Feb 28, 2020, 9:30 am
Last edit by: LTN Phobia
WikiPost currently includes info on China inc Hong Kong, Singapore and Italy. As and when new/updated information becomes available, we would welcome your input in updating it.
Information resources (e.g. links of entry restrictions/quarantine requirements) are provided at the bottom of Wiki.
29 Feb 2020: List of routes with cancellations from 13 March to 28 March: PKX, PVG, HKG, SIN, LIN, ICN, VRN, BGY, BLQ, TRN, VCE.
(In the case of PKX and PVG there are no services, for the other locations it's up to 50% of services.)
BA Book with Confidence Policy
BA have instigated a policy of bookings made on or after 3 March 2020 with zero change fees. Initially this policy will expire end of 3116 March 2020. Details can be found in this thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...ce-policy.html
Note.. despite the official start date of 3 March for this policy, at least one FT-er has advised that a booking on 2 March also attracted zero change fees.
BA has now expanded the book with confidence policy to expire 31 March 2020. Starting date of 3 March 2020 is unchanged. China inc HKG
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:-
HKG-LHR
From Fri 14.02.2020 to Tue 02.06.2020: BA32 cancelled. BA28 operates (380).
Exceptions:-
Note: Schedule changes take effect on Sun 29.03.2020 in both directions.
Italy
BA has issued a Customer Guideline Update 1 for travel to the north of Italy, defined as:
LIN/MXP – Milan
TRN – Turin
BLQ – Bologna
VCE – Venice
BGY – Bergamo
VRN - Verona
Tickets issued by 24 February can be changed. If they are dated for original travel on 25 February – 02 March 2020, they can now be moved to 25 February – 31 March 2020. Alternatively changed to ZRH or GVA (note some of these services will be running very full at this time of the year). Refunds not allowed, redemptions are in scope for change.
Update: Travelling 29 Feb to 15 March can now change date of travel and postpone to up to the 3 Apr or change airport to Geneva or Zurich. Rredemptions included but refunds still not included
Further details:
Singapore
BA11 has been cancelled on March 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25, and corresponding returns on BA12 (the next day) have been cancelled.
Information Resources
Travel restrictions by country
IATA's central list of restrictions relating to Covid-19 is here:
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
Australian government site for visit/transit restrictions for various countries after visiting certain countries (not just for Australians, as it lists countries visited/transited etc.). It includes information that is missing from IATA list too.
https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
11 March 2020:
For people who are based in the US, the US CDC travel warning for Schengen zone has been updated to Level 3 "Avoid nonessential travel".
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices...navirus-europe
In addition, US Department of State have updated the global travel advisory to Level 3 "Reconsider Travel.
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...ory-issue.html
This may affect your travel insurance cover (or enable you to claim back the cost of cancellation).
Information resources (e.g. links of entry restrictions/quarantine requirements) are provided at the bottom of Wiki.
29 Feb 2020: List of routes with cancellations from 13 March to 28 March: PKX, PVG, HKG, SIN, LIN, ICN, VRN, BGY, BLQ, TRN, VCE.
(In the case of PKX and PVG there are no services, for the other locations it's up to 50% of services.)
BA Book with Confidence Policy
BA have instigated a policy of bookings made on or after 3 March 2020 with zero change fees. Initially this policy will expire end of 31
Note.. despite the official start date of 3 March for this policy, at least one FT-er has advised that a booking on 2 March also attracted zero change fees.
BA has now expanded the book with confidence policy to expire 31 March 2020. Starting date of 3 March 2020 is unchanged.
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).
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).
Note: Schedule changes take effect on Sun 29.03.2020 in both directions.
Italy
BA has issued a Customer Guideline Update 1 for travel to the north of Italy, defined as:
LIN/MXP – Milan
TRN – Turin
BLQ – Bologna
VCE – Venice
BGY – Bergamo
VRN - Verona
Tickets issued by 24 February can be changed. If they are dated for original travel on 25 February – 02 March 2020, they can now be moved to 25 February – 31 March 2020. Alternatively changed to ZRH or GVA (note some of these services will be running very full at this time of the year). Refunds not allowed, redemptions are in scope for change.
