Jan 1, 2021, 8:29 am
Last edit by: corporate-wage-slave
01 - 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 2023 (now extended from April 2022 including existing FTVs), 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. If you us,ed an FTV to pay for this now cancelled service then you can have a refund back to the FTV's original booking.
Online forms: manual process which may take many weeks
link to webform to claim a refund (UK) or link to webform to claim a refund (US)
Paid Seating Refund:
link to webform to claim a refund (UK)
02 - If your flight is not cancelled but you no longer wish to travel
Commercial booking: If you are eligible for Buy with Confidence, you can have an FTV valid until 31 August 2022 (this has been extended several times). Rebooking may lead to a fare recalculation but no change fee. Travel must be fully completed by this date.
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 30 April 2022, 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: https://ba.com/confidence
Bookings made using Lloyds Upgrade Voucher
You should expect to receive:
A full refund of Avios and money paid plus 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
03 - How to find out the status of your voucher and the amount it contains
Use the Qantas website and look back to your original PNR. Step by step guide by corporate-wage-slave
04 - Future Travel Vouchers versus eVouchers
FTVs cannot be used online (and are not really vouchers), whereas eVouchers, issued for simple bookings, can be used online.
BA are now issuing eVouchers directly in simple cases, and also proactively replacing existing FTVs with new eVouchers. These are usable online. Complex cases still get FTVs, which require a phone call to book. In both cases, you need to apply online through the Cancellation Options in MMB, and both will generate an email typically within a few minutes. This is how to tell the difference
1) eVouchers will get an email entitled "Your British Airways eVoucher"
This will then have a line like this and the online ability is mentioned in the email text:
Your eVoucher details
125-1234567890 / GBP48.87 / WAGE-SLAVE /
2) FTVs will get an email entitled "Your British Airways Future Travel Voucher"
The relevant line then shows:
Voucher code(s)
125-1234567890
It doesn't take much, by FT standards, to turn a booking too complicated for the automated eVoucher. POUGs, flight changes, TCP, seat payment, pay payment with Avios, UuA. 48 and 72 hour Hold bookings all stop it. But if you made a simple single or return booking, point to point, on BA.com and didn't change it, then you should get an eVoucher.
If you obtain an FTV, deploy it on a new booking which BA then cancels, then you can get a refund of the cash from the first booking that led to the FTV. Or an Avios refund without redeposit fees if it was a redemption.
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 2023 (now extended from April 2022 including existing FTVs), 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. If you us,ed an FTV to pay for this now cancelled service then you can have a refund back to the FTV's original booking.
Online forms: manual process which may take many weeks
link to webform to claim a refund (UK) or link to webform to claim a refund (US)
Paid Seating Refund:
link to webform to claim a refund (UK)
02 - If your flight is not cancelled but you no longer wish to travel
Commercial booking: If you are eligible for Buy with Confidence, you can have an FTV valid until 31 August 2022 (this has been extended several times). Rebooking may lead to a fare recalculation but no change fee. Travel must be fully completed by this date.
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 30 April 2022, 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: https://ba.com/confidence
Bookings made using Lloyds Upgrade Voucher
You should expect to receive:
A full refund of Avios and money paid plus 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.
03 - How to find out the status of your voucher and the amount it contains
Use the Qantas website and look back to your original PNR. Step by step guide by corporate-wage-slave
04 - Future Travel Vouchers versus eVouchers
FTVs cannot be used online (and are not really vouchers), whereas eVouchers, issued for simple bookings, can be used online.
BA are now issuing eVouchers directly in simple cases, and also proactively replacing existing FTVs with new eVouchers. These are usable online. Complex cases still get FTVs, which require a phone call to book. In both cases, you need to apply online through the Cancellation Options in MMB, and both will generate an email typically within a few minutes. This is how to tell the difference
1) eVouchers will get an email entitled "Your British Airways eVoucher"
This will then have a line like this and the online ability is mentioned in the email text:
Your eVoucher details
125-1234567890 / GBP48.87 / WAGE-SLAVE /
2) FTVs will get an email entitled "Your British Airways Future Travel Voucher"
The relevant line then shows:
Voucher code(s)
125-1234567890
It doesn't take much, by FT standards, to turn a booking too complicated for the automated eVoucher. POUGs, flight changes, TCP, seat payment, pay payment with Avios, UuA. 48 and 72 hour Hold bookings all stop it. But if you made a simple single or return booking, point to point, on BA.com and didn't change it, then you should get an eVoucher.
