Avios: change of class on inbound, after outbound flown – nothing refunded?

[EwanG]

I have an Avios ticket (with the BA cabin upgrade voucher from the Barclaycard, not that it should make a difference) where the outbound has already been flown.

I am considering changing the inbound to a different date, currently it is on an off-peak date this month. Whilst availability is changing, I might need to settle for a peak date and change down a class.

Speaking to the BA call centre yesterday, the first agent went away to find out the situation about a refund (I was clear the outbound had been flown and I am aware the ticket cannot be cancelled once the outbound has been flown, and the £35 change fee) but the line was then disconnected. Calling again later and speaking to another agent, they informed me I could not change class and receive any Avios or fees back, and they were very firm on this.

Was the second agent correct in that there would be no cash or Avios element refunded? Thanks.

[JDB]

Section 17 of the BAEC rules re cancellation of reward bookings doesn’t cover this particular circumstance. However, what you are being told is consistent with the overall principle that once inside 24 hours before the first flight, there is no refund save for an event beyond the passenger’s control. If it were possible to downgrade and get a partial refund that way, it would be a back door route to a refund that would otherwise be disallowed.

[BJ]

The problem is that you are looking for a change. The change would be ok if it were to the same class, i.e. requiring the same amount of avios, but you want a change to a seat/date requiring a different amount of avios. That is not allowed so the second agent is correct. However, I suspect it might be one of those things, it might be worth HUACA, another agent may allow it, perhaps even with avios adjustment. If they did allow it then I’d settle for that without pushing for adjustment.