Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

UK and Ireland added to the United States travel ban

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

The United States Government has just announced that the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland will be added to the United States travel ban.

Non-US passport holders / non-US residents will not be allowed to enter the United States if they have been in the UK or Ireland within the last 14 days.

The ban will kick in at 4am GMT on Tuesday (midnight Monday US EST).

If you wish to travel to the United States, you need to get yourself onto a plane during Sunday or Monday to land before midnight Monday EST.

US citizens and their immediate family members, as well as Green Card holders and holders of certain types of visa, are not impacted by this ban.

However, they will only be allowed to fly to 13 specific airports where they will be screened on entry and, if necessary, sent to a quarantine centre near the airport.

The ban will run until 11th April alongside the Schengen Zone ban.

That said, given the current estimates for coronavirus infections, it seems very unlikely that the ban will be lifted until after the peak of infections in May or June.

This is, clearly, a disaster for British Airways and especially Virgin Atlantic.  It is very easy to see Virgin Atlantic grounding its entire fleet now.  It is also possible that we could now see cuts of nearer 75% than the expected 50% to the British Airways network (by passenger volume) next week.

It is not certain that ALL British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights to the US will be cut.  There will be US citizens to return home and cargo will still need to be shipped.  The vast majority of services will be dropped, with a virtual 100% certainty of cancellations where the destination is not one of the 13 quarantine airports.

What will happen to my British Airways flight to the USA?

BA has deleted the webpage which showed travel agent guidance in real time.  The BA Travel Trade website is now the best place for accurate information.

REFUNDS ARE NOT ALLOWED.  You can, however, ask for a 1-year BA travel voucher under the ‘Book With Confidence’ refund policy which we outlined here.

For anyone with a ticket for travel up to 11th April, you can rebook onto a flight between 12th April and 1st August.

There are no change fees but you must pay any fare difference.  You are allowed to change your destination airport if you wish.

However …. don’t take this policy too seriously.  If your flight is cancelled, which is likely to happen for the vast majority of people, you are legally entitled to a full cash refund.  You need to hang on for a few days until British Airways decides which flights will be cut.

Category

British Airways and Avios, Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club

Comments (389)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Bill says:
    14 Mar14 March 18:01

    I think uk strategy is to get the peak asap

    • Shoestring says:
      14 Mar14 March 18:16

      the people don’t like it/ probably won’t wear it but from an economic perspective the current strategy makes a lot of sense – could also save more senior citizens from dying overall – maybe half as many by the time it fades away according to some models, though there would be more pain up front

      and if an effective vaccine comes along next year, then with hindsight the UK strategy will clearly have been wrong

    • maccymac says:
      14 Mar14 March 19:28

      This scientific paper models the various Coronavirus epidemiological strategies and gives decent insight into the Government’s thinking and various issues we and other countries will encounter. Worth a read.

      https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2820%2930567-5

      • ChrisBCN says:
        14 Mar14 March 20:15

        ‘big economic and human consequences’ – do you believe this now, or still say it’s a pussycat virus?

        • Shoestring says:
          14 Mar14 March 20:30

          you’re the one taking stuff out of context, I am pleased ‘pussycat virus’ has gripped the collective imagination so nicely but really it’s just a succinct way of saying that (healthwise) 99% of us have nothing to fear

          obvs for the other 1% it can mean an untimely somewhat early death – they are 70+ and mostly 80+ people with underlying illnesses, of course their lives are important, of course they leave behind bereaved friends and family (do I really need to say that? it’s obvious) and of course it’s a great tragedy, we shall mourn them

          my bigger concern all along has been for the consequent risks to wealth creation as poverty causes far more deaths and poor health and sadnesses and missed opportunities than Covid-19 ever will – I have been cognisant of these risks from very early days as my first posts show

          and airports closed, lockdowns, businesses at a standstill or going bust were foreseeable (and seen by myself plus of course plenty of others) from the earliest days of China going bad

        • ChrisBCN says:
          14 Mar14 March 20:34

          Ok, you still don’t realise the harm you have caused. I’ll ask you again in coming weeks.

        • Doug M says:
          14 Mar14 March 21:12

          What possible harm has shoestring caused. He’s a random poster on site about travel and points. Keep some perspective. He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy.

