British Airways will refund ALL flights to 31st May for a voucher – but should you say no?

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Finally ….. British Airways has seen the light and is now allowing you to cancel ALL flights up to 31st May, in return for a travel voucher.

However …. I am not convinced you should accept.

Let me explain.

Here is the British Airways ‘Book With Confidence’ website.

British Airways BA 777X 777 9X

These are the new rules:

If you are travelling between 14th March and 31st May, you can refund your flight for a British Airways e-voucher irrespective of when you booked. No refunds are on offer for flights beyond 31st May.

If you are travelling between 1st June and 31st December 2020, you can refund your flight for a British Airways e-voucher if you booked between 3rd March and 31st May

The voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of your original flight

The voucher can be used on any route, not necessarily the one you originally booked

This applies to both British Airways marketed flights and BA Holidays bookings, although Comair and SUN-AIR are exempt

You cannot claim if you have already started your journey

Flight cancellations can be made until the close of check-in, whilst BA Holidays bookings must be cancelled within 48 hours of departure

Anyone who has already cancelled their booking and lost money cannot retrospectively request a voucher

You can also change your flight dates without any change fees, although you have to pay the fare difference.

The small print on how the voucher works is on the ‘Book With Confidence’ website.

But … but … but … perhaps you should wait?

I know this sounds contrarian. Many of you have been on tenterhooks waiting for a decision like this to allow you to cancel your trip.

And yet ….

The EU has agreed the terms of a deal to allow airlines to cancel flights without losing their slots.

Next week, British Airways is likely cut anything from 25% to 100% of its scheduled flights – probably around 50% given what Lufthansa is doing. If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund IN CASH. No messing around with e-vouchers.

By taking the refund now, you are also giving up your right to potential EC261 compensation if you were due to travel within 14 days of the cancellation being made.

Unless you are travelling in the next 4-5 days, you might want to think about waiting in case you end up missing out on a full cash refund.

Of course, there is also a risk that British Airways withdraws this offer and you can no longer refund your ticket at all.

It’s up to you.

How to earn Avios points from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards. Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways BA Amex American Express card

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up, no annual fee and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending ….. Read our full review

British Airways BA Premium Plus American Express Amex credit card

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

25,000 Avios and the UK’s most valuable credit card perk – the 2-4-1 companion voucher Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points, such as:

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

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We recommend Capital On Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios:

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The most generous Avios Visa or Mastercard for a limited company Read our full review

You should also consider the British Airways Accelerating Business credit card. This is open to sole traders as well as limited companies and has a 30,000 Avios sign-up bonus:

British Airways Accelerating Business American Express

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

(Want to earn more Avios? Click here to visit our home page for our latest articles on earning and spending your Avios points and click here to see how to earn more Avios this month from offers and promotions.)

Category

British Airways and Avios

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Gill says:

14 Mar14 March 13:32

We are due to fly to DC on Thursday using avoid and a 2-4-1 voucher. Immediately after booking the flight I booked the hotel through ba.com. I can cancel the flight no problem but not sure about hotel, having read t&C’s. We have airport hotel and parking pre-booked too. I’m going to wait until Monday to see what Trump does about the borders.
MaryR says:

14 Mar14 March 13:41

Luckily, I ‘m not yet in Warsaw. I live in France and was doing BA Toulouse-LHR-Warsaw to position for the QR flights. Indian visa has been suspended, so I’m going nowhere now!! Return flight from India already converted to voucher with QR. Thanks for your help.
Mnov says:

14 Mar14 March 13:49

I just booked a flight on ba.com but now need to cancel under the 24 hour cooling off period. Can this only be done by phone? I have been on hold for 2 hours so far.
- Shoestring says:
  
  14 Mar14 March 13:59
  
  easy to cancel online under Manage My Booking
YT says:

14 Mar14 March 14:02

Does anyone have any idea how the BA ‘voucher’ will work for Reward flights? Credit of X number of Avios against future bookings?
Thanks for all the updates Rob, really helpful
- Anna says:
  
  14 Mar14 March 14:31
  
  This has been asked loads of times now. The voucher isn’t for reward flights. Those can be cancelled as per the usual Ts & Cs up to 24 hours before travel.
  - Shoestring says:
    
    14 Mar14 March 14:38
    
    or wait for BA to cancel the flight for you and you can get a full refund
  - YT says:
    
    14 Mar14 March 14:40
    
    Thank you, but the country closed its border less than 12 hours before we were due to fly there, hence why we are having to rely on the voucher sadly
Shoestring says:

14 Mar14 March 14:12

ouch! 10 more Covid-19 deaths announced today (England)

let’s see what the new cases number is…then anticipate if USA is going to bring forward that ban on flights from UK
- Shoestring says:
  
  14 Mar14 March 14:18
  
  all deceased in their 70s & 80s, all with underlying health conditions
  - James says:
    
    14 Mar14 March 14:43
    
    Well that makes it alright then, doesn’t it?
    
