Prior to Covid, I used to use Same Day Change a lot, but for some reason I kind of forgot about it until recently when I tried to change a flight and couldn’t. Today Katie in London had the same issue and managed to solve it, so I thought it was worth a run down to refresh memories or perhaps let people know who aren’t aware.
In this post:
What is Same Day Change?
If you book an economy Plus or Plus Flex fare or Club Europe you can change flight times on the actual day in most circumstances completely free. This is particularly useful if you have a connecting flight on a separate ticket, such as positioning where you have allowed plenty of time but actually could make an earlier flight.
It is also useful if the flight time you really want is more expensive, but you are willing to chance booking the cheaper one and changing on the day.
What are the rules?
- Same Day Change is available on simple point-to-point flights (so no connections on the same ticket).
- It’s only available on short-haul and domestic flights for Economy Plus, Plus Flex and Club Europe.
- You can’t use them on an open jaw i.e. if you return to a different airport than where you started from
- You can use them with BA Holidays bookings, but you may have to call to use it. There is a duty number on your booking for while you are away. Use this, and there is rarely a wait. Katie got through today immediately.
- It is not available on Avios or redemption tickets.
- You can make the change from midnight on the day of departure until one hour before departure.
- Checking in for your flight can remove the ability to do the change online, so don’t do it until you have changed your flight.
- You can’t change airports even within London, so no changing to a Gatwick flight if you were meant to go from Heathrow etc.
- You can only change the flight for that day, not any other flights on the same booking.
- If you do a same day change on the outbound flight you may not be able to do it on the inbound as well.
- Obviously, there needs to be seats available. The easiest way to check this is to subscribe to Expert Flyer which has all sorts of useful information such as seats available and seat maps.
- There only needs to be availability in the cabin you are travelling in. It does not need to be a particular fare class.
- It only applies to BA operated flights, not codeshares.
How do I do a Same Day Change?
The option should appear in your app or manage my booking after midnight on the day of departure. If you can’t do it then you will have to call British Airways or the BA Holidays Duty line if you have a package with a hotel or car hire.
Just go to Manage My Booking and then change flight. When you enter the details to change to a flight the same day it should show as £0. If you are having trouble, you can also call.
8 comments
Yes, we used this feature every time we landed in scandi on qr J flts fm Asia. Usually we had to call in. Used to book 2nd last one to uk, but then changed it to next one possible. Check in after we got our bags. The only one ba kicked up on was the hel lhr route, claiming we couldn’t swop. Think it was that they were charging so much, they hoped for last minute biz people buying the tkts. But we would have to insist they allowed us the change. Worked a dream for us during those great years…
That’s exactly when I have used them in the past. So useful rather than waiting around!
As Michele quite rightly says, there needs to be seats available on the other flights to your destination on the day.
We met a couple on a cruise recently who naively thought they’d be able to swap on to more convenient flights to and from Athens during the height of the summer. Not only did they just make it on board for sail-away in Athens, but with the ship docking in Piraeus at 0700, they were unable to make the 0800 flight they were booked on from Eleftherios Venizelos, and were last seen trying to sort out other flights back to London.
In the right circumstances it’s a great facility, but as Michele has already shown in the article, it comes with a number of important caveats.
Not really part of a “right” under any scheme “same day” or not, but from time to time I have found BA staff ready to put me on an earlier flight – when I am standing at the check in desk Perhaps most extreme was flying Madrid LHR Glasgow. Arrived at LHR and really just wanted to go straight home to Edinburgh missing Glasgow appointment that evening.
Luggage checked in Madrid to Glasgow Seem to remember I even had a Glasgow boarding card already but not sure
Asked at a departure lounge desk as I saw I flight in 30 mins time to Edinburgh. Yes certainly sir, and they got my luggage off wherever it was and it and myself arrived safely in Edinburgh
Quite often done things like that BUT it has always been on an informal basis depending on the staff member not part of some scheme or “right” I had to be prepared to be told “no” So not really relevant to this thread but though would mention
And thanks for bringing up the “same day” scheme
deryck
HI Michelle, the article is really helpful! Thank you 🙂
I have a question about flight changes for 2-4-1.
I recently booked my 2-4-1 DUB – LHR – DULLES, THEN DULLES – LHR.
I specifically chose the new club suite. I’ve just had notification that they have changed my plane to an Airbus 380. Can I ring them and say I want to change to the other flight on the day that I see has reward seats still available or will I have to pay the £35 pp per leg? Thank you!
You will probably have to pay the £35 according to the rule but you can always ask!
This is really helpful! Thankyou!
If I choose a seat but don’t check in, does that reduce my chances of being able to swap flights please?
Choosing a seat should not make any difference
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