BA Covid-19 news, views, speculations, general questions, rants & more
Mar 15, 2020, 7:02 am
#151
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,427
Help to check BA seat availability and BA flight loads
You can also get a rough idea on Expertflyer website. It’s a freemium site that gives you access to seat maps.
Mar 15, 2020, 7:36 am
#153
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dorchester, Dorset UK
Programs: BA Gold, BMI, ANA, HH Blue, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,063
Now is a good time to call You First.
I just spoke with a pleasant agent, with her hands tied behind her back. BA have not yet cancelled 208 to MIA on Thursday so my options are more limited. I tried to transfer booking to November, but there was a massive price difference. If they decide to cancel the flight, I might simply be able to transfer the booking!
Watch this space!
I just spoke with a pleasant agent, with her hands tied behind her back. BA have not yet cancelled 208 to MIA on Thursday so my options are more limited. I tried to transfer booking to November, but there was a massive price difference. If they decide to cancel the flight, I might simply be able to transfer the booking!
Watch this space!
Mar 15, 2020, 9:07 am
#156
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Surrey
Programs: BA Gold HH Gold
Posts: 112
Thailand experience
We have just arrived in Koh Samui transiting through Sin from LHR.
Although the UK is on the list of ongoing Local Transmission for Thailand we experienced no issues entering Koh Samui and the only additional paperwork was a self certification form completed at the resort along with a temp check. We have been given no guidelines regarding contacting the authorities daily or any restrictions to travelling around the island.
We have just arrived in Koh Samui transiting through Sin from LHR.
Although the UK is on the list of ongoing Local Transmission for Thailand we experienced no issues entering Koh Samui and the only additional paperwork was a self certification form completed at the resort along with a temp check. We have been given no guidelines regarding contacting the authorities daily or any restrictions to travelling around the island.
Mar 15, 2020, 9:21 am
#157
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ
Programs: BA Gold/Marriott Gold/HH Diamond/IC Plat Amba
Posts: 5,989
Is BA having trouble finding crews for the flights? On Friday BA93 (LHR-YYZ) was delayed for a couple of hours as they tried to get crew and we left one crew member short. Now I notice it is already delayed 4.5 hours. Also is this because it is the 350-1000? Are there limited number of crew trained up on that aircraft?
Mar 15, 2020, 9:34 am
#159
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,794
But some can, including one of my illustrious ambassadorial colleagues who lives there.
The FCO advice is not immediate, it applies from 04:00 hrs Tuesday GMT, which means it will be very helpful for those with travel insurance. Most of the policies I have seen provide cover for car hire, hotels and other sunk costs when the ABE note goes out from the FCO. Whereas many policies state that (e.g.) medical costs are covered if travel started before the ABE note went out.
The FCO advice is not immediate, it applies from 04:00 hrs Tuesday GMT, which means it will be very helpful for those with travel insurance. Most of the policies I have seen provide cover for car hire, hotels and other sunk costs when the ABE note goes out from the FCO. Whereas many policies state that (e.g.) medical costs are covered if travel started before the ABE note went out.
Mar 15, 2020, 10:45 am
#160
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 131
Glasgow Airport have shut their long stay car park with immediate effect due to Covid-19.
Cannot see the justification in this other than decreased demand... Would force people into the more expensive short stays. Anybody with more info?
Cannot see the justification in this other than decreased demand... Would force people into the more expensive short stays. Anybody with more info?
Mar 15, 2020, 10:50 am
#161
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 131
But some can, including one of my illustrious ambassadorial colleagues who lives there.
The FCO advice is not immediate, it applies from 04:00 hrs Tuesday GMT, which means it will be very helpful for those with travel insurance. Most of the policies I have seen provide cover for car hire, hotels and other sunk costs when the ABE note goes out from the FCO. Whereas many policies state that (e.g.) medical costs are covered if travel started before the ABE note went out.
The FCO advice is not immediate, it applies from 04:00 hrs Tuesday GMT, which means it will be very helpful for those with travel insurance. Most of the policies I have seen provide cover for car hire, hotels and other sunk costs when the ABE note goes out from the FCO. Whereas many policies state that (e.g.) medical costs are covered if travel started before the ABE note went out.
The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the whole country.
