Bumping onto an earlier flight? (BA)

[geordieminx]

hoping someone can advise?

Am due to be flying Geneva-Heathrow-Edinburgh on Saturday. We booked a mid afternoon flight as we thought that would be the earliest we'd be able to get to the airport. If we arrive much earlier and there is space will they bump us onto early flight? Would they be able to move us onto earlier domestic flight too?

Many thanks

I don't think they will do this i.e bump you onto any earlier flights (as one or both may well be full already).

I would certainly speak to BA customer services beforehand before arriving any earlier.

Was hoping you would see this

It's an organized transfer (skiing) so we will be there regardless, just we didn't want to book earlier flight incase we missed it, but having spoken to rep we will be there around lunch time?

I guess I can ask, it's no real hassle either way, just wanting to get home to see ds.

I assume that you are on an inflexible ticket, so officially they won't move you to an earlier flight because that's against your ticket rules. They sell expensive flexible tickets for people who want to have the flexibility to take an earlier flight. If they let people who show up with an inflexible ticket take an earlier flight when there is space available, fewer people would buy the expensive tickets.

However, I have once arrived at the airport early enough to take the earlier flight (several hours earlier), and the very, very nice man on the BA ticket desk did put us on the earlier flight, even though it was against our fare rules. If you are at the airport anyway, there is no harm in asking very nicely, particularly if you start out by saying I know it shouldn't be possible with our tickets etc...

Fingers crossed for you - it's quite irritating to be sat at the airport watching a flight depart to where you are going, especially with the same airline!

Thanks for your help.

Just want to get home to the boy now. We've got a 3 hour drive tomorrow morning, then 2 flights and another hour drive.

Will make sure I use the nicest looking man check in person, and flirt like mad be very polite