Downgrade reimbursement – booked using BUV LHR-KUL

[TicknBash]

Seeking wisdom of the community to sense check my research if I’m on the right track.

I’ve got a one way PE LHR-KUL booked with Barc voucher cancelled for mid Nov off peak.
Realistically looking to rereoute via MH1 night flight and fairly flexible with dates but has got to be night flight travelling with a toddler.

Paid 80k avios + £455 (£227.50pp + Taxes fees £ Nil).

I have read other threads to suggest the 75% downgrade reimbursement claim should be based on what the ‘cost’ would be without the voucher ie.
110k avios + £455.

So I should be putting in a claim for 82,500 avios but do I also base 75% on £455 (£341) as it is quoting £ Nil taxes ?
Also, if I ‘agree’ to reroute in Y, it doesn’t affect my downgrade reimbursement rights ?

[AJA]

I would claim the 75% of the £455 as that is what you paid. I agree that you should base the downgrade on the number of Avios required to buy a PE seat without using a Barclays Upgrade Voucher since only basing it on the 80k Avios you paid would be to ignore the value of the Barclays upgrade voucher. Whether BA agrees with that is a separate issue.

I would also suggest that accepting a downgrade to PE does not absolve BA of your right to downgrade reimbursement. The regulations on downgrade reimbursement is based on the carrier putting you in a cabin lower than what you had a reservation for. Clearly if you accept a re-route on an airline that does not have a PE cabin the downgrade is forced upon you.

Good luck with getting BA to re-route you on MH direct to KUL – they should agree to do so but whether they do or not may require persistence on your part.

[JDB]

@TicknBash – in respect of the correct sum to claim for the downgrade, when it’s a downgrade to economy and a departure from the UK, you need to consider the APD and Heathrow PSC. The PE ticket incorporated £202pp (and you need to look at this all on a pp basis) vs £92 for economy, but the PSC of c. £50 isn’t currently based on class. The original amount you paid was less than cost. BA should automatically refund you £110pp plus c.£50. It doesn’t end up with a very different sum, but if BA is asked for 75% of £227.50pp, they will correctly reject the claim. You can only claim the downgrade reimbursement after you have travelled.