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

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Old Mar 14, 2020, 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*

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Old Nov 4, 2020, 8:32 am
  #4441  
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Originally Posted by ledcran02
Thanks CWS! Makes sense. Do I have to call to cancel the UUA or can I do that in MMB? As you suggested, went into MMB and I got the "Due to increased uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, you may wish to change your travel plans" message at the top, says to ring and ask for change options etc if I want. Does that suggest that I've got a chance at a free rebook? One other thing is though, the return flight details are now in red lettering (i.e. BA0062 to London Fri 13 Nov 2020 09:45) but nothing else seems different (the outbound is still in blue text), is that meaningful?
Yes, it does suggest a free rebook, plus that red lettering suggests either a cancellation or a time change. So first decide what you want to do, I would urge that you are utterly realistic about that date rather just plumping for another maybe date, and then call up when you are within 72 hours from travel. You can check that return flight by comparing what is on your e-ticket email versus was BA.com would offer you if buying a new ticket. If it is cancelled or moved by more than 4 hours the refund option is your starting point unless you have a powerful reason to do something else.
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Old Nov 4, 2020, 9:12 am
  #4442  
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 43
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
Yes, it does suggest a free rebook, plus that red lettering suggests either a cancellation or a time change. So first decide what you want to do, I would urge that you are utterly realistic about that date rather just plumping for another maybe date, and then call up when you are within 72 hours from travel. You can check that return flight by comparing what is on your e-ticket email versus was BA.com would offer you if buying a new ticket. If it is cancelled or moved by more than 4 hours the refund option is your starting point unless you have a powerful reason to do something else.
Hmm, there's no difference in time/date that I can see vs a fresh BA.com booking, though that was the flight leg that had been rescheduled on a previous occasion (though this is the first time I'd noticed it had turned red).
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Old Nov 4, 2020, 9:57 am
  #4443  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: London, UK
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Posts: 147
I had the "Due to increased uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, you may wish to change your travel plans" message yesterday on a booking to FNC for mid November. I was able to change the flights in MMB to any date at no additional cost, but it seems like they've now removed this option. Both outbound and return flights were showing in red with no change to the times originally booked.
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Old Nov 4, 2020, 12:56 pm
  #4444  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 796
Originally Posted by ajbrowc
I had the "Due to increased uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, you may wish to change your travel plans" message yesterday on a booking to FNC for mid November. I was able to change the flights in MMB to any date at no additional cost, but it seems like they've now removed this option. Both outbound and return flights were showing in red with no change to the times originally booked.
so wait, if I understand correctly, when it shows red but there is no change in departure/arrival times and there is the ‘due to the increased uncertainty’ message at the top, basically the flight has been cancelled but they are not sending cancellation notifications until the last minute because they would rather we call in ourselves to rebook before a flight is cancelled so that refund is not an option...
quite sneaky, no...?
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Old Nov 4, 2020, 1:20 pm
  #4445  
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: BA Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 315
Originally Posted by rosenkavalier
basically the flight has been cancelled but they are not sending cancellation notifications until the last minute because they would rather we call in ourselves to rebook before a flight is cancelled so that refund is not an option...
quite sneaky, no...?
I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what is going on. Had one of my flights (within the next few days) in red for a while and it’s really annoying - I can’t yet ask them to reroute me on another carrier (in line with their obligations) and also can’t request a refund.
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Old Nov 4, 2020, 1:22 pm
  #4446  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK
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Posts: 1,021
How long before departure can you wait to take a FTV? I would much rather a refund, but my flight isn't cancelled at the moment. I am due to fly Saturday early evening if that makes a difference.
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Old Nov 4, 2020, 1:25 pm
  #4447  
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Originally Posted by bluemoon68
How long before departure can you wait to take a FTV? I would much rather a refund, but my flight isn't cancelled at the moment. I am due to fly Saturday early evening if that makes a difference.
until check in closes, but I would recommend submitting the form no later than 2 hours before the flight is scheduled to depart.
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Old Nov 4, 2020, 1:27 pm
  #4448  
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Originally Posted by bluemoon68
How long before departure can you wait to take a FTV? I would much rather a refund, but my flight isn't cancelled at the moment. I am due to fly Saturday early evening if that makes a difference.
From ba.com:
When can a booking be exchanged to receive the voucher?

