BA flight booked to Cyprus 3 May - island locked down until 30 April. Can i get refund?

Laurieg

We booked last year with BA to fly to Cyprus on 3 May 2020.  The island , (and FCO), have advised no travel up to 30 April when it will be reviewed.  It is highly unlikely that anything will change but since that is not official where do I stand?  BA say do not contact them unless travelling within 72 hours, (so I am stopped there).  Am I being unreasonable to take the approach that I should be able to cancel, with a full refund, rather than keep all bookings, (accommodation, cars etc), with the associated problems it causes to the vendors.  It seems I am in an impossible situation.

bradders1983

Until the closure is lifted on the 30th April, or extended, you stand nowhere. It is weeks away. You are not a priority for the airline. Do nothing yet.

Westin

You are of course free to cancel at any point, but doing so you would be under normal booking conditions. 

As bradders1983 says, you need to play the waiting game at the moment.  I suspect the FCO travel advisories will be extended but until they are you really cannot do much other than ensuring your contact details are up to date in MMB on BA.com and monitor the website for changes to cancellation/change options.

Laurieg

I suspected that.  The 30 April is the Thursday before we fly on the Sunday so is 1 working day to act.  I can see vendors getting really stroppy and miffed.  Not a good atmosphere to negotiate in and probably too late to cancel hotels at the airport etc.

bradders1983

It wont be one day to act, if they are extending things they arent just going to suddenty decide to do it on the 30th.

Westin

Laurieg said:

I suspected that.  The 30 April is the Thursday before we fly on the Sunday so is 1 working day to act.  I can see vendors getting really stroppy and miffed.  Not a good atmosphere to negotiate in and probably too late to cancel hotels at the airport etc.

I think vendors will be understanding. Unhappy and worried, but understanding of the situation.

If you do have elements of your holiday which can be dismantled at this point without penalties then personally I would be doing that now.  I feel most could be booked again should then ban be lifted, but realistically IMO that is unlikely to happen.  Even if you booked non-refundable items, now might be the time to review published waivers on suppliers websites to see what your recovery position might be.  Be prepared that this might be a credit offered as a gesture of goodwill by the supplier.  

sarah1972

I am booked to go to Cyprus with BA on the 9th of May, my friends in Cyprus are keeping me in the loop but its really looking like it will be extended past 30th April so we just have to play the waiting game. 

It won't be left to the last minute as staff are getting 60% salary from the government and hotels will have to get staff back, get supplies in etc ... I suspect it will change sometime in April. 

You can get a voucher now from BA though if you choose to cancel now for all travel up to the 30th of May.