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
May 17, 2021, 11:47 am
#1396
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,815
I have a mixed carrier booking - BA and AA - and a long-haul time change has seen one of the inter-US domestic flights (LAX-SEA) move back by a considerable 4hrs and 55mins. Is this sufficient enough to cancel for full refund on an AA ticket? I really can't remember. Thnx.
That's very much a question for AA. Here is a link to their policy https://saleslink.aa.com/en-US/docum...40_Refunds.pdf
AA Ticket Refund and Related (master thread)
May 17, 2021, 11:55 am
#1397
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,030
Is there any way to monitor BA flight resumptions? I'm looking for DEN-LHR/LHR-DEN non-stop flights, and I did a manual search on ba.com and so far it says the first DEN-LHR flight is on June 30th, but I know it's one of those tentative schedules that could be delayed and canceled at any time. I'm looking for a more concrete way to know when they decide they're officially back.
May 17, 2021, 2:20 pm
#1398
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
Is there any way to monitor BA flight resumptions? I'm looking for DEN-LHR/LHR-DEN non-stop flights, and I did a manual search on ba.com and so far it says the first DEN-LHR flight is on June 30th, but I know it's one of those tentative schedules that could be delayed and canceled at any time. I'm looking for a more concrete way to know when they decide they're officially back.
May 17, 2021, 3:08 pm
#1399
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Is there any way to monitor BA flight resumptions? I'm looking for DEN-LHR/LHR-DEN non-stop flights, and I did a manual search on ba.com and so far it says the first DEN-LHR flight is on June 30th, but I know it's one of those tentative schedules that could be delayed and canceled at any time. I'm looking for a more concrete way to know when they decide they're officially back.
At the moment, the only concrete indication that a route is being resumed is really when the first flight takes off. Experience here suggests that a flight should be reasonably firm two weeks before the scheduled date of departure, but we have seen plenty of flights cancelled with less notice than that.
May 17, 2021, 3:37 pm
#1400
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,030
But all that will show you is the dates on which BA is selling seats on flights. It is all provisional and tentative. Any of those flights can be cancelled at any time. If Nayef is looking for something more concrete than that, ITA won't do the job.
At the moment, the only concrete indication that a route is being resumed is really when the first flight takes off. Experience here suggests that a flight should be reasonably firm two weeks before the scheduled date of departure, but we have seen plenty of flights cancelled with less notice than that.
At the moment, the only concrete indication that a route is being resumed is really when the first flight takes off. Experience here suggests that a flight should be reasonably firm two weeks before the scheduled date of departure, but we have seen plenty of flights cancelled with less notice than that.
May 17, 2021, 11:52 pm
#1401
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sunny Singapore
Programs: TG*G, SQ, QF
Posts: 911
Hi all. I have a flight SIN-LHR booked in J and a return LHR-SIN booked in F. Flights were booked as one way flights and are on separate PNR's. Both have been cancelled and I would like to re-book for new dates, however at the moment the flight LHR-SIN is shown as a 787 without an F cabin while the flight SIN-LHR flight is a 777 with F.
Just curious what my options are here. If I call them would they be flexible enough to just reverse F to the outbound leg and J for the return.? Or will I have to downgrade to J in which case would they refund the Avios difference.? If I book J and then they have an equipment change that has F can I request its re-instated.?
Had a browse around but couldn't find the answer, any input appreciated. Thank you.
Just curious what my options are here. If I call them would they be flexible enough to just reverse F to the outbound leg and J for the return.? Or will I have to downgrade to J in which case would they refund the Avios difference.? If I book J and then they have an equipment change that has F can I request its re-instated.?
Had a browse around but couldn't find the answer, any input appreciated. Thank you.
May 18, 2021, 12:15 am
#1402
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
Hi all. I have a flight SIN-LHR booked in J and a return LHR-SIN booked in F. Flights were booked as one way flights and are on separate PNR's. Both have been cancelled and I would like to re-book for new dates, however at the moment the flight LHR-SIN is shown as a 787 without an F cabin while the flight SIN-LHR flight is a 777 with F.
Just curious what my options are here. If I call them would they be flexible enough to just reverse F to the outbound leg and J for the return.? Or will I have to downgrade to J in which case would they refund the Avios difference.? If I book J and then they have an equipment change that has F can I request its re-instated.?
Had a browse around but couldn't find the answer, any input appreciated. Thank you.
Just curious what my options are here. If I call them would they be flexible enough to just reverse F to the outbound leg and J for the return.? Or will I have to downgrade to J in which case would they refund the Avios difference.? If I book J and then they have an equipment change that has F can I request its re-instated.?
Had a browse around but couldn't find the answer, any input appreciated. Thank you.
You could rebook your SIN-LHR leg in F by paying the extra Avios and you could get the Avios difference back on your LHR-SIN leg as you would be downgraded.
