Workaround found. How to trigger an online British Airways flight refund using Google Chrome

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• BJ says:

  26 Mar26 March 20:48

  I used the workaround to successfully refund a redemption using a 241. However, since I added the return leg at a later date due to T-355 bookings I ended up with two PNR. Hence, when cancelling our two flights I was charged 4x£35 instead of 2x£35 cancellation fees. Are readers in same situation just accepting this or challenging BA that tbe cancellation fees are twice as high as they should be because BA processed a return flight as two one way flights?

• Tats says:

  26 Mar26 March 22:28

  I wanted to support BA by not calling for a cash refund and opted for a voucher refund. However, I just got the voucher only to see that I have to call the contact centre to use it. Its very annoying that I can’t use it online and I’m not impressed with BA. Even in non-crisis situations, it takes ages to get through to speak to someone and calling reduces the flexibility to make a booking anytime I like. I will never support them again at my expense.

• JG says:

  26 Mar26 March 23:21

  Still trying to get my cash refund. I used the Gold membership telephone number & got through straight away, but as I’m Bronze, the lady would not serve me. She did explain that the reason we can’t cancel online to claim a cash refund, is because it was BA that cancelled the flight, not the passenger. She said the process & software was different. I told her I was sceptical, & that more likely BA just wanted to conserve cash, but she thought that unlikely. Just in case people are unaware, the number 0800 727 800 is open 24 hours (centres around the world) & the UK office’s opening hours are 5.30am to 21.45.

• Den says:

  27 Mar27 March 07:01

  Cancelled an Avios booking using this process exactly 48 hours ago, the refund is now in my Amex account! – Brilliant! Also I will now contact Amex and arrange a for that money to be transferred to my normal current account so you actually have the money rather than a large credit on your Amex. I have done this on another very large refund but it takes Amex at least 7 day.

• Graham says:

  27 Mar27 March 07:04

  Hi, does anyone know if you will get a cash refund if only the outward leg of teh journey has been cancelled please?

  Thanks

  • Shoestring says:

    27 Mar27 March 07:06

    yes you will if all on 1 booking

• R Ellis says:

  27 Mar27 March 07:49

  I have flights booked for euros in June which are no longer required. The flights are cancelled but I am being offered a voucher. Does this seem right? I would be happy just to get taxes back.

  • R Ellis says:

    27 Mar27 March 07:53

    To add my flights aren’t cancelled and it’s a cash booking

• Rob Cornelius says:

  27 Mar27 March 08:15

  BA have changed the web page again, so the above work around no longer works. Only the travel voucher option appears now. They have obviously cottoned on to what customers were doing. I wonder if their behaviour is actually criminal. I will never fly BA again if I can possibly help it.

  • Shoestring says:

    27 Mar27 March 08:28

    this seems to work: log into BAEC/ Manage My Booking and try this link https://www.britishairways.com/travel/webforms/execclub/_gf/en_gb?eId=120001&wfpId=mmb_ticket_refund

    • Rob Cornelius says:

      27 Mar27 March 09:18

      Thanks Shoestring, but the problem is, that page is ‘cancel my booking’. I am nervous that this might deemed to be me cancelling (even though I have had an email from BA saying the flight is cancelled), because it also says tick this box to confirm you agree: “We are unable to calculate your refund total prior to processing your claim. The refund amount will be based on our fare rules and the total refunded is final and non-negotiable. On submission of this form you are agreeing to the refund total that we calculate.”
      BA are up to dirty tricks and I don’t trust them one iota, can easily imagine them just paying me the taxes and saying: “You elected to cancel the booking, we have proof from the online form you signed. and you agreed to accept our refund amount unequivocally”. How unfair is that?!!

      • Dan says:

        27 Mar27 March 11:04

        I agree and have the same issue. I’d be interested to know others experiences!

        Thanks!

        • Shoestring says:

          27 Mar27 March 18:36

          it’s not risky because you know the terms already:

          you have to be very clear about whether you booked an Avios/ reward flight OR a cash flight

          An Avios/ reward flight can also be + Money (to reduce the Avios)

          A cash flight can also be + Avios (to reduce the cost)

          All cancelled flights can use this no problem and you’ll get a full refund

          If BA did not yet cancel the flight, again all flights can be cancelled by you

          BUT
          -Avios/ reward flights only pay a small fee generally £17.50/ £35 return in Europe
          – cash flights YOU LOSE EVERYTHING SO DON’T CANCEL

  • Lady London says:

    27 Mar27 March 12:49

    It’s illegal. The EC has even issued a specific clarification that airlines still have to give cash refund for flights the airline cancelled and cannot issue a voucher if the customer wants a refund.

    I can understand the regulators holding off punishing airlines at this difficult time. But would be great if they could be required to pay a turnover levy in future to let them know they can’t disobey the law with impunity and not pay the consequences. Alternatively a massive, massive fine for systematically not giving consumers rights would be nice. Otherwise guess what? BA’s egregious and systematic denial of customers rights in future would get even worse.

    Whether the regulator has the b*lls to inflict punishment on the airlines for this, or the means, for those that restructure and lose the previous liabilities including for misdemeanours, we will have to wait.

    But at least hopefully this will tell the regulator not to allow any current legislation to be weakened in favour of the airlines as they’ve proved again and again that they intend to continue abusing consumers whenever they can.

• mthants says:

  27 Mar27 March 10:44

  Has anyone had a voucher declined? I had an email telling me a flight on 1st June has been cancelled so I went through the process to request a voucher and now have an email saying

  “Thank you for contacting British Airways. Unfortunately, your booking is not eligible for a Future Travel Voucher .

  We apologise for the inconvenience.

  Warm regards,
  British Airways Customer Service ”

  That’s a bit more than an inconvenience!

  • Lady London says:

    27 Mar27 March 12:53

    Don’t even bother going back to the airline to say “that’s all right I’ll just take the full refund I was always entitled to anyway then”.

    Life’s too short, take that email straight to your insurer Otto your credit card and request s75 refund, or to charge card and request chargeback.

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