Greedy BA [I cancelled my ticket, BA won’t refund ancillary fees]
Mar 20, 2020, 3:31 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA GGLfL, WoH Lifetime Globalist, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 711
I had a similar issue recently on a non-One World airline. Due to Coronavirus, I cancelled the flight but seat fees were not refunded (as per the airline's T&Cs). My insurance company will cover the financial loss for the flight, but not the seat fees as the latter was an optional extra.
Doc Copper
Doc Copper
Mar 20, 2020, 3:52 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,991
You could argue that paying more to fly from LHR rather than STN, or at a sensible time of day, or even flying BA rather than Wizz, is optional.
Mar 20, 2020, 3:56 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA GGLfL, WoH Lifetime Globalist, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
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This seems odd, as I'd have thought that almost every aspect of flying, including the cost of the flight itself, is an "optional extra".
You could argue that paying more to fly from LHR rather than STN, or at a sensible time of day, or even flying BA rather than Wizz, is optional.
You could argue that paying more to fly from LHR rather than STN, or at a sensible time of day, or even flying BA rather than Wizz, is optional.
Doc Copper
Mar 20, 2020, 5:19 am
#19
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
so using the OP case.. lets say I was planning to go to a show/event/sporting event... if the event is cancelled, its not the airlines fault,
so why would I expect the airlines to refund me the money for the ticket..especially if that flight actually flew...
so why would I expect the airlines to refund me the money for the ticket..especially if that flight actually flew...
Mar 20, 2020, 7:59 am
#20
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,617
Think about it this way. As it stands, I guess the OP will never use BA again. However, if BA were to offer a voucher for the seat fees, then maybe that would be an incentive to book another BA flight in the future.
Mar 20, 2020, 8:06 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,937
Again, he's not asking for the refund of the ticket. It's the seat fees.
Think about it this way. As it stands, I guess the OP will never use BA again. However, if BA were to offer a voucher for the seat fees, then maybe that would be an incentive to book another BA flight in the future.
Think about it this way. As it stands, I guess the OP will never use BA again. However, if BA were to offer a voucher for the seat fees, then maybe that would be an incentive to book another BA flight in the future.
I think offering a voucher for the actual flight but not for the seats is a fair compromise- and already way above contractual obligations in a lot of cases.
Mar 20, 2020, 9:16 am
#23
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
Posts: 4,612
Wow, I guess things are tough on the Europe side of the atlantic... Yes T&C say non-ref but this is a worldwide crisis.... here in the US things are being waived is that not happening in Europe?
Mar 20, 2020, 9:17 am
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
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Posts: 31,452
I don’t think the OP said anything about travel insurance covering the flight, that was another poster.
Mar 20, 2020, 9:23 am
#25
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 70
I'm trying my luck now with a seat refund. I has used AA miles to book a trip back in June 2019 for a May 2020 trip, this was for a return to the US after a river cruise. Because my wife and I fall in the don't travel group due to age we switched the cruise to the end of August 2020. Because it would be more then a year since the tickets were issued AA wouldn't just rebook it, the trip had to be cancelled, I had to pay the fee to redeposit the miles and book a new trip, same flight numbers on BA. I've paid for seat assignments on the new flights and hoping that BA will refund for the prior flight, but not holding out much hope, but would at least like to see what their response will be.
Mar 20, 2020, 9:34 am
#26
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,198
Yes all sorts of things are being waived NOW - refunds or vouchers for cancelled flights etc - but in the OPs case their flight was before everything really kicked off in Europe. They voluntarily decided not to travel and AA refunded the flights but BA won’t refund the seat selection fees fees the OP paid because it was a voluntary cancellation.
Mar 20, 2020, 10:16 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
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Yes all sorts of things are being waived NOW - refunds or vouchers for cancelled flights etc - but in the OPs case their flight was before everything really kicked off in Europe. They voluntarily decided not to travel and AA refunded the flights but BA won’t refund the seat selection fees fees the OP paid because it was a voluntary cancellation.
Mar 20, 2020, 10:24 am
#28
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,617
Mar 20, 2020, 10:50 am
#29
Join Date: Apr 2004
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I always cringe when I see "Greed" or "Greedy" in a thread title. One can usually expect a case where the facts support the airline/hotel but OP wants their money back regardless.
Mar 20, 2020, 11:03 am
#30
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,617
In normal circumstances I'd agree. However, BA and other airlines will be crying out for customers to return once we are over this. A little bit of goodwill now would go a long way.