If you obtain an FTV, deploy it on a new booking which BA then cancels, then you can get a refund of the cash from the first booking that led to the FTV. Or an Avios refund without redeposit fees if it was a redemption.
BA Covid-19 Flight cancellations, rebooking, and refunds | Help and advice thread
Jan 12, 2021, 1:29 pm
#211
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: 63,836
There are more protections on BAH bookings, in line with UK legislation on package tours. So people who have booked JFK services are forced into FTVs, but even if the flight is operating, BAH is making - proactively - full refunds. So it depends a bit on what is useful to you, the deposit plus a refund if it's a non viable trip (even if the flight operates) or a potential rebook on flight only, but you tie down your cash upfront and may not see it again if the FTV doesn't work out for some reason. They are quite different products really. One could argue that Avios reward bookings are the best of all worlds since there's only £35 per person at stake no matter what, but again different people will look for different things. And as you know, I would be careful making any "maybe" booking at the moment.
Jan 12, 2021, 1:39 pm
#212
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
A follow-up and clarification question:
Would I be able to change dates without paying the fare difference if BAH cancels an active ( deposit paid ) booking on an airfare that isn't valid anymore or would I be forced for a refund of the deposit that I paid?
Would I be able to change dates without paying the fare difference if BAH cancels an active ( deposit paid ) booking on an airfare that isn't valid anymore or would I be forced for a refund of the deposit that I paid?
Jan 12, 2021, 1:42 pm
#213
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kent.Uk
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 81
Original booking for Feb 2021 LON - BKK in J made Oct 2020 50% Avios and 241 voucher used. Flight cancelled.
Just managed to rebook online to Nov/Dec 2021 so over 365 days since original booking and 241 expires in Aug 21 !!!
No Avios availability showing prior to booking.
Phoned Gold line as also had 3 sons on similar booking 50% Avios but no 241 - and was told no option to change as no availability to/from BkK and when I mentioned the 50% sale I was told that there had to not only be availability but I could only use it until end June 2021 (I did try and quote the information I had learned on FT) .
Got off the phone quick and rebooked my sons online for same dates as myself - all in J - all now showing in MMB and had email confirmations.
Now just got to hope Asia opens up by November
Just managed to rebook online to Nov/Dec 2021 so over 365 days since original booking and 241 expires in Aug 21 !!!
No Avios availability showing prior to booking.
Phoned Gold line as also had 3 sons on similar booking 50% Avios but no 241 - and was told no option to change as no availability to/from BkK and when I mentioned the 50% sale I was told that there had to not only be availability but I could only use it until end June 2021 (I did try and quote the information I had learned on FT) .
Got off the phone quick and rebooked my sons online for same dates as myself - all in J - all now showing in MMB and had email confirmations.
Now just got to hope Asia opens up by November
Jan 12, 2021, 2:34 pm
#214
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,440
This is a good question. How does it work for rebooking a BAH if they cancel flight (aka it’s their fault)? Would they allow a like for like date change for free?
Jan 12, 2021, 2:38 pm
#215
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: 63,836
Having said that, I think it's not useful to book any travel in the near future, "maybe" bookings are more trouble than they are worth as you can see upthread.
Jan 12, 2021, 2:42 pm
#216
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Programs: TK Elite Plus,BAEC GGL,ITA Executive, AFKL Gold,QR Gold,HH Diamond,Bonvoy Gold,ALL Gold
Posts: 14,186
The airfare component - which is invisible to the customer - is effectively under the same logic as Flight Only bookings, so if BA cancelled a flight and suggested an alternative, then there wouldn't be a charge for that. In theory the hotel or car hire would be repriced, but of course many hotel and car hire businesses are also being flexible so are willing to work around changes without charging extra.
Having said that, I think it's not useful to book any travel in the near future, "maybe" bookings are more trouble than they are worth as you can see upthread.
