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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
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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 Mar 18, 2020, 12:42 pm
  #526  
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 320
I am trying to move forward a flight back to the UK from Los Angeles. I was due to fly back on 24 March, but now want to come home sooner, this Friday is available.

Luckily LAX is one of those airports that are operating flights from the UK, and BA have so far cancelled only one of the 3 daily flights.

As a holiday booking, I cannot change online, although I have the usual red notice, saying I could amend my booking if I wanted to due to the increased uncertainty.

British Airways customer service seem to insist that the price needs to be recalculated, and I would need to pay the difference (if any) - their back office team are busy, so they can't tell me what the cost would be - but just wondering if this is right? Flights from the USA could be cancelled further any minute and BA would charge me to come home sooner, on the same route and flight, just a few days earlier? For clarity, they are not charging a change fee by the way. Advice welcome.
sb1982 is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 12:53 pm
  #527  
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 watsonville
I understand BA are experiencing extremely high call volumes at present, and we are advised not to call unless our flight is in the next 72hrs. How am I meant to get a refund if I can't call?
Well I suspect if you call in June - for example - the queues will be shorter. If it's the first flight in an itinerary you cannot be a no-show, so while I wouldn't leave it 6 months, you certainly do not need to do anything now. Now clearly if you have a pressing need to rebook using those Avios right now, then by all means call. See also post 435. Otherwise wait for reports of people gettting through quickly, maybe next week, maybe the week after.
corporate-wage-slave is online now  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 12:58 pm
  #528  
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 semislack
Was wondering if anyone has any experience changing the date and destination of flights that have not been cancelled over the phone. Wanted to check if it is possible here first before waiting on the line and wasting both the CSO’s and my time. My alternative would be to buy a new ticket to Singapore although that would mean more money out of pocket.
People who reported on eVouchers haven't (I think) got them, at best they have had an email acknowledging they will get one. In your case I think you have a very good reason to call, bearing in mind I've generally been advising FTers advising against calling, to see what can be done. Queues appear to be shorter.
corporate-wage-slave is online now  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 1:01 pm
  #529  
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 sb1982
British Airways customer service seem to insist that the price needs to be recalculated, and I would need to pay the difference (if any) - their back office team are busy, so they can't tell me what the cost would be - but just wondering if this is right? Flights from the USA could be cancelled further any minute and BA would charge me to come home sooner, on the same route and flight, just a few days earlier? For clarity, they are not charging a change fee by the way. Advice welcome.
I think you are OK to call, you are getting close to potential departure. I think there is a good chance BA will be flying a significant number of flights through to the end of March, but that's just a hunch.
corporate-wage-slave is online now  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 1:03 pm
  #530  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,814
Originally Posted by watsonville
Hi,

I have had the outbound portion of a long haul flight in early April cancelled. I booked WT+ and upgraded using Avios.

My booking says cancelled, and that I can call to rebook or get a full refund. If I get a refund, will I get my Avios back?

I understand BA are experiencing extremely high call volumes at present, and we are advised not to call unless our flight is in the next 72hrs. How am I meant to get a refund if I can't call?
If this is for your flight to EZE in April, then as you have been previously advised you can request the voucher online, if you are sure you will travel in the future and don't mind BA keeping your cash outlay until you book again -- the avios and money will be applied to the new booking. You can also (1) call and rebook to dates you want in the future; (2) call for a full refund of your cash and avios as BA has cancelled your outbound flight. Since your flight isn't until April, imo there is no need to call at this moment.
jerry a. laska is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 1:07 pm
  #531  
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: London. Or a plane.
Programs: "Only" 50,000 TPs until BA GGLfL
Posts: 2,777
I think BA have just started the forward wave of cancellations beyond the next 7 days. My early April flight is missing form my booking (rather than showing as cancelled), it's also missing from the GDS rather than showing as cancelled
alexwuk is online now  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 1:10 pm
  #532  
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
Originally Posted by sb1982
I am trying to move forward a flight back to the UK from Los Angeles. I was due to fly back on 24 March, but now want to come home sooner, this Friday is available.

Luckily LAX is one of those airports that are operating flights from the UK, and BA have so far cancelled only one of the 3 daily flights.

As a holiday booking, I cannot change online, although I have the usual red notice, saying I could amend my booking if I wanted to due to the increased uncertainty.

