Bronze benefits not in the same PNR
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 222
Bronze benefits not in the same PNR
Hi everyone,
I am traveling LHR-DBX with two friends in October. By that time I will be Bronze. I was wondering what if any benefits do they get from my status. The situation being that two of us are in the same PNR but the other isn't. I already called BA to try to join the bookings but all they can do is to write a note letting the check in agent know that we are traveling together. Will the person out from the PNR get the benefits?
Thank you for your thoughts,
Bil
I am traveling LHR-DBX with two friends in October. By that time I will be Bronze. I was wondering what if any benefits do they get from my status. The situation being that two of us are in the same PNR but the other isn't. I already called BA to try to join the bookings but all they can do is to write a note letting the check in agent know that we are traveling together. Will the person out from the PNR get the benefits?
Thank you for your thoughts,
Bil
#2
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 471
The only relevant benefits are the seat selection and Business Class check in as the Avios bonus will only accrue to the member in question.
If the passengers are not on the same booking then seat selection will not be available.
As for Business Class check in I have never had an issue walking up with the person I'm travelling with and just checking in. I suppose in the most strict of circumstances they might tell your friends to go to the other check in desks but it's never happened with me. Admittedly I have only ever done it with one other person rather than two.
If the passengers are not on the same booking then seat selection will not be available.
As for Business Class check in I have never had an issue walking up with the person I'm travelling with and just checking in. I suppose in the most strict of circumstances they might tell your friends to go to the other check in desks but it's never happened with me. Admittedly I have only ever done it with one other person rather than two.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Welcome to FT.
Although linking bookings is possible (see above) you must be gold in order to be able 'to complete party'. This would then allow you to book seats for all members of your group when travelling together in the same cabin across separate bookings.
Bar booking seats at 7 days, bronze does not offer a great deal.
Although linking bookings is possible (see above) you must be gold in order to be able 'to complete party'. This would then allow you to book seats for all members of your group when travelling together in the same cabin across separate bookings.
Bar booking seats at 7 days, bronze does not offer a great deal.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 363
The biggest benefit I've found is checking in at outstations when we could use the short queue at business check in rather than join the horrendous economy queue. I guess it would be up to the agent at the time whether or not they allowed all three of you to do this.
#5
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,968
Welcome to FT.
Just to add some information on TCP/free seat selection, linking bookings (called TCP - To Complete Party) is available to any status, it is not a gold specific benefit. All TCP'ing two bookings does though is add a note on one referencing the other. This can be done by the BA agent on the phone. It is in not any kind of merging of bookings, and does not add any protection for connecting between separate bookings.
However, what is a gold/OWE benefit and not available for other tiers is free seat selection for the non-gold/silver booking passenger. If you are a GCH/OWE and there is someone travelling on the same flight and in the same cabin on a separate booking, you can request free seat selection for the other person so that you can sit together. This second step, after doing the TCP, is usually sent off to the infamous back office to process and takes a few days to do.
Just to add some information on TCP/free seat selection, linking bookings (called TCP - To Complete Party) is available to any status, it is not a gold specific benefit. All TCP'ing two bookings does though is add a note on one referencing the other. This can be done by the BA agent on the phone. It is in not any kind of merging of bookings, and does not add any protection for connecting between separate bookings.
However, what is a gold/OWE benefit and not available for other tiers is free seat selection for the non-gold/silver booking passenger. If you are a GCH/OWE and there is someone travelling on the same flight and in the same cabin on a separate booking, you can request free seat selection for the other person so that you can sit together. This second step, after doing the TCP, is usually sent off to the infamous back office to process and takes a few days to do.
#6
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 120
The only relevant benefits are the seat selection and Business Class check in as the Avios bonus will only accrue to the member in question.
If the passengers are not on the same booking then seat selection will not be available.
As for Business Class check in I have never had an issue walking up with the person I'm travelling with and just checking in. I suppose in the most strict of circumstances they might tell your friends to go to the other check in desks but it's never happened with me. Admittedly I have only ever done it with one other person rather than two.
If the passengers are not on the same booking then seat selection will not be available.
As for Business Class check in I have never had an issue walking up with the person I'm travelling with and just checking in. I suppose in the most strict of circumstances they might tell your friends to go to the other check in desks but it's never happened with me. Admittedly I have only ever done it with one other person rather than two.
Secondly, presumably the 25% Avios will accrue to me even on future bookings on my BAEC that were added when I was blue? Specifically we booked a BA flight to South Africa for next year and it's sitting in my future bookings. I will be bronze by then but am currently blue - will the Avios earned on that be at the blue rate (booked) or the bronze rate (flown)?
Thanks,
Jack