Still current at:15 March 2020
Updated:15 March 2020
Mar 15, 2020, 11:01 am
#162
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
As of yesterday, I have zero flights bookings for any route on any airline 
In the event that BA weathers the storm (let's hope so) I expect to drop to Silver in 12 months and will probably never set foot again in the CCR...
I am so glad that the last few years afforded me the opportunity to travel the world, often in great comfort thanks to BAEC and the wonderful FT community. I will have the memories until I eventually go gaga...
BAEC, not to mention BA, had its faults, but it worked for us... and we worked it hard
Safe 2020 to all.
In the event that BA weathers the storm (let's hope so) I expect to drop to Silver in 12 months and will probably never set foot again in the CCR...
I am so glad that the last few years afforded me the opportunity to travel the world, often in great comfort thanks to BAEC and the wonderful FT community. I will have the memories until I eventually go gaga...
BAEC, not to mention BA, had its faults, but it worked for us... and we worked it hard
Safe 2020 to all.
While these thing are dissapointing to me and we all all have our own views which we rightly discuss on here (it's a frequent flyer forum after all), my own dissapointment, as I'm sure is the same with most of us, dissappears into insignificance against the people who will lose their jobs or even worse there lives, at least all being well I will be in a position to do these things again someday, others may not be so lucky.
Mar 15, 2020, 11:21 am
#163
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 755
I did have a look at FCO website but it is not clear when exactly the advice is valid for.
I guess much of this may come down to t and c’s in policy. I did actually start my trip at 10:30 this morning to get to airport, so it may be we have cover anyway.
in any case I will talk to my insurer before getting on aircraft tomorrow.
Mar 15, 2020, 11:28 am
#164
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,794
CWS, how confident are you in this statement. We’re currently sitting in Aspire lounge in INV headed to LHR for connecting flight to TPA from LGW tomorrow. Obviously, we made the decision that we are happy to travel, but did so on the basis that we would have medical cover from our insurer.
The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the USA, due to restrictions put in place by the US government with effect from 03:59 GMT 17 March in response to the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) (Summary and Entry Requirements).
Now most insurers won't cover you if you go to a country under ABE, but exact wording will vary. For example one policy I have to hand says "you travelling to a country or area where the Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised against all travel before you departed on your trip."
So if you left home - started your trip - before the advice, or before the advice kicks in, you have at least a line of argument. Now I'm not an insurance expert and it is certainly up to you have you judge risks, but it would be worth a good inspection of (a) the medical cover area and (b) the general exceptions to see what you think. The ABE was introduced to help people to claim, I guess, you're in the different position of not wanting to claim, and you have to draw your own comfort from that or otherwise.
Mar 15, 2020, 11:39 am
#165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,813
The exact wording is as follows:
The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the USA, due to restrictions put in place by the US government with effect from 03:59 GMT 17 March in response to the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) (Summary and Entry Requirements).
Now most insurers won't cover you if you go to a country under ABE, but exact wording will vary. For example one policy I have to hand says "you travelling to a country or area where the Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised against all travel before you departed on your trip."
So if you left home - started your trip - before the advice, or before the advice kicks in, you have at least a line of argument. Now I'm not an insurance expert and it is certainly up to you have you judge risks, but it would be worth a good inspection of (a) the medical cover area and (b) the general exceptions to see what you think. The ABE was introduced to help people to claim, I guess, you're in the different position of not wanting to claim, and you have to draw your own comfort from that or otherwise.
The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the USA, due to restrictions put in place by the US government with effect from 03:59 GMT 17 March in response to the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) (Summary and Entry Requirements).
Now most insurers won't cover you if you go to a country under ABE, but exact wording will vary. For example one policy I have to hand says "you travelling to a country or area where the Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised against all travel before you departed on your trip."
So if you left home - started your trip - before the advice, or before the advice kicks in, you have at least a line of argument. Now I'm not an insurance expert and it is certainly up to you have you judge risks, but it would be worth a good inspection of (a) the medical cover area and (b) the general exceptions to see what you think. The ABE was introduced to help people to claim, I guess, you're in the different position of not wanting to claim, and you have to draw your own comfort from that or otherwise.
With regard to starting a trip (or being the transatlantic portion of a trip) after the advice has been issued, I believe I would want some assurance from the insurer that I am still covered if I continue to travel despite the advice. It is one thing to already be somewhere else when the advice comes out, it is quite another to begin travel to another area after the advice is issued.