Booking engine problems for Oneworld Award (Business)?

[N860CR]

Have you tried logging into your booking at BA.com? I'm going from memory here, but I'm pretty sure I had to allocate it on the BA website (I think the booking reference is the same??? Otherwise there should be two booking references available from Qantas.com).

Are you booked on the BA code? Not sure if this matters, but I always have been on the BA code and not the QF.

 

[Vinny]

All I get from the BA site is

Select seats for 98.60 AUD each[TABLE="class: noBorder, width: 568"]
[TR]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Flight duration 11hrs 35mins


There is only one booking code, QF and BA recognise it, and CX doesn't as usual but I'll sort it out.

 

[serfty]

Is your Sapphire number correctly in the booking?

BA permit oneworld elites complimentary seat selection.

British Airways' Speedbird Club: Seating Policy

 

[Vinny]

Is your Sapphire number correctly in the booking?

BA permit oneworld elites complimentary seat selection.

British Airways' Speedbird Club: Seating Policy

My QF FF number is there but it doesn't seem to recognise my status.

I also saw on the BA site where OW sapphire is allowed complimentary seat selection.

 

[JohnPhelan]

My QF FF number is there but it doesn't seem to recognise my status.

I also saw on the BA site where OW sapphire is allowed complimentary seat selection.

Yes, as OW Sapphire you definitely get seat selection for free on BA - but you will have to do this via the BA website.

As an aside, sometimes the BA call centre sales agents don't seem to know/understand this. If speaking to them by phone, you need to make it very clear that you are QF Gold which equals BA Silver - they seem to be able to understand this much more easily than the OW levels.

 

[Vinny]

Thanks for that John.

It would help if OW airline bookings immediately communicated to each other the status of the passenger. I thought that's what alliances should do.

CX has no record of me being sapphire or even booked at all despite 3 upcoming award bookings. They use a different booking system.

Pity there's no place on the BA site to declare status.

However I have as much time as it takes so all's well.

And looking forward to what VA have in store for me when I burn off all the QF points.

 

[Archphoto]

Yes, as OW Sapphire you definitely get seat selection for free on BA - but you will have to do this via the BA website.

As an aside, sometimes the BA call centre sales agents don't seem to know/understand this. If speaking to them by phone, you need to make it very clear that you are QF Gold which equals BA Silver - they seem to be able to understand this much more easily than the OW levels.

So true. I had booked 2 flights with BA in August - one for me, and one for my partner. When I called the BA office here in BKK, they were quoting how much my seat selection would cost me - until I pointed out I was OWS. They apologised and a quick check confirmed my status, only had to pay for one seat instead.

 

[serfty]

So true. I had booked 2 flights with BA in August - one for me, and one for my partner. When I called the BA office here in BKK, they were quoting how much my seat selection would cost me - until I pointed out I was OWS. They apologised and a quick check confirmed my status, only had to pay for one seat instead.

Why pay for your partner?

If they are travelling with you there should be no need!

(Whether on the same PNR or separate.)

 

[ozmille]

Thanks for that John.

It would help if OW airline bookings immediately communicated to each other the status of the passenger. I thought that's what alliances should do.

CX has no record of me being sapphire or even booked at all despite 3 upcoming award bookings. They use a different booking system.

Pity there's no place on the BA site to declare status.

However I have as much time as it takes so all's well.

And looking forward to what VA have in store for me when I burn off all the QF points.

Just go to the BA manage my booking page. Go to the Passenger information tab and there you can add your QF FFN and after that you will be able to select your seats free of charge. No idea about CX but am sure others can advise on them.

 

[Vinny]

Just phoned BA and got some good seats.

 

[Archphoto]

Why pay for your partner?

If they are travelling with you there should be no need!

(Whether on the same PNR or separate.)

Theirs was an award flight and mine was paid, which seemed to confuse the system and everyone I spoke with. Didn't matter what I tried, I could not select our seat together in any way, shape or form. I could have the seat of my choice, but they had to wait - I finally bit the bullet as I didn't want to be seated in two totally different seats, which is how the arrangements were from day one until I paid up. Was too difficult and trying to speak with a native English speaking help desk person was an absolute nightmare.

I actually called QF because my ticket was QF301, and the first time the customer service operator happily put me through - which did help a little, but was still unable to link our flights/seats/bookings. When I called back QF a couple of weeks later to try again, the dragon was almost yelling at me telling me there was *no way* she was putting me through as it was a charge to them to do so. When I explained that another CSO had done so to assist me previously - she simply stated that they had done the wrong thing and basically couldn't care less. I then politely told her that I was on QF301, and she grudgingly put me through to BA in Australia.

In the end, it was a moot point - there was a flight change, and we ended up sitting in row 40 rather than row 28 which I'd fought tooth and nail for. . . . :shock:

 

[Vinny]

And BA changed my seat after phoning them and being confirmed on a good seat upstairs. It didn't take them long to change me with empty cabins upstairs and downstairs .

No option to change seats available.

My Irish rellos were right. And still are.

 

[serfty]

Theirs was an award flight and mine was paid, which seemed to confuse the system and everyone I spoke with. Didn't matter what I tried, I could not select our seat together in any way, shape or form. I could have the seat of my choice, but they had to wait - I finally bit the bullet as I didn't want to be seated in two totally different seats, which is how the arrangements were from day one until I paid up. Was too difficult and trying to speak with a native English speaking help desk person was an absolute nightmare. ...

Seems there is a training issue.

You should have asked here first.

No, on separate bookings it's can't be done online or directly over the 'phone.

May I point you here:

British Airways' Speedbird Club: BA Seating request changes

 

[Archphoto]

Seems there is a training issue.

You should have asked here first.

No, on separate bookings it's can't be done online or directly over the 'phone.

May I point you here:

British Airways' Speedbird Club: BA Seating request changes

Thanks serfty!

Think this comes under "seamless flying with a OW carrier" - unfortunately, the outbound trip ADL-BKK caused just as much confusion, and to make matters worse the QF system couldn't get into the BA system upon check-in when we wanted to change seats.

Thankfully the BA assistant in transfers SYD was able to help me out, but if OW really wants to outshine their competitors, maybe they should look at a *single* system that all carriers can access. Being told that "we can't access their system" when you are on a codeshare (in this case QF301/302) flight doesn't really help with a happy experience.

Lets see if that suggestion from a previous thread actually comes to fruition. :mrgreen:

 

[ozmille]

Thankfully the BA assistant in transfers SYD was able to help me out, but if OW really wants to outshine their competitors, maybe they should look at a *single* system that all carriers can access. Being told that "we can't access their system" when you are on a codeshare (in this case QF301/302) flight doesn't really help with a happy experience.

Have seen this happen in the BA lounge in LHR where a couple got assigned seats in different rows on QF and instead of asking the transfer desk they asked in the lounge and got the same response. Sorry we don't have access to the QF system. Very unhappy couple as a result.