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Covid-19 BA Rebooking/Cancellation/Refund HELP & ADVICE *No Speculation etc*

Old Mar 14, 20, 4:58 pm
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Last edit by: corporate-wage-slave
BA Covid-19 Rebooking / Cancellation / Refund Help & Advice

If your flight is cancelled by BA:
Commercial booking: Your options are: cash refund OR Future Travel Voucher (FTV) OR rebooking OR Avios credit
Redemption booking: Your options are: full refund of cash and Avios OR FTV OR rebooking.
BA Holidays booking: You should be given a refund pro-actively.

If your flight is cancelled by BA - any flight in the PNR - you can get a full refund so long as you booked directly with BA. You can only get a refund by telephoning BA. Refunds are taking between a few hours to a few weeks to be repaid, depending on the sort of booking made. If you don't wish to travel you can opt for an FTV or eVoucher valid for travel until 30 April 2022, though flights more than 355 days away are not currently bookable - flights are enabled at 355 days before departure. Vouchers such as 2-4-1 are also thereby extended. You can do this even if the flight is operating. The best advice we can give is to delay opting for an eVoucher options until the last moment, since if BA cancel your flight you have more options. BA have also adjusted the Standard Customer Guidelines so that if BA cancel the flight you can be rebooked to anytime in 12 months after you originally bought the ticket, so long as there is space in the cabin - there is no need to have a fare bucket available or Avios availability. If you choose the Avios credit you will get between 108 to 126 Avios per GBP of your fare. Note older posts in this thread may now be inaccuarate since the current policy has been amended several times.
===
If your flight is not cancelled but you don't wish to travel
Commercial booking: If you are eligible for Buy with Confidence, you can have an FTV valid until April 2022. Rebooking may lead to a fare recalculation but no change fee.
Redemption booking: Your can do the normal Avios refund, with the redeposit fee capped at GBP 35 per person. Alternatively for the same fee you can rebook to new dates subject to availability. Alternatively you can have an FTV.
BA Holidays booking: You may be get a refund proactively, otherwise you are looking at an FTV for at least the flight component of your trip, maybe for all components.

If all of the flights in your booking are still scheduled and you don't wish to travel then you best wait until a few days before departure in case there is a cancellation. As you can see above, a cancellation gives you better options. You are in scope with Buy with Confidence if you are flying between now and completing travel before 31 August 2021, also if you bought your ticket after 3 March and due to complete all flights before September 2021. The BA web page on this is:
ba.com/confidence
===
Below are some of the options / workarounds being suggested in order to obtain a refund as opposed to a Future Travel Voucher, but they probably no longer work:

Refund of Cancelled Flights:
  • Call BA (no longer a requirement to be travelling in the next 72 hours, you may need to make repeated calls to get through). Telephone numbers are in this thread, but you can also find them on BA.com at the bottom left of the website, under Help and Contacts.

Paid Seating Refund:
Bookings made using Lloyds Upgrade Voucher
You should expect to receive:
  • Full refund of Avios and money paid
  • A new voucher issued, which has validity for 6 months (from the date of issue, i.e. when you request the 'refund')

Lloyds Upgrade Voucher Notes
  • Flights can be used within 12 months, so it will be good for travel up until the end 6 months plus 12 months if you book just before the new expiry
  • It's been advised to take the voucher instead of rebooking as it gives me more flexibility.
  • The original expiry date of the voucher was irrelevant because the booking was cancelled.
  • You must book within 6 months of the voucher being issued and the ticket has 12 months validity so you can change flights after, provided the new flights are within the 12 month window.
  • You won't receive any email, only the refund and the miles.
How to find out the status of your voucher and the amount it contains Future Travel Vouchers versus eVouchers
  • See posts 3052 and 3151 to understand the difference. FTVs cannot be used online (and are not really vouchers), whereas eVouchers, issued for simple bookings, can be used online.
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Covid-19 BA Rebooking/Cancellation/Refund HELP & ADVICE *No Speculation etc*

