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 9, 2020, 4:02 pm
#301
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1,735
So will travel insurance now kick in for Rome? I have avios flights and a non cancellable hotel for the rugby that has been cancelled this weekend. Also had connecting flights and LHR hotel but will probably still use those.
Mar 9, 2020, 4:05 pm
#302
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 629
not sure on travel insurance but I would expect an update from ba by lunch tmrw, but no matter what on the Avios flights at least worst case scenario is you can cancel and not lose much cash
Mar 9, 2020, 4:06 pm
#303
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 812
Has anyone checked the position on multi-city itineraries that touch an affected area after 4 April - i.e. for instance, you leave your initial point of origin late March but don't hit MXP until, for instance, April 10?
Mar 9, 2020, 4:09 pm
#304
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 629
that would class as a travel date to mxp on 10th so outside the current policy so usual t and cs apply
Mar 9, 2020, 4:11 pm
#305
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 1,735
The hotel is the main lost cost which is why travel insurance needs to apply- the flights were Ł100 plus avios. The connecting flights and LHR hotels were about Ł500 but we can probably still use those. .
Last edited by Barnaby100; Mar 9, 2020 at 5:10 pm
Mar 9, 2020, 4:53 pm
#307
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 629
New update for Italy refund for all destinations or rebook for travel up to 4 april
Key Message – Updates in red
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 flight is still OPERATING or is CANCELLED
Rebook onto
British Airways
Airports affected
To/From
All airports in Italy
Tickets issued by
08 March 2020
Ticket travel dates
Up to and including 04 April 2020
New travel dates
Up to and including 31May 2020
Rebooking Allowance
Rebook into the same class as the original flight or lowest available in the same cabin
Change of gateway (1)
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
Yes
Redemptions included
Yes
Available for Trade
Yes
Important Information
Key Message – Updates in red
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 flight is still OPERATING or is CANCELLED
Rebook onto
British Airways
Airports affected
To/From
All airports in Italy
Tickets issued by
08 March 2020
Ticket travel dates
Up to and including 04 April 2020
New travel dates
Up to and including 31May 2020
Rebooking Allowance
Rebook into the same class as the original flight or lowest available in the same cabin
Change of gateway (1)
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
Yes
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
- If changing both outbound and return sectors, travel must be completed by dates specified
- For customers on cancelled flights, please follow the standard Customer Handling Guidelines > Flight Cancellations
- Adherence to commercial policies/conditions of carriage guidelines remains entirely the responsibility of the user. BA reserves the right to withdraw guidelines at any time
Last edited by Hawk777; Mar 9, 2020 at 5:25 pm
Mar 9, 2020, 5:12 pm
#308
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: 63,731
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have now advised against all but essential travel to Lombardy and the related areas in Emilia Romagna, Marche, Piemonte and Veneto (Venice).
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy
Mar 9, 2020, 5:21 pm
#309
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 40
In Italy skiing at the moment, well not anymore as our resort is now shut. Thankfully on a package so not our issue to sort out the flights home. We flew out via gatwick on BA and currently the tour op are saying we fly home on Wednesday from Verona with BA. Hoping BA keep those flights to get everyone home but the situation is constantly changing, only a few hours ago we could ski tomorrow before the shutdown
Mar 9, 2020, 5:38 pm
#310
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,059
I agree that’s what BA would do, even for MF, but of course easyJet and Wizzair operate there and back in a day under the same EASA rules, so it can’t be essential to find an alternative.
Mar 9, 2020, 11:21 pm
#311
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,948
Just to clarify, your wife will not have to go into quarantine even if she does stay in Israel till Friday.
Mar 9, 2020, 11:46 pm
#312
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: BA
Posts: 40
Just cancelled flights to Italy last night for some measly taxes back (as hotel cancelled on me).
Now it seems I could have got the whole amount refunded - damn!
Now it seems I could have got the whole amount refunded - damn!
Mar 10, 2020, 12:31 am
#314
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I'd advise people who are thinking of cancelling flights to anywhere until the last minute (at least 24 hours before for Avios bookings) unless it's a fully flex ticket that you are happy with whatever small-ish fees you may incur. Obviously, if your cancellation costs increase as it gets closer, it's something to consider, but do hold tight, in most cases, and do it as close as possible to the actual time of travel.
It's a fast moving situation and it's pretty likely that more cancellations will occur, or FCO advice or your foreign equivalent will be implemented, resulting in flight cancellations etc. or otherwise covered by your travel insurance. I'm guessing that BA will now be cancelling flights to/from Italy too, and maybe other destinations as passenger load drops off.
Also note that a lot of hotels and hotel chains are waiving the cancellation fees for certain locations, so do check their latest policy before cancelling.
You should also keep your eye on potential "hot spots" to avoid being barred from entry to your next destination, or to have quarantine/self-isolation requirements imposed on you. Such requirements may not be covered by your travel insurance, and consequential loss that you may suffer from being unable to go to work is probably not covered either. (Also think about the risk of carrying the virus back to your elderly acquaintances and those more vulnerable before going ahead with the trip, but that's a bit OT so I won't go into detail).
Finally, no-one said anything about risk-management-by-upgrade
before, so, if you decide to go ahead with your trip, I'd suggest that if you are offered an opportunity of a cheap upgrade like POU, AUP or Avios upgrade, especially long haul, and the lower class looks busy-ish, then you might like to take the opportunity to upgrade. In fact I couldn't think of a better reason to upgrade than recommended social distancing 
(then again though, I have been hearing of very empty aircraft down the back, so you might find it affords you the supposed 2+2 row safety margin and lie-flat seats down the back 
)
It's a fast moving situation and it's pretty likely that more cancellations will occur, or FCO advice or your foreign equivalent will be implemented, resulting in flight cancellations etc. or otherwise covered by your travel insurance. I'm guessing that BA will now be cancelling flights to/from Italy too, and maybe other destinations as passenger load drops off.
Also note that a lot of hotels and hotel chains are waiving the cancellation fees for certain locations, so do check their latest policy before cancelling.
You should also keep your eye on potential "hot spots" to avoid being barred from entry to your next destination, or to have quarantine/self-isolation requirements imposed on you. Such requirements may not be covered by your travel insurance, and consequential loss that you may suffer from being unable to go to work is probably not covered either. (Also think about the risk of carrying the virus back to your elderly acquaintances and those more vulnerable before going ahead with the trip, but that's a bit OT so I won't go into detail).
Finally, no-one said anything about risk-management-by-upgrade
before, so, if you decide to go ahead with your trip, I'd suggest that if you are offered an opportunity of a cheap upgrade like POU, AUP or Avios upgrade, especially long haul, and the lower class looks busy-ish, then you might like to take the opportunity to upgrade. In fact I couldn't think of a better reason to upgrade than recommended social distancing (then again though, I have been hearing of very empty aircraft down the back, so you might find it affords you the supposed 2+2 row safety margin and lie-flat seats down the back )
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Mar 10, 2020 at 1:08 am
Mar 10, 2020, 4:04 am
#315
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
BA cancels flights to Italy
As the title says, BA have canceled all flights to Italy today. Presumably this will be on going.