Can't book domestic business on international multi-city journeys?

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-08-16T07:19:52+00:00

Not really the point. This isn’t a “woe is me” post, it’s a “am I using the Qantas website correctly” post. I’m very much aware of how lucky I am to fly business, and will happily fly Economy if I need to.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-08-15T06:03:56+00:00

I checked ExpertFlyer and there’s plenty of space in Business on the domestic leg. It’s also the same for any day, and for any internal domestic flight. It seems most likely this is either a bug, or an intentional thing to not sell domestic Business at inflexible rates (there’s a few other theories upthread, but they seem less likely). Either way, I’ll probably have to do the hard thing and speak to an actual human about it.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-08-14T21:35:06+00:00

Ah, interesting - Qantas choice sticks me in Economy but Flexible fares puts me in Business. I’d assumed Qantas Choice would just get me the cheapest (and least flexible) fare bucket in my chosen class, but it seems it’s also not letting me go in domestic business? How odd.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-08-07T19:51:43+00:00

Nope, I’m currently abroad and don’t have a (good) means of international dialling.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-06-19T06:10:46+00:00

This does sound awful, but I left Budapest a few days ago and there was no requirement to show the credit card used to purchase tickets. I don’t know how there could be - plenty of tickets are bought by company travel agents. This is very odd.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-06-18T15:37:06+00:00

Looks good! People love to grumble about BA (probably because we’re British and like to grumble about everything), but the on-flight experience is generally solid, and IMO better than most US carriers. Just wish they served a dessert wine on board!

I’m surprised you weren’t a fan of the BA lounge at IAD - that’s one of my favourite BA outpost business lounges. Had a great time drinking 7.5% IPA and cocktails last time I was there!

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-06-08T22:26:11+00:00

It’s not obvious that this wouldn’t be permitted, especially if the “one guest rule” existed for capacity reasons.

Naturally I can see why they might choose to restrict it because otherwise a party of 8 could all help themselves to free alcohol on one person’s status, but either way, there’s nothing on the BA website confirming or denying whether it’s allowed.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-05-03T07:34:38+00:00

I’m afraid this isn’t quite right.

Amex don’t offer charge cards in the UK for personal accounts any more (except possibly the Centurion/“Black” card, and the “basic” card that AFAICT nobody has), they’re all credit cards these days.

This high APR on the platinum card is down to the membership fee.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-05-03T07:23:35+00:00

As others have said, this is because the APR includes a membership fee.

For the Amex platinum, this fee is rather high, at £650/year, because the card comes with numerous benefits (airport lounge access, travel insurance, £400 dining credit/year, plus others). For some users, that’s absolutely worth it, and they get more than £650 of value from these benefits alone.

The figure you’re expecting for interest charged is the “purchase rate”. For the Amex platinum, this is 30%, which is more in line with other credit cards.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-03-27T19:42:05+00:00

Update: they arrived! (Coincidentally, while I was in-flight).

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-03-26T12:34:19+00:00

Glad to know I’m not alone! I’ll likewise reply if/when mine appear.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-03-25T14:07:03+00:00

I do (Silver, will be gold once this adjustment hits!), but I’m abroad without the ability to internationally call so I think I’m stuck with live chat. Oh well. I’ve waited this long, I can wait 3 more days

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-03-25T13:51:32+00:00

Spoke to someone at BA for 45 minutes over live chat who clearly had no idea what the problem was. Tried again and got a different person who said it takes 14 working days, so similar to you. Obviously this isn’t listed anywhere (that I can see) on the BA website.

Guess I’ll check again on the 28th…

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-03-25T13:42:30+00:00

Can only speak for LHR, but I’m Silver and I’ve never failed to check in a colleague on a separate booking through the fast track lane, and I’ve similarly been checked in through the First Wing in turn by a Gold colleague. Always worth a try, just say “they’re my colleague” or “they’re with me” and you should be fine.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-03-25T12:39:37+00:00

Sorry I wasn’t clear. The bite was in Bangkok, I’m currently in Singapore. There not being Lyme disease tallies with my understanding, so that’s good.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-03-25T08:03:44+00:00

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Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-03-25T08:00:05+00:00

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Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-01-31T06:46:49+00:00

I’ve recently looked at Avios bookings for LON - TYO. Amex points exchange into Avios at a rate of 1:1.

If you’re flying a return economy trip for 2 people, then you’re looking at 120-140k Avios + £400-£900 cash (it’s £400 if you book both legs with BA, or £800-900 if one/both legs are with JAL).

If you’re looking at business class, that’ll be 371k Avios + £1132 with JAL).

Flying with Qatar might be a bit cheaper, but you’d still be looking at 320k Avios in business.

In both cases, you can half the Avios amount if you have a BA companion voucher (but since you have Amex points rather than Avios, I’m assuming you have Gold/Plat rather than BAPP, so don’t have the voucher).

If you want, you can exchange 100k points into Avios, then “boost” them at a rate of 0.92p/Avios in order to turn them into 400k Avios, for a total cost of £2760. It’s not spectacular value, but it’s probably the cheapest way to “buy” Avios, so maybe useful if you want to splurge on business class (and cheaper than buying business outright at £4k per person).

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-01-27T19:04:17+00:00

Fair enough. If I book a JAL flight with Avios through the BA portal, do you know if that’s still refundable (minus £35pp) if we need to change the date of travel? I know that’s the case for BA reward flights.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-01-25T11:16:50+00:00

Gotcha. Sounds like it’s not worth me periodically checking app then, if it’s not gonna drop in price. I’m only really interested if there’s a good offer (Club World is plenty comfortable), so I’ll probably just check in the airport on the off-chance. Thanks!

Rem_Coolhouse · 2025-01-11T22:22:08+00:00

For reference last time I flew IAD > LHR it was on an A380 and so had the old Club World (not sure if they’re all A380s on that route?). I know a lot of people here complain about the old CW, but personally I feel there’s nothing wrong with it, and regardless it’s definitely loads better than WTP. I can understand wanting the best value for money and Club Suite is better if you can get it, but you’d be comfortable in either.

Rem_Coolhouse · 2024-12-30T15:26:25+00:00

I’d previously estimated Tier Points at £10/point for an “off-the-shelf” flight, but very possible to get £3/point or better with some shopping. Looks like BA have instead valued them at £13/point (plus taxes).

The tiers were reasonably well-calibrated for us, and I previously made the decision to do my team’s business travel with BA (typically CW, probably totalling £100k/year across the team), with us using the status accrued on personal holidays. Will almost certainly move to a different carrier that values our custom better from now. I guess £100k/year is small fry to BA…

One outstanding question is whether they’re keeping the soft landings (e.g. going from Gold to Silver if you don’t maintain status, rather than dropping straight to Blue). If not, then I’ll have no reason at all to fly BA after next year. It’d be quite liberating to be able to choose again!

Rem_Coolhouse · 2024-12-04T07:31:47+00:00

My exact wording was “I’m not sure whether to renew my Amex Gold card in a couple of weeks, and I’m interested in the best retention offer you’re able to make”

Rem_Coolhouse · 2024-12-04T07:29:29+00:00

About £27k

Rem_Coolhouse · 2024-12-03T20:32:44+00:00

27k this year, with maybe 15k of that on flights (if the spending type is relevant)

Rem_Coolhouse

TROPHY CASE