Update: Travelling 29 Feb to 15 March can now change date of travel and postpone to up to the 3 Apr or change airport to Geneva or Zurich. Rredemptions included but refunds still not included
Further details:
Key Message
The following guidelines have been published to assist any customer who may wish to change their travel date for Northern Italy.
Advice for British Airways-125 ticketed customers whose BA, IB, AY or AA flight is still OPERATING
Rebook onto: British Airways or AJB
Airports affected - To/From
LIN/MXP – Milan
TRN – Turin
BLQ – Bologna
VCE – Venice
BGY – Bergamo
VRN - Verona
Tickets issued by: 24 February 2020
Ticket travel dates: 25 February – 02 March 2020
New travel dates: 25 February – 31 March 2020
Rebooking Allowance: Rebook into the same class as the original flight or lowest available in the same cabin
Change of gateway: Rebook onto a British Airways operated service to/from ZRH (Zurich) or GVA (Geneva) and London (any airport) into the same class as the original flight or lowest available in the same cabin. Must advise the customer that any consequential cost to travel between the original and the new Swiss gateway, e.g. surface transport, hotels, etc. are at their expense. Add a remark into the booking stating that you have advised this. Visas may also need to be checked to travel into Switzerland.
Origin/Destination/Stopover changes: Yes – as above
Refunds Allowed: No
Redemptions included: Yes
Available for Trade: Yes
Important Information
One involuntary ticket change allowed from the above options
Includes any connecting BA/Joint Business services on the same ticket
For customers on cancelled flights, please follow the standard customer guidelines >
· Adherence to commercial policies/standard customer guidelines remains entirely the responsibility of the user. BA reserves the right to withdraw guidelines at any time
The following guidelines have been published to assist any customer who may wish to change their travel date for Northern Italy.
Advice for British Airways-125 ticketed customers whose BA, IB, AY or AA flight is still OPERATING
Rebook onto: British Airways or AJB
Airports affected - To/From
LIN/MXP – Milan
TRN – Turin
BLQ – Bologna
VCE – Venice
BGY – Bergamo
VRN - Verona
Tickets issued by: 24 February 2020
Ticket travel dates: 25 February – 02 March 2020
New travel dates: 25 February – 31 March 2020
Rebooking Allowance: Rebook into the same class as the original flight or lowest available in the same cabin
Change of gateway: Rebook onto a British Airways operated service to/from ZRH (Zurich) or GVA (Geneva) and London (any airport) into the same class as the original flight or lowest available in the same cabin. Must advise the customer that any consequential cost to travel between the original and the new Swiss gateway, e.g. surface transport, hotels, etc. are at their expense. Add a remark into the booking stating that you have advised this. Visas may also need to be checked to travel into Switzerland.
Origin/Destination/Stopover changes: Yes – as above
Refunds Allowed: No
Redemptions included: Yes
Available for Trade: Yes
Important Information
One involuntary ticket change allowed from the above options
Includes any connecting BA/Joint Business services on the same ticket
For customers on cancelled flights, please follow the standard customer guidelines >
· Adherence to commercial policies/standard customer guidelines remains entirely the responsibility of the user. BA reserves the right to withdraw guidelines at any time
BA11 has been cancelled on March 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25, and corresponding returns on BA12 (the next day) have been cancelled.
Information Resources
Travel restrictions by country
IATA's central list of restrictions relating to Covid-19 is here:
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
Australian government site for visit/transit restrictions for various countries after visiting certain countries (not just for Australians, as it lists countries visited/transited etc.). It includes information that is missing from IATA list too.
https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
11 March 2020:
For people who are based in the US, the US CDC travel warning for Schengen zone has been updated to Level 3 "Avoid nonessential travel".
