The new HFP chat thread – Tuesday 28th April

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• James F says:

  28 Apr28 April 10:39

  Looks like BA have just updated the terms of the their voucher ‘refund’ scheme.

  Dates of travel extended to 31 July, and vouchers now valid until 30 April 2022

  I’ve just had an email about a June flight to Toronto that was booked before this situation kicked off, and will likely take them up on the voucher

  • Gareth Jeanne says:

    28 Apr28 April 11:08

    Just had the same email, for a flight to NYC on the 16th June, return on the 24th June, I’m in two minds about whether to take it or not. Obviously I’d prefer the cash to the voucher, but it’s looking progressively more likely that the US will be open again by the middle of June, though potentially not NY, in which case we’d be stuffed as I am not planning to travel in June. Hmm, guess I’ve got some time to make a decision.

    • Lady London says:

      28 Apr28 April 11:39

      When you say the US will be open in June do you mean just the flights, or actually being allowed in there without problem?

      • Anna says:

        28 Apr28 April 13:51

        And with valid travel insurance!

        • Lady London says:

          28 Apr28 April 15:32

          You’re right @Anna even paying a supplement, you wouldn’t be sensible going without travel j
          Insurance.

• AJ says:

  28 Apr28 April 10:45

  Curve blue still not charging for payments to Ernie. Another £5k through this morning charged to underlying VS.

  • Secret Squirrel says:

    28 Apr28 April 11:07

    Good to hear, its a day by day monitoring situation now.

  • Cloud says:

    28 Apr28 April 12:06

    Great news, I have done some to Ernie today as well via Curve Blue/ IHG. Glad its still working.

  • Spk says:

    28 Apr28 April 12:55

    Ernie must be wondering about the sudden inflow of funds…

    • Peter K says:

      28 Apr28 April 13:44

      Probably not. It’s a safe haven as government backed.

  • Crafty says:

    29 Apr29 April 00:19

    Lucky you. Make hay while the sun shines. Definitely gone for me.

• Anon says:

  28 Apr28 April 10:45

  Luxury Travel Diary auctions have all been extended due to the pandemic, but I can’t see if they’ve changed any refund policies etc. as well. Surely people are just not paying for auctions that they have won unless the service provider or Luxury Travel Diary are agreeing to be more flexible on things like expiry dates / blackout dates?

• Duccio says:

  28 Apr28 April 11:11

  Hi everyone,

  I have two London-Milan Avios bookings in May which have obviously been cancelled. I don’t really want a voucher, what I would like is my Avios back.

  Calls to 0800727800 (BA call centre) simply get turned down. It says the volume of calls is too high.

  1) Has anyone had the same experience of trying to get an Avios refurnd? Did you get through? How?
  2) The booking date is for the 1st of May. Do I lose my Avios if I don’t get a refund before the flight date? Should I ask for a voucher if by the 30th I haven’t managed to get through the call centre?

  • Steve McCool says:

    28 Apr28 April 11:39

    Had the same experience with BA back in March for a flight to Vancouver – return leg was cancelled. Had to redial 26 times over almost two hours (sometimes on hold then cut off). Once I got through person processed it quite efficiently….although was told it would take 21 days for a refund to hit my card….and that was yesterday and still nothing…..but assume there is still a backlog.
    Just keep hitting redial

    • Duccio says:

      28 Apr28 April 12:24

      Thanks, I will just keep hammering the redial on my phone then.

  • Lady London says:

    28 Apr28 April 11:41

    Today is being reported as particularly hard to get through to BA.

    The general advice has been to call when their hours open if you can. But perhaps try tomorrow or very.late today

    • Duccio says:

      28 Apr28 April 12:23

      I will try to get in the queue when the line opens then.

  • Polly says:

    28 Apr28 April 11:43

    Best to phone in within 72 hours of your flight. Or do the flyer talk BA request for help for refund.

    • PlaneConcorde says:

      28 Apr28 April 11:54

      The within 72 hours of your flight rule has been dropped from the guidance published on http://www.ba.com. I called on Saturday 25th April for a flight due to depart late May, which BA has already cancelled. I got through to speak to a person and they submitted my refund request with a comment it could take up to 21 days to receive on my credit card.

  • Ross Mitchell says:

    28 Apr28 April 11:59

    BA told me the booking stays open even after the scheduled flight date and they can do refunds up to 12 months afterwards, so no rush.

    • Duccio says:

      28 Apr28 April 12:22

      Thanks, this is helpful!

  • Steve says:

    28 Apr28 April 13:38

    Similar situation for flights at end of May. Flight was cancelled 8th April. Redialed and queued same day, points came back on that day. Am still waiting for taxes. I’ve pinged BA refund helper on flyertalk, who is looking into it for me.

• rams1981 says:

  28 Apr28 April 11:26

  All virign/morissons miles now confirmed. Last spend 9th March.

• Boi says:

  28 Apr28 April 11:49

  Airbus shares tumbling….is it a bargain buy or can they actually go bust?

  • Mattb says:

    28 Apr28 April 12:03

    I used to work for Airbus, back when it was EADS, speaking to a few old colleagues most of the furloughing in the UK is within the Airbus division, not defence etc but I think Airbus provides a much bigger share of the overall group these days.

  • Rob says:

    28 Apr28 April 12:23

    Very unlikely the French Government will let them cease to exist but it could be nationalised with shareholders wiped out.

    MASSIVE fixed cost base. In theory it has a full 5 year order book with legally binding contracts on the airlines who agreed to buy the planes. Good luck with that, though. Even if an airline needs extra aircraft over the next 5 years there will be hundreds of aircraft available for peanuts which have been dumped by other operators.

  • Pangolin says:

    28 Apr28 April 16:07

    Can’t envisage them being allowed to go bust but can easily imagine a situation where common equity holders get wiped out.

• TonyG says:

  28 Apr28 April 12:05

  If you apply now for the plat, will you get the double points offer?

• Doug says:

  28 Apr28 April 12:10

  How do these vouchers work when booked for two passengers by one person.

  I have two return flights to Vienna in June for myself and my (adult) son. I paid for the flights. We won’t be going regardless of whether the flight operates.

  Will the vouchers be in the individual passengers names or can they be consolidated?

  I am, in all likelihood, going to wait to see if they are cancelled and claim a refund, but was wondering if anyone can clarify the voucher position.

  Many thanks.

  • Doug says:

    28 Apr28 April 12:22

    Ignore me. If I read the T&C’s first I’d know the answer!

    • Tom says:

      28 Apr28 April 12:41

      Out of curiosity, what is the answer to this? I am not due one so haven’t seen the T and Cs. How does the vouchers work? A monetary value applied to the account or what?

      • Doug says:

        28 Apr28 April 14:39

        If you follow this link it explains it all…

        https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/incident/coronavirus/latest-information

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