Avios Used to Lower Taxes on Award - Are All Refunded on Cancellation?
Jan 3, 2022, 4:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Largo, FL
Posts: 1,270
Avios Used to Lower Taxes on Award - Are All Refunded on Cancellation?
When making an award booking, several options are offered to use more Avios and pay less taxes and fees. If I use such an option, will all my Avios used be refunded without the requirement to pay the cancellation fee so that only the reduced amount of taxes and fees paid with cash are forfeited?
Jan 3, 2022, 4:38 am
#2
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
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Yes. The £35 per person cancellation is deducted from the cash element you paid. If you paid less than £35 to start with then you just lose the cash, you are not asked to cure the difference.
All the avios are refunded, as long as you cancel more than 24 hours before the flight.
Note that at the moment you must call to do voluntary cancellations, the website will only give future travel vouchers.
All the avios are refunded, as long as you cancel more than 24 hours before the flight.
Note that at the moment you must call to do voluntary cancellations, the website will only give future travel vouchers.
Jan 4, 2022, 3:35 am
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2002
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It's been a very useful feature of the scheme over the last couple of years for those who have enough Avios and who have found it more difficult than usual to use them during a period when plans have been less certain and travel circumstances have been more subject to change. Short-haul awards with a cash element of £0.50 have been particularly good for "maybe" bookings.
Jan 4, 2022, 4:22 am
#5
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Yes, but then also do remember that very often, the high avios-low cash combinations do not offer the best value, so it may indeed lower your "cancellation fee" but unless you have a lot of avios and are not really too sure how to use them, you may well be "paying more" for your ticket by selecting that particular combo.