Companion Voucher held in cancelled booking, now expired. BA say I’ve lost it.

[B_itchingtotravel]

Anyone had this situation? I had a flight cancelled in 2020, made with a CV (FIRST Return SIN). The ticket expired in January 2022 and they won’t let me re-book it (OK fair enough, even though they had once re-booked a different expired ticket!)

I’ve been trying to contact BA for a while to sort it out and of course, there has never been a ‘good time’ to call and I have never got through. Finally, today I got through to be told the CV expired 4 days ago (9th April) and I’ve basically lost it and I should’ve got in contact(!). I explained I had tried to contact BA before it expired, but BA had been busy losing luggage and cancelling flights. I have had previous vouchers extended to September 2023, but he said because the voucher has gone, there’s nothing they can do. I’m even prepared to immediately use it for a trip this September. I was then told to make a complaint via the website.

Anyone had experience of this and what the outcome was? Should I try to ‘hang up and try again’ or is it futile?

[BJ]

You’ve lost your voucher but you do have 2 (TWO) cancelled flights with full EU261/UK261 rights on your hands. See all the many posts by Lady London and Meta for your rights. Do not take a refund! Take a reroute on any seat on any airline around time of existing flight or on BA into the future. Many BA agents will presure you into taking refund : don’t, call back however many times it takes to get an agent who will reroute you.

[B_itchingtotravel]

Thanks for the reply, however, the original flight was for April 2021, re-routing wasn’t an option really with restrictions here and in Singapore (for a holiday!). I tried for compensation which was rejected due to the pandemic being outside of BA control. They say I have lost the CV and can either choose a Travel Voucher or a refund. I can’t see why they would extend my other CVs to September 2023, but not this one.

[B_itchingtotravel]

I’ve now made a complaint on the basis that BA held my CV for the lifetime of the voucher, and I had no access to it. Calling them for hours to no avail until it expired.

[NorthernLass]

Unfortunately I don’t think you’ll get any joy from BA on these grounds. As @BJ said, you’re best bet is to insist on your re-routing rights if you really want to retrieve the value of the 241.

[B_itchingtotravel]

So 18 months later from the complaint and 3 years since the cancellation….. I went through CEDR and settled for a full refund (no interest, no compensation) and they gave me back my CV with 6 months expiry! I am determined to use it just for spite even though I had no travel plans in the next six months!

[NorthernLass]

Well that’s encouraging given that it’s usually accepted that companion vouchers won’t be extended under any circumstances. Don’t forget you only have to take the outbound by the expiry date and the inbound can be any time within 12 months of that which can give you a bit more flexibility.

[JDB]

B_itchingtotravel wrote:

So 18 months later from the complaint and 3 years since the cancellation….. I went through CEDR and settled for a full refund (no interest, no compensation) and they gave me back my CV with 6 months expiry! I am determined to use it just for spite even though I had no travel plans in the next six months!

CEDR doesn’t have the power to award interest or compensation for inconvenience, distress etc.

[Lady London]

You settled for just a refund? In comparison with the very considerably higher value rerouting rights that you had for each ticket including the 241’s ?

I haven’t been following this, so may have missed a reason why you would, but I am gobsmacked.

[JDB]

Lady London wrote:

You settled for just a refund? In comparison with the very considerably higher value rerouting rights that you had for each ticket including the 241’s ?

I haven’t been following this, so may have missed a reason why you would, but I am gobsmacked.

The OP has explained what happened. BA wouldn’t reroute him and with these ticket validity cases, some have been won at CEDR but many have been lost. The OP is being pragmatic but also doesn’t seem unduly bothered as indicated by the limited efforts to contact BA.

I took several refunds and rolled up vouchers during covid whilst being fully aware of my rights. It gave me more flexibility and/or the cash/Avios/voucher in my account. It’s not always wrong to take a refund!

[B_itchingtotravel]

CEDR made it clear that the refund offer may not be available again if I declined it. BA said no compensation was possible and I am certain getting my original flights would be such a battle. TBH – after years of stress, reading horror stories etc, I just wanted it to be over with. I’m sure if I took it all the way, I would get something more, but not a lot. I’m actually using the return of the CV as my ‘little win’.

Even this thread, and other posters comments said I could wave goodbye to the CV. So, I’m determined to use it and drink all their champagne.

Coincidentally, this week, I booked SIN for this October (with a different CV & not First)!