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*Coronavirus : BA Suspends all flts to mainland China* +discussion on long haul flts

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Old Jan 26, 2020, 5:00 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Globaliser
.
BA have cancelled all flights to PKX (Beijing/Peking) and PVG (Shanghai Pu Dong) "until 19 April 2020".

BA frequency to HKG has been reduced with effect from 13 February 2020 - see below for further details. From HKG, Cathay is running a heavily reduced schedule to mainland destinations until the end of March.

If you are due to fly to PKX, PVG and your flight is cancelled then you have refund, re-route and rebook options. BA can rebook on to several other airlines.
If you are due to fly to Hong Kong until 1st April you have refund and rebook options.
If you are transiting into mainland China you are also covered as above.
If you are transiting internationally (e.g. LHR-HKG-SYD) you are not able to move your flights, unless they are cancelled anyway.
The latest ba.com update was on 21 February 2020 at 1510.

More information on the advice of Her Majesty's Government about travel and health is on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china

For the Special Administration Regions of Hong Kong and Macao:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/hong-kong
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/macao

Summary from IATA of all travel restrictions due to Coronavirus as added to TIMATIC https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm


.
HKG frequency reductions (as of 1330 on 21 February 2020, all dates inclusive).

LHR-HKG

From Thu 13.02.2020 to Mon 01.06.2020: BA31 cancelled. BA27 operates (380).

Exceptions:-
  • Tue 18.02.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (777).
  • Tue 10.03.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (777).
  • Mon 27.04.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Tue 28.04.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Wed 29.04.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Thu 30.04.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Mon 11.05.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Tue 12.05.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Mon 18.05.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Tue 19.05.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Sun 24.05.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Mon 25.05.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Tue 26.05.2020: BA27 cancelled. BA31 operates (380).
  • Mon 01.06.2020: BA31 cancelled. BA27 operates (777).
In addition, on Mon 08.06.2020: BA31 cancelled. BA27 operates (777).

HKG-LHR

From Fri 14.02.2020 to Tue 02.06.2020: BA32 cancelled. BA28 operates (380).

Exceptions:-
  • Wed 19.02.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (777).
  • Wed 11.03.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (777).
  • Sun 29.03.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Tue 28.04.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Wed 29.04.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Thu 30.04.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Fri 01.05.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Tue 12.05.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Wed 13.05.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Tue 19.05.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Wed 20.05.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Mon 25.05.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Tue 26.05.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Wed 27.05.2020: BA28 cancelled. BA32 operates (380).
  • Tue 02.06.2020: BA32 cancelled. BA28 operates (777).
In addition, on Tue 09.06.2020: BA32 cancelled. BA28 operates (777).

Note: Schedule changes take effect on Sun 29.03.2020 in both directions.

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*Coronavirus : BA Suspends all flts to mainland China* +discussion on long haul flts

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Old Feb 22, 2020, 6:57 am
  #766  
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
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Originally Posted by chrisnasah
Would my flight be classed as cancelled if they offered me an alternative flight which is now scheduled 5 mins after? I will wait to see what the TA come back with as they mentioned they will call BA to confirm.
A cancelled flight is cancelled, there isn't room for ambiguity on that point. It is or it isn't. If you are put on an alternative flight, the first flight still remains cancelled. If the TA said they wanted to call BA, then that's exactly what I would expect them to say unless there were an outfit like Amex or CWT, who would have been given advance notice. If it's a IT or consolidation ticket then they wouldn't be told very much since BA wouldn't be controlling the inventory at the point of sale.
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 7:19 am
  #767  
 
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I've just decided to cancel all my flights through Hong Kong and go direct with Qantas to Singapore. I was going to cancel my Avios booking online, but because I've flown the outbound, the only option I get is to "request a refund" which is a bit odd as usually it's instant. Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I just wait for the twitter team to get back to me to avoid the cancellation fee?
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 7:23 am
  #768  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: London
Posts: 32
Hello,

So my TA are saying BA have agreed for cancellation but my TA will charge me £75 admin fee.

As this is issue with BA cancelling shouldn't they claim it from BA? or do i have to pay for it?
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 7:34 am
  #769  
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Originally Posted by chrisnasah
Hello,

So my TA are saying BA have agreed for cancellation but my TA will charge me £75 admin fee.

As this is issue with BA cancelling shouldn't they claim it from BA? or do i have to pay for it?
Carlton have in their Ts & Cs a clause which says they do charge £75 for administering refunds regardless. In theory you could try to recover this from BA as per EC261 but I'm sure they would be unamused at the prospect. That's how TAs work, I'm afraid to say.
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 7:34 am
  #770  
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Originally Posted by chrisnasah
Hello,

So my TA are saying BA have agreed for cancellation but my TA will charge me £75 admin fee.

