Last minute postponement of return flight due to sickness
Jul 31, 2018, 9:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 289
Last minute postponement of return flight due to sickness
Hey
I've woken up on the last day of a trip with those awful precursors to a head cold. Sniffly nose, raised glands, that headache that you know is going to result in sneezes.
It's less than 24 hours to my return flight (premium cabin, >8 hours in the air). I already have my boarding pass.
If I wanted to postpone this flight a few days, what are my options? Will BA charge me through the nose for the changes?
I've woken up on the last day of a trip with those awful precursors to a head cold. Sniffly nose, raised glands, that headache that you know is going to result in sneezes.
It's less than 24 hours to my return flight (premium cabin, >8 hours in the air). I already have my boarding pass.
If I wanted to postpone this flight a few days, what are my options? Will BA charge me through the nose for the changes?
Jul 31, 2018, 9:34 am
#2
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,619
Hey
I've woken up on the last day of a trip with those awful precursors to a head cold. Sniffly nose, raised glands, that headache that you know is going to result in sneezes.
It's less than 24 hours to my return flight (premium cabin, >8 hours in the air). I already have my boarding pass.
If I wanted to postpone this flight a few days, what are my options? Will BA charge me through the nose for the changes?
I've woken up on the last day of a trip with those awful precursors to a head cold. Sniffly nose, raised glands, that headache that you know is going to result in sneezes.
It's less than 24 hours to my return flight (premium cabin, >8 hours in the air). I already have my boarding pass.
If I wanted to postpone this flight a few days, what are my options? Will BA charge me through the nose for the changes?
Jul 31, 2018, 9:34 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,492
it will depend on the fare rules of the ticket. The alternative would be to get a doctor to confirm you are unfit to travel and claim the change fees from travel insurance. (although with your symptoms the doctor may disagree and deem you fit)
Jul 31, 2018, 9:36 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 267
This will depend on your ticket conditions. But generally, on a typical non-flexible ticket they are likely to charge you a change fee of £60 or £100 plus any fare difference for the change.
Best option is really to call them and ask them. If you do not like the cost and cannot claim on your travel insurance, you always have the choice to politely decline the change and stick with what you have and perhaps take some medicine to reduce your symptoms.
TBH, for what sounds like a cold, both BA and travel insurance are unlikely to be particularly helpful.
Best option is really to call them and ask them. If you do not like the cost and cannot claim on your travel insurance, you always have the choice to politely decline the change and stick with what you have and perhaps take some medicine to reduce your symptoms.
TBH, for what sounds like a cold, both BA and travel insurance are unlikely to be particularly helpful.
Jul 31, 2018, 9:39 am
#5
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 10,159
I don't know what a Dr would say but for info here is the section form the BA CoC:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...ns-of-carriage
3b3) If, after beginning your journey:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...ns-of-carriage
3b3) If, after beginning your journey:
- you become ill
- your illness prevents you from travelling on your next flight within the validity period of your ticket; and
- you want us to extend the validity period so that you can continue your journey;
- state the facts relating to your illness and
- confirm the date you will be fit to travel again ('the recovery date').
- the recovery date, as long as there is a seat available on the relevant flight in the class of service for which you have paid the fare or
- if not, the first date after the recovery date when a seat will be available.
Jul 31, 2018, 9:54 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,629
Basically dose yourself up with an over the counter cold remedy an hour or so before boarding. Unless you have serious flu symptoms (you'll know about it if you do) flying with a cold is uncomfortable but manageable.
I remember having a similar problem on the day before flying back from KUL once - my wife has a friend there who's a pharmacist and was able to get me some decongestants. Felt absolutely great on those, never better, and had a really great flight. It turns out that a major component of Malaysian decongestants is speed.
I remember having a similar problem on the day before flying back from KUL once - my wife has a friend there who's a pharmacist and was able to get me some decongestants. Felt absolutely great on those, never better, and had a really great flight. It turns out that a major component of Malaysian decongestants is speed.
Jul 31, 2018, 10:06 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: All the usual suspects
Posts: 342
Jul 31, 2018, 10:21 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
Do you think/know if you have a temperature? It can be difficult to distinguish between a cold and the flu at times, and the ethics of travelling with the flu are questionable 
Jul 31, 2018, 11:00 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: glasgow
Programs: ba lifetime gold, MAS gold, hhonors gold
Posts: 723
I understand that the OP is obviously not serious (?!) but it's worth mentioning that BA can be really helpful in the case of illness/injury. When I fractured my neck pf femur on holiday in Antigua I was able to change our return flight to a date when I was allowed to fly. They didn't even ask for a med cert. And this was an Avios redemption flight in CW.
Jul 31, 2018, 12:17 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 356
This is your best bet. I know someone who were able to push due to a stomach flu at a last moment. Always worth a call.
Jul 31, 2018, 1:23 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,166
My experience is not positive here - Mrs R once had to fly LHR to JFK (thankfully, in Club) with possibly the worst flu I've ever seen her have - she was a sweating, shivering mess. BA told me point-blank on the phone that it was a case of "fly today or lose the tickets" (or pay for a full-price flight change); the airport staff were no more helpful, although it was pretty apparent she was quite unwell. We just had to travel. It was her first trip to New York, and she remembers nothing about our arrival.
Anecdotal evidence, I know - but that was my experience. This was on a Saturday, so totally impossible to get hold of a doctor's note in time to change our lunchtime flight.
I'd say you just have to fly.
Anecdotal evidence, I know - but that was my experience. This was on a Saturday, so totally impossible to get hold of a doctor's note in time to change our lunchtime flight.
I'd say you just have to fly.