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
#4006
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,993
<br /><br /><strong>To answer my own question, yes.. it is still live. Just did it. </strong>
Last edited by Schwann; Aug 25, 2022 at 9:20 am
#4007
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 255
Got a cash ticket and the return portion is TPA-BOS-LHR-MAN
just had a schedule change on the LHR-MAN sector as the flight (same flight number) has been brought forward 45mins, thus now making the connection at LHR illegal I believe as there’s only 55mins between landing from BOS and leaving for MAN.
As the flight has not been cancelled but just moved, what are my options here? Will it just be a case of they’ll only move me onto the next LHR-MAN flight? Or, as is my preference, will this give me the right to change the whole return leg and switch instead to TPA-MIA-LHR-MAN ?
just had a schedule change on the LHR-MAN sector as the flight (same flight number) has been brought forward 45mins, thus now making the connection at LHR illegal I believe as there’s only 55mins between landing from BOS and leaving for MAN.
As the flight has not been cancelled but just moved, what are my options here? Will it just be a case of they’ll only move me onto the next LHR-MAN flight? Or, as is my preference, will this give me the right to change the whole return leg and switch instead to TPA-MIA-LHR-MAN ?
#4009
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 255
#4010
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: AMS/LON
Programs: BAEC Silver, TK Gold, Eurostar CB, FB Explorer
Posts: 242
Is anyone else seeing Gatwick (eg to and from LGW - both inbound and outbound) flights cancelled a lot at the moment - suddenly? I have three flights coming up from and to Gatwick in the next 4 weeks, and all three have been cancelled in the last week - most giving me "enough" notice (>2 weeks) but one tonight for next Friday is causing me and my partner some stress as it's a positioning flight for a BAH.
One was BAH flight itself, they moved a few things for us, then I had a separate flight cancelled, then tonight the positioning for the holiday got zapped.
I just wondered if I am unlucky or if Gatwick is having a few blips for others at the moment too.
One was BAH flight itself, they moved a few things for us, then I had a separate flight cancelled, then tonight the positioning for the holiday got zapped.
I just wondered if I am unlucky or if Gatwick is having a few blips for others at the moment too.
#4011
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
They are having some BA staffing issues at Gatwick, both shortages and illnesses.
#4013
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,258
With staff shortages / illness last Christmas they were cancelling flights 3/4 days in advance. So no amount of fixing up will give you certainty….
#4014
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: California
Posts: 463
Hello - seeking some advice from this learned forum.
I'm flying London-AMS to reposition for a non-BA flight the next day, and am keen to depart London as late as possible. On my date there's a BA432 departing LHR at 1900 and a BA444 departing at 1945 which is the last flight.
BA432 is operating today and BA444 is not. Understanding that no one can predict the future, does this mean BA444 is more likely to be canceled in the event of a need to reduce flights, crew shortages, etc.?
I'm flying London-AMS to reposition for a non-BA flight the next day, and am keen to depart London as late as possible. On my date there's a BA432 departing LHR at 1900 and a BA444 departing at 1945 which is the last flight.
BA432 is operating today and BA444 is not. Understanding that no one can predict the future, does this mean BA444 is more likely to be canceled in the event of a need to reduce flights, crew shortages, etc.?
#4015
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Newcastle UK
Posts: 1,114
Hi.
If I choose to cancel a flight made on ba.com online and the debit card used for payment has been replaced, but is still linked to the same sort and account, does the refund go back to the relevant account without having to a advise anyone of the new card?
Thanks.
If I choose to cancel a flight made on ba.com online and the debit card used for payment has been replaced, but is still linked to the same sort and account, does the refund go back to the relevant account without having to a advise anyone of the new card?
Thanks.
#4016
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
That's strictly speaking a question for your bank. The refund by BA will be to the original form of payment, that's not easy to get around, but most (all?) banks then automatically push it over to the currently operating card. This is a normal part of banking life and normally works fine The problem in this space is if you leave a bank / credit card totally.
#4017
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Newcastle UK
Posts: 1,114
That's strictly speaking a question for your bank. The refund by BA will be to the original form of payment, that's not easy to get around, but most (all?) banks then automatically push it over to the currently operating card. This is a normal part of banking life and normally works fine The problem in this space is if you leave a bank / credit card totally.
#4018
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,964
In all likelihood it probably will appear on your new card. But basically ba send it to your bank with the old details and it’s up to your bank to action it and credit appropriately.
#4019
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Newcastle UK
Posts: 1,114
I totally appreciate advice of course, but to be honest there should be a way implemented to make this a totally standard watertight process. I mean, it's not rocket science and happens all the time. It's the type of thing that shouldn't have to be left to any sort of chance. It's quite important and in my opinion shouldn't only be up to my bank to sort out.
#4020
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,964
I totally appreciate advice of course, but to be honest there should be a way implemented to make this a totally standard watertight process. I mean, it's not rocket science and happens all the time. It's the type of thing that shouldn't have to be left to any sort of chance. It's quite important and in my opinion shouldn't only be up to my bank to sort out.
the watertight process is it gets sent to your bank and they will sort it. I really think you are over thinking this.