Flights to Spain in Sept - BA saying we have to go

laurieballard999

Hi

So we booked flights to Alicante in November 2019 for September 2020, the flight is still scheduled and according to BA we are not entitled to a refund or voucher  unless the Government advice changes again between now and September.

I am happy for a voucher or to move the flight to June 2021 but BA are saying you can we can only move the flights unto a year from the original booking date, not the actual date of the flight which is useless to us as going to Spain in October/November is pointless.

I realise legally I have little recourse here but we just don't feel comfortable going away this year with what is going on. We are staying at her parents house and the shared pool is closed as they cannot feasibly social distance apparently and would imagine a lot of things are not going to be open. Being crammed on a plane with all the other people is not something we want right now and its hardly going to be an enjoyable holiday with everything going on.

Are there any other avenues to explore? I paid via Amex credit card like I always do and we have travel insurance via our bank which was taken out well before this kicked off.
Thanks

TELLIT01

Unfortunately if you fail to fly you will be judged a 'no show' and will have no right to a refund.  BA are working within their terms and conditions so I wouldn't expect your credit card to refund either.  Travel insurance will consider it a 'disinclination to travel' so they won't pay out either.

BA might be willing to extend the voucher validity period if you pressure them enough.

laurieballard999

TELLIT01 said:

Unfortunately if you fail to fly you will be judged a 'no show' and will have no right to a refund.  BA are working within their terms and conditions so I wouldn't expect your credit card to refund either.  Travel insurance will consider it a 'disinclination to travel' so they won't pay out either.

BA might be willing to extend the voucher validity period if you pressure them enough.

I understand BA are not going to refund me unless the flight is cancelled. Im happy with a voucher or moving the flights to next year but they are unwilling to do this either, even if I had to pay a fee and the difference in cost.

The_Fat_Controller

Why can't you go in September as planned ?
Nobody can guarantee the situation will be any better next year !
BA are complying with their terms, so you have no grounds for complaint.

laurieballard999

The_Fat_Controller said:

Why can't you go in September as planned ?
Nobody can guarantee the situation will be any better next year !
BA are complying with their terms, so you have no grounds for complaint.

Well it was a family holiday. My nan is over 70 so riskier for her and my Wife dad is on pills which put him in the vunerable category so obviously they are reluctant to go at the moment. I guess we will just have to lose the money then if nothing can be done, her Dad cannot come with us as the risk is too great for him to take and if BA are not willing to extend when we can change the flights until then there is little we can do.

Might via Amex a call to see if they can do anything, they have always been helpful in the past.

To be honest, with people packing beaches and bars over the next few weeks, I would't be surprised if these Air Bridges suddenly get pulled back so I will just wait and see what happens nearer the time if Amex cannot do anything. 

bradders1983

Amex may have been helpful in the past but they are not going to agree with you on this one, and if they do a chargeback will end up failing anyway.

alwaysskint2020

Well BA for one are not saying that you have to go. They are merely saying that as yet you dont qualify for vouchers etc. So you have a few options- hang on for a bit and see if they extend the voucher scheme for Sept flights( was orginally June end now Aug end) , go on holiday minus the vulnerable people so you only lose their seats not everyone elses or bail  out and and get taxes back.

Voyager2002

Insurance?

It sounds as if the trip would be medically inadvisable for two members of the party, for reasons that could not have been known at the time of booking. That is the classic situation in which travel insurance kicks in.

Sharon87

I'm sure it's a year from the date of your flight as oppose to the booking - my brother changed his for a year later. I would keep on at BA as you booked the flight way in advance. If you booked it 11 months in advance, then what would they say? Keep on at BA - or the other option is to pay the change fee to change your flight if it's cheap enough as a last resort.

TELLIT01

Voyager2002 said:

Insurance?

It sounds as if the trip would be medically inadvisable for two members of the party, for reasons that could not have been known at the time of booking. That is the classic situation in which travel insurance kicks in.

Certainly a possibility, but only if the GP will issue a letter advising against travel.  Definitely a route worth investigating, assuming travel insurance was taken out.

NoodleDoodleMan

"My nan is over 70 so riskier for her and my Wife dad is on pills which put him in the vunerable category so obviously they are reluctant to go at the moment. I guess we will just have to lose the money then if nothing can be done, her Dad cannot come with us as the risk is too great for him to take and if BA are not willing to extend when we can change the flights until then there is little we can do."

Is this not a case where a medical certificate is required to confirm that the individual(s) is not fit to fly, which is then presented to the travel operator ?