Covid-19 and BA flight cancellations & rebooking: info & advice thread [*noise-free*]
Mar 14, 20, 5:09 am - Wikipost
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Feb 28, 20, 9:26 am
#1
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Covid-19 and BA flight cancellations & rebooking: info & advice thread [*noise-free*]
This thread has been launched after discussion with the BA Moderators (Mods).
BA has prepared contingency plans for flight cancellations, stemming from the impact of Covid-19 on demand. There are already separate threads covering the following areas, but more cancellations are expected on other routes. BA have informed investors that they are expecting a down-turn in business as a result of outbreak of Covid-19 in multiple markets.
For Hong Kong and China see here:
*Coronavirus : BA Suspends all flts to mainland China* +discussion on long haul flts
For South Korea / Seoul see here
South Korea Cancellation advice
For Singapore see here.
A380 removed from BA11
For Italy related cancellations see here:
Potential Impact of Coronavirus on flights to Milan & rest of Italy
Cancellations have been noted for PKX, PVG, HKG, SIN, LIN, VRN. IAG have stated: "Capacity on Italian routes for March has been significantly reduced through a combination of cancellations and change of aircraft gauge and further capacity reductions will be activated over the coming days. We also expect to make some capacity reductions across our wider short haul network. Short haul capacity is not being redeployed at this stage".
If your flight is cancelled, you are able to use the Standard Customer Guidelines (see post 2). If your flight is not cancelled, you need to see if there is a Customer Guideline specific to your route, which currently extends to north of Italy, Hong Kong and China only (though there are some additional guidelines for places like Taiwan and the Philippines for connecting passengers). See the threads above for more details.
Kindly note. This thread is intended for direct discussion on the matter at hand and this thread will lose its value if it goes too far off topic, accepting that this is a difficult issue and there are multiple complexities. So anything connected directly to BA's cancellations and alternative travel options is definitely in scope. The following seem to me to be out of scope: discussion on the general risks of Covid-19, links with influenza, face masks, effectiveness of government measures, the politics of the disease, the wisdom or otherwise of flying at the moment. Mods will just delete anything in this area, so you best save your typing. I think there will be a general Covid-19 thread elsewhere in Flyertalk soon, which I will publicise as and when it happens; and there is a very well developed thread in the China forum.
BA has prepared contingency plans for flight cancellations, stemming from the impact of Covid-19 on demand. There are already separate threads covering the following areas, but more cancellations are expected on other routes. BA have informed investors that they are expecting a down-turn in business as a result of outbreak of Covid-19 in multiple markets.
For Hong Kong and China see here:
*Coronavirus : BA Suspends all flts to mainland China* +discussion on long haul flts
For South Korea / Seoul see here
South Korea Cancellation advice
For Singapore see here.
A380 removed from BA11
For Italy related cancellations see here:
Potential Impact of Coronavirus on flights to Milan & rest of Italy
Cancellations have been noted for PKX, PVG, HKG, SIN, LIN, VRN. IAG have stated: "Capacity on Italian routes for March has been significantly reduced through a combination of cancellations and change of aircraft gauge and further capacity reductions will be activated over the coming days. We also expect to make some capacity reductions across our wider short haul network. Short haul capacity is not being redeployed at this stage".
If your flight is cancelled, you are able to use the Standard Customer Guidelines (see post 2). If your flight is not cancelled, you need to see if there is a Customer Guideline specific to your route, which currently extends to north of Italy, Hong Kong and China only (though there are some additional guidelines for places like Taiwan and the Philippines for connecting passengers). See the threads above for more details.
Kindly note. This thread is intended for direct discussion on the matter at hand and this thread will lose its value if it goes too far off topic, accepting that this is a difficult issue and there are multiple complexities. So anything connected directly to BA's cancellations and alternative travel options is definitely in scope. The following seem to me to be out of scope: discussion on the general risks of Covid-19, links with influenza, face masks, effectiveness of government measures, the politics of the disease, the wisdom or otherwise of flying at the moment. Mods will just delete anything in this area, so you best save your typing. I think there will be a general Covid-19 thread elsewhere in Flyertalk soon, which I will publicise as and when it happens; and there is a very well developed thread in the China forum.
Feb 28, 20, 9:27 am
#2
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Standard Customer Guidelines.
These apply for flights which BA have cancelled - typically you will get a text or email showing this, or a message showing on Manage My Booking.
Options open to you:
1) Refund - note if you have partly taken the flight then this will be a partial refund. If it's a full cancellation you should get back the direct costs, but if you already moved the flight for other reasons previously you may lose some components.