To upgrade the SIN-LHR leg into F, you would need upgrade availability as well.
May 18, 2021, 1:13 am
#1403
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sunny Singapore
Programs: TG*G, SQ, QF
Posts: 911
Reversing the tickets wouldn't be possible. They are two independent contracts and they could not be combined.
You could rebook your SIN-LHR leg in F by paying the extra Avios and you could get the Avios difference back on your LHR-SIN leg as you would be downgraded.
To upgrade the SIN-LHR leg into F, you would need upgrade availability as well.
You could rebook your SIN-LHR leg in F by paying the extra Avios and you could get the Avios difference back on your LHR-SIN leg as you would be downgraded.
To upgrade the SIN-LHR leg into F, you would need upgrade availability as well.
May 18, 2021, 9:12 am
#1404
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
Today around 9 am i got the famous seat change email.
around midday I got an email with the new itinerary called
Following our recent contact regarding your affected flights, please see details below of the changes that have been agreed. If you require any further information regarding your itinerary, please refer to ba.com or your travel agent.
i got rerouted cause of a cancellation. I never had „a recent contact regarding my affected flights“
i called the exec line to be sure I got rights to change or cancel the ticket (and that it is noted I didn’t accept the changes) and they told me the ticket got reissued manually „in house“
i never got the changes email with the blue and red squares
is that standard procedure? Is that new? What happened? Should I be worried? Am I on some kind of naughty list? Do I have the right to cancel? ( if yes, how long? Hotline told me I have to decide soon?), do I have a right to change the date according to customer Covid guideline?
around midday I got an email with the new itinerary called
BA confirmation of flight changes
Changes to your itinerary
Following our recent contact regarding your affected flights, please see details below of the changes that have been agreed. If you require any further information regarding your itinerary, please refer to ba.com or your travel agent.
i got rerouted cause of a cancellation. I never had „a recent contact regarding my affected flights“
i called the exec line to be sure I got rights to change or cancel the ticket (and that it is noted I didn’t accept the changes) and they told me the ticket got reissued manually „in house“
i never got the changes email with the blue and red squares
is that standard procedure? Is that new? What happened? Should I be worried? Am I on some kind of naughty list? Do I have the right to cancel? ( if yes, how long? Hotline told me I have to decide soon?), do I have a right to change the date according to customer Covid guideline?
May 19, 2021, 2:28 am
#1405
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: U.K.
Programs: QR P; HH D; IHG SpAmb
Posts: 774
I have a booking from the 50% avios sale and with an Amex 2-for-1 voucher. Flights have been cancelled by BA and as travel would have been in about a week i now need to decide what to do.
I understand that i can
(1) get a full refund of all Avios, taxes and the 2-for-1 voucher
(2) get a FTV
(changing the flights to sometime by October isn't an option for us/the destination)
For (1):
- would i still need to pay the 2x£35 cancellation fee or is this waived since the flights were cancelled by BA
- the wiki states that i would need to call for the refund option but then also gives a link to an online form. So can i do this online (even though it might take longer to get the refund)?
For (2):
- if make a booking using the FTV but do not use all the taxes therein, would i then need to make a second booking to use up the remainder or can i get a refund of the leftover?
- if i need to make a second booking does this have to be an Avios booking also?
- can i cancel the FTV for a refund and if so, would i need to pay the 2x£35 cancellation fee?
Last not least, given that the underlying 2-for-1 voucher expires February 2022 and i don't think that we would use it by then (i understand that the outbound has to be before the expiry date of the voucher), i guess overall it would still be the best to go for the FTV?
many thanks
I understand that i can
(1) get a full refund of all Avios, taxes and the 2-for-1 voucher
(2) get a FTV
(changing the flights to sometime by October isn't an option for us/the destination)
For (1):
- would i still need to pay the 2x£35 cancellation fee or is this waived since the flights were cancelled by BA
- the wiki states that i would need to call for the refund option but then also gives a link to an online form. So can i do this online (even though it might take longer to get the refund)?
For (2):
- if make a booking using the FTV but do not use all the taxes therein, would i then need to make a second booking to use up the remainder or can i get a refund of the leftover?
- if i need to make a second booking does this have to be an Avios booking also?
- can i cancel the FTV for a refund and if so, would i need to pay the 2x£35 cancellation fee?
Last not least, given that the underlying 2-for-1 voucher expires February 2022 and i don't think that we would use it by then (i understand that the outbound has to be before the expiry date of the voucher), i guess overall it would still be the best to go for the FTV?
many thanks
May 19, 2021, 2:42 am
#1406
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 804
I have a booking from the 50% avios sale and with an Amex 2-for-1 voucher. Flights have been cancelled by BA and as travel would have been in about a week i now need to decide what to do.
