BA Launching 10% Military Discount?

[MPN11]

Watch this space >>> BA military discount and first airline to sign AFC - FlyerTalk Forums (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1800161-ba-military-discount-first-airline-sign-afc.html)

No factual evidence yet, but supposedly going to be available for Serving, Retired, CS, Cadets, Spouses, Widowers ... British Airways will be giving armed forces a 10 per cent discount ahead of Remembrance Day | City A.M. (http://www.cityam.com/252780/british-airways-giving-armed-forces-10-per-cent-discount)

From today, it will be offering a 10 per cent discount to the armed forces, across all fares spanning its global network of 183 destinations, in all cabins (except First).
It is available to all serving armed forces, reservists, spouses of serving personnel, forces veterans, MoD civil servants, war widowers and cadet forces. It will be available through a secure website, where members of the armed forces will be able to make their booking and the discount will apply automatically.

[glide1]

The link for the discount is on https://www.defencediscountservice.co.uk

[Fonsini]

As a regular flyer on their dirty old 747-400s I feel like everyone on those things should receive a discount. They found a dead rat on my last flight from PHX to LHR, and a distant voice was heard to comment "he must have had the lasagne".

Still the best cabin crew though.

[ZFT]

As a regular flyer on their dirty old 747-400s I feel like everyone on those things should receive a discount. They found a dead rat on my last flight from PHX to LHR, and a distant voice was heard to comment "he must have had the lasagne".

Still the best cabin crew though.

Compared to whom?

[Uptime]

I agree with Fonsini, the PHX/LHR 747-400's are showing their age - last time I flew one of the "wardrobe" doors on the upper deck fell off as we rotated out of LHR

Mind you its still an amazing bird, it must be one of the slowest heading into PHX it just hangs in the air over Rio Verde / Fountain Hills

[ian16th]

Registration of the Defence Discount Service appears to be restricted to UK residents.

[rugmuncher]

Registration of the Defence Discount Service appears to be restricted to UK residents.
You CAN register from outside UK.

It's one of the options on the pulldown list for where to use.

"Outside UK, Rest of World"

[Tankertrashnav]

Pleased to see that retired personnel are included. I've always felt a bit miffed about some other service discount schemes which excluded you once you had handed your F1250 in

[MPN11]

Now registered ... although I doubt ba.com will be able to manage our typical bookings. I shall test anon.

There seems to be absolutely no checking of eligibility when registering, which I found strange. Just fill in the fields and click "Go" ... instant registration.

[Fonsini]

Compared to whom?

My other route is American through PHL or ORD, and their 767s are far superior - business class is a dream compared to the dirty cramped horrors of Club in the 747. One caveat, they just switched to 757-200s for the winter season, which takes TATL to a whole new level of cramped discomfort - not to mention the fact that the 757 is marginal on range for the westbound leg and frequently has to make an emergency pit stop in Bangor for fuel (twice in the last 4 days in fact). Yes I fly these routes a lot.

[MPN11]

TIP. If it works with this system, use BA to book AA to the US from Dublin. We do that all the time these days.

[Union Jack]

Now registered ... although I doubt ba.com will be able to manage our typical bookings. - MPN11

Not a total surprise surely since BA expressly exclude first class....:D

Jack

[MPN11]

For clarity, I'm talking about complex routings involving BA, EI and AA to distant places in the USA. And NOT in First, as I found it (on BA) a waste of money. Since then, it's got worse!

[ShotOne]

Is that discount on the price of flights or on starting salary?

[ian16th]

Yes, overseas residents CAN register, but to use their words:
Hi,

Thank you for getting in touch, you can input your South African address and we can get your card shipped out to you. Please be aware that our card is only for offers in the UK, apologies for any inconvenience,

Kind Regards

So one cannot do much with the card.

[Easy Street]

I thought BA had long offered a 10% military discount against its full (flexible) fares. I always thought this was a bit of a useless offer as you could save much more than 10% by buying a less flexible ticket, which is often all you need for off-duty travel. Does anyone know whether this 'new' offer is 10% off all fares, or only off the top whack?

[Lynxman]

It's 10% off all fares except First Class. Just booked next year's summer holiday flights for the family.

