[ihateba]

I booked tickets on BA from New York to London using their telephone reservation system (I didn't have a choice because I had a child traveling alone - in which case, online reservations are not allowed). I was traveling and wasn't in front of the internet when I booked it but I asked the reservations specialist to check for cheapest flights out of all New York airports (JFK and Newark). She gave me the "lowest" option, a flight out of JFK and I booked it.

A few days later, when my travel ended, I just happened to check the fares online and found fares that were $1600 cheaper than what I paid (to Newark). Now, I know that fares change all the time and if they drop after you buy a ticket, there's nothing you can do about it.

I figured that it was worth paying the change fee and I called them. In doing so, I discovered a problem (which is prompting this post). The agent said "What do you mean? Yours is the cheapest flight out there". I said "I'm looking at your system right now, I see a flight BAXXX that's $1600 cheaper". They didn't see it. Half hour and a lot of wrangling later they "found" the flight for the lower cost!!!!!!!!!!

Now, obviously, I have no way of checking whether that lower priced flight was there when I booked it. But I did want to check if it was a recurring problem. So I tried calling them separately as though to inquire about the fares and each time, I was NOT offered the lowest fare. My friend checked and had the same response. I tried this for a total of 4 times and each time the phone system did not offer a lower fare unless the person quoted the flight number found online.

I had to pay a $1000 cancellation fee (2 tickets) and rebook myself on the cheaper flight. So, instead of saving $1600, I saved $600 on the new flight. The BA agent would not waive the fee for me and told me that I could "never prove it".

I have complained to BA Customer relations but I'm guessing I am not going to get anything from them. Would appreciate any thoughts on what (if any) I can do.

At the very least, let this be a PSA: please be careful when you use the phone reservation system. They give whatever damn fare they please and call it the "lowest"