Old Mar 15, 20, 7:32 pm
  #166  
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Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 629
Originally Posted by Simon Schus
Got it, thank you. As it is a BA ticket, am I likely correct in stating that if the operator (AA) cancelled the flights in early April then I would be able to call BA rebook the same routing and fare classes for June/July? (Once the booking lines have calmed down and Im 72 hours out from travel in April).
yes you can rebook in same cabin or fully refund
Hawk777 is offline  
Old Mar 15, 20, 9:23 pm
  #167  
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: BAEC - Lowly blue
Posts: 280
BA have apparently been refunding my flight to Hong Kong for a while now, so I logged in and checked with manage my booking and it seems theyve just put me on a flight on the 15th July 😂

not sure if this is a BA IT fail again or not but it did make me laugh!
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Old Mar 15, 20, 10:20 pm
  #168  
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Programs: British Airways
Posts: 48
so online chaos at BA> I applied for a voucher for scheduled flight on next Saturday ARN-LHR-LAX but now I'm suddenly able to change the flight to November directly and be careful , when doing this as there is NO!!! final confirmation page or at least not clearly stated. My flight details are changed to November now but it may be that I still will receive vouchers...who knows; for non UK citizens; The UK voted for Brexit and Johnson in December so don't expect an reason or common sense. That went lost here in 1979.
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Old Mar 15, 20, 11:21 pm
  #169  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Apologies if this has been asked already but here goes. I had a trip from ORD-LHR booked from April 14-22. The trip was booked with AA with the outbound on AA metal and return on BA metal. With AA's announcement today it's only a matter of time before they cancel my ticket due to the suspension of all their ORD-LHR flights. My question is there a way to get the $140 I paid for seat selection refunded? Unfortunately I'm guessing that unless BA cancels the flight the answer is no.
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Old Mar 16, 20, 12:02 am
  #170  
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Originally Posted by fliegwech
so online chaos at BA> I applied for a voucher for scheduled flight on next Saturday ARN-LHR-LAX but now I'm suddenly able to change the flight to November directly and be careful , when doing this as there is NO!!! final confirmation page or at least not clearly stated. .
The eVoucher and Manage My Booking are two different processes. MMB is online and near real-time. The eVoucher process is manual: you fill in the form and someone is the back office will click through the details and issue the eVoucher. This may take a few days or even a week or two, I guess it will be prioritised by the original date of departure. It doesn't make sense to apply for the eVoucher and the try to change your booking in MMB or to cancel the booking. My best guess is you will get the eVoucher and the flights will be cancelled in a few days.
corporate-wage-slave is online now  
Old Mar 16, 20, 12:07 am
  #171  
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Originally Posted by LtKernelPanic
Apologies if this has been asked already but here goes. I had a trip from ORD-LHR booked from April 14-22. The trip was booked with AA with the outbound on AA metal and return on BA metal. With AA's announcement today it's only a matter of time before they cancel my ticket due to the suspension of all their ORD-LHR flights. My question is there a way to get the $140 I paid for seat selection refunded? Unfortunately I'm guessing that unless BA cancels the flight the answer is no.
If you booked with BA directly, then AA's cancellation is good enough, you can if you want cancel for a full cash refund, including the seat fee, as per the normal policy for seat fees. Alternatively you can rebook.

If booked with AA then AA's rules apply.
corporate-wage-slave is online now  
Old Mar 16, 20, 12:30 am
  #172  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 721
Long story short. Currently at LGW mid journey to TPA later today. Whilst our travel policy appears to provide medical cover if we continue, the insurer has a statement in their online fax that should you find yourselves in an area designated ABE, then you should make every effort to leave. No real appetite to have to test coverage with insurer in the event of problems so looks like we will abort.
So what to do now........
We want to get back to ABZ.
These tix were bought at avios.com using Lloyds voucher and avios, so I assume I need to talk to avios folks to try and salvage something. Or do you think BA at LGW will be able to help since we are within 24 hours.

Appreciate any thoughts.

thanks
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Old Mar 16, 20, 12:45 am
  #173  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 738
Originally Posted by zanderblue
Long story short. Currently at LGW mid journey to TPA later today. Whilst our travel policy appears to provide medical cover if we continue, the insurer has a statement in their online fax that should you find yourselves in an area designated ABE, then you should make every effort to leave. No real appetite to have to test coverage with insurer in the event of problems so looks like we will abort.
So what to do now........
We want to get back to ABZ.
These tix were bought at avios.com using Lloyds voucher and avios, so I assume I need to talk to avios folks to try and salvage something. Or do you think BA at LGW will be able to help since we are within 24 hours.

