|
For the latest news from British Airways please
follow the links below:
- Wireless Internet
Access
- Latest Flight Switches
from LHR T4 - T1
- E-ticket Q&A
Wireless Internet Access In
Executive Lounges
 British
Airways is to launch wireless Internet connections
into 80 of its main customer lounges around the
world.
The airline has agreed to work with British Telecom
to install the new technology which will enable
to customers to have broadband internet access
without having to plug their computer into a modem.
The latest wireless technology will be placed
by BT around the lounges which means customers
can sit where they choose and still have access
to the Internet or their company's computer systems.
The first phase will involve fitting the new
BT Openzone technology in all British Airways'
lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick by the end of
April. It is anticipated that more than 80 of
the airline's main lounges will have the technology
by the end of May 2004.
Paul Coby, chief information officer at British
Airways, said: "We are delighted to have
signed an agreement with BT to have wireless LAN
systems installed in more than 80 of our main
lounges across the world in the next few months.
"The wireless facilities will give instant
internet and email connectivity to the hundreds
of thousands of customers who use our lounges
every year. We know many of them already want
to make best use of their time whether it's on
business or leisure either before or just after
a flight.
"Our lounges have always aimed to strike
a balance between giving customers enough time,
space and comfort to relax as well as making enough
computer areas or connection points available
to those who want to work by checking their emails
or relax by surfing the web.
"The beauty of having wireless technology
is that the customer can start up a wireless enabled
computer wherever they want to sit rather than
having to use a dedicated area to have live Internet
access. "
Latest Flight Switches at London
Heathrow Airport
 On
28 March 2004, British Airways will be moving
a number of international flights between London
Heathrow terminals 4 and 1.
Why we are switching flights between Terminals
4 and 1?
Switching these carefully selected services will
make it more convenient for many transfer passengers
connecting between long haul and short haul flights,
who will no longer need to change terminals at
Heathrow.
To support these additional long haul services,
a major programme of infrastructure improvements
is taking place at Terminal 1 including new lounges
and check-in facilities.
Which flights are being swapped and when?
From 28 March 2004 the following destinations
will transfer from Heathrow Terminal 4 into Terminal
1:
Athens
Hong Kong
Los Angeles
Moscow
San Francisco
Those destinations moving from Terminal 1 to
Terminal 4:
Brussels
Copenhagen
Geneva
Lyon
Oslo
Vienna
Zurich
The transfer of these services forms the second
phase of a programme of Heathrow flight switches.
The airline's two daily Tokyo Narita and two daily
Johannesburg services were transferred from Terminal
4 to Terminal 1 at the end of October 2003.
It's easy with e-ticket
 e-ticket
is the paperless electronic ticket from British
Airways. When you book an e-ticket the details
are safely stored on the British Airways booking
system so there is no need for a paper ticket.
Please see below for some frequently asked questions
and answers
E-Ticket Q & A
Q) What is e-ticket?
A) e-ticket is a paperless ticketing system,
whereby the ticket is held in the British Airways
database.
Booking and payment are made in the usual way,
however there is no paper ticket issued and therefore
no ticket to collect at the airport or from your
travel agent. Simply go straight to our Self-Service
Check-in kiosks or a conventional check-in desk
Q) If I don't receive a ticket how
do I know that the booking is actually made and
correct?
A) Whilst you don't receive a conventional paper
ticket, you will receive a receipt and itinerary
confirming your booking
Q) If you have to issue a paper
receipt/itinerary why don't you just give me a
conventional paper ticket instead?
A)The benefits of not having a paper ticket are
numerous. An e-ticket cannot be lost / stolen
/ forgotten and changes to travel plans can be
made over the phone without having to visit a
ticket desk (subject to usual fare restrictions).
Q) Do I need this receipt/itinerary
to check in at a conventional desk?
A) No, this is not necessary unless you are travelling
internationally.
For example when you travel to the US you may
be asked to show US Immigration Officers that
you eventually intend to leave the country and
the itinerary/receipt can be used as evidence
of this intent. A copy of the itinerary/receipt
can also be obtained from a Self-Service Check-in
kiosk (available only if you are using it to check
in) or at a ticket desk.
For all other travel, any other form of ID will
suffice e.g. driving licence, passport, Executive
Club Card or even the credit card used to pay
for the booking.
Q) How close to departure can I
change my ticket?
A) Alterations to bookings can be made up to
30 minutes before minimum check-in times. These
vary depending upon which airport and terminal
you are departing from.
Q) Can I have an e-ticket if I am
checking in baggage?
A) Yes. If you are checking in using Self-Service
Check-in kiosks, you can use the dedicated Fast
Bag Drop to check in your baggage. Currently most
terminals which have Self-Service Check-in kiosks
also have a Fast Bag Drop facility. If you are
travelling from an alternative location or not
using Self-Service Check-in kiosks, then you can
check in at a conventional desk. You will need
to show a form of ID to the check-in agent.
Q) How do I check in using
the Self-Service Check-in kiosks?
A) Self-Service Check-in kiosks are simple to
use and offer a faster and more convenient way
to speed through the airport formalities compared
to the conventional check-in desks.
You insert either your credit card (used to make
the booking), or your British Airways Executive
Club card. Using your card as a form of ID, the
booking is located in the system and appears on
the screen so that you can reconfirm the details.
You will also, subject to availability, be able
to change your seat if you wish. In addition if
your return journey is within 24 hours, you can
check in for this flight too. Once you are satisfied
with your selections you simply confirm the transaction
and the machine will print your boarding passes.
Q) Do I need to remember my booking
reference in order to use the kiosk?
A) No. All you have to do is bring along the
credit card you made the booking with, or your
Executive Club card. In addition, for international
travel you will need to bring along your itinerary.
Q) Do I have to use the Self-Service
Check-in kiosk if I book an e-ticket?
A) No, although we try to recommend that you
do. Self-Service Check-in kiosks can reduce check
in times to under a minute.
So why wait in a queue for longer than necessary
when it makes sense to check yourself in, in under
a minute.
Q) Will the kiosk be hosted?
A) We have a dedicated team of staff, located
at the kiosks, who are there to assist and demonstrate
to first-time users how easy it really is to check
in.
Q) What happens if I want to transfer
to another airline?
A) The process is simple. Just go along to the
nearest British Airways ticket desk where they
will issue you with a paper ticket and endorse
it for another airline (as long as this is in
accordance with the fare rules).
In future this process will be made even simpler
as other carriers adopt this new technology; the
transferral of bookings between airlines will
be made electronically.
Q) What forms of ID do I need
to check in at a conventional desk?
A) Suitable forms of ID include:
Domestic travel
Credit card, Executive Club card, driving licence,
company works card / ID.
Travel to the US
A Passport is required for all international travel
Q) Is an e-ticket the same as a
Ticket on Departure (TOD)?
A) No. An e-ticket is a paperless ticket stored
in the British Airways database. When you book
an e-ticket there is no need to go to a ticket
desk - just go straight to a Self-Service Check-in
kiosk or a conventional check-in desk.
A TOD has to be collected at a ticket desk. So
make sure you ask for an e-ticket, rather than
a TOD, next time you travel at short notice.
Source: British Airways
|