    • Lady London says:
      14 Mar14 March 20:36

      And they think they have enough medical facilities? When we have a fraction of the hospital beds pro rata for our population, than places like Italy and Germany have? Are they trying to save social costs by euthanasia?

      • Shoestring says:
        14 Mar14 March 20:40

        I would expect that to be in the model, doctors in Italy (hopelessly overstretched hospitals & resources in some parts) are having to choose who to save as well

        no need for me to say who they’re saving and who get the thumbs down

      • maccymac says:
        14 Mar14 March 21:36

        It’s possible the UK is taking the “squash the sombrero” strategy simply because it has no choice. We do not have the ITU beds, hospital beds, doctors and nurses that can withstand wave after wave of coronavirus flare ups in the coming months and years, especially in winter.

        Hospital beds per 1000 population: UK 2.5, US 2.8, Italy 3.2, France 6 – (OECD)
        ITU Beds per 100,000 population: UK 6.6, Germany 29.2, Italy 12.5, France 11.6 – (Lancet)

        I hope after this hopefully passes people are much more robust in demanding healthcare infrastructure and resources comparable to other developed countries for their MPs/Government. It’s the least we can do for all those who may lose their lives to this horrible disease.

      • Polly says:
        15 Mar15 March 09:05

        LL, as l said before, secret agenda… reduce future state funded elderly care costs…stroke of a pen.
        Other aim, is to retain a working economy at all costs, aiming to prevent mass poverty, which brings its own set of problems.
        Hand washing and keeping social distancing in place for all of us, is the way to go.

  • Lyn says:
    14 Mar14 March 18:01

    Oh dear, of course it is worrying, Hopefully there will be some clarification re dates and flight cancellations soon. Is your partner booked on BA or a US airline, and from which US airport? My guess (uneducated of course) is there will still be some flights for a few extra days after Monday for Americans that will now want to get home sooner rather than later from the UK,and for cargo, especially for the “13 specific airports”.

  • Andrew says:
    14 Mar14 March 18:06

    This buzzfeed article has the 3, it’s the big hubs as far as I can see. A relief as my wife and MiL were booked for Vegas.

    https://www.buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/hamedaleaziz/americans-returning-from-europe-13-airports

  • Andrew says:
    14 Mar14 March 18:06

    I don’t understand the difference between changing your ticket and paying any fare difference and getting a voucher? Why is it specifically set out as a different policy for tickets until 11 April?

  • Colin MacKinnon says:
    14 Mar14 March 18:15

    What happens if ones return flight is cancelled – or going to be cancelled?

    Denver is not one of the “gateway” cities for European mainland flights, so seems unlikely BA will operate from there after Monday.

    So if I change flight time now, will I get any refund for return leg? Ie a waiver of change fee.

    Or if I buy an Avios ticket now will return half of existing ticket have any value?

    • Colin MacKinnon says:
      14 Mar14 March 19:15

      OK, bit the bullet and just paid the Euro 300 change fee to get her back.

      Worth it to avoid her being re-routed through one of the 13 hot spots at the end of the week.

      Will then hassle BA for a refund if the cancel the end-of-the-week DEN-LHR flight.

      • Colin MacKinnon says:
        14 Mar14 March 19:21

        OK, BA have new policy on return sectors, issued half an hour before I made my booking.

        Rebooking Allowance (1)
        *For part-flown customers who want to return as soon as possible*
        Rebook onto an alternative British Airways service for travel as early as possible
        Rebook without charge into the same class as original or lowest available in the same cabin

        So I should’;t have been charged, but it obviously takes them a while to update the web pages/system.

    • BJ says:
      14 Mar14 March 19:36

      Colin, if your wife is not scheduled to return until Tuesday or later it is virtually certain that her flight will be cancelled. That will mean a reroute which will very likely be DEN-XXX(in USA)-CDG on AA which I know is not what she wants. Best option might be just to call and see if under the circumstances they will reroute her back to EDI or even just to London, and what is available in terms of refund if you made alternative arrangements using avios. I am not sure if you ever saw my suggestion before travelling that you check out cash options with Icelandair. That might be worth explooring as an option to get her home but I imagine cash tickets will now be super expensive. Westjet via Canada to London might be another cash option. If by some chance your wife does come back via London as planned and she skips the final leg there, then if it is feasible it might be a good idea to cancel the credit card she/you paid her flight with. You don’t want an unexpected charge from BA because she skips the final sector to CDG although I am sure they are too preoccupied with other stuff right now to be chasing up the likes of missing final legs.

