Are British Airways playing a waiting game?

rolls636363

We were due to fly to Florida on 2nd November this year and have flights booked with BA.  I am due to pay the remainder of the cost by 12th October.  They still haven't cancelled our flights.  I see that the UK Gov site advises against all but essential travel to the US.   When do they need to cancel our flights by?  Do they have a minimum amount of time.  My guess is that they are looking for me to pay them the rest of the money so that they have it in their bank and not mine.  
With the current situation, there is no way we are going or paying them any more money.  Anyone have any ideas as to where I stand on this?   The deposit so far is £300.  Am I going to end up writing this sum off?
Thanks in advance.  Any advice is most welcome

silvercar

Phone up and ask for a delay in paying the balance.
Under normal circumstances they would need to cancel 2 weeks before, to avoid having to pay compensation under EU legislation. It is accepted that we don't live in normal times and therefore no compensation would be due if they cancelled nearer to the date.
Travel insurance is a possibility, depending on when you booked.

NoodleDoodleMan

"With the current situation, there is no way we are going or paying them any more money."

Have you read up on the relevant T's & C's ?

If you default on payments then BA have a case to claim you have broken the contract - and you'll lose the deposits.

The chances of flying to the USA in November are almost zero, and Florida is one of the worst states for the pandemic.

I believe many of the tourist attractions there have closed down, or are on very restricted operations.

rolls636363

Thanks for your replies, I will try ringing them again.  I have tried already but the line cuts you off at the end saying too much demand try again later

rolls636363

Well, I eventually got through and the lady said that the flight was still going for essential workers.  I advised her that it was for a holiday and not essential travel so she advised me to cancel the flight booking.  I then said " If I cancel I will lose my deposit" and she hung up on me at the first sign of an awkward question.
I guess thats BA for you.   Great customer service

NoodleDoodleMan

You could always email the  head honcho !!!

alex.cruz@ba.com

Tel. 0208 738 5050

If this doesn't work - please don't shoot the messenger !!! 

rolls636363

NoodleDoodleMan said:

You could always email the  head honcho !!!

alex.cruz@ba.com

Tel. 0208 738 5050

If this doesn't work - please don't shoot the messenger !!! 

I will keep it as a last resort lol.
After some more calling and perseverance I got through to someone helpful.  Apparently I have to ring up on the day to the holidays section as they can only cancel 3 weeks before as they are hanging on to see what the government advice is.  So, the answer to my original question was are they playing a waiting game, I think thats a yes lol.   I will try on the 12th to get it sorted and will post up the result.  If it helps any other people sort theirs out easier its worth it

NoodleDoodleMan

The waiting game makes sense from the airline's perspective, they can't afford premature (as they see it) cancellations.

TUI did this with us in respect of flights and accommodation to the Canaries leaving 12th October.

They were working on a rolling cancellations basis as flight dates got closer - hoping the Foreign Office would change their travel advice and give a green light for flights etc.

They issued the cancellation heads up notice about 10 days ago, and refunded in total quickly.

I have no idea what timescale delay BA are operating before they decide to pull flights - maybe there are some more educated watchers on the forum ?

silvercar

NoodleDoodleMan said:

I have no idea what timescale delay BA are operating before they decide to pull flights - maybe there are some more educated watchers on the forum ?

Avid watcher here as I have expensive long haul flights booked for early November.
There seems to be 2 stages, early on in the month the following month's flights are planned. Then there seems to be a second tranche of cancellations right at the end of the previous month.
So travelling early in the month has its disadvantages. 
BA Holidays is a travel agent that provides BA flights in packages, they seem to be better at agreeing cancellations even when the flights are still flying.

NoodleDoodleMan

Interesting summary.

The OP is scheduled to depart 2nd Nov. - so end of previous month cancellation notice is not what customers want to hear.

bagand96

You say you have paid a deposit and have a balance to pay, is this a British Airways Holidays booking? Usually BA flights you pay when you book. 

If it is a BA Holidays booking, reports from at least one poster on this forum are that they have been very good in allowing customers to cancel for a refund.