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
#721
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
My avios flight for 03/04/2021 has just been cancelled. It's a long haul flight on a route that has little availability so I'd like to keep the ticket 'live' rather than go for a refund or a FTV.
The flight was originally bought on 26/05/2020 and changed (after paying Avios change fees) on 11/08/2020.
What do folk think my rebooking window is? up to 25/05/2020 OR up to 10/08/2021?
Finally, do I need to tell BA anything ? (i.e. will the website still show a 'rebook' option after the original departure date)
The flight was originally bought on 26/05/2020 and changed (after paying Avios change fees) on 11/08/2020.
What do folk think my rebooking window is? up to 25/05/2020 OR up to 10/08/2021?
Finally, do I need to tell BA anything ? (i.e. will the website still show a 'rebook' option after the original departure date)
However, a slight reminder that if you are doing a change to a "maybe" date, wait at this point until you have precise dates that you could and would actually fly. This is because only your first change would be free of charge regardless of Avios availability, once you rebooked your ticket, there is no way back to get a free change to a date without Avios availability or a cancellation without penalties.
#722
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: 63,803
Most likely until 25 May 2021; it would be perfect if another member could verify this.
However, a slight reminder that if you are doing a change to a "maybe" date, wait at this point until you have precise dates that you could and would actually fly. This is because only your first change would be free of charge regardless of Avios availability, once you rebooked your ticket, there is no way back to get a free change to a date without Avios availability or a cancellation without penalties.
However, a slight reminder that if you are doing a change to a "maybe" date, wait at this point until you have precise dates that you could and would actually fly. This is because only your first change would be free of charge regardless of Avios availability, once you rebooked your ticket, there is no way back to get a free change to a date without Avios availability or a cancellation without penalties.
#723
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 77
I agree that a 'maybe' booking isn't a great option - but if I can't find a rebooking date that I like I assume I can still opt for the FTV or the no-charge refund of avios/charge; so I guess I can't end up worse off.
#724
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,960
and for a reward booking you always have the option of cancellation and getting everything back minus the £35 per person cancellation fee.
#725
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver (for now)
Posts: 1,000
It is not in the standard guidelines. You need to click on "find out more" in COVID-19 latest information box, and then "principal [sic] guidelines". There is also a screenshot in post 693 of this thread.
With regard to the 50% avios sale it seems many are getting told they can't rebook beyond the original travel period of up to June 2021, see this thread Changing 50% Avios Flights
With regard to the 50% avios sale it seems many are getting told they can't rebook beyond the original travel period of up to June 2021, see this thread Changing 50% Avios Flights
So it looks like a cancellation is preferable in order to move my dates to within a year of booking, otherwise it’s a £35 cancellation fee and back to standard reward availability.
#726
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 77
I was under the impression that if I went for a rebooking, I could rebook for a flight beyond the ticket validity period, provided I made the booking before the ticked expires.
Have the call centre given me the correct advice?
#727
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: 63,803
Yes, it lines up with the advice in post 721 above, though we're are bedevilled by the"it" pronoun. We meant travel rather than rebooking. Beware maybe bookings........
Tickets are valid for travel within 1 year of issue, but you can complete the last flight within 1 year of the first flight, giving a theoretical maximum of 2 years from date of purchase to the end of travel. But the first flight must be done within a year.
Tickets are valid for travel within 1 year of issue, but you can complete the last flight within 1 year of the first flight, giving a theoretical maximum of 2 years from date of purchase to the end of travel. But the first flight must be done within a year.
#728
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,960
I just called BA and I think I might have understood the rebooking rules wrong. What they told me is that if I could only rebook for a flight *within* the ticket validity period. In my case, the ticket is valid to 25/05/2021 so any rebooked flight would have to be flown before 25/05/2021.
I was under the impression that if I went for a rebooking, I could rebook for a flight beyond the ticket validity period, provided I made the booking before the ticked expires.
Have the call centre given me the correct advice?
I was under the impression that if I went for a rebooking, I could rebook for a flight beyond the ticket validity period, provided I made the booking before the ticked expires.
Have the call centre given me the correct advice?
#729
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 804
I just called BA and I think I might have understood the rebooking rules wrong. What they told me is that if I could only rebook for a flight *within* the ticket validity period. In my case, the ticket is valid to 25/05/2021 so any rebooked flight would have to be flown before 25/05/2021.
I was under the impression that if I went for a rebooking, I could rebook for a flight beyond the ticket validity period, provided I made the booking before the ticked expires.
Have the call centre given me the correct advice?
I was under the impression that if I went for a rebooking, I could rebook for a flight beyond the ticket validity period, provided I made the booking before the ticked expires.
Have the call centre given me the correct advice?
#730
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28
Booked IAH - LHR / LHR - JNB / JNB - LHR / LHR - IAH with a Travel togther voucher 1st April 2019
Travelled the first three steps January to March 2020 and then COVID so have been in UK since.
Does not look like I will not be able to complete LHR - IAH before ticket expiry, so do I have any options?
Will I get Avios returned? Tax and fees refunded? And will the system eventually catch this up or will I have to call?
Or is it just gone, another casualty of the virus
Travelled the first three steps January to March 2020 and then COVID so have been in UK since.
Does not look like I will not be able to complete LHR - IAH before ticket expiry, so do I have any options?
Will I get Avios returned? Tax and fees refunded? And will the system eventually catch this up or will I have to call?
Or is it just gone, another casualty of the virus
#731
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
Booked IAH - LHR / LHR - JNB / JNB - LHR / LHR - IAH with a Travel togther voucher 1st April 2019
Travelled the first three steps January to March 2020 and then COVID so have been in UK since.
Does not look like I will not be able to complete LHR - IAH before ticket expiry, so do I have any options?
Will I get Avios returned? Tax and fees refunded? And will the system eventually catch this up or will I have to call?
Or is it just gone, another casualty of the virus
Travelled the first three steps January to March 2020 and then COVID so have been in UK since.
Does not look like I will not be able to complete LHR - IAH before ticket expiry, so do I have any options?
Will I get Avios returned? Tax and fees refunded? And will the system eventually catch this up or will I have to call?
Or is it just gone, another casualty of the virus
#733
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
However, you would need to call in and as it would require manual calculation, it could take time for your Avios and taxes to be refunded.
#734
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Scotland
Programs: BA Blue
Posts: 1,360
I had an award booking EDI-LGW-TPA return which was cancelled last year. I accepted a FTV - don't ask! With the FTV I booked a further award EDI-LHR-MCO for the end of this year. The flights are still operating. If I was to cancel would I receive a further FTV with the £35 fee deducted or would I get a full refund of miles and taxes and fees, minus the £35? I'm aware that I could just sit on my hands and hope for a cancellation.
#735
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,960
I had an award booking EDI-LGW-TPA return which was cancelled last year. I accepted a FTV - don't ask! With the FTV I booked a further award EDI-LHR-MCO for the end of this year. The flights are still operating. If I was to cancel would I receive a further FTV with the £35 fee deducted or would I get a full refund of miles and taxes and fees, minus the £35? I'm aware that I could just sit on my hands and hope for a cancellation.