Thread: Zed Fare on BA

OAL is always bottom of list for nonrev on zeds
doubt BA upgrades for any OAL
zeds are typically limited to coach but you have to check your agreement terms w/BA

I think upgrades depend on the individual agent working the flight.
However, I have been upgraded 2 of 3 segments on BA and all with Zed tickets....

Jacy,
When you check-in on BA does not affect your position in the onload list .. it is based on the priority we assign to your type of ticket and your date of joining / date of listing. You need to list in advance for all BA flights at idtravel.ba.com.
You must check-in using the self-service machines prior to going to the baggage drop.
If you are with American then rather than a simple ZED ticket you should be getting a ZED under the OneWorld agreement which will give you a higher priority on BA than non-OneWorld OAL staff.
CPT is normally a heavily booked route and so I would suggest that also get tickets on BA to/from JNB and then to/from JNB to CPT on Comair ( a BA subsidary covered by the BA interline agreement ).
In general BA will upgrade OAL if required ( rather than as a matter of course ) for them to travel rather than leave them behind but obviously our own staff come ahead on the list so with a popular route like CPT I would be surprised if you manage to get an upgrade but you can always hope...

Jacy,
I'd list as soon as you know what flights you are using .. it can't but help.

At T5 you check-in at the self service machines the same as commercial pax. If there are seats openly available at that time then you will be accepted and given seat numbers otherwise you will be checked-in to standby ... in eother case you then go to a baggage drop desk to get your bags tagged.

If you have been seated then your bags will be sent down the chutes and then you can go airside.

If on standby then you hold on to your tagged bags and wait for the flight to be closed at about STD -40. At closeout you need to go to what you called the 'non-rev' room. In there you will see screens for each flight that is due to depart and on that screen a list of all the standby PNR codes and if you have been onloaded, not onloaded or occasionally that you need to See Agent ( normally if its a jumpseat or group split ) and then follow the instructions given on the screen ... normally to go to the manned check-in area next door to collect you boarding pass and get you bags sent down the chute.
You then need to go straight to airside because if you are not through security by conformance time ( STD -30 ) you will be offloaded.
If you have supplied a mobile number in your listing you will get a text at closeout to say if you are on or not and then you go to the room.
Its generally not daunting and quite a slick process.

Although its a fantastic building theres not a lot to do while waiting at T5. Certainly no non-rev lounge ( if only ).
You can easily get to Windsor in less that an hour by direct bus from T5 .. you can find timings and details here ...http://www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk
if time is more constrained you could get a pub lunch and one of the small villages around Heathrow most of which you can get to by bus

Unfortunately you must now use idtravel.ba.com otherwise you may be unable to check-in.
It shouldn't ask for any info that you don't have access to.

There is a left luggage store at T5 where you can leave your bags but they do charge GBP 8 per item per 24 hrs or part thereof. You should be able to check-in as soon as you arrive ( early morning I assume ) and hopefully if seats are available drop your bags off at that time BUT you may be put to standby if you TELL them you are leaving the airport.

rgds

No .. the ticket number is printed on the physical ticket that you have obtained from AA ... it is a 13 digit number beginning 001 in the case of AA and is normall at the bottom center of the ticket. What you will obtain from the BA site is a 6 character PNR .. often called a booking reference.