I just got off the phone with the Executive club line.

I was all excited since I found upgrade availability on my upcoming LHR-DFW leg. Called to make it happen to be told that they couldn't process the upgrade because I have an American Airlines flight on the same ticket.

They asked if I could get my travel agent to split the tickets. I don't know what that means - can anyone explain?

 

You can't UuA a TA made booking if it has non BA flights. Here is the summary from the reference posts in the TP run thread:

In terms of splitting out the ticket they are suggesting you remove the AA flight from the ticket and get it booked on a separate ticket so your existing ticket would only have BA flights. This may be possible but it is unclear whether this would be a costly route to follow. Also there will be implications for through checking bags and protected connections.

 

Thank you for the info - but that's a bugger.

Looks like I'll be booking my flights a little differently now.

 

I found out about that rule in similar circumstances.
After never ever getting UUA availaibility on flights to Boston, when there finally was I was initially and briefly told "no" (without telling me why) before I was allowed to do it. Didn't think anything of it and enjoyed the upgrade. 2 weeks later, having flown to Boston, then onto Dallas (AA flight...) I was trying to upgrade my return flight as they was availability. After 2 hours on phone before I got to talk to someone (no exaggeration), I was told I could not upgrade because of said "other carrier on booking" rule. Having had to wait so long on phone I was already a bit miffed and asked how come I had been updgraded OK on flight out. Well, that confused the hell out of them. They had to check, talk to manager etc. They acknowledged I had been upgraded (As if I was making this up) but shouldn't have been allowed and would not be allowed to upgrade return flight. I think they were cutting their nose to spite their face but there you go, no upgrade..

 

I did this once a few years ago, before I knew what I was doing. I used a TA because the flights were �100 cheaper (booking WTP LHR-ORD-RSW). There were no CW Avios seats at the time but some soon came up for both legs, so I excitedly gave BA a call. I think the worst bit was seeing CW half empty, knowing that we could have been in there.

 

Kruisler - so you're saying there's a chance???? ;-)

All I need to do is keep calling and hope that someone books it despite the rules. Man I wish I had enough time for that kind of shenanigans.

 

I think it is clear that the UuA done for Kruisler was done by an agent who did not follow the rules.

I would suggest your way forward here is to take it as a learning point for next time, and not to continually call BAEC to try and see if you can find an agent who does't know the rules.

 

That's my plan (hence the cheeky wink).

 

Please don't, if only because your constant calling is going to waste time for many agents who could actually be helping people with real queries and problems.

 

Apparently I wasn't clear.

I am not planning to keep calling and wasting my time and the exec club agent's.

I was agreeing with you that this is lesson learned. Book smarter next time.

I reserve the right to weep a little as I pass through Club World on the flight that had Avios upgrade availability though.

 

You were...

KARFA is probably just finding it difficult to get started this Monday morning. Maybe a heavy week-end..

 

Apologies I misunderstood Harry Harry.

 

No problem at all. I'm glad we are all straightened out.

Now I will resume planning my ascendance to GOLD party.

 

But why? I have long held the view that this is a preposterous rule. Is it intended to prevent the use of UuA? I have never managed to UuA, often for this reason, and have only ever been able to use them to directly book reward flights. That isn't always what I want to do.

For instance:If I want to upgrade that flight only (BA, LHR-LAX), then so what if there is an AA leg further along in the booking? Why should that prevent me from upgrading on the BA flight? There seems to be a general, if reluctant acceptance that this is the case but I'm genuinely curious to know what the reason for this rule really is.

 

No idea myself. It's the same for UuA or GUF for a TA booking, it can't include non BA flights. Rather annoying as I am looking at a work trip to Brazil early next year which has to be booked via our (useless) corporate TA and would ideally include a LAN flight as well, but if I include that I can't use the GUF. Never mind, I suspect the TA may not even be willing to process the GUF so perhaps it is in vain anyway.