2) Rebooking - on alternative BA or IB flights within 3 days before or 14 days after - you just need space in the cabin. This also works for Joint business routes over the Atlantic and Siberia
3) Rebooking on BA or IB but outside the dates above - you need space in the fare bucket - ditto for AA and AY on Joint Business routes.
4) Rebooking on QR joint business routes - but this needs to be between 3 days before or after, you need space in the cabin.
5) Go to another gateway within 300 miles - so you can travel to Verona instead of Venice, for example. 3 days before or 14 days after rule applies
If the cancellation is for flights within 24 hours, BA Contact Centres can rebook to other IATA airlines that BA has a ticketing agreement with - that's a long list, but it includes most household names as well as oneworld airlines. It does not include easyJet, Ryanair or Jet2.
If you booked via a travel agents or an online travel agents (OTA) such as Expedia you will need to recover your refund via the agency, not via BA. However if you are within 24 hours of the first sector - or thereafter - you can ring BA on rebooking options.
These apply for flights which BA have cancelled - typically you will get a text or email showing this, or a message showing on Manage My Booking.
Options open to you:
1) Refund - note if you have partly taken the flight then this will be a partial refund. If it's a full cancellation you should get back the direct costs, but if you already moved the flight for other reasons previously you may lose some components.
2) Rebooking - on alternative BA or IB flights within 3 days before or 14 days after - you just need space in the cabin. This also works for Joint business routes over the Atlantic and Siberia
3) Rebooking on BA or IB but outside the dates above - you need space in the fare bucket - ditto for AA and AY on Joint Business routes.
4) Rebooking on QR joint business routes - but this needs to be between 3 days before or after, you need space in the cabin.
5) Go to another gateway within 300 miles - so you can travel to Verona instead of Venice, for example. 3 days before or 14 days after rule applies
If the cancellation is for flights within 24 hours, BA Contact Centres can rebook to other IATA airlines that BA has a ticketing agreement with - that's a long list, but it includes most household names as well as oneworld airlines. It does not include easyJet, Ryanair or Jet2.
If you booked via a travel agents or an online travel agents (OTA) such as Expedia you will need to recover your refund via the agency, not via BA. However if you are within 24 hours of the first sector - or thereafter - you can ring BA on rebooking options.
Last edited by corporate-wage-slave; Feb 28, 20 at 9:41 am
Feb 28, 20, 9:36 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Blue Peter Badge Holder
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Thanks @corporate-wage-slave and the moderator team for setting up this thread, hopefully it will proofs helpful to everyone flying and we can keep it (particularly the wiki) updated as the situation changes.
Might also be worth linking the latest official UK Government health advice for anyone who finds they’ve already travelled to a region that has subsequently suffered significant outbreak which can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...for-the-public
Might also be worth linking the latest official UK Government health advice for anyone who finds they’ve already travelled to a region that has subsequently suffered significant outbreak which can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...for-the-public
Last edited by navylad; Feb 28, 20 at 9:41 am
Feb 28, 20, 9:41 am
#4
formerly mattking2000
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: soon to be DXB!
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Posts: 1,012
Thanks for starting this -- I will take the plunge and ask for advice here:
1. I booked tickets on 29 Jan for travel LIN-LHR on 28 Feb and LHR-MUC on 1 March, through RFS.
2. On 23 Feb, I was instructed by my company to cancel my personal travel to London and Munich, and to return to DXB asap. I paid the cancellation fees (27.50 CAD per segment) to cancel.
Can I re-instate these tickets to travel at the end of March?
1. I booked tickets on 29 Jan for travel LIN-LHR on 28 Feb and LHR-MUC on 1 March, through RFS.
2. On 23 Feb, I was instructed by my company to cancel my personal travel to London and Munich, and to return to DXB asap. I paid the cancellation fees (27.50 CAD per segment) to cancel.
Can I re-instate these tickets to travel at the end of March?
Feb 28, 20, 10:19 am
#5
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,015
Request for assistance:
I have picked some hard information from existing threads and copied it to Wiki, but I'm sure I'm missing some.
Could we request your cooperation in keeping Wiki up-to-date by posting any "hard information" (BA's rebooking policy for the specific route etc, where the flight isn't cancelled, flight cancellations, etc.) that isn't included in the Wiki please?
Please also help us to keep the information up to date by deleting the obsolete information as applicable, when new information becomes available. This is just as important, so that old information won't confuse people.
Time to all put some effort in, and help each other.
Thanks very much for your assistance and cooperation.