      • BJ says:
        14 Mar14 March 19:41

        Ah sorry, replied before seeing other bits. Hope she gets home safe and well.

  • Travel Strong says:
    14 Mar14 March 18:26

    Datapoint: Took 1.5hrs to get through to Virgin, but as always they were fantastic to deal with. Changed my upcoming reward flights to Sep/Oct, and actually got 20k miles refunded due to changes in miles prices. They almost charged a £30pp change fee, but thanks to the links on this site, I was quickly able to show them the page on their site showing that change fee’s are waived!

  • Dittorock says:
    14 Mar14 March 18:29

    Hi travelers, seeking some thoughts, we are 2 US Citizens (Actually Dual-UK/US) + 1 UK only and we are resident in the UK. Travel ban technically allows us to fly (doesn’t make sense for us now) and We were set to fly 4th April for holiday to PHX on AA back via SFO on BA but AA ticket, clearly PHX not one of the 13 arrival airports.
    Wondering what our rights are, frankly at this point we will want a refund, not any of this voucher business, assume PHX will get cancelled, we would hope EC261 is our backstop to force refund. Any thoughts? AA so far for the rest of the EU locations already on ban does not seemingly offer a refund but approach it like BA with “credit” that needs to be ticketed by end of the year.
    Want to avoid AA telling us well hey your US Citizens so you fly non-sense….We do have travel insurance with Amex Plat but of course that’s the last resort….Seeing the travel insurance companies are really clamping down now with this situation too…
    Thoughts?

    • Anna says:
      14 Mar14 March 18:34

      EU261 cancellation rules are different for AA as not an EU carrier, you’ll need to check exactly what they would be liable for.

      • marcw says:
        14 Mar14 March 19:01

        Not really, they are leaving FROM the UK so it still applies.

        • Lady London says:
          14 Mar14 March 20:01

          Would be handy if your UK passport details were on the booking. If one of you only has UK citizenship and not US and you are a family, that would help too.

    • Anna says:
      14 Mar14 March 18:44

      But yes, AA and the insurance might say well you are not banned from travelling so it’s technically “disinclination”. Tough one. But lucky you have dual citizenship!

      • Dittorock says:
        14 Mar14 March 19:02

        Thanks Anna, seemingly with EC261 on the outbound we’d covered then under UK citizenship. I’m not too worried about the insurance as it seems to focus on residency, hopefully it doesn’t get into the grey lines….sigh this is all so messy….

        • Dittorock says:
          14 Mar14 March 19:04

          We have one in-country flight on AA that I’ll have to use insurance for as it’s not part of the inbound/outbound ticket but frankly I’d be willing to lose it and not cry over it, but the longhaul is another story….

        • Lady London says:
          14 Mar14 March 20:10

          as marcw said the outgoing as flight does fall under eu261 as a flight on any airline falls under that if the flight is departing from Europe.

          If it was an AA flight leaving the US to come back to Europe then that flight would not fall under eu261 as it’s not departing from Europe and it’s not a European airline.

          As it is a BA flight leaving the US to come back to Europe and BA us a European airline then this fall’s under eu261.

          Whether a flight falls under eu261 has nothing to do with your passport or residency as its passenger.

    • Charlieface says:
      14 Mar14 March 20:47

      How would they know you’re US citizens if you don’t tell them?

      • Dittorock says:
        14 Mar14 March 21:08

        The airline knows the citizenship already as it has our APIS in the booking, which of course I can change to the UK info in the meantime, they have our passport in our FF info too, but seemingly doesn’t matter as PHX is not one of the 13 airports for inbound and likely to be cancelled, and with the clarification of others here and checking CAA, EC261 is on our side. Phew….Still now readying myself for any necessary firm approach with AA if it keeps to this voucher/rebook business.

        Tnx everyone for the input…

      • Lady London says:
        14 Mar14 March 21:11

        Prob had uploaded passport data to the booking. Remember airlines have to collect this for any flight to the US a chunk of time ahead of the flight. Simplest is to load it right after making the booking otherwise they keep annoyingly reminding. So that’s probably what the OP did.

