gary

I think a lot of airlines are discouraging people from calling them for reservations. Not just by making you wait but by quoting prices that are significantly higher when compared to their internet sights. UA, for example, quoted prices several hundred dollars higher than what their web sight offered for a flight from SFO to MPX. When I asked the agent about the "discrepancy" he said that you could always expect better prices on the internet. He also mentioned that he thought UA would prefer that people use the internet to book flights. (They'd love to get rid of these employees to save money.)

Santa Chiara

I would like to enter a slightly dissenting opinion. As I noted on another thread, I recently booked online with BA, mainly because they had the best price. I had to call them anyway because my billing address didn't coincide with where I was at that particular moment (both metaphysically and physically). <BR><BR>Anyway, I was on hold about 10 minutes at the most, and we got the billing thing straightened out.<BR><BR>The sticking point was that I would have to settle for an e-ticket for an international flight, which I made me nervous. They immediately sent me an email confirming flight, price, etc., but I had to print it out to show at check-in when I arrived at the airport. Really nervous at this point, especially since I didn't have a printer where I was staying. So I go to Kinko's to print the damned thing. Call them from Kinko's (nice people, Kinko's, they didn't object to my being on hold, this time, for 20 minutes) to confirm that this was all that I needed. <BR><BR>Long story short: print out was fine at check-in (I got there before they opened). Flight was fine, and I do like those little foot rests. One of the attendants had an attitude, but what's new?<BR><BR>What I am really tired of is completely full flights post 9/11. I have made three trans-Atlantic trips since then (Continental, Air France and now BA), and they have all been packed.

Daphne

I tried to get two award tickets from B.A. on their internet site about 6 weeks ago. It was very complicated but finally found out you can only get f.f. tickets for L.A. to London, but you must call if you want to go beyond. After about 40 minutes got a very helpful agent who told me that all the business class seat ff tickets were gone for the rest of the year [but they might be released closer to the date if they don't sell]. I'm not even sure if our account is being credited monthly with the miles we get from our B.A. Visa card.It is such a chore to check on this. Peter Greenberg just said that airlines owe us those miles in good faith and they are now making it near impossible for us to cash them in. We still don't have any tickets. P.G. says to get ones for as close to the date as you can and then go to the airport on the date you want to fly on and get standby seats if the plance isn't full. But we can't do that as B.A. only sends you the tickets about one month before the date of the flight.

linda

Is there anyone WORSE than BA?

anon

ttt

Heather

Just came in this morning and checked the latest posts on this thread. I called BA last nite when I got home. I would say a 25 minute hold. Not too shabby! Long story short my transfers and land package items were mailed out to me yesterday fed ex.<BR>Thanks to the poster who mentioned getting there early. I am guessing I will get at the airport 2 and a half hours before the flight leaves. Does this sound ok? I will be flying out of JFK<BR>Thanks again

Heather

Just to say I got my travel vouchers. They are not the actual passes, I still have to go to ticket offices to trade them in... But they did arrive.<BR>Interesting.

robert

heather<BR> good luck! Enjoy yourself!

another fiona

my problem is quite unbelievable. I have been insisting that I have NOT paid for a holiday and BA keeps insisting I have and can confirm the date it came out of my account and my account number! Can ANYONE beat that? ( and am I mad for continuing to follow up on it?)

kav

Fiona<BR>If you have indeed booked the holiday and have already contacted them to let them know you haven't yet paid and they have insisted that as far as they are concerned you have, I'd let it lie and enjoy the holiday, and keep the money aside in your account.<BR>You've done your part, you aren't trying to cheat them and you have followed it up already.<BR>If they haven't got the ability to check their accounts properly, they need to listen more to honest customers like you who try and tell them.<BR>Have you checked your back statements to see if you really haven't paid?

fiona

Kav<BR>they definitely have not taken money out- I've checked statements. You have said exactly what my husband thinks! However I really wouldn't feel comfortable about it- my problem( according to husband) is that I am too honest!!!<BR>However, I'm not THAT virtuous - when they finally discover their mistake I'd like recognition of my honesty(perhaps a flight upgrade!!!!)

kavey

Fiona<BR>I don't think it's a question of dishonesty, it's not like you haven't tried really hard to pay and let them know.<BR>I'd put the money aside, and go on the holiday.<BR>Why should you be chasing them up and wasting your time and phone bill when you have already let them know a number of times that you haven't paid.<BR>I am not saying you should _try_ not to pay, but that, it's now in their lap...<BR>Anyway, would love to hear how it is resolved.<BR>Will you post or email me?<BR>Kavey

fiona

Kavey <BR>will certainly let you know! Have been on the phone again today! My fear in not paying is being thrown off the flight as the error has been discovered!!!

kavey

Do you have tickets?<BR>If you do, they don't usually throw you off at the check in since payment issues aren't usually on the flight manifest...<BR>Hope it works out...<BR>Do let us/ me know.<BR>GOOD LUCK!<BR>Kavey

honzay

There was a time when BA did a great job on FF reservations. My most recent time was total nightmare. I called seven times over a 10-week period to verify my reservation, on hold for up[ to 50-minutes each time), and in the end, had to go to LAX sans tsicket(s) to hope that they would be able to rectify the situation there. Nightmare! May have to switch to Virgin Atlantic...

Lori

BA has a new computer reservation system and according to the reservation clerks they are still working bugs out of it ... that said I will admit to not having had a great deal of trouble getting FF tickets from BA at all. We make plans 11 months ahead of time and get it all taken care of in one call. The tickets come within 7 days. I just did this for FF tickets for April 2003. I did have to hang on the phone about 20 minutes which is annoying, but other then that it went OK. I have no problem with them crediting my Visa charges to mileage on my BA Visa card either, they do it very promptly. The only complaint I have is with Sheraton Four Pointes at LAX - despite them telling me several times they had my BA FF number in their computer and that my stay miles would be credited to BA they only did it with one stay, not the other (we stayed coming and going from London). Now I'm having to fax copies of my hotel bill to BA. I'm not sure I'll ever get credit for it at this point.<BR><BR>Incidentally, the BA clerk I spoke with said they (BA) is trying to get more people to use the website instead of calling. That might be OK if it worked better - they seem to not realize that occasionally one needs to talk to a real life person as well.

xxx

I tried to book a BA holiday in March and was put on hold indefinitely each time I called. When I did manage to get ahold of an agent I was told the same thing then-that they've installed a new computer system, etc. That's been two months ago. I gave up and booked my holiday on my own-at least I get to choose the hotels I want and not what's on their limited listing.

anotherfiona

follow up to my first post<BR>BA has finally taken payment. Have been given a case of wine for all the carry on!

Patrick

One leg of this summer's journey is on BA from London to Amsterdam, but was booked through American Airlines as part of my FF reward flight. AA told me I needed to reserve my club class seat directly with BA. After trying to call many, many times, and usually just getting a recording that told me all agents were busy and then cutting me off, I finally emailed them. They informed me by return email that I could reserve my club class seats but would have to do it by phone. After many more attempts, I finally got an agent, who then informed me that those seats can't be pre-reserved. When I said I had just gotten an email that said I could, he insisted that I couldn't. If they can't even figure out whether or not you can reserve seats, I can't imagine trying to actually book a flight with them!

Sue

There's a piece in NYT Travel section today about BA's preferring that folks use their website or a travel agent, as opposed to phoning.