How long for refunds to be processed
Jan 24, 2021, 11:38 pm
#1232
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,380
Hello, I am sorry you were told this, as it isn't true. It is true that Lockdown 3 in the UK has led to an increase in the backlog, but for the vast majority of bookings sent to back office it should be taking a few weeks to be processed
As has been mentioned on here in the past, the complexity of bookings (has it been reissued? are there multiple currencies on the ticket? are there 2 credit cards as payment? was a voucher used as part payment?) will affect the timescales. Any straightforward booking should be refunded on the call to the contact centres, and show on the credit card a few days later. Any Avios requiring a refund could be done by a different team, so don't panic if you get the cash but not the refund - or vice versa - at the same time.
Anyone who has had their flight cancelled wanting a cash refund, who can't get through to the call centre, please consider filling in the webform on ba.com. If the booking is a basic one, a robotic will refund it, and if it's complex it will be auto-sent to the same team looking at the bookings sent by the contact centres.
Colleagues around the BA world are processing refunds and reissues, in lieu of their day job due to the reduced flying programme, and this will remain the case until the backlogs are back to normal levels.
If anyone has been waiting over a month for a refund or reissue, please drop me a note and I will take a look.
As I have said here in the past, but it is worth repeating, I am grateful for everyone's patience in these matters, as well as their overall levels of support in what remains a challenging time for the contact centres specifically, and airline overall.
BA Refund Helper
As has been mentioned on here in the past, the complexity of bookings (has it been reissued? are there multiple currencies on the ticket? are there 2 credit cards as payment? was a voucher used as part payment?) will affect the timescales. Any straightforward booking should be refunded on the call to the contact centres, and show on the credit card a few days later. Any Avios requiring a refund could be done by a different team, so don't panic if you get the cash but not the refund - or vice versa - at the same time.
Anyone who has had their flight cancelled wanting a cash refund, who can't get through to the call centre, please consider filling in the webform on ba.com. If the booking is a basic one, a robotic will refund it, and if it's complex it will be auto-sent to the same team looking at the bookings sent by the contact centres.
Colleagues around the BA world are processing refunds and reissues, in lieu of their day job due to the reduced flying programme, and this will remain the case until the backlogs are back to normal levels.
If anyone has been waiting over a month for a refund or reissue, please drop me a note and I will take a look.
As I have said here in the past, but it is worth repeating, I am grateful for everyone's patience in these matters, as well as their overall levels of support in what remains a challenging time for the contact centres specifically, and airline overall.
BA Refund Helper
Thanks for the update.
ive just had a BA Holiday auto cancelled. It was funded by 2 x flight only FTVs and 2 x additional payments made on 2 different cards.
The cancellation email advised refund in 7-10 days however the following day I received another Future Travel Voucher. In view of the complexity when making new bookings I opted for a cash refund and the agent said there were no card details held so she asked for my bank details which I provided.
How long will this refund typically take to action and are payments made by the 3 day BACS method or near instant Faster Payment?
Am greatful for the teams dealing with refunds. I’ve opted for 3 card refunds so far and 7 x FTV. The problem is as FTVs morph into new bookings it gets complex when they are cancelled so I might refund future cancellations and rebook afresh.
Jan 25, 2021, 7:47 am
#1233
formerly JackDann
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 1,658
Cancelled my BA Reward booking last week over the phone. Refund back onto Amex within 2 days. Impressed and will certainly book again knowing that if I have to cancel it was relatively hassle free.
Jan 25, 2021, 3:05 pm
#1234
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,044
Another data point for refunds that have to be manually processed - refund requested by phone on 8 Jan. Credited back to my Amex today (with a processing date of 24th) so just over 2 weeks
Jan 26, 2021, 5:08 am
#1235
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA
Posts: 174
Last year, April and June, refunds took about 3 days, I have recently had to apply for a refund for flights in December just gone and it took about 10 days. At least the call waiting time was about 7 minutes this time, unlike it being above 30 mins last year. Guess the volume is down significantly now as fewer people now have bookings outstanding unlike last year when people were booking as normal up to March.
Jan 26, 2021, 9:29 am
#1236
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cheltenham
Programs: KLM Plat for Life , BA Gold, HH Silver, (Other half Diamond), IHG Gold
Posts: 2,398
Flights cx by BA
Applied for a refund 27 th December
avios and 241 back in instantaneously but still no sign of the cash , have chased twice.
Applied for a refund 27 th December
avios and 241 back in instantaneously but still no sign of the cash , have chased twice.
Jan 27, 2021, 7:59 am
#1237
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA - DCA
Programs: BA Gold, American Airlines, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond
Posts: 5,075
How long from the time of cancel does it take to receive a credit voucher for use on a future flight? I'm currently holding a reservation for later this year but will certainly need to re-book but am, at this time, unsure of my re-booking dates..
Jan 27, 2021, 8:03 am
#1238
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,968
You mean the future travel voucher? For a flight only booking you should get it within 1-2 hours of submitting the online form.
Jan 27, 2021, 8:17 am
#1240
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
A couple of weeks ago, the LHR-IST leg of next week's MAN-LHR-IST J ticket was cancelled.
Called AmexTravel and cancelled the entire ticket. The full refund was credited to my CC within 3 days.
Called AmexTravel and cancelled the entire ticket. The full refund was credited to my CC within 3 days.
Jan 27, 2021, 10:59 am
#1241
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,061
... which doesn’t really help when the thread is about BA refunds. But good to see Amex is just as on the ball I suppose.
Jan 27, 2021, 3:40 pm
#1243
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,061
Jan 28, 2021, 4:37 am
#1245
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 99
I had a ACE-LHR flight cancelled, 3 people on the booking and paid for in euros, applied for a refund on Friday 14th. Tickets were paid for first and then POUG added at 109euros per person. Over night I received two payments 109Euros so am still owned for the actual tickets and 1 POUG, is it normal for refunds to be spread? how long should I leave it before I ring and chase the remainder of the refund? thanks