »

Ft.com just needs to read flyertalk

I agree.

Headforpoints, Flyertalk, Vflyer are all dedicated to travel/stay.

It's not difficult to fly UC on a Y budget. Whether it's points (avois) or vouchers (2-4-1) and/or Ex Eu, there is always a way and never a reason to pay full price. I only fly UC, CW or F and have never paid full price.

marsman802

Sssh...don't tell too many people how we do it!