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices...navirus-europe
In addition, US Department of State have updated the global travel advisory to Level 3 "Reconsider Travel.
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...ory-issue.html
This may affect your travel insurance cover (or enable you to claim back the cost of cancellation).
Covid-19 and BA flight cancellations & rebooking: info & advice thread [*noise-free*]
Mar 6, 2020, 12:53 pm
#166
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
I suspect as the situation gets more complex and the call volumes ramp up it makes sense for an airline to do this and allow us all to sort our bookings online without the complexity.
KLM may have just figured this will cost them less them a bucket load of overtime for call centre staff.
KLM may have just figured this will cost them less them a bucket load of overtime for call centre staff.
Mar 6, 2020, 1:44 pm
#167
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,061
You’re assuming that BA’s IT is sufficient to allow all this to be handled online. It’s better than it was, but not that good. If they had any sense they’d create a webform to enter ticket numbers and have a backend team cancel and refund manually, still cheaper than a call centre.
I would expect BA to follow with the date extension though - 16 March looks stingy compared with the end of the month from AFKL.
I would expect BA to follow with the date extension though - 16 March looks stingy compared with the end of the month from AFKL.
Mar 6, 2020, 1:46 pm
#168
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,061
Well given BLR has been one of the beneficiaries of the rerouting of flights that previously went to China, I’d say it’s unlikely. Remember too why BA added these extra flights, it’s partly to get some revenue back, but it’s also because they need to keep slots active. In that context, seat factor could be 10% and they’d still run.
Mar 6, 2020, 1:47 pm
#169
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,061
Then speak to your travel insurers. BA follows the advice of the FCO (and equivalent downroute), not every single nuance of nationality and government.
Mar 6, 2020, 2:21 pm
#170
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 629
Thanks for info.Hopefully they will do sth until 20 th march. For my flight on 10th I doubt so...
However from 9th March Japan doesnt let people coming from Korea come and they need to be quarantited. I have flight to Korea, and return flight from Japan (same ticket). I wonder what now will BA do about my flight. They probably dont care and I will have to pay for rebook anyway, which doesnt make sense since I LITERALLY cant board bc of govenment policies.
However from 9th March Japan doesnt let people coming from Korea come and they need to be quarantited. I have flight to Korea, and return flight from Japan (same ticket). I wonder what now will BA do about my flight. They probably dont care and I will have to pay for rebook anyway, which doesnt make sense since I LITERALLY cant board bc of govenment policies.
Mar 6, 2020, 3:03 pm
#171
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 245
If FCO updates their travel advice to Japan mentioning the quarantine for people travelling from CN/KR then they would cover.
Mar 6, 2020, 3:48 pm
#172
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 208
Well given BLR has been one of the beneficiaries of the rerouting of flights that previously went to China, I’d say it’s unlikely. Remember too why BA added these extra flights, it’s partly to get some revenue back, but it’s also because they need to keep slots active. In that context, seat factor could be 10% and they’d still run.
Mar 6, 2020, 5:08 pm
#173
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA MM, AA EXP; OW Emerald, EK silver
Posts: 928
Since the corona virus anyone experienced any flexibility in standing by for a flight on an earlier day when the ticket is a non refundable ticket (A). Due to fly LHR - JFK on March 17 but with what's going on would be happier getting home sooner. Happy to stand by for the 15th or 16th if BA is being more flexible with 'non changeable' tickets. Don't think my status as emerald will help but if anyone has any recent experience in changing a 'fixed' reservation would be interested to know.
Mar 6, 2020, 5:14 pm
#174
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,801
Thanks for info.Hopefully they will do sth until 20 th march. For my flight on 10th I doubt so...
However from 9th March Japan doesnt let people coming from Korea come and they need to be quarantited. I have flight to Korea, and return flight from Japan (same ticket). I wonder what now will BA do about my flight. They probably dont care and I will have to pay for rebook anyway, which doesnt make sense since I LITERALLY cant board bc of govenment policies.
