BA Holidays deposit - refund if flights changed?
Apr 20, 2021, 7:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 703
BA Holidays deposit - refund if flights changed?
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!
Apr 20, 2021, 7:54 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
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Yes, you can call, cancel, take a cash refund. All this and loads more help in the excellent Wiki
BA Covid-19 Flight cancellations, rebooking, and refunds | Help and advice thread - FlyerTalk Forums
BA Covid-19 Flight cancellations, rebooking, and refunds | Help and advice thread - FlyerTalk Forums
Apr 20, 2021, 7:58 am
#3
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Strictly speaking it's a 12 hour difference for BAH, so not as generous as BA flights only. So you best ask for a FTV three weeks before departure, and if your hotel was non refundable you may not see much of that back if the Presidential Proclamation is rescinded. More details in the main Cancel / Rebook thread. As things stand, however, you should get an FTV for the £350.
Apr 20, 2021, 9:18 am
#4
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Sorry, I thought a cancellation of your flight triggers refund - this won't be a re-time of flight, this will be presumably, a straight cancellation and offering a different flight ?
Apr 20, 2021, 9:24 am
#5
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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The Conditions of Carriage for BAH says 12 hours. See section 8.3. They are allowed to just rebook you. Whereas for BA flights all cancellations are significant changes which enable a refund.
Apr 20, 2021, 9:25 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,631
T&C's covering BAH bookings
8.3. We are only liable to you for cancellations or significant changes to your booking by us. A significant change is one that we make to your booking before your departure that affects an essential term of your contract. Examples of a significant change includes changes by us to:
- your destination area;
- your booked accommodation to that of an alternative property of a lower rating;
- your departure times or accommodation occupancy periods by more than 12 hours.
Full BA holiday T&C's can be found HERE
Apr 20, 2021, 12:07 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 703
Strictly speaking it's a 12 hour difference for BAH, so not as generous as BA flights only. So you best ask for a FTV three weeks before departure, and if your hotel was non refundable you may not see much of that back if the Presidential Proclamation is rescinded. More details in the main Cancel / Rebook thread. As things stand, however, you should get an FTV for the £350.
Apr 20, 2021, 12:11 pm
#9
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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Three weeks is the formal BWC timeline, so when you get near to that it would be easier to rung up BAH and say "can't enter USA, can I have a refund please?". I wouldn't do it after the three week cut-off, maybe they will allow it now (?). There is a separate requirement for the BAH booking to be viable as a holiday, there is a chance BA will just cancel your booking anyway.
Apr 20, 2021, 3:13 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,631
3 weeks prior to travel is also when the balance amount would normally be collected on your trip so better to cut your losses before this happens and take the FTV for the deposit amount.
Apr 20, 2021, 3:25 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: York, UK
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Posts: 1,184
Having called BA Holidays to refund a booking with several flight cancellations earlier (60 min wait via the Gold line, 45 mins was announced at the start of the call), I was surprised to read they have a different policy, the lovely person I spoke to in NCL said no problem he'd cancel and refund straight away.
Apr 21, 2021, 12:56 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,664
Apr 21, 2021, 2:22 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Around somewhere
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We have managed to get a cash refund of a BAH after the flight from GLA to LGW was changed. Basically the flight was moved by 10 minutes but it had a new flight number so technically our first leg had been cancelled. After we got our refund the onward flight from LGW was cancelled anyway.
Apr 21, 2021, 3:21 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,631
It's good that they're doing so and being extremely flexible towards customers in this way. This has always been my experience too pre covid, however as you can see that as per their T&C's there's no obligation for them to be so flexible.
Apr 21, 2021, 4:02 am
#15
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Agreed! All our 7 cancellations (4 of which were BAH) were fully refunded promptly and painlessly. A great confidence-booster when considering future trips.