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:
Paid Seating Refund:
Bookings made using Lloyds Upgrade Voucher
You should expect to receive:
Lloyds Upgrade Voucher Notes
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.
- Online forms (Post #435 - corporate-wage-slave) - manual process which may take many weeks
Paid Seating Refund:
- https://www.britishairways.com/trave...ing_claim_form (Post #765 - travelhappypair)
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.
- Use the Qantas website and look back to your original PNR. Step by step guide in post 954
Covid-19 BA Rebooking/Cancellation/Refund HELP & ADVICE *No Speculation etc*
#4652
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,990
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32809399-post18.html
#4653
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: LAX, SNA, LGB
Posts: 453
It is. I don't see why the current policy to allow rebooking regardless of reward availability wouldn't apply?
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32809399-post18.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32809399-post18.html
#4654
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,990
i think all the cancellation codes of OMN, OPEN and COVN should be included. it sounds like you got an agent with a particularly narrow view of the policy tbh - i am not aware of any cancellations BA are doing weeks/months ahead which aren't due to coronavirus.
#4655
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Posts: 63,850
#4656
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: LAX, SNA, LGB
Posts: 453
how much notice did you get for the cancellation? if less then 14 days if they are claiming it is operational and not coronavirus my reply would be great now you admitted it isn't to do with coronavirus where do i collect my compensation? if more than 14 days then i am not aware of any cancellations BA are doing weeks/months ahead which aren't due to coronavirus, what operational reasons are they referring to?
i think all the cancellation codes of OMN, OPEN and COVN should be included. it sounds like you got an agent with a particularly narrow view of the policy tbh - i am not aware of any cancellations BA are doing weeks/months ahead which aren't due to coronavirus.
i think all the cancellation codes of OMN, OPEN and COVN should be included. it sounds like you got an agent with a particularly narrow view of the policy tbh - i am not aware of any cancellations BA are doing weeks/months ahead which aren't due to coronavirus.
Yes. all on BA metal.
#4657
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: Emirates Gold
Posts: 225
Hi
My wife and daughter were originally due to fly 20th November in World Traveller Plus on BA10 (BKK>LHR). The flight was cancelled and we rebooked for 4th December. I received another Email to say this flight is also cancelled. After ringing up BA, they have offered me WTP from Bangkok to Doha but Economy from Doha to LHR, obviously this flight is now indirect. I asked for compensation as they downgraded the second leg but they won't budge.
I paid a premium for both of them to travel direct which is now not happening and am now not getting the service I paid for. I get these are difficult times but surely they should be offering something as compensation whether it's cash, avios or an upgrade on the first leg to business? I said I will get back to them to discuss but I am half tempted to cancel the whole booking with them and book another flight with one of the ME carriers.
Are there any other options ?
Thanks
My wife and daughter were originally due to fly 20th November in World Traveller Plus on BA10 (BKK>LHR). The flight was cancelled and we rebooked for 4th December. I received another Email to say this flight is also cancelled. After ringing up BA, they have offered me WTP from Bangkok to Doha but Economy from Doha to LHR, obviously this flight is now indirect. I asked for compensation as they downgraded the second leg but they won't budge.
I paid a premium for both of them to travel direct which is now not happening and am now not getting the service I paid for. I get these are difficult times but surely they should be offering something as compensation whether it's cash, avios or an upgrade on the first leg to business? I said I will get back to them to discuss but I am half tempted to cancel the whole booking with them and book another flight with one of the ME carriers.
Are there any other options ?
Thanks
#4658
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: 63,850
No notification that I could find, I found it just looking in manage my booking. So I am not sure when they cancelled. I usually get both an email and a text but got neither or I just cant find it. No reasons given, they just said it was operational reasons why it does not fall under the covid policy. I was due to fly from LAX to AMS on November 20 and return on the 29th. I spoke to both a gold line agent and also a you first agent.
#4659
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: 63,850
My wife and daughter were originally due to fly 20th November in World Traveller Plus on BA10 (BKK>LHR). The flight was cancelled and we rebooked for 4th December. I received another Email to say this flight is also cancelled. After ringing up BA, they have offered me WTP from Bangkok to Doha but Economy from Doha to LHR, obviously this flight is now indirect. I asked for compensation as they downgraded the second leg but they won't budge.
#4660
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: Emirates Gold
Posts: 225
You should be able to claim downgrade reimbursement using the Menens formula, which you will find explained in the Wiki of the EC261 thread. You can only claim this after travel, however. This won't amount to a big refund but it should be a fairer outcome. Contact centre agents tend not to know about Menens, so I'm not surprised they refused to take it further. But, yes, the alternative is a full refund and you make different arrangements.
Do I claim after the first flight or have to wait to claim once they have travelled back to Thailand?
#4661
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: 63,850
Unless BA can offer you a WTP / Premium Economy alternative on the date in question then it's not as though you have a choice. Having said that, I would expect you to need to claim via CEDR since I can't see BA paying you voluntarily. They tended not to do so before the pandemic (and often lost cases in MCOL and CEDR as a result). I would also have suggested you claiming compensation for not giving you 2 weeks notice, if Thailand's restrictions on BA's operations are of longer duration. You best claim after all flights are completed, since the formula relates to the fares involved and it gets too complicated if (for example) you subsequently amend the return date.
#4662
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: BA GGL & CCR, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15
It is. I don't see why the current policy to allow rebooking regardless of reward availability wouldn't apply?
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32809399-post18.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32809399-post18.html
#4663
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: Emirates Gold
Posts: 225
Unless BA can offer you a WTP / Premium Economy alternative on the date in question then it's not as though you have a choice. Having said that, I would expect you to need to claim via CEDR since I can't see BA paying you voluntarily. They tended not to do so before the pandemic (and often lost cases in MCOL and CEDR as a result). I would also have suggested you claiming compensation for not giving you 2 weeks notice, if Thailand's restrictions on BA's operations are of longer duration. You best claim after all flights are completed, since the formula relates to the fares involved and it gets too complicated if (for example) you subsequently amend the return date.
#4664
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: LAX, SNA, LGB
Posts: 453
I can't see why this is a problem, they should be able to rebook you within a year of initial booking in my view, unless there is some other factor involved. That said, it should not be too difficult to find reward availability at the moment, from a quick look at LAX-LHR and LHR-AMS. I guess you could accept the CW option and then try and pursue BA for the downgrade reimbursement after travel, if they can't find a better option for you.
thanks for the help!
#4665
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
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Posts: 12,691
Looks like FRA-LHR BA was just canceled for my 12 Dec date, meaning I probably need to either overnight in FRA or LHR.
I had KRK-LHR-ORD booked on the 13 Dec. Changed to KRK-FRA-LHR-ORD on the 12th Dec (LH/BA/BA).
What other options do I have? I don't see them rebooking me on KL or LO, and out of KRK there is only the 7AM LH to FRA, with 840AM arrival. Out of FRA to LHR, it's 8AM or 4PM or 930PM. So I would either need to overnight in LHR or FRA....
I had KRK-LHR-ORD booked on the 13 Dec. Changed to KRK-FRA-LHR-ORD on the 12th Dec (LH/BA/BA).
What other options do I have? I don't see them rebooking me on KL or LO, and out of KRK there is only the 7AM LH to FRA, with 840AM arrival. Out of FRA to LHR, it's 8AM or 4PM or 930PM. So I would either need to overnight in LHR or FRA....
Last edited by jason8612; Nov 18, 2020 at 11:28 am