Changing 50% Avios Flights
#196
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kent.Uk
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 81
BA have just cancelled my South Africa flights - 241, 50% - scheduled for end of April.
Just been online and looks like it's going to let me change without a fee or extra avios for flights in December, longer than both the June cut-off for these sale tickets, as some have mentioned here, and the year from ticket booking (Oct '20).
Unsure whether to rebook or refund - any thoughts?
Just been online and looks like it's going to let me change without a fee or extra avios for flights in December, longer than both the June cut-off for these sale tickets, as some have mentioned here, and the year from ticket booking (Oct '20).
Unsure whether to rebook or refund - any thoughts?
#198
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 166
I'm having the issue that my flight from MEX to LHR was cancelled yesterday and moved to precisely 24 hours earlier.
I'm given the options to accept the flight change, find another flight or get the voucher - I of course want to keep the 50% and so pick a new flight.
However every date I've tried in december/January tell me that no flights are available - dummy cash booking says there is something available.
Edit: I have checked the redemptionfinder and it does not even let me rebook on dates where there is reward availability (in August for example).
Any advice, guess I have to call, but wanted to check that I should be able to rebook for free in these circumstances?
I'm given the options to accept the flight change, find another flight or get the voucher - I of course want to keep the 50% and so pick a new flight.
However every date I've tried in december/January tell me that no flights are available - dummy cash booking says there is something available.
Edit: I have checked the redemptionfinder and it does not even let me rebook on dates where there is reward availability (in August for example).
Any advice, guess I have to call, but wanted to check that I should be able to rebook for free in these circumstances?
Last edited by MillionMileMarker; Feb 20, 2021 at 11:51 pm
#199
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: 63,475
Yes, as mentioned up thread, MMB will often fail for many reasons, but any complexity will do. But you should be OK for a free rebook, some people are asked for small changes in taxes, fees and surcharges usually caused by exchange rate changes, but often for no charge. You just need cabin availiability if your flight is cancelled, redemption availlability is not needed. That would be up to 1 year from the original ticket issue. But read up thread to see more experiences.
#200
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Near London, UK
Programs: BA (OW) - Silver (Sapphire), HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Platinum. Falling!!
Posts: 110
Just wanted to flag my experience here.
Booked 12th November in Y 50% off LGW-POS for 18th June
We now cannot go 18th June (having a baby). Flight hadn't been cancelled yet but in MMB I was able to move to any other offpeak date for free (and there was a small credit of t&f) and moved to 15th-27th April, which has now been cancelled
Disruption recovery online wasn't letting me rebook anything (no availability) so called. Was advised any change within 14 days ok but outside of this needed Avios availability. I know a few people saying this incorrect but the dates I wanted in August were available for Avios anyhow so just moved to that - believe this is a peak date now. Confirmed with agent that normal cancellation rules apply so I could get avios + taxes - 35GBP per person back if decide not to go in August (and it's operating).
MMB is showing old style and a POUG to WTP which I would take (290GBP return) but it keeps failing on ticketing (after credit card details). Called and they denied all aspects of the offer. Gave up trying to give them more $...
Booked 12th November in Y 50% off LGW-POS for 18th June
We now cannot go 18th June (having a baby). Flight hadn't been cancelled yet but in MMB I was able to move to any other offpeak date for free (and there was a small credit of t&f) and moved to 15th-27th April, which has now been cancelled
Disruption recovery online wasn't letting me rebook anything (no availability) so called. Was advised any change within 14 days ok but outside of this needed Avios availability. I know a few people saying this incorrect but the dates I wanted in August were available for Avios anyhow so just moved to that - believe this is a peak date now. Confirmed with agent that normal cancellation rules apply so I could get avios + taxes - 35GBP per person back if decide not to go in August (and it's operating).
MMB is showing old style and a POUG to WTP which I would take (290GBP return) but it keeps failing on ticketing (after credit card details). Called and they denied all aspects of the offer. Gave up trying to give them more $...
#203
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,705
#204
Join Date: Jan 2021
Programs: Executive Club
Posts: 18
BA have just cancelled my South Africa flights - 241, 50% - scheduled for end of April.
Just been online and looks like it's going to let me change without a fee or extra avios for flights in December, longer than both the June cut-off for these sale tickets, as some have mentioned here, and the year from ticket booking (Oct '20).
Unsure whether to rebook or refund - any thoughts?
Just been online and looks like it's going to let me change without a fee or extra avios for flights in December, longer than both the June cut-off for these sale tickets, as some have mentioned here, and the year from ticket booking (Oct '20).
Unsure whether to rebook or refund - any thoughts?
Result.
#205
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,431
I was able to change flights to Bangkok online to November/December for 5 people inc 241 all 50% - original tickets booked Oct 9th for Feb (now) so also outside the 1 year validity. On the phone was told it wasn’t possible, but as it was a straight date swap I just went ahead and tried it online - tickets issued immediately (2 separate bookings) -
#206
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: 63,475
You can rely on the 1 year period, at least for BA cancellations, since HUACA is bound to work. You cannot rely on going beyond 1 year, hence the advice in this forum since August last year to be wary of maybe bookings.
#207
Join Date: Jan 2021
Programs: Executive Club
Posts: 18
From what we can make out, there has been no change to BA's policies, which is to stick to the IATA 1 year protocols in this area. However there isn't a system block on this and so inconsistently some people have got agents to go beyond the one year period or MMB has allowed it. We also don't know the deep details of these cases, we may find there are other factors not mentioned here.
You can rely on the 1 year period, at least for BA cancellations, since HUACA is bound to work. You cannot rely on going beyond 1 year, hence the advice in this forum since August last year to be wary of maybe bookings.
You can rely on the 1 year period, at least for BA cancellations, since HUACA is bound to work. You cannot rely on going beyond 1 year, hence the advice in this forum since August last year to be wary of maybe bookings.
#208
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: 63,475
No, I don't (OK, it depends by what you mean by "this"). They would have given yet more flexibility by now if so. Lufthansa has (kind of) been flexible about this, but have been fairly open about doing so. BA have actually flexed their usual rules massively by BA's usually very tight standards, so my guess is that it is what it is, with a maximum 1 year flexibility from date of issue.
#209
Join Date: Jan 2021
Programs: Executive Club
Posts: 18
No, I don't (OK, it depends by what you mean by "this"). They would have given yet more flexibility by now if so. Lufthansa has (kind of) been flexible about this, but have been fairly open about doing so. BA have actually flexed their usual rules massively by BA's usually very tight standards, so my guess is that it is what it is, with a maximum 1 year flexibility from date of issue.
It allowed me to rebook (after involuntary cancelation) on new flights departing Dec 30, 2021, suggesting they are even more flexible than first thought.
#210
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,705
If you can get MMB to work and change it beyond the 1 year period, then absolutely do so and take advantage