BA Holidays deposit - refund if flights changed?
#16
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,571
But the 12 hour thing does seem an anomaly and I wonder how secure they would be if they ever tried to enforce it. I don't think 'significant change' is clearly defined in the Package Travel Regulations, but a holiday that was meant to get in early one evening, and now gets in very early the following morning would seem to fit the definition, if you're losing a nights stay.
Plus your own parent company (ie BA) is allowing refunds on a far more flexible basis.
So while BAH remain flexible all well and good, but I suspect the rule could be open to challenge as an unreasonable interpretation of what is 'significant'
#17
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,597
I agree that BAH are generally very flexible indeed and over the past year have become my favourite TA by far (now if only they did proper ski packages...).
But the 12 hour thing does seem an anomaly and I wonder how secure they would be if they ever tried to enforce it. I don't think 'significant change' is clearly defined in the Package Travel Regulations, but a holiday that was meant to get in early one evening, and now gets in very early the following morning would seem to fit the definition, if you're losing a nights stay.
Plus your own parent company (ie BA) is allowing refunds on a far more flexible basis.
So while BAH remain flexible all well and good, but I suspect the rule could be open to challenge as an unreasonable interpretation of what is 'significant'
But the 12 hour thing does seem an anomaly and I wonder how secure they would be if they ever tried to enforce it. I don't think 'significant change' is clearly defined in the Package Travel Regulations, but a holiday that was meant to get in early one evening, and now gets in very early the following morning would seem to fit the definition, if you're losing a nights stay.
Plus your own parent company (ie BA) is allowing refunds on a far more flexible basis.
So while BAH remain flexible all well and good, but I suspect the rule could be open to challenge as an unreasonable interpretation of what is 'significant'
They're predominantly there to satisfy ABTA and ATOL that the tour operator is compliant within their individual spheres of practice. The company I used to work for had a similar blanket T&C's to satisfy the package legislation and these had to be provided within every brochure and attached to every booking but in reality we operated on far more flexible terms from a customer perspective. If an airline would allow changes/refunds due to their own booking policies, these would be passed on to the client. We weren't into exploiting the situation. However they do provide a base coverage and point of reference. You might be surprised by how many people would try it on for compensation for a 20 minute flight reschedule.... or indeed you might not. You've then got other companies who would use these blanket t&c's to the absolute limit and exploit customers for all they're worth. Finding a reputable tour operator is worth its weight in gold and from my own experience BAH is one of the good guys.
#18
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,660
I have a flight+hotel package booked with BA Holidays to NYC for end of May. We can no longer travel (irrespective of restrictions being lifted). I have paid only a £350 deposit. I understand that ordinarily this would be non-refundable; however, a few weeks ago BA cancelled our flights and re-booked us on to alternative flights (outbound c. 4 hours earlier; in-bound c 1 hour earlier). I did not "accept" these on Manage My Booking.
Can we cancel & obtain refund on the basis the flights are no longer suitable? FWIW, the idea was to work and then fly and the new outbound flight means we'd need a day off so it is more than a little inconvenience. Anyone know the policy on this?
Thanks in advance!
Can we cancel & obtain refund on the basis the flights are no longer suitable? FWIW, the idea was to work and then fly and the new outbound flight means we'd need a day off so it is more than a little inconvenience. Anyone know the policy on this?
Thanks in advance!