Having said that, I think it's not useful to book any travel in the near future, "maybe" bookings are more trouble than they are worth as you can see upthread.
I have already booked this BAH reservation in October 2020 for travel in May 2021.
Jan 12, 2021, 2:42 pm
#217
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,440
The airfare component - which is invisible to the customer - is effectively under the same logic as Flight Only bookings, so if BA cancelled a flight and suggested an alternative, then there wouldn't be a charge for that. In theory the hotel or car hire would be repriced, but of course many hotel and car hire businesses are also being flexible so are willing to work around changes without charging extra.
Having said that, I think it's not useful to book any travel in the near future, "maybe" bookings are more trouble than they are worth as you can see upthread.
Having said that, I think it's not useful to book any travel in the near future, "maybe" bookings are more trouble than they are worth as you can see upthread.
My BAH to GIB has been pushed back numerous times and I’ve only paid the deposit (which came from a voucher). So I’m not fussed about pushing it back again and accepting the uncertainty. I just don’t want to lose out on the amazing Club fares I got.
Jan 13, 2021, 1:58 am
#218
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 28
Does anyone know the rebooking policy if one sector of a BA operated, redemption itinerary is cancelled?
Let's say your itinerary was:
CDG-LHR-SIN-LHR-CDG - in Club, and BA cancelled your CDG-LHR flight due to Covid which meant you couldn't connect to your BA operated LHR-SIN flight.
What would be your rebooking options? Would BA allow you to rebook onto any date, on the same routing, within ticket validity irrespective of whether there was redemption availability or not?
Let's say your itinerary was:
CDG-LHR-SIN-LHR-CDG - in Club, and BA cancelled your CDG-LHR flight due to Covid which meant you couldn't connect to your BA operated LHR-SIN flight.
What would be your rebooking options? Would BA allow you to rebook onto any date, on the same routing, within ticket validity irrespective of whether there was redemption availability or not?
Jan 13, 2021, 2:50 am
#219
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,982
Does anyone know the rebooking policy if one sector of a BA operated, redemption itinerary is cancelled?
Let's say your itinerary was:
CDG-LHR-SIN-LHR-CDG - in Club, and BA cancelled your CDG-LHR flight due to Covid which meant you couldn't connect to your BA operated LHR-SIN flight.
What would be your rebooking options? Would BA allow you to rebook onto any date, on the same routing, within ticket validity irrespective of whether there was redemption availability or not?
Let's say your itinerary was:
CDG-LHR-SIN-LHR-CDG - in Club, and BA cancelled your CDG-LHR flight due to Covid which meant you couldn't connect to your BA operated LHR-SIN flight.
What would be your rebooking options? Would BA allow you to rebook onto any date, on the same routing, within ticket validity irrespective of whether there was redemption availability or not?
Jan 13, 2021, 3:42 am
#220
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Exec
Posts: 647
Thanks to all for such a helpful thread.
Apologies, I’m sure this has already been asked but I can’t find the answer in the Wiki - I’ve just had a one-way flight on 31st Jan to Berlin cancelled.
I would like to rebook to a future date, but I won’t know for certain as it depends on work needs which won’t become clear until late January.
Is there a cut-off by which time my option to change the cancelled flight on MMB or by phone will be forfeited ? Is there a danger that if I sit on my hands until a few days before the flight, BA will go into the booking and rebook me onto whatever flight / date they deem appropriate ?
I would rather rebook for free as the cost of the ticket was so low that a FTV wouldn’t make much of a dent on any future booking.
Apologies, I’m sure this has already been asked but I can’t find the answer in the Wiki - I’ve just had a one-way flight on 31st Jan to Berlin cancelled.
I would like to rebook to a future date, but I won’t know for certain as it depends on work needs which won’t become clear until late January.
Is there a cut-off by which time my option to change the cancelled flight on MMB or by phone will be forfeited ? Is there a danger that if I sit on my hands until a few days before the flight, BA will go into the booking and rebook me onto whatever flight / date they deem appropriate ?
I would rather rebook for free as the cost of the ticket was so low that a FTV wouldn’t make much of a dent on any future booking.