However from 9th March Japan doesnt let people coming from Korea come and they need to be quarantited. I have flight to Korea, and return flight from Japan (same ticket). I wonder what now will BA do about my flight. They probably dont care and I will have to pay for rebook anyway, which doesnt make sense since I LITERALLY cant board bc of govenment policies.
Mar 6, 2020, 5:38 pm
#175
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 629
The main requirement for getting your money back through chargeback is evidence that there's been a breach of contract. There is a time limit onchargeback claims - typically 120 days from the transaction processing date, or from when you expected to receive the goods/service if it's being delivered.
Don't see it as breach of contract apart from of the traveller as the company is still providing the service purchased
Mar 6, 2020, 6:18 pm
#176
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,801
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronation_cases and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_majeure#Common_law - while airline usually avoid any purpose of contract like the plague, even the most basic air ticket cannot disclaim an implied purpose that the passenger, a national of Japan, will be able to fly from Korea to destination. Once quarantine is imposed, that's frustration.
Mar 7, 2020, 2:39 am
#177
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,129
I've just had a text telling me that BA762 LHR-OSL on the 20th March has been cancelled.
Strangely though, BA763 - the return flight is still available to book, this is for a back to back and onward to LAX.
Does the impressive knowledge on here think that the 763 will be cancelled and they're just working through it? I need to work out a plan B,C & D!
Looks like they are starting to reduce capacity on different routes.
Thanks
Strangely though, BA763 - the return flight is still available to book, this is for a back to back and onward to LAX.
Does the impressive knowledge on here think that the 763 will be cancelled and they're just working through it? I need to work out a plan B,C & D!
Looks like they are starting to reduce capacity on different routes.
Thanks
Mar 7, 2020, 2:54 am
#178
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,821
Since the corona virus anyone experienced any flexibility in standing by for a flight on an earlier day when the ticket is a non refundable ticket (A). Due to fly LHR - JFK on March 17 but with what's going on would be happier getting home sooner. Happy to stand by for the 15th or 16th if BA is being more flexible with 'non changeable' tickets. Don't think my status as emerald will help but if anyone has any recent experience in changing a 'fixed' reservation would be interested to know.
Some A tickets are changeable for a modest fee, however.
Last edited by corporate-wage-slave; Mar 7, 2020 at 5:50 am
Mar 7, 2020, 3:58 am
#179
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
Has anyone had any experience of knock on effect of bookings on separate PNRs yet?
Mar 7, 2020, 4:23 am
#180
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: A hop, skip and jump away from MAN.
Programs: BAEC Gold, ex-VS Gold, ex-UA Gold, Premier Inn Platinum-Iridium
Posts: 1,114
I'm booked on MAD in mid April, 777 service. Minor complication is that's an LHR/MAD return which links into a MAN/LHR return I already had booked. So if my MAD get cancelled I'm goi g to have to beg BA to also change the MAN/LHR trip to suit as they are 2 separate bookings given the MAN/LHR was already booked.
Has anyone had any experience of knock on effect of bookings on separate PNRs yet?
Has anyone had any experience of knock on effect of bookings on separate PNRs yet?
If your MAD-LHR is cancelled, then obviously that ticket becomes changeable and you could go on an earlier ex-MAD flight which will make your LHR-MAN sector.
If it's your LHR-MAD sector that is cancelled, then again, you could move that to a later flight which the MAN-LHR flight can still make.
However, there's likely to be less flexibility offered in changing the flights in LHR-MAN trip as they aren't technically affected by cancellations in the MAD sector. Depending on who you speak to, you might get some leniency shown. Otherwise, it could be a case of depending on SDC to change those sectors on the day, and dealing with the fallout if you can't.
Of course, the 777 is possibly one of the least likely to go because of the cargo capacity it provides on the route.