        Personally I’d be doing a rapid amend… Also on FF if I could

    • pauldb says:
      15 Mar15 March 08:31

      I think the citizenship issue is a total red herring. You aren’t entitled to a refund or compensation based on whether or not you are prevented from or just disinclined to travel.

      If BA (as the operator) cancel your PHX flight you are entitled to a refund. If they do not cancel it, you’ll have to follow their refund/voucher policy.

      If they give you enough notice (or a time-qualifying reroute option), no EU261 compensation. If they don’t, maybe compensation depending on how it gets assessed as extraordinary.

      • Dittorock says:
        15 Mar15 March 12:13

        Well the good news is it’s AA and as it’s PHX it’s not one of the 13 approved airports for screening, so already they’ve cancelled flights from Tuesday for the coming week, which unless the administration changes things by the 4th of April it will likely get cancelled. I have found the rules for USDOT are very similar to EC261 and are very clear, if they cancel the leg from LHR to PHX I don’t have to accept a re-routing and can request a full refund. Phew

        From USDOT for others interested: “If your flight is cancelled and you choose to cancel your trip as a result, you are entitled to a refund for the unused transportation – even for non-refundable tickets. You are also entitled to a refund for any bag fee that you paid, and any extras you may have purchased, such as a seat assignment.”

  • sunguy says:
    14 Mar14 March 18:35

    Slightly O/T

    My TP year finishes on 8th May – I still have 35 points to earn to retain silver – yes, I know I could fly business domestically – but……its a bit…well…you know…and who knows exactly what will be running in the next 5 weeks….

    Whats the consensus of what BA might allow – I have had no flight booked as I just came back from the US last week and was going to book flights this week or next for the 35TP….

    My plan is to call the exec club support line, when things might have calmed down a little (no point in calling during the rebooking/refunding storm and adding to call volumes). Just want to go in to the call with my expectations set….

    • Secret Squirrel says:
      14 Mar14 March 18:40

      TP status has been extended by BA by 6x months. Silver only requires 400 / Gold – 1000 TP.

      • Dan says:
        14 Mar14 March 18:41

        You are referring to Virgin Flying Club here…

        • Secret Squirrel says:
          14 Mar14 March 20:50

          No, BA.
          Considering all the major hotel chains are altering status requirements, why wouldn’t the major airlines also!

      • Shoestring says:
        14 Mar14 March 18:42

        only 400 TPs to get Silver status from scratch?

        • Secret Squirrel says:
          14 Mar14 March 20:38

          I think it was stating 400 TP for silver requalification. 1000 TP for Gold.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        14 Mar14 March 19:59

        First I’ve heard of this.

      • Lady London says:
        14 Mar14 March 20:13

        But qualification periods have not been extended?

        • Secret Squirrel says:
          14 Mar14 March 20:39

          Yes, 12 to 18 months standard.

          • Shoestring says:
            14 Mar14 March 20:56

            major story!

          • TGLoyalty says:
            14 Mar14 March 21:34

            Heard Finnair had added 6 months. BA insiders on flyertalk not mentioned anything so surprised. Good news if true.

          • Secret Squirrel says:
            15 Mar15 March 11:35

            So if Finnair has extended status, then looks like BA will follow suit very soon.

          • Doug M says:
            15 Mar15 March 16:02

            Source? I think BA are in survival mode EC status is not a concern.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

New to Head for Points?

Welcome!  We’re the UK’s most-read source of business travel, Avios, frequent flyer and hotel loyalty news. Let us improve how you travel. Got any questions? Ask them in our forums.

Latest Forum Posts

Get 40,000 bonus points (worth 40,000 Avios) and £300 dining credit with The Platinum Card

Check reward flight availability instantly for free!

See a whole year of reward seat availability on one page at SeatSpy.com

Get £10 when you spend £150 on your free Currensea card

Booking a luxury hotel?

Our luxury hotel booking service offers you GUARANTEED extra benefits over booking direct. Works with Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz Carlton, St Regis and more. We've booked £1.7 million of rooms to date. Click for details.

SME? EARN POINTS WORTH 10,500 AVIOS WITH CAPITAL ON TAP

Get 20,000 bonus points, four airport lounge passes and your first year free with American Express Gold

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.

Got it!