Jan 13, 2021, 3:50 am
#221
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,262
mikeyfly Perhaps pick SIN as there are two flights per day currently slated for late March and only four a week running at the moment (every day after March 28). So if you pick one flight from each pairing (BA11/12 and 15/16) that would maximise you chances of one leg being cancelled.
I am tempted to do something similar ... cancel our LHR SIN April Avois 2-4-1 in March/April (paying the £35 each). As these were booked a year ago, there is nothing that the 1 year ticket validity achieves. I would then take an FTV to retain the 2-4-1 and then re-book for the same dates (+/- a day or two each way as there are plenty of options currently). I would then wait for the cancellation and when it arrives asked to be rebooked into revenue seats for November 2021, when there is no Avois availability).
I can hear CWS' plea not to do speculative bookings already
but there may be another flaw of course.
I am tempted to do something similar ... cancel our LHR SIN April Avois 2-4-1 in March/April (paying the £35 each). As these were booked a year ago, there is nothing that the 1 year ticket validity achieves. I would then take an FTV to retain the 2-4-1 and then re-book for the same dates (+/- a day or two each way as there are plenty of options currently). I would then wait for the cancellation and when it arrives asked to be rebooked into revenue seats for November 2021, when there is no Avois availability).
I can hear CWS' plea not to do speculative bookings already
but there may be another flaw of course.
Jan 13, 2021, 4:03 am
#222
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: OW
Posts: 226
Barry basic - I thought that Avios FTVs (identical pax) could be combined to make a new booking similar to Cash FTVs but am being told "computer says no" - is that correct?
Also, if a flight booked using an Avios FTV is cancelled by BA and a full refund is requested - is this done in the form of FTV or Avios/cash back to respective accounts?
TIA
Also, if a flight booked using an Avios FTV is cancelled by BA and a full refund is requested - is this done in the form of FTV or Avios/cash back to respective accounts?
TIA
Jan 13, 2021, 4:14 am
#223
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,262
No, Avios and Cash bookings are treated differently and their vouchers are not interchangeable
Yes, any booking cash, avios, FTV cancelled by the airline can be refunded back to cash / avios without issue
Yes, any booking cash, avios, FTV cancelled by the airline can be refunded back to cash / avios without issue
Jan 13, 2021, 4:29 am
#224
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,982
I booked by avios points a Qatar Airways flight (232.000 avios + 526,72€ taxes)
I have cancelled on line this trip (no options were given) but I received automatically 2 vouchers without any detail (avios and money amounts) instead a full Avios points and taxes refund, as clearly written on t&c of my ticket
I phoned the BA CC in Italy and I have been told that I can’t have my Avios points and taxes back but I will have to use those vouchers for new reservations, instead Avios
do someone know if this is normal ?
many thanks
I have cancelled on line this trip (no options were given) but I received automatically 2 vouchers without any detail (avios and money amounts) instead a full Avios points and taxes refund, as clearly written on t&c of my ticket
I phoned the BA CC in Italy and I have been told that I can’t have my Avios points and taxes back but I will have to use those vouchers for new reservations, instead Avios
do someone know if this is normal ?
many thanks
Yes unfortunately you haven't been able to do voluntary cancellations since March last year, you can only do it by calling. When you click on cancellation options on MMB you are directed to the page for applying for a future travel voucher here https://www.britishairways.com/trave...1&wfpId=covidn I think BA's attitude has been that it is clear you are applying for a voucher rather than a refund, and there are very few examples where people have got the FTV reversed and a full refund issued.
This page does say at the top that the form is to apply for a voucher equal to the value of your booking, so it isn't a refund. So all the avios and cash (taxes/fees/charges) you originally paid are held on the vouchers, and I assume the booking was for two people as you got two vouchers. You can use these towards new bookings anytime up to April 2022.
Jan 13, 2021, 4:30 am
#225
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: 63,836
Is there a cut-off by which time my option to change the cancelled flight on MMB or by phone will be forfeited ? Is there a danger that if I sit on my hands until a few days before the flight, BA will go into the booking and rebook me onto whatever flight / date they deem appropriate ?