What Does British Airways Have to Offer Missionaries?

Today, an airline is an airline. Gone are the days of airlines trying to impress passengers with excellent meals, great service and perks to keep you flying! While this is true in general, each airline has held onto a few of their "perks" and British Airways has retained a few which we think our Missionary families might be interested.

Delayed Ticketing:

British Airways understands that missionaries have to "raise" support from individuals and other sources and they realize that this can often be a long process. They also understand that you need to book/reserve your ticket when prices are cheap. So, British Airways allows a few travel agents, like World Missions Travel, to reserve special "Missionary Contract Fares" for missionaries and we can hold them for several weeks while you organize the funds to pay for the tickets.

FREE Checked Baggage:
If traveling on a British Airways Missionary Contract from a gateway city in the USA (Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, New York, Miami, Houston, etc.), then each missionary is entitled to 3 FREE checked pieces of luggage at no additional cost!

FREE Date Change:

Often missionaries find themselves needing to change dates. Whether it was that terrible food you ate on the mission field which caused you to get so sick that you needed to go home early or whether those orphans just stole your heart and you want to stay a little longer, British Airways wants to help make those ticket changes possible! BA will allow one free date change as long as the same class of service is available. If the same class of service is available (and no we do not mean any economy seat, we mean the same price structure seat) then your ticket can be changed for free!

Household Mileage Accounts:

Frequent flier mileage accounts are great ways to earn you and your family free travel. However, let's face it...if the average missionary travels once a year (or less), it will take forever for you to earn enough mileage for that free ticket. British Airways is a little different. While each member of your family (including the kids) has their own mileage account, the head of household can invite everyone living at the same address to join the "Household Account." This pooling of miles allows you to pull miles from any family members individual account and add to another account in order to reach a free ticket faster! Unlike other airlines, British Airways does NOT charge for the mileage transfer if it is from within the household account. Check out the BA Household Account Website for more details.

On Business - Corporate Account for Non-Profit Organizations:

For missionaries who have started their own non-profit organizations, this will be of significant interest to you. When you, your family or short term mission team members travel, they can all earn miles for the ministry! British Airways has a program called On Business which allows small businesses and non-profits to earn "corporate points" towards free travel. Each individual is still allowed to earn their own personal mileage, but then based on the distance they travel, they earn the organization points. These points, added together create the On Business account and allows the organization to get free tickets from the travel of its staff and volunteers.

So, consider using British Airways next time you travel to Europe or Africa on a mission trip!

Lost Luggage Tips...

Over the years, I don't remember how many times my bags have gone missing while I was traveling. It has probably happened to you or might happen in the future. So, what should you do?

• If your luggage is lost, find an airline representative and report the problem. There is usually always a "Lost Luggage" or "Lost & Found" counter within the baggage/customs hall.

• The above mentioned office will most likely give you a form to complete (or at least sign). Be sure to take care of this before leaving the airport! This form will describe the luggage and its contents. Be sure to make a mental note of the brand name of your luggage, color of bags, etc.

• Obtain a copy of the form before giving it to airline representative.

• Statistics show that 98% of lost luggage is found within several hours, and will be put on the next flight to your destination. Arrangements of whether it will be delivered to your door or you will have to pick it up need to be worked out before you leave the airport. Most likely, if you are a missionary, you will not be staying in the city where the airport is located. So, be sure to make arrangements!

• If you cannot wait, make sure the airline has your address to forward your luggage. Ask them to call you when the bags have arrived to confirm their arrival.

• If you need to buy some basic hygiene or clothes, be sure to ask the airline to cover this need. British Airways actually provides customers with a pre-loaded debit card with a set amount of 35 British Pounds.

• If luggage is never found, you will be asked to estimate the value (depreciated) of its contents. If you claim anything new or costly (i.e. camera, laptop, mp3 player, etc.), you may be asked to provide receipts and other documentation.

  
  

Comparing Baggage Policies...

Let's face it, the airlines are getting skimpy and if they could put us on their aircraft and do it without luggage, they would be happy. It would definately cut their costs! Less weight, no baggage handlers needed, etc. However, that is not realistic.

Instead, airlines are charging passengers for each bag. Here is what you can expect...

• European airlines will typically allow 1 checked bag per passenger.
• American airlines will typically charge you for each bag. So, check with each airline to find out their specific rules.

Now, if you are a missionary like me...you need every extra ounce of luggage space you can find. Whether it is new Bible study material, clothes for the next year, or that brown sugar your wife uses in so many recipes...you need extra bags! There is good news!

If you are flying (for mission work/ministry) to a location served by British Airways, you can get up to 3 FREE checked bags from their USA gateway cities (DFW, LAX, ORD, BOS to name a few). Yes, you read that correctly. If you are flying on a British Airways "Missionary Contract" and have proof that you are in ministry, you are entitled to 3 FREE CHECKED BAGS!

To learn more about this special offer, contact Rosann (rosannalexander@live.com) or Andrew (akellyukraine@gmail.com) today!