I have booked a full fare flight in J to the US in a few weeks, but due to medical / family reasons, I had to fly out sooner. BA quoted me £4,000 to change my ticket! I was told over the phone that if I don’t show up for my flight next week, my return flight will be cancelled.

I’ve two questions:

1. I “split” my husband’s booking from mine over the phone, as he still intends to travel on our original flight next week but without me as I’m already in the US. Because he now has a separate booking reference, if I don’t show up for the same flight, will his return also be cancelled, or just mine? I assume just mine…

2. Is there any point in appealing to BA’s goodwill by asking them to make an exception? We are not travelling for a holiday but for a family medical situation, and I’ve no control over it. I get that there’s a contract in place, and I’ve agreed to it, but it does really suck.

I am currently planning to fly back to London next week as I booked a return with United, just so I can travel on the original flight and keep my future ticket which for reasons not worth going into (not status or points related) I really want to keep, not least as the full ticket cost me over £8K. If I can avoid doing this, I’d really like to.