LTN Phobia
Moderator: BA forum
I have picked some hard information from existing threads and copied it to Wiki, but I'm sure I'm missing some.
Could we request your cooperation in keeping Wiki up-to-date by posting any "hard information" (BA's rebooking policy for the specific route etc, where the flight isn't cancelled, flight cancellations, etc.) that isn't included in the Wiki please?
Please also help us to keep the information up to date by deleting the obsolete information as applicable, when new information becomes available. This is just as important, so that old information won't confuse people.
Time to all put some effort in, and help each other.
Thanks very much for your assistance and cooperation.
LTN Phobia
Moderator: BA forum
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Feb 28, 20 at 10:50 am
Feb 28, 20, 10:43 am
#6
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Originally Posted by BA Humbug
Thanks for starting this -- I will take the plunge and ask for advice here:
1. I booked tickets on 29 Jan for travel LIN-LHR on 28 Feb and LHR-MUC on 1 March, through RFS.
2. On 23 Feb, I was instructed by my company to cancel my personal travel to London and Munich, and to return to DXB asap. I paid the cancellation fees (27.50 CAD per segment) to cancel.
Can I re-instate these tickets to travel at the end of March?
1. I booked tickets on 29 Jan for travel LIN-LHR on 28 Feb and LHR-MUC on 1 March, through RFS.
2. On 23 Feb, I was instructed by my company to cancel my personal travel to London and Munich, and to return to DXB asap. I paid the cancellation fees (27.50 CAD per segment) to cancel.
Can I re-instate these tickets to travel at the end of March?
Feb 28, 20, 10:45 am
#7
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Posts: 48,216
I will also put this in the Wiki, but IATA's list of Covid-19 travel restrictions, by country, is here. It's right up to date by the looks of it. At the moment the only European continent countries with restrictions are Poland, the Russian Federation and Turkey.
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
Feb 28, 20, 11:30 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 58
Can't quite figure out where in the wiki it belongs(if at all), but BA17 LHR-ICN on March 13th is cancelled. I bet there are more Seoul cancellations, someone with the appropriate resources should be able to find out.
Feb 28, 20, 12:08 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
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So just to be on the safe side: a redemption on JL metal (NRT-FRA) using Avios is cancellable without penalties up to 24 h before departure, am I correct ?
Feb 28, 20, 12:11 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Originally Posted by fransknorge
So just to be on the safe side: a redemption on JL metal (NRT-FRA) using Avios is cancellable without penalties up to 24 h before departure, am I correct ?
Yes that is correct.
Regards
TBS
Feb 28, 20, 12:58 pm
#11
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
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Posts: 13,340
Originally Posted by fransknorge
So just to be on the safe side: a redemption on JL metal (NRT-FRA) using Avios is cancellable without penalties up to 24 h before departure, am I correct ?
Feb 28, 20, 1:05 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 14
I have a flight booked to Seoul- South Korea on 20 March 2020 and BA cancelled the flights between 13 - 28 March 2020 every other day, but I was not lucky enough to cancel mine. So people who have booked flights to Seoul on 19 March 2020 and 21 March 2020 are entitled to a full refund or to re-book to a later date free of charges ( and free of stress) etc, but I am not entitled to any of these as I was just told tonight by someone at Customer service - British Airways. How is that fair for people like me who did not book the flights in the chosen days? And why there is not any flexibility for us, just for others ( the lucky ones) , since we are all customers with equal rights and we are all under the same unfortunate circumstances?
Feb 28, 20, 1:18 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 629
Originally Posted by Londoner0507
I have a flight booked to Seoul- South Korea on 20 March 2020 and BA cancelled the flights between 13 - 28 March 2020 every other day, but I was not lucky enough to cancel mine. So people who have booked flights to Seoul on 19 March 2020 and 21 March 2020 are entitled to a full refund or to re-book to a later date free of charges ( and free of stress) etc, but I am not entitled to any of these as I was just told tonight by someone at Customer service - British Airways. How is that fair for people like me who did not book the flights in the chosen days? And why there is not any flexibility for us, just for others ( the lucky ones) , since we are all customers with equal rights and we are all under the same unfortunate circumstances?
Feb 28, 20, 3:14 pm
#14
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Originally Posted by Londoner0507
I have a flight booked to Seoul- South Korea on 20 March 2020 and BA cancelled the flights between 13 - 28 March 2020 every other day, but I was not lucky enough to cancel mine.
Feb 28, 20, 3:25 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,029
Apologies if I missed this fact pattern, but what's the policy for AA booked under BA number? In this case, JFK-MXP on AA (booked under BA number), then BA LHR-JFK back.
