BA Voucher - I booked in Feb 2020

anotherday1974

I have a flight booked to leaving the UK on 26th December 2020. I booked this in Feb 2020. I can no longer travel due to work changes caused by the Coronavirus. 

If I booked after 3 March 2020, then I could apply for a voucher. Unfortunately, I booked in February.

I definitely cannot fly now even if travel restrictions are lifted (unlikely).

What should I do?

(1) Should I wait and hope my flight is cancelled?
(2) Contact BA asking for a voucher even though I booked in Feb 2020?

I have the following questions:

(1) I don't understand why March customers can get vouchers and February ones appear to be ineligible?
(2) If travel restrictions are lifted and I don't have a voucher. Will my travel insurance cover me, because I cannot travel due to work commitment changes outside of my control caused by the virus?

I work at a university and they have shifted the term dates. Effectively everything has been shifted forward 3 weeks and this makes my holiday impossible!

Thanks, Richard.

Ps. I purchased an annual Nationwide travel insurance policy in February 2020, so before we knew about severity of the virus.

Mrsn

ok I don’t think you’re going to like the answer but here’s what I think is likely.

I don’t believe flights to the USA will be cancelled by December 2020, the date you are due to fly is 7 months away so much (and I’m hoping for the better) will have changed by that point! So you hoping on them cancelling the flight is very slim in my opinion.

Those who have been offered vouchers will be to do with them taking a gamble by booking flights in the first place in March when everything was really cracking off. 

I would think that despite the circumstances of why you can’t travel it will come under the disinclination to travel and therefore wouldn’t be covered. I would however double check your policy just incase.

Have you you paid for the flight outright or on a flexible basis.

anotherday1974

Unfortunately I paid outright (non-refundable)!

It is such a shame I cannot apply for a voucher. I wonder the benefit of travel insurance sometimes, since it would be impossible for me to go due to new work commitments caused by the virus. As you say, it depends on the small print.

I have noticed I can change the date on my non-refundable flight, but I would want to change the date to 26 Dec 2021, but this flight is naturally not listed yet! Could I do two date changes maybe?  So change the date in July 2020 and then again once the December 2021 flight becomes available!

Can BA customer service have any flexibility over the issue of a voucher? 

rosiesposies

I have flights booked for august which were booked in Jan. I called and they offered to waive the fee if i changed dates anyway even though outside the current policy of July 31 2020 (which i agree is ridiculous - covering people who booked knowing about the virus but penalizing the ones who didn't) but if i cancelled i wouldn't be entitled to a voucher as the flights are still leaving LHR each day even in the current climate. 
If you are in a position to change dates and keep the flights I would try that route; the only issue you may have is that you must travel within a year of your original dates. I also managed to get my Exec club status extended by a year on the same call- which was also confirmed in a follow up email in the event system says no. All in all Ive had no trouble with BA, but they are difficult to get through to, which is understandable. 

anotherday1974

Thanks for the advice. I think I will try and phone when I have time! I would be happy to move my flight by one year to 26 Dec 2021. I might have a problem, since these flights are not listed yet! 

The easiest solution would be the issuing of a voucher, but as you say, it is odd why the customers without knowledge of the virus are treated less flexibly!