I understand that i can
(1) get a full refund of all Avios, taxes and the 2-for-1 voucher
(2) get a FTV
(changing the flights to sometime by October isn't an option for us/the destination)
For (1):
- would i still need to pay the 2x£35 cancellation fee or is this waived since the flights were cancelled by BA
- the wiki states that i would need to call for the refund option but then also gives a link to an online form. So can i do this online (even though it might take longer to get the refund)?
For (2):
- if make a booking using the FTV but do not use all the taxes therein, would i then need to make a second booking to use up the remainder or can i get a refund of the leftover?
- if i need to make a second booking does this have to be an Avios booking also?
- can i cancel the FTV for a refund and if so, would i need to pay the 2x£35 cancellation fee?
Last not least, given that the underlying 2-for-1 voucher expires February 2022 and i don't think that we would use it by then (i understand that the outbound has to be before the expiry date of the voucher), i guess overall it would still be the best to go for the FTV?
many thanks
I understand that i can
(1) get a full refund of all Avios, taxes and the 2-for-1 voucher
(2) get a FTV
(changing the flights to sometime by October isn't an option for us/the destination)
For (1):
- would i still need to pay the 2x£35 cancellation fee or is this waived since the flights were cancelled by BA
- the wiki states that i would need to call for the refund option but then also gives a link to an online form. So can i do this online (even though it might take longer to get the refund)?
For (2):
- if make a booking using the FTV but do not use all the taxes therein, would i then need to make a second booking to use up the remainder or can i get a refund of the leftover?
- if i need to make a second booking does this have to be an Avios booking also?
- can i cancel the FTV for a refund and if so, would i need to pay the 2x£35 cancellation fee?
Last not least, given that the underlying 2-for-1 voucher expires February 2022 and i don't think that we would use it by then (i understand that the outbound has to be before the expiry date of the voucher), i guess overall it would still be the best to go for the FTV?
many thanks
2. If you take an FTV, all your current booking with your voucher and taxes are bundled together. You extend your voucher validity to April 2023 but you need Avios redemption availability and you will need to pay full Avios rather than the 50% you have currently. You can only use this for a redemption booking and the same people have to travel. Only way to get a refund for your FTV is to rebook and then cancel but you pay the cancellation fee of £35pp.
Hope that makes sense.
May 19, 2021, 6:14 am
#1407
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
is that standard procedure? Is that new? What happened? Should I be worried? Am I on some kind of naughty list? Do I have the right to cancel? ( if yes, how long? Hotline told me I have to decide soon?), do I have a right to change the date according to customer Covid guideline?
May 19, 2021, 7:23 am
#1408
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: BER
Programs: BA GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,843
If this is a booking that has been altered before then yes, it's not unusual. You should not be worried, it's just a flight. No, you are not on a naughty list, unless you have been naughty. If a flight has been cancelled then you can get a refund at some point in the next six years, so long as you don't accept BA's alternatives first. Buy with confidence still continues. Beware maybe bookings.
And the mail states that I agreed to the changes in the recent contact. That’s confusing.
Last edited by Nephoi; May 19, 2021 at 7:30 am
May 19, 2021, 7:31 am
#1409
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
May 19, 2021, 11:27 am
#1410
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: U.K.
Programs: QR P; HH D; IHG SpAmb
Posts: 774
1. If BA cancelled the flight, you are entitled to full refund without paying the £35 pp cancellation fee with the 2-4-1 back in your account and the tax component back to your original card. You can rebook the trip for free within 12 months of your original booking even with no availability for redemption seats. BA have been very hard to shift to rebook travel beyond the 12 months of ticket validity but some people have managed to do it. If you get a refund, you will keep your original 2-4-1 validity of Feb 2022 in your case. I found it easier to ring and cancel and so can't advice on the online refund option.
2. If you take an FTV, all your current booking with your voucher and taxes are bundled together. You extend your voucher validity to April 2023 but you need Avios redemption availability and you will need to pay full Avios rather than the 50% you have currently. You can only use this for a redemption booking and the same people have to travel. Only way to get a refund for your FTV is to rebook and then cancel but you pay the cancellation fee of £35pp.
Hope that makes sense.
2. If you take an FTV, all your current booking with your voucher and taxes are bundled together. You extend your voucher validity to April 2023 but you need Avios redemption availability and you will need to pay full Avios rather than the 50% you have currently. You can only use this for a redemption booking and the same people have to travel. Only way to get a refund for your FTV is to rebook and then cancel but you pay the cancellation fee of £35pp.
Hope that makes sense.
If i take the FTV and then make a booking but do not use up all the taxes in the FTV, i get another FTV for the remainder. Do i have to use this for another redemption or could i use this towards a cash ticket? Or could i get a refund for that?