Questions about BA and packing plan

I am almost certain the ban has been lifted. We found out this past January (while I tried shoving my stuff into one bag) that soon the change will go into effect.

The airline websites usually tell you all the info you need about baggage. Why ask on a travel site for info that can be found in 10 seconds on the airline site?

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagcabin/public/en_us

Actually, Andy, I had already looked at that. I wanted to make sure there wasn't something I was missing.

Ok here's another question - since I'm on AA for the first two legs of the flight, and we can't get our seat assignments on BA until 24 hrs before the flight, can I still check-in for that leg of the flight online at the 24 hr mark, or do I have to wait to check-in until I get to the airport in Milwaukee?

I thought you couldn't do OLCI for international itinerary on AA.

Note that the "one carryon" rule was not just an airline rule. In London it was also an airport rule. So for about a year you could get through security at LHR and LGW only if you had only one carryon bag, even if your airline (like mine, American) allowed two carryons. So check the airport websites too. LHR lifted the "one carryon" rule before LGW did and I got caught there last Easter when I thought it had been relaxed for all London airports.

I thought you couldn't do OLCI for international itinerary on AA.

That is correct.

As far as seat selection on the BA flight is concerned, phone AA and ask for the BA record locator (BA use Amadeus while AA uses Sabre) for your itinerary, and then use it to log onto BA's website and see if you can select seats using "Manage My Booking."

Gardyloo, your suggestion is interesting to me. Can you be more specific in how your plan works?

Gardyloo, your suggestion is interesting to me. Can you be more specific in how your plan works?

When you buy a ticket from AA that involves a connection onto British Airways, your e-ticket info will have a record locator (six characters) that AA issues for the whole itinerary.

However, AA uses a reservations system that's different from BA's, so in BA's records your itinerary will have a different six-character locator, one that's compatible with the Amadeus system (AA uses Sabre.)

At 24 hours before a flight, you can select seats on BA flights, unless you have Oneworld Sapphire or higher frequent flyer status, or are buying a full-fare (i.e., $$$$) ticket, in which case you can do it earlier.

To pick your seats, you use the "Manage My Booking" facility on BA's website, but to get to MMB you need to log in using the Amadeus locator and your name.

To get the Amadeus locator, you need to speak to a human at AA, who will look it up on your record, and give it to you. You'll need that BA locator to check in for any flights with BA.

Thanks so much. I'm going to try that out on our European trip.

Bear in mind that, even travelling in Business Class, you may not be able to choose your seats prior to 24 hours out. This page shows you all you need to know:

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/mmbseatingpolicy/public/en_dk

If you don't meet one of the criteria, then I wouldn't bother tracking down the record locator.

If you don't meet one of the criteria, then I wouldn't bother tracking down the record locator.

Respectfully disagree.

The OP's connection will probably be on a BA A319 which has a 2x3 seating setup in business class. BA routinely sells the middle seat on the 3-side if flights are full, so even if the OP doesn't have status, by checking in 24h early the OP has a somewhat better chance of scoring the A/C seats (there's a small gap between the 2 seats on the port side) which are much more comfortable than the other side.

Yep, you were right Gardyloo, we are on the A319 on the LHR-MUC flight. So I'm going to call AA and see if I can get my BA record locator - let you all know how that works.

Either way it's only a 1 hr 50 min flight, so it shouldn't matter too much, even if we're not sitting together. At least we'll be in business class.

Robertalee-

Any luck on your upgrade yet for that one leg you were missing?

Sorry to be so late in replying to you. No, nothing as yet. I am checking multiple times each day.

About BA and carry-ons: we returned a week ago, and part of our itinerary had us flying on BA. We were each allowed a smallish carry-on (the ones we have with wheels were fine) plus a "personal item." The latter was interpreted generously, perhaps because we were in Club Europe class.

Some people like the middle seat in business class on BA since you are not bothered by aisle traffic.

According to an email I got from BA, from 23 February, Club Europe (business class) seating will be 2-2, rather than 2-3.

Does anyone know when Spring Break falls for college/school students in 2009? This is the only explanation I can think of that is preventing our flight on April 15 from being upgraded. All the other Wednesdays in the month are available but this one.

Most colleges have an earlier spring break than Mid-April, but April 12 is Easter Sunday and many eastern US public school systems have that week off.

I think your conclusion about the holiday travel preventing your upgrade probably is correct.

I'll eat the beef so that there is plenty of leather for bags and boots.

Here is info for August, 2009:
TORNEO GRAL. SAN MARTIN
Organiza Media Luna Polo Club.
Tel. 03388- 15 671815
Para categorías juveniles, potrillos, potrillitos y principiantes.
Fecha: Desde el 18 de Agosto en adelante.
http://www.aapolo.com

oops, wrong thread!

LyndaS, I have just been on the phone with a supervisor from British Airways and he informs me that it would cost $3000+ per person to upgrade from WT+ to Business.(We have thought we would try upgrading with money since upgrading with miles wasn't working, and probably won't be.) On this past Thurs. night, I spoke with a person at BA and was told the total cost would be $700. (Should have taken it.) I cannot imagine in my wildest dreams how something could increase in price from $700 to $300+ in 4 days. Ever heard of such a thing?

Sorry, my last quote should have been $3000+, not $300!

Not knowing the particulars, I suspect the "$700" person was in error, and you would have found out it was so when you'd have tried to pay for the upgrade. The price break between WT+ and Club World is indeed often horrendous.

That said, if WT+ is full and business relatively empty, BA have been known to sell upgrades for cash at the check-in counter. I've seen WT- to WT+ go for US$300-$400 per person (one way) and WT+ to Club World for $400-$500, so if you're prepared to go that route, all may not be lost. You won't know until day of flight, however.

$700 means they're selling a last-minute "upgrade". $3,000 means you're basically buying up from a E+ fare to a full or close-to-full J fare.

Not hard to imagine, if BA feels they may have a chance to sell those J seats at full fare in last minute, or if they only have a few seats available for last minute upgrade and somebody else already took it.

The case of the upgrade from MIA to LHR has ended! Last evening I was given the price of $1743 per person to upgrade, and this compared to $3000+ per person sounded okay to me. Thanks to you all for your interest, and for your postings!

Gardyloo - Just to make sure I understand what you wrote earlier regarding selecting seats on BA flights:

I have PLT on AA, and just put a FF ticket on hold flying AA then connecting BA. If I want to select seats on the BA flights, I need to call AA back to get my "BA record locator" and then I can log on into my BA Executive Club account to select my seats online even though I have no status on the BA club?