    You really don’t see how unpleasant and callous you sound, do you? Just stop🤦‍♂️
    - Shoestring says:
      
      14 Mar14 March 15:11
      
      I thought I was being empathetic with my ‘ouch!’
    - Lady London says:
      
      14 Mar14 March 18:09
      
      No it’s a helpful reminder that older people especially with underlying conditions are especially vulnerable – so that we can all try to protect them and help them.
      
      I’ve restrained myself from speculating if there are certain other features that some people may have that … Never mind.
  - Russ 😷 says:
    
    14 Mar14 March 15:01
    
    Shoestring as much as I look forward to reading your comments perhaps at this time they could do with toning down a little mate. People when alarmed become poor decision makers and we read HFP to make better choices. We don’t need anymore aggro at the moment.
    - Shoestring says:
      
      14 Mar14 March 15:10
      
      well I’ve just re-read my comments and I don’t get it, that’s just reporting facts pretty much exactly the same way Sky News said it, do you shout at the TV as well? but I will stop going on about the deaths falling in that demographic/ underlying causes if you like, I suppose we all get it by now
      - Russ 😷 says:
        
        14 Mar14 March 16:04
        
        No one’s shouting at you just respectfully requesting.
      - Lady London says:
        
        14 Mar14 March 18:15
        
        @Shoestring I’m reminding myself that we’re all different and some people are equipped to retain rationality even when there is panic about and most aren’t.
        
        Some people of course are rational only and that’s a separate issue, everyone is welcome to their own approach provided they try not to insult those who are better equipped(or worse equipped). Some of that seems to have been done above.
        
        Markets work the same. Luckily for some.
Yaron says:

14 Mar14 March 14:19

I am currently in Peru on a multi-city ticket purchased in February and originated (1st leg) in TLV. I am due to fly to JFK with LATAM on March 17th and then BA to LHR on 18th and TLV on 19th (morning flight) where I had planned to stay 6 nights. However, due to current restrictions, arriving passengers at TLV airport are expected to self-quarantine for 14 days, which I cannot do.
Contact BA (social media) to say I tried to push the TLV bound flight date to a later date, that’s not possible. BA has already cancelled the daily evening service to TLV, but are operating the morning flight.
BA’s response – you can fly to TLV, but won’t be able to leave the country (aka return home to UK !) for 14 days.
Not sure what to do when asked about my plans at JFK? Can BA deny me boarding at JFK given the final destination is TLV, if I have no place to self-quarantine in Israel?
- Shoestring says:
  
  14 Mar14 March 14:28
  
  be careful because other countries are just refusing entry to non-compliant people, ie making you take the next flight back where you came from
- meta says:
  
  14 Mar14 March 14:31
  
  Is the BA ticket on one PNR? If so, they might. However, it is an overnight, so you would need to leave the airport anyway and collect bags. You could always no show for flight to Tel Aviv.
  - Yaron says:
    
    14 Mar14 March 17:23
    
    Hi
    All flights are on the same PNR , bought directly from BA call centre and issued in the UK , for BA operated flights between TLV-JFK (via LHR) and then LATAM between JFK-LIM.
    LATAM’s flight on the 17th is a very early morning flight (flying overnight), arriving JFK in the morning. Collecting baggage and staying in NYC till the 18th , to BA’s evening flight to LHR , arriving morning of the 19th , direct connection to TLV – so no chance to collect baggage at LHR and head home
    - Lady London says:
      
      14 Mar14 March 18:19
      
      Talk to BA and see if they will change your ticket or put a note on your booking ok for you to short check your baggage to London.
      - Yaron says:
        
        14 Mar14 March 18:58
        
        Well, if now the USA is going to ban UK bound flights from the 17th, then I’m already caught by this , as I’m scheduled to fly BA on the 18th. BA now has no option but to offer me some solution and I’m waiting for their feedback . Fingers crossed 🤞
      - Shoestring says:
        
        14 Mar14 March 19:02
        
        UK bound flights are not going to get banned, it’s flights into the USA that are affected by the new measures
        
        of course, the number of lights out of the US will end up getting severely cut but not as immediately as you fear
    - Lady London says:
      
      14 Mar14 March 19:17
      
      Yaron just looked again at your initial question.
      You said your original connection lhr-tlv was in the evening, after you arrive in the early morning?
      And that now BA switched you to a flight lhr-tlv on the same morning?
      
      In that case I am certain BA has moved you to a flight more than 2 hours earlier.
      Therefore you can request a reroute or a refund.
      
      Try for refund of lhr-tlv segment first as I am sure you had a plan for your original gap in London that you can’t take the morning flight due to. So you want a later flight, not an earlier one, as you so need to spend a time in London to do what you originally planned.
      
      This could come unstuck if jfk-tlv is a married segment. This would also, to me, increase the risk of being denied boarding at JFK already.
      
