[IanFromHKG]

Huh. I missed that one, Simon!!

I just thought he had thrown a temper tantrum because I called him out once too often for being a hypocrite. Guess I can’t take the credit after all 😉

[dutchyankee]

Ian, I think many of us can take a small part of the credit, so don’t be shy, be proud!

[esselle]

All the better for it!!

[rferguson]

I guess the ‘old first being sold as club’ situation will not last too long. All nine of the ‘non-primed’ aircraft that will operate these flights are due to go for a looooooong sleep in the Arizona desert by the end of 2015.

[JohnHarper]

Thanks SimonS1, I had missed that too. I thought it was peaceful round here these days.

[esselle]

Just called the BAEC Gold number, and they told me my F booking to LAS in November would still operate with the F service. Any betting that might change nearer the time?

[TimFitzgeraldTC]

Hi Esselle

I just had a quick look on the GDS for several days across November and the flights show F Class but with no availability on any given day – which would suggest that this is how the change is being reflected on GDS for now. At some point I expect to see no F Class in the inventory. So it sounds like BA Exec Club aren’t up to speed yet and you need to kindly point this out and correct them – or take it to a higher level?

Hope that helps.

Tim

[openfly]

@ Esselle and TimF

I am sure that you are both right.

I also got the same reply from the Exec Club that my flights were still in F and ” nothing needed to be done”. As you so rightly say, we will only be advised of the changes a few days before the flights, when there are no decent J seats left. Hey ho! Wrists and sharp knives…not a good combination!

But as these are involuntary downgrades I have a feeling that somewhere in the BA/CAA rules there is a ” compensation” clause. I await with interest to be shot down in flames by Hippocompost!!

[IanFromHKG]

EU261 provides for compensation for downgrade of between 30% and 75% of the ticket price, depending on the length of the flight

[GrahamSmith]

“BA haven’t announced any of these changes formerly yet.”

The press office confirmed all the changes mentioned in our story to me on the phone and then via email.

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/100578/ba-unveils-new-short-haul-cabin-interior

[Gold-2K]

On the original post it said, the first class seats would be allocated based on FF status. Surely if someone held a first class reservation for the flight they would be given priority for seats in the front of the plane. Of course it will be CW food but as no-one on this forum seems to have anything positive to say about BAs first catering, Im guessing this won’t be a problem.

[Raffles99]

Unlikely, because once BA has compensated you for the downgrade you are in the same position as any other J passenger.

Ironically I am currently having the same fight with Lufty over a flight where I hold an F ticket and which they are now selling as J.

[TominScotland]

Ian – would EU261 apply here? Surely, if BA contact passengers in good time, inform them of the service change and offer re-booking in the class available, onto another service where F is offered or the option of a full refund, they will be meeting their obligations. Surely EU261 will only kick in where you are downgraded on a flight where your original class (F) is offered but is overbooked or where the change is operational and at short notice and, as a result of either, you are downgraded. I am not a lawyer but that would be my interpretation……

[openfly]

Hi GrahamSmith…… I gather BA officially released the news to BA staff and the world this morning.

There is a problem with allocating the F seats to J passengers! I am informed that there is a cabin crew union agreement in place that only allows the use of F seats when the J cabin is totally full. So the F cabin will only be used by late bookers, late checkins and staff standbys if the J cabin is full. Good for them….not us!

[261_Man]

TominScotland – 20/06/2014 11:38 GMT

EU261 would apply. The airline has sold an F class ticket to the customer, who is entitled to travel in F class. The airline must either make alternative arrangements by negotiating with the passenger or pay either a downgrading or denied boarding fee to the passenger, if they cannot accommodate him in F class on the day. There is no time element involved, as there is for cancelling flights. Article 15 is also a very nice backstop for airlines trying to invoke restrictive T&Cs.

You should read the regulation, since you appear to travel a lot, yet apparently do not understand how it works – this knowledge gives the passenger extra leverage when things go awry.

[Author]

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