Using BA travel vouchers

worriedwoman_2

I had a holiday booked with BA for May.  I had paid £570 towards this and the balance was due on 8th April.  BA had not then cancelled the flights.  The day before the balance was due I thought I had better cancel the holiday as I didn't want to risk losing the money I had paid so far and did not want to pay the additional £3200.   I cancelled the holiday and  was told by BA that I had to accept a travel voucher. 
I am not happy about this but I have another holiday booked with BA for November 2020 and have so far just paid the £200 deposit.  I have contacted BA and asked them to use my £570 travel voucher to pay towards the holiday I booked for November (I don't even know if this will still go ahead). 
BA replied to say "Good morning, The voucher cannot be used on existing bookings I am afraid.  The voucher provided can be used towards a new British Airways Holiday or British Airways flight only."
This is ridiculous, my husband is unable to work at the moment as he is a London cabbie, so we have hardly any money coming in.  As if I am now in a position to book ANOTHER holiday?  I don't understand why BA are doing this, they have my money and are refusing to refund it and say I can only use it to book yet another holiday?
Can anyone please advise me on what I can do?  I only booked the two holidays with BA as they had such good offers this year as it's their 100 year anniversary.
Many thanks 

Browntoa

Your options are limited now I'm afraid.

Travel insurance won't pay out as you accepted a voucher.

Credit card will also refuse a section 75 for the same reason.

Small claims court will also fail as you accepted a voucher.

You could book a holiday with them for the earliest available date and let them cancel that and refund using the new RCN voucher scheme which gives you the option to get cash back down the line . Bit risky if it actually goes ahead

Aylesbury_Duck

To be honest, I think you've done well to get a voucher for a deposit on a holiday you voluntarily cancelled.  Have a look around on the forum.  One of the most commonly asked questions is: "Should I pay the rest of my balance or cancel and forfeit my deposit?"

You've actually managed to cancel and have been able to keep your deposit, albeit in voucher form.  What do your booking terms say about cancellations and returns of your deposit?  If BA could have kept the deposit, you've got a great deal from them.  If the terms say you can cancel and receive a refund of all monies paid, then that's what you're entitled to but in the current climate, you're unlikely to get it anytime soon.

Peteris01

Watch out!
I accepted a BA voucher and wanted to use part of it and save the rest for later but was told once I used the voucher the balance would expire 1 year from that date  not April 2022 as perthe original voucher so useless to try and save for next summer!
No where does it mention this so avoid BA vouchers!

waynedooley

Is anyone else experiencing difficulty in booking a new flight using a voucher issued due to covid related cancellations? I am told I have to speak to someone - but get the feeling that is not going to happen.