British Airways customer service seem to insist that the price needs to be recalculated, and I would need to pay the difference (if any) - their back office team are busy, so they can't tell me what the cost would be - but just wondering if this is right? Flights from the USA could be cancelled further any minute and BA would charge me to come home sooner, on the same route and flight, just a few days earlier? For clarity, they are not charging a change fee by the way. Advice welcome.
There should be no charge for the change, here is the policy wording for USA:

For part-flown customers who want to return as soon as possible*

Rebook onto an alternative British Airways service for travel as early as possible

Rebook without charge into the same class as original or lowest available in the same cabin
Tobias-UK is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 1:20 pm
  #533  
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 320
Originally Posted by Tobias-UK
There should be no charge for the change, here is the policy wording for USA:

For part-flown customers who want to return as soon as possible*

Rebook onto an alternative British Airways service for travel as early as possible

Rebook without charge into the same class as original or lowest available in the same cabin
Thank you! Where can I source this from, so that when BA calls me back tomorrow with a 'quote' I can direct the agent to this?
sb1982 is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 1:23 pm
  #534  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,111
Over in the previous closed thread, I mentioned that I I had an LGW-SVQ-LGW (Gatwick to Seville) flight, booked cheaply and upgraded with a POUG ( https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32183354-post866.html ) and there is more than one person in the same situation (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32183412-post867.html). I applied for an e-voucher on March 14 and today (March 18th) I received this from BA:
Booking Reference: XXXXXX
Dear flatlander,
Thank you for contacting British Airways and requesting a Future Travel
Voucher.
We're now processing your voucher and you'll receive it within the next
seven days.
As you can imagine, our call centres are very busy at the moment, so
please do only contact them if you're due to travel within the next 72
hours and have an issue that can't be resolved via ba.com.
Please only submit one request per booking reference.
Thank you for your understanding.
Warm regards,
British Airways Customer Service
BA
So, turnaround for a response is several days but they are answering. I'll post another update when I see how much it is for (since I'm hoping to get back the low base fare and the relatively larger POUG cost).
flatlander is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 1:26 pm
  #535  
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 sb1982
Thank you! Where can I source this from, so that when BA calls me back tomorrow with a 'quote' I can direct the agent to this?
It is known as Customer Guideline USA update 6. I doubt there will be an issue about that.
corporate-wage-slave is online now  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 1:37 pm
  #536  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: YVR,TPE,LHR
Programs: CX Diamond, BA Gold
Posts: 48
Hello all,

I have an upcoming booking LHR-YYZ // YYC-LHR, and I just got a notification that YYC-LHR sector is cancelled (looks like the route is cancelled).

I do want to fly the outbound segment to return to Canada...so what are my options here? Proceed to airport as usual and rebook the YYC-LHR segment from a different airport in Canada when I am ready to fly back to London?

Thanks.
jeffrey262626 is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 1:39 pm
  #537  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 629
Originally Posted by sb1982
Thank you! Where can I source this from, so that when BA calls me back tomorrow with a 'quote' I can direct the agent to this?
tell them to refer to ba us update 6 free change for part flown flights
Hawk777 is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 1:59 pm
  #538  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 20
Hi,
I am due to fly on friday the 20th march from LHR to Boston, BA0213, at 11.20

Of the 4 flights on this date, 2 have been cancelled, but mine has not been.

Can I assume that all the flight cancellations for this week have been done?

My next flight will probably be 363 days after that one, so just sneaking in to the one year rule, so would prefer a refund just in case, rather than a voucher, but understand that if I dont get cancelled then that's my best option.

thanks for all the hard work and help!
karen
lawrenson is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 2:18 pm
  #539  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Originally Posted by alexwuk
I think BA have just started the forward wave of cancellations beyond the next 7 days. My early April flight is missing form my booking (rather than showing as cancelled), it's also missing from the GDS rather than showing as cancelled
Yes, I was meant to fly on 8th April LHR-JFK - whilst my original flight is still running, I just checked and BA is down to only 2 LHR-JFK services on that day . The 117 and 113 remain in the schedule. That is a decimation of the schedule, unfortunately.
rossmacd is offline  
Old Mar 18, 2020, 2:39 pm
  #540  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,624
DEN tomorrow now cancelled (was just missing from MyBooking but showing as cancelled on BA Flight Status) . Polite YouFirst agent sorted and chatted briefly about why i was going and about the whole situation.
Of note, needed supervisor to override Voucher which i had originally applied for when told flight was operating.
All done sorted and hopefully refunded (on the same day Insurance said they would cover it!)
gw76 is offline  


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