KARFA

The one thing i have found is often the booking made with an FTV has been reticketed, but I never receive a new e-ticket email. You can check whether it is done though as the new ticket number will appear on the flight in the app, and if you go in to MMB and click to display the e-ticket it will show in the pop up box.

flashware

Agree, used an FTV to book flights in May and was ticketed within days.

Tobias-UK

Yes, same here despite the agent advising the new e-ticket would be emailed once ticketed. All tickets have been reissued in a mater of an hour or so.

vintagepilot

I have a revenue booking for 2 people, done 'self-serve' online, using a GUF2 as part of the booking process, booked in September for travel in June.

If I want to 'move' it what voucher would I get and with what restrictions? If it is an FTV would that be limited to future travel for the named travellers or can I dip into it a couple of times for multiple future trips for me as a solo traveller. What happens to the GUF?

corporate-wage-slave

You would normally get two FTVs, not eVoucher, with the GUF attached to the lead booker. These would then be usable only by the named two passengers, but you can dip into it several times. The GUF2 can be used on the FTV rebooking, I think you can swap in a third invidual for that GUF but they would either need their own FTV or pay straight cash for a ticket.

vintagepilot

Ok, thanks - simplest to keep it as a new trip for the same 2 pax then I guess.

Dan1113

Can I just check, how does the flexibility for changes work for itineraries already begun?

If someone is already travelling but wishes to change their return flight, is there any flexibility on that or no?

corporate-wage-slave

I'm assuming BA will run the return flight as advertised. In that scenario you can only move to another flight by paying any fare difference, but would benefit from not paying the change fee.

Dan1113

By which point that flight may be very expensive, I guess (we are talking what would be a last minute change).

I am mostly wanting to think of this in case I need to change a return flight to "beat" quarantine, in which case what I am likely best doing is simply booking a (cheap) alternative return flight now, and then taking the voucher (as a future little bit of credit if that flight isn't needed)? Secure the cheap price now rather than risk a very expensive last minute change.

corporate-wage-slave

Not necessarily. Usually changes to returns are done on a historic fare basis and so long as the replacement flight isn't too full then moving flights may be free, given the absence of change fees. It would need a forensic check of the tickets and buckets to reach a firm view on that.

The obvious way around this, assuming Avios availability, is to book this with a redemption, as a single ticket out, and say two single tickets back, and cancel the one you don't want (or FTV it) at least 24 hours before the return. Or if it's a cheap commercial booking, particularly to somewhere you could use way in the future, then use historic pricing to push the return way out and replace the return with an Avios ticket if commecial was too expensive.

Dan1113

Sorry not quite sure I understand - historic fare basis, as in, the price when I booked the original ticket? Though I guess the risk is that if it is a change due to a quarantine policy (ie changing only on Thurs evening next week), there would be a huge rush for tickets for the Friday so they might all fill very quickly.

corporate-wage-slave

Yes, that is possible, so the Avios idea would work if that scenario applied. But when Portugal mainland was excluded, and Poland too, this didn't happen. Historic fares are indeed the fare structure that would have applied at the time of booking, rather the any recent fare changes. This is all about appetite to risk, but so is all travel now, even travel within the UK is now restricted to some degree.

Dan1113

Thanks

Bflotraveler

Related question, if it works out that the fare difference is lower to change the date of a return flight on a part flown booking, will BA issue a voucher for the fare difference or is nothing due in that case? I know under BWC if the entire journey is rebooked at a lower fare BA will issue another voucher for the difference but I'm not sure how this works if the booking is part flown?

Thanks!

corporate-wage-slave

Again this depends a lot on specific ticketing details. But as a general rule, if the rebooking works out cheaper on the replacement sector you get nothing back. If it works out more expensive you are liable for the fare difference on a historic basis (usually) but there isn't a change fee. You can't have a voucher after you have started the first flight on the booking, though some people have said they have got this. If BA cancel the service then you can have an Involuntary Refund, which is calculated (broadly speaking) by ticketing construct, with taxes levied against actual flown flights, usually it's better value to rebook rather than take an Involuntary Refund, but that's a very general point which won't always apply.