2 BA flights to LHR – can I ask to get moved to the earlier flight?

[kevind]

Hi everyone

I am in Dusseldorf at the moment and travelling home tomorrow DUS-LHR then on to BHD. I’m on the 14:20 DUS-LHR but my friends are on the 10:40 DUS-LHR. Is it worth my while travelling to the airport with them in the morning in the hope of getting on the earlier flight. ExpertFlyer shows J1 Y9. No reward availability on BA website. There are several connecting flights LHR-BHD, all with reward availability all day long.

If still a J or Y seat available, can they put me in it when I arrive at the airport say 2 hours before the flight? If so, will it be a cash only payment? I’m currently booked in Club Europe using Avios.

Or should I just totally forget it? Travel out the the airport at my leisure for the 14:20 departure.

And on that note, is there BA Gold/CE lounge access in DUS? It was poor in AMS last week.

Thanks in advance.

[Roberto]

Once midnight ticks over you can log into your MMB on the app/PC and see if its possible to swap for free on BA’s same day flight change policy.

I have had mixed results myself over than last few years but managed it a couple of weeks back for myself and player 2 on a cash booking – unsure what the reward booking situation is currently.

[yonasl]

You can use the Open Sky Lounge only at DUS: https://www.oneworld.com/airport-lounges?location=DUS

[PeteM]

Roberto wrote:

Once midnight ticks over you can log into your MMB on the app/PC and see if its possible to swap for free on BA’s same day flight change policy.

I have had mixed results myself over than last few years but managed it a couple of weeks back for myself and player 2 on a cash booking – unsure what the reward booking situation is currently.

My understanding is that on-the-day changes are only possible for cash tickets and have never been available on redemptions.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Yes cash tickets and also for simple point to point tickets on short haul routes.

So DUS-LHR as a trip on its own would be eligible but DUS-LHR-BHD wouldn’t be because of the extra leg.

I’ve had good experiences on the whole with the same day change facility but it’s only worked at midnight UK time and not midnight Berlin or Amsterdam time so needed to wait an extra hour!

[Niall]

To add to this, the free change on the day is everything people have said (only cash fares, short haul and simple point to point) and so not applicable to you. But also doesn’t apply to hand baggage only fares.

[SamG]

I’d say no chance unfortunately so wouldn’t waste my time travelling to the airport. The only time it’d be possible in your scenario is if they’ve enabled “CB4D” and they’re allowing people to shift around but at the moment no chaos in play that requires it !

[kevind]

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the replies.
I’ll have a lie in then!
Cheers

[baec_newbie]

You can use the OpenSky lounge at DUS. There’s a passable selection of food and drink (semi-hidden ice cream fridge just to the right of the entrance desk) and it’s plenty big enough. No views though – seems to have been located in just about the worst place imaginable, with no outside light whatsoever.

[George K]

If you want my opinion, I’d try it. As others have noted, you won’t be able to do this as part of the normal SDC procedure as both the fact that you’re on a redemption ticket alongside the existence of a connection disqualify you.

However, outstation check-in desks can put you on an earlier flight. Whether or not they are supposed to is a different matter. Just two weeks ago I moved an economy redemption flight to one 6 hours earlier just by asking nicely at the check-in desk.