As this is issue with BA cancelling shouldn't they claim it from BA? or do i have to pay for it?
Maybe just do a chargeback?
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 7:36 am
  #771  
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
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Originally Posted by Lewis King
I've just decided to cancel all my flights through Hong Kong and go direct with Qantas to Singapore. I was going to cancel my Avios booking online, but because I've flown the outbound, the only option I get is to "request a refund" which is a bit odd as usually it's instant. Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I just wait for the twitter team to get back to me to avoid the cancellation fee?
If you have part flown a trip it will need the back office to calculate the amount due to you. The Avios is fairly clear cut but exchange rates on taxes, fees and surcharges will have moved. You will get an instant refund in straightforward cases, but if you have flown sectors then it gets complicated.
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 7:37 am
  #772  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: BAEC - Lowly blue
Posts: 284
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
If you have part flown a trip it will need the back office to calculate the amount due to you. The Avios is fairly clear cut but exchange rates on taxes, fees and surcharges will have moved. You will get an instant refund in straightforward cases, but if you have flown sectors then it gets complicated.
Thanks as always! Waiting on an Avios refund from Cathay as well (booked via BA) via this system too. I would assume this back office is fairly busy these days. I'll just wait to see what the twitter team say. Thanks!
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 7:44 am
  #773  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: London
Posts: 32
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
Carlton have in their Ts & Cs a clause which says they do charge £75 for administering refunds regardless. In theory you could try to recover this from BA as per EC261 but I'm sure they would be unamused at the prospect. That's how TAs work, I'm afraid to say.
Is there any forms i need to fill in with BA to recover this?

I guess insurance should also cover it?
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 7:51 am
  #774  
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Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
Carlton have in their Ts & Cs a clause which says they do charge £75 for administering refunds regardless. In theory you could try to recover this from BA as per EC261 but I'm sure they would be unamused at the prospect. That's how TAs work, I'm afraid to say.
I would argue that they are unable to offer the service I paid for if they dispute the chargeback.
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 8:02 am
  #775  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: London
Posts: 32
Originally Posted by moondog
I would argue that they are unable to offer the service I paid for if they dispute the chargeback.
So i have already gone ahead with the cancellation. As TA terms do say they charge £75 admin fee regardless of the issue.

I will have to chase this with BA as i cant go with insurance due to the excess they charge which would be pointless.

Does anyone know how i go about raising this with BA? I guess i will have to wait for my refund to be issued first less £75 admin fee. The amount is small but not as small when you consider 6 tickets.

Thanks
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 8:21 am
  #776  
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Originally Posted by chrisnasah
So i have already gone ahead with the cancellation. As TA terms do say they charge £75 admin fee regardless of the issue.

I will have to chase this with BA as i cant go with insurance due to the excess they charge which would be pointless.

Does anyone know how i go about raising this with BA? I guess i will have to wait for my refund to be issued first less £75 admin fee. The amount is small but not as small when you consider 6 tickets.

Thanks
but it’s not BA’s charge?
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 8:39 am
  #777  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: London
Posts: 32
Originally Posted by KARFA
but it’s not BA’s charge?
yes not BA's charge but is there like compensation i can claim for cancellation which would cover this?
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 8:41 am
  #778  
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Frankly, I do not see why you would go after BA for a fee that the TA is charging as per their own T&Cs.
Whatever the reason, you decided to go through a TA rather than book directly with BA. BA is in no way responsible for the fees that the TA charge.
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 8:53 am
  #779  
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Originally Posted by Lewis King
Thanks as always! Waiting on an Avios refund from Cathay as well (booked via BA) via this system too. I would assume this back office is fairly busy these days. I'll just wait to see what the twitter team say. Thanks!
Be aware that CX has different refund policies than BA. BA maintain those CX policies in their database.
For example, I cancelled a CX CDG-HKG last wek. AFter detailed research, BAEC advised me that they have no instructions from CX on HKG-Europe and therefore cannot waive the refund fee. No big deal
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Old Feb 22, 2020, 9:11 am
  #780  
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Originally Posted by chrisnasah
yes not BA's charge but is there like compensation i can claim for cancellation which would cover this?
I fully go along with those who think this is crazy, but there is a straightforward right to a refund if a flight is cancelled, that's in Articles 5 and Articles 8. There is no mention in EC261 of admin fees. The operating carrier is fundamentally responsible for the refund, though in practical terms it comes via its agents, in this case Carlton. So if you are £75 out of pocket I think you do have the ability to use EC261 - see the main thread in the Dashboard as to how to do this. Now BA are - as I suggested - unlikely to amused to get your claim, but the argument will be that BA can easily send an ADM to the agency - who presumably work under contract to BA - to recover their costs.

You may have a claim under other consumer protection laws (CRA, CCA) or basic contract arguments if you prefer to go via the agency direct.
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