      Where do you want to stay? JFK or London since you say you can’t stay in tlv?
      
      I’d ask BA for what I want accordingly – refund or complete reroute of jfk-tlv…..risky…. Or routdye you to tlv with a longer gap (you only need an overnight you can make it clear you are not looking to have them pay the accomm)… or ask them to reticket you just as far as London. If you spent more than 23 hrs 59 minutes in London then a higher cost of APD would come on your ticket so see if they can just ticket you to London.
      - Lady London says:
        
        14 Mar14 March 19:23
        
        Go softly and personally I’d be frank when I speak to them as if jfk tlv is a married segment on your ticket then their rerouting obligation might be fulfilled by putting you on a flight to tlv that does not go via London. As lhr is their hub its unlikely but it depends how overloaded they are.
        
        Just call them as, as you say, since the new announcement you are in a slightly stronger position.
Lady London says:

14 Mar14 March 14:23

Ouch. Think you will be ok though.
Simon Robinson says:

14 Mar14 March 14:30

I’m currently in Peru and I have a one way ticket home with Iberia paid for with Avios + Cash. The flight is to come back to England via Madrid on Tuesday. Everything is moving quickly and there is a high probability that the flight will be cancelled as Peru step up their virus measures targeting flights to and from Europe. I am unclear what happens if my flight is cancelled, so I would appreciate any insights you guys may have, specifically…

– Are Iberia likely to offer me alternative ways to get home e.g. via other countries that don’t have travel restrictions?

– Would Iberia offer me a cash equivalent to the avios to enable me to source my own flights back via other countries?

– If I end up being stranded in Peru, am I likely to be able to make any sort of claim for living expenses via my travel insurance which is with the Curve Metal card? I have called them and they do not know, saying first that it’s Iberia’s responsibility and second that it is the government’s.

Any insights would be very welcome….
- Anna says:
  
  14 Mar14 March 14:37
  
  Your issue may be that there will be no flights going in and out of Madrid as Spain is now in lockdown. Try again with your insurance provider as the first response sounded utterly lame, unless it’s a terrible policy! Also consider contacting the British Embassy in Peru for advice if you really end up stranded, I would hope they will have contingency plans for this kind of thing. Buena suerte!
- meta says:
  
  14 Mar14 March 14:50
  
  Best advice I learned here and on Flyertalk and this applies even when there is no pandemic is to research your options before calling. So look at all possibilities to fly back from Peru to UK (via US, other South American airlines, direct with BA, etc.) Then monitor situation 2-3 times a day.
  - meta says:
    
    14 Mar14 March 14:51
    
    I meant before calling Iberia.
    - Simon Robinson says:
      
      14 Mar14 March 15:04
      
      That’s good advice – but my problem is that I can’t get through to Iberia to find out if the flight(s) are cancelled or not. The call drops after various automated messages. The BBC mundo website says that all flights into Peru from Europe will stop on Monday, the day before my flight back. I guess there is a chance that a flight out of Peru could still go ahead the following day, although I suspect that is unlikely. I have of course, also heard the news about UK flights be cancelled to Spain so again, I just want to know if my Iberia flight from MAD to LHR is cancelled also.
      
      I guess I will end up just going to the airport and finding out on the day, but would much rather get a plan sorted out before hand. I will take your advice and plan an alternative route back via the US which will hopefully still be an option on Tuesday.
      - marcw says:
        
        14 Mar14 March 15:51
        
        I think you need to speak with you travel insurance. IB is forced to cancel their flights, so they can´t do anything really… They will claim that they can´t offer you anything “comparable” and you seek alternatives yourself.
      - Lady London says:
        
        14 Mar14 March 18:27
        
        IME even getting through to IB without an epidemic I found them systematically useless. They do have some really good nice agents but IME they may be forbidden to help you.
        
        If you can, I would line up another way out/hom e that is flexible / able to be cancelled if IB leaves you in the lurch. You will then at minimum be able to claim refund off IB and quite likely duty of care until either your alternative or IB can get you out/home.
      - Lady London says:
        
        14 Mar14 March 18:42
        
        So book with BA, say, or TAM? to a place from where you can get a flight with, ideally, BA (as if you do get through on the phone to them, Iberia might, just might be able to take over that booking and put it on your ticket), then AA. Delta might be worth looking at but you wouldn’t be able to get your OneWorld ticket used for a Delta flight unless…guessing… a desk at the airport did it on the day of your flight (airport desks have greater powers they can use on the day of your flight).
        
        If you do get through to Iberia personally I’d ask them to bring you home early on themselves or (more likely as not needing to be via MAD) any other airline.
    - Lady London says:
      
      14 Mar14 March 18:46
      
      PS are you anywhere near an airport with an Iberia desk? You could visit and try even though they might tell you they can’t help before the day of your flight… Hence if you have the cashflow I strongly suggest you try what I suggested above.