British Airways offering you EU compensation as Avios – at a poor rate

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• John c says:

  11 Dec11 December 13:45

  We took a BA voucher instead of cash. Last year. They offered about 33% more as a voucher. However. It was only valid for flight only purchases. So no use when we tried paying for an Orlando Package. And also refused when we tried to pay for flights 24 hours after fixing the price on ba website. Also had a 15 month expiration. So beware of troubles in redeeming your vouchers. Cash may we’ll be better.

  • Nadeshka says:

    11 Dec11 December 18:25

    I refused a voucher and countered with avios (which they agreed to) for the reasons you listed – difficulty in actually using it and short expiry. Also note it can’t be used to pay the taxes on a redemption flight (at least that’s what they told me).

• the real harry says:

  11 Dec11 December 15:45

  Disagree 100%.

  I generally buy @ T-355 – using Avios redemptions – and never get less than 1.3-1.5p value.

  Might just be my route, I guess – but I doubt it

  If I were getting under 1p value I would consider using cash instead, haven’t had to do that for a long time

  • mark2 says:

    11 Dec11 December 15:52

    +1

  • Lady London says:

    11 Dec11 December 16:26

    Harry in being able to plan and buy at T-355, you are truly an exceptional case.

    • the real harry says:

      11 Dec11 December 17:01

      Just a factor of kids, schools, holidays fixed by somebody else a year or more in advance, place & rellies abroad 🙂

      • the real harry says:

        11 Dec11 December 19:00

        the other thing is: I am usually buying in peak, ie school hols – so BA make the regular ticket price expensive even as soon as they are released – but Avios redemptions cost the same (peak) as usual

      • the real harry says:

        11 Dec11 December 19:04

        poor old AA Gill

        brilliant writer, died far too young

        just thinking right now I would dearly like to retire out at our place abroad – that’s 2 untimely deaths I heard this week, AA Gill and the brilliant car mechanic out at our village (‘Alex’, 60, stroke)

  • Andrew says:

    11 Dec11 December 17:33

    I also disagree – having had to pay a last minute BA fare (to visit a very suddenly and seriously ill grandmother and having no choice of flights because of other family members’ decisions at a difficult time) I had to buy a seat at T-72h. Return LHR to SFO was £2,300 in Y (Y class).

    Being able to get a last minute C redemption LHR-DUB and then an ex-DUB return (out in Y, back in J) for £600 less. Still a lot of cash but the Avios came into their own.

• Lady London says:

  11 Dec11 December 16:14

  Sounds great but will mean fewer tier points if the journey is done without a stop with a change of flight number en route.

  I’ll probably still do it though.

• AH says:

  11 Dec11 December 16:20

  This however could be a good deal for anyone using a 2-4-1 voucher!
  Especially if 2 of you are delayed on a flight a 2-4-1 voucher was used.

  For flight delay, I am having a nightmare against Enter Air
  As they have no UK base of operations, I cant take them to UK court.
  I have tried contacting them, using mediation services, CCA, etc.
  They refuse to pay out for my party of over 20 passengers!

• Lady London says:

  11 Dec11 December 16:28

  Can you not sue them in Poland (EU), where they seem to be incorporated?

  • jonboy73 says:

    12 Dec12 December 05:01

    sue who for what exactly?

• James says:

  11 Dec11 December 17:52

  2 Off Topic Questions
  1. I have a Gold card, how do I recommend a friend for the platinum card, I’m only given the option to recommend a Gold.
  2. If I use upgrade with avios to upgrade a WTP booking to CW, do i have to pay the taxes difference as well?

  • Alan says:

    11 Dec11 December 17:59

    1) They can pick the other card at the bottom of the referral link page (it’s all a bit poorly done!)
    2) Yes, although there shouldn’t be too marked an amount extra to pay

• Nadeshka says:

  11 Dec11 December 18:22

  I received a pay out in Avios for EU261 – but not at this rate! We got 1p/avios.
  Full story: In 2014 we had a plane go tech in BLR after boarding and next flight was 24 hours later.
  BA refused to pay out claiming extraordinary circumstances so I raised a MCOL and they said they would contest it in court. However a few days before the court date they offered the full £1000 (two of us travelling) but in travel vouchers with 1 year expiry. Given we wouldn’t use those I countered with 100,000 avios.
  They agreed and deposited that plus court fees. Given we’d flown Club on a reward flight with a 2-4-1 I was very pleased – meant the return trip had pretty much only cost us the “taxes”!

  • the real harry says:

    11 Dec11 December 18:47

    nicely done

  • Mike says:

    11 Dec11 December 19:57

    Good for you and credit for hanging in there.

    • wyvern says:

      17 Dec17 December 03:16

      For early EU260/2004 claims I have been offered either the correct EU compensation by funds transfer, or 25% more value in vouchers (£800 voucher against €600 cash). They don’t seem to be offering this anymore, which is a shame as the additional value was worthwhile.

• Han says:

  12 Dec12 December 17:47

  Hi All,

  I made a claim in 2014/2015 for flights that occurred in December 2014 direct with BA after the delayed flight; they subsequently denied the claim for myself and party of 2 others. They advised us to claim via travel insurance however we didn’t purchase any.

  Upon reading all this – seeing that we have 4/5 years left of the 6 years to claim is it then worth re opening up and making a small claims court or this MCOL?

  All opinions greatly appreciated 🙂

  Thanks!!

  • Alan says:

    12 Dec12 December 18:14

    If it is a clear cut EU261 claim then I’d personally have no qualms about going down the MCOL route.

    • Han says:

      12 Dec12 December 18:53

      Hi Alan,

      Thanks for your response. Yes, delayed flights and baggage – with missing items. BA was contacted immediately even their reps in the city of arrival only to give us the blurb of the claim didn’t reach them within seven days – however under the Montreal Convention even after receiving said delayed baggage one has up to 21 days to to report missing contents.

      Thanks again!

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