Flight only bookings can be exchanged up to the close of check-in. Date changes and voucher exchanges requested for flight + hotel and flight + car package bookings must be made a minimum of three weeks before departure if booking after 11 June 2020. If you booked a package between 3 March and 11 June 2020 for travel up to 31 December 2020 48 hours’ notice applies and if travelling between 1 January and 31 August 2021 three weeks’ notice applies. If you booked before 3 March 2020 for travel up to 10 January 2021, three weeks notice applies. In the event that the UK government introduce a new quarantine requirement when returning from your booked destination, you can give notice within 7 days of the government announcement, or the day of your outward departure (must be requested before flight check-in closes), if sooner. This supersedes the notice periods stated and applies only to the booking and travel dates shown above.
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Old Nov 4, 2020, 1:33 pm
  #4449  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 796
Originally Posted by EDDLEGLL
I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what is going on. Had one of my flights (within the next few days) in red for a while and it’s really annoying - I can’t yet ask them to reroute me on another carrier (in line with their obligations) and also can’t request a refund.
Please report back when they eventually announce your flight is cancelled. I have a booking in early December, ZRH-LHR-SJC, they already stopped selling ZRH-LHR from 4 Nov until 17 December back in late October, and they have now stopped selling LHR-SJC for the whole of December since a few days. I’m curious when I’ll be notified of the cancellations and I’ll be able to rebook under General Customer Guidelines, and not Covid Principle Guidelines.
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Old Nov 4, 2020, 7:25 pm
  #4450  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 23
I've just had an email from BA notifying me that my return leg, BA93 (LHR-YYZ) on 30-Dec, has been cancelled & I've been rebooked onto the later BA99 service arriving 5hrs 30mins later.

I gather this opens up the option to call & request a refund rather than taking an eVoucher. Is there a timeframe by which I need to request the refund by or is that option available to me anytime before my outbound leg on 19-Dec, assuming I don't make any other changes?

Edit: This was a simple booking made direct via ba.com & paid full balance via credit card.

Last edited by TheHoof; Nov 4, 2020 at 7:27 pm Reason: clarifying booking details
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Old Nov 5, 2020, 12:11 am
  #4451  
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SEA
Posts: 355
My wife and I's SEA-LHR on 15th December has been cancelled, and with us continuing on to BER we're thinking about just scrapping the trip entirely and postponing it until late next year. Our tickets were CW upgraded to F with a UuA, so will we need to look for dates that have Z class availability, or can we choose any date and call in to be rebooked? We would prefer the same dates in December 2021, but as it is more than 355 days out there won't be any avios space available.
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Old Nov 5, 2020, 2:07 am
  #4452  
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Originally Posted by quemalo
My wife and I's SEA-LHR on 15th December has been cancelled, and with us continuing on to BER we're thinking about just scrapping the trip entirely and postponing it until late next year. Our tickets were CW upgraded to F with a UuA, so will we need to look for dates that have Z class availability, or can we choose any date and call in to be rebooked? We would prefer the same dates in December 2021, but as it is more than 355 days out there won't be any avios space available.
You can be moved to another date, but only within the ticket's validity, which will be 1 year from the time of booking, not the first flight, so that 1 year move is not possible anyway. So you either need to to look at refund options, of which there are several sub options, or moving to a nearer date than your proposal.
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Old Nov 5, 2020, 2:10 am
  #4453  
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: 63,804
Originally Posted by TheHoof
I gather this opens up the option to call & request a refund rather than taking an eVoucher. Is there a timeframe by which I need to request the refund by or is that option available to me anytime before my outbound leg on 19-Dec, assuming I don't make any other changes?
Yes, you have until the first leg on the booking to inform BA what you want to do, so you don't need to rush, but don't accept any changes suggested on MMB. Lockdown 2.0 is due to end at the beginning of December so that's the obvious time to have another look at this.
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Old Nov 5, 2020, 9:07 am
  #4454  
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SEA
Posts: 355
Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave
You can be moved to another date, but only within the ticket's validity, which will be 1 year from the time of booking, not the first flight, so that 1 year move is not possible anyway. So you either need to to look at refund options, of which there are several sub options, or moving to a nearer date than your proposal.
Well, if it's the actual ticket purchase date of 2/2, then it appears a refund is our only option; if we're not going in December, we're not going in January either. Thank you very much!
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Old Nov 5, 2020, 3:49 pm
  #4455  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: London, UK
Posts: 281
(Found out the answer from BA Call Center. See bottom of post)

Outbound flight LHR to MLE got cancelled. This was a 241 voucher Avios redemption booking.

Tried to select new dates in the online tool, but it keeps telling me there is no availability. I searched through the normal cash booking engine, and there are seats available for cash. Tried multiple dates, no luck.
Also checked dates with Avios availability (to see if its just a cash vs Avios availability thing) but also keep getting the same message.

Anyone know if this is a bug or something I need to do different?

Don't want to have to call the BA line and be on hold for ages if I can get this rebooking done online.

Answer: I was told by BA call center that they can only rebook to any available class in the same cabin, only within 14 days of original flight. If other dates, it needed to be X class as that was my redemption class.

Answer 2: After calling again, and getting through to the Avios team instead of general booking/cancellation team, I was then told the right answer. If BA cancel the flight, even if its an Avios booking, free rebooking into any flight as long as there's cash ticket availability in the same class. Not all agents are clued up though, so you might have to speak to a supervisor or call again to get another agent.

Last edited by boonkoh; Nov 8, 2020 at 4:07 pm Reason: Got the answer
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