Is it safe to book a British Airways flight returning after 31st August 2021?

Butts

bagand96 said:

As other's have said, these dates have been rolling, and moved a few times.  They have to set an end date though, at some point the flexibility will end.

If you're worried, another way to add a layer of protection is to make it a package by adding a hire car, or hotel.  Your booking would then be with BA Holidays, and you'd be protected under the Package Travel Regulations.  BA's have been very good in honoring their obligations under the PTRs.  You only need to add one nights accommodation (your first?) or even one day's car hire to qualify. 

This is the best advice and affords maximum protection - An FCO warning against all but essential Travel to your destination is enough to kick in a full refund and you only have to front up a small deposit with the balance being payable three weeks before travel.

Up to that point you can cancel for any reason and get your deposit back in the form of a Travel Voucher.

I have had at least eight BA Packages unable to go ahead in the last 6 Months and have had no problem obtaining a full refund of monies owing usually within days.

mopezone

Butts said:

bagand96 said:

As other's have said, these dates have been rolling, and moved a few times.  They have to set an end date though, at some point the flexibility will end.

If you're worried, another way to add a layer of protection is to make it a package by adding a hire car, or hotel.  Your booking would then be with BA Holidays, and you'd be protected under the Package Travel Regulations.  BA's have been very good in honoring their obligations under the PTRs.  You only need to add one nights accommodation (your first?) or even one day's car hire to qualify. 

This is the best advice and affords maximum protection - An FCO warning against all but essential Travel to your destination is enough to kick in a full refund and you only have to front up a small deposit with the balance being payable three weeks before travel.

Up to that point you can cancel for any reason and get your deposit back in the form of a Travel Voucher.

I have had at least eight BA Packages unable to go ahead in the last 6 Months and have had no problem obtaining a full refund of monies owing usually within days.

This sounds like a great idea - so if you simply add one night's hotel the booking automatically qualifies as a package holiday? You don't have to book through BA Holidays? And you can then cancel for any reason up to three weeks before departure, and receive the full value of your deposit back (as a travel voucher)?
Sounds too good to be true! 

rosiesposies

I always book ba as a holiday as butts suggests. Gives me the most flexibility and you can chop and change the ground product as you wish. Also means you book on deposit basis so you can cancel for voucher (in Covid times) plus normally get bonus avios and Avis perks. 

silvercar

BA have now abandoned the end of August restriction. All bookings are now covered by the 'book with confidence' promise. Future travel vouchers are still valid for travel to 30 April 2022.

Thrugelmir

silvercar said:

BA have now abandoned the end of August restriction. All bookings are now covered by the 'book with confidence' promise. Future travel vouchers are still valid for travel to 30 April 2022.

Not difficult to see more countries restricting travel and entry this year to combat the spread. 

silvercar

Thrugelmir said:

silvercar said:

BA have now abandoned the end of August restriction. All bookings are now covered by the 'book with confidence' promise. Future travel vouchers are still valid for travel to 30 April 2022.

Not difficult to see more countries restricting travel and entry this year to combat the spread. 

Agreed. I was just answering the OP that the date on book with confidence has been removed.
The UK will be top of the list of countries restricting travel/ entry, unless you consider a week+ in a Hounslow hotel room a fitting end to your holiday,

GingerTim

silvercar said:

Agreed. I was just answering the OP that the date on book with confidence has been removed.
The UK will be top of the list of countries restricting travel/ entry, unless you consider a week+ in a Hounslow hotel room a fitting end to your holiday,

Are those booking travel also setting aside c. £1,000 for compulsory hotel quarantine when they return, in case the the destination they are returning from is added to the list? (and assuming the country they travel to doesn't also require quarantine when coming from Plague Island).

mopezone

Butts said:

bagand96 said:

As other