[Slow Biker]

Agreed, Easy Street. Got MoD discount LHR - SFO - LAS - LHR with BA in 2006. I can't remember the amount, but it enabled us to upgrade.

[Union Jack]

For clarity, I'm talking about complex routings involving BA, EI and AA to distant places in the USA. And NOT in First, as I found it (on BA) a waste of money. Since then, it's got worse! - MPN11

VMT for the clarification - I may have misunderstood your reference to 'Premium' cabins when you outlined your extensive travels at #9638 on http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/329990-gaining-r-f-pilots-brevet-ww-ii-482.html :ok:

Jack

[Easy Street]

It would appear from a brief experimentation that BA's cheapest domestic "Basic" fares (hand luggage only) are not available through the scheme. 10% off the "Plus" fares brings them roughly down to the "Basic" level so the discount effectively gets you a free piece of checked luggage on domestic trips. It does seem to give 10% off international economy fares compared with the regular BA website, but I was quickly able to find cheaper deals through Skyscanner. Nice to see BA thinking of us though!

[NutLoose]

Might find the legroom disappears too with squeezing more into the aircraft.

BA will add extra seats in economy cabins - BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37902468)

[MPN11]

Loads of knee-room on EI Regional in Economy, even for a six-footer ;)

[tmmorris]

Worked for me. Cheapest flights to the USA I've had for a while.

[MPN11]

From another Forum ... "...the discount is only available on BA marketed and operated flights and does not apply to travel on any BA franchisee or oneworld alliance airline, or any flight operated by a codeshare partner. The Ts and Cs also mentions that the discount is for online bookings only."

So not a great deal of use for me.

[Alber Ratman]

Love the picture of the BA pilot.. Jag Mates rule..

[spectre150]

I registered and tried to book flights for Christmas but it only offered me departures from UK airports. Not much use when one lives in the land of sand.

[Chugalug2]

Ian16th:-
Yes, overseas residents CAN register, but to use their words:
Hi,

Thank you for getting in touch, you can input your South African address and we can get your card shipped out to you. Please be aware that our card is only for offers in the UK, apologies for any inconvenience,

Kind Regards

I've heard that BA are addressing this anomaly and that the discount should be available soon to those who hold the card but are travelling from outside the UK. Only a whisper on the grapevine, so no chapter and verse (yet). Just keep checking is the Order of the Day I guess.

[oldmansquipper]

Bugger! Just seen this and "Shock Horror" realised we booked and paid for our April flights to Trumpland last week ....So, assuming Big Don will still let us in -

"Dear BA,
I am a poor impoverished veteran of some 39 years service, man and boy..."

[MPN11]

Flying AA to the USA ex-DUB is infinitely cheaper, even with connection costs. In addition you get a better cabin, better food, cleaner aircraft and ... US pre-clearance at DUB, which is painless and saves hours of queues/lines. "The only way to the USA" ... https://matrix.itasoftware.com :)

PS| Matrix takes time to learn, but basically scrapes ALL airline websites for fares. the sub-set of google fares isn't as comprehensive..

[VictorNavrad]

Just priced flight from gatwick to TFS for 2 adults on 21Dec with rtn on 28 Dec using the code BAHERO. The cost is £749.64. Booking same flights on BA with no Forces Discount code came in at under £690. Someone is taking the p*ss

[Top Bunk Tester]

When is a discount not a discount? .........

When it's offered by BA or VS, both suck with 'discounts'

[MPN11]

VictorNavrad ... did you go in to ba.com via the DDS website? Or apply the code direct in ba.com? I believe only the former route will achieve the desired result.

[tmmorris]

Presumably to stop idiots posting the code online in a public forum

:ugh:

[VictorNavrad]

Used the DDS website and code to get the special discount, its a joke ! As for posting the code on a public forum the DDS website needs a valid login to access the code so I do not consider myself an idiot to mention the code on this forum. The web is awash with sites that offer discounts and the majority are scams; I hope the DDS isite s genuine but the BA offer is not a good deal

[MPN11]

BA is very rarely a good deal, especially on long-haul.

Thanks for clarifying, VictorNavrad

[Top Bunk Tester]

Have found the absolute best best discounts out the for BA or Virgin Atlantic, hope I won't get flamed for posting it here, have thought long and hard about it ......










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