Appreciate any thoughts.

thanks
Unless youre lucky when they open at 8am, it
might not be possible to get through to the Avios.com team. They had wait times of over an hour before the virus issues. I would talk to BA at LGW - falling that it may be the case that you make your own way to ABZ and bill that to your insurer if, as it seems, theyre telling customers to go home. Hope you sort it all out.
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Old Mar 16, 20, 12:49 am
  #174  
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If you have any Avios left it may be easiest to just book with that, or even a revenue ticket to ABZ, and get your insurer pick up the tab. I would call the insurer if you can, before taking any action but if you can't contact them, make a note of your attempt and make your own decision. I am assuming Avios is going to be difficult to contact.
corporate-wage-slave is online now  
Old Mar 16, 20, 1:01 am
  #175  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 721
Thanks guys.
i will call avios and insurer as soon as lines open and try and get through. I can’t cancel remaining flights online, so will probably pop across to talk to BA at terminal.
Good idea about using avios for flights. On the other hand I may just rent a car. I’ll keep you all posted............
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Old Mar 16, 20, 1:16 am
  #176  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver. London Cycling Campaign. TfL Oyster
Posts: 689
What amount do you actually get back?

Sorry for this naive question which I really can’t find explicitly answered here or on BA’s FAQs

I have LCY-TXL-LYC flights later this week which I now do not want to take.
1. When I go into cancel all flights in MMB I get a cash refund of about 77, including a 15 cancel fee. The original CE price for these tickets were about 200. I assume I am only being refunded the fare and none of the other taxes, ADP etc
2. If I go through the getting a credit voucher to be used in 12 months route, do I get back [in voucher form] the full amount I have paid? Sorry, this isn’t really obvious in all the discussion. If the amount of the cash voucher is really just the fare, then I would be much more tempted to cancel via MMB and get the cash in my pocket.

Thanks
NTFM
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Old Mar 16, 20, 1:37 am
  #177  
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Originally Posted by NoTiersForMe
I have LCY-TXL-LYC flights later this week which I now do not want to take.
1. When I go into cancel all flights in MMB I get a cash refund of about 77, including a 15 cancel fee. The original CE price for these tickets were about 200. I assume I am only being refunded the fare and none of the other taxes, ADP etc
2. If I go through the getting a credit voucher to be used in 12 months route, do I get back [in voucher form] the full amount I have paid?
1. MMB quotes only the fare rules refund amount, ie the taxes, fees and charges excluding any YQ - ITA says 90.03 if booked today, which would be 75.03 if a 15 cancellation fee is deducted. The amount in your case depends on what TFC you actually paid, of course.
2. AIUI, the voucher should be for the total amount you paid, including non-refundable fare and non-refundable YQ (nil on mainline short-haul routes now, anyway).
3. If either of your flights is cancelled, you should become entitled to a full refund in cash now. Hence you may want to wait a bit before making a decision, depending on when "later this week" is.
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Old Mar 16, 20, 1:37 am
  #178  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dorchester, Dorset UK
Programs: BA Gold, BMI, ANA, HH Blue, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,050
Changes via MMB

Early yesterday I called You First to try and change this weeks booking to USA to November. They said they could but Id have to pay between 3-5K for the change. I declined awaiting what I assumed would be a cancellation. It appears that MIA is one of the official US entry points, so flight unlikely to be cancelled. Yesterday afternoon, having read on FT of a free booking transfer through MMB, I tried and succeeded in changing my booking until November, with no additional charge. I was able to choose my dates and times of travel.

What I havent been able to do so far (probably until T-72, is to change my AA and Delta flights to and from MIA to CUN, but things are looking a lot brighter.

Thank you to all BA and other airline staff for all their efforts in trying to help all us panicking individuals.
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Old Mar 16, 20, 2:28 am
  #179  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 17
Hi all, can't really find an appropriate thread to ask this question.

Three months ago I used *air miles* to book a First/Business return to Bali. I fly in two days but i'm hearing that Bali will be locked down soon. I wish to cancel.

If I try to cancel online i'm only taken to the form that says the usual about refunds, you have no recourse, etc. Am I likely to get my air miles back as it's some 260k!
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Old Mar 16, 20, 2:40 am
  #180  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Aberdeen
Programs: BA Gold, Flying Blue Plat, UA Silver, Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold Ambassador
Posts: 458
Just seen as posts well above on same e-mail concerning BA holiday refunds - deletimg
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Last edited by redpalmetto; Mar 16, 20 at 2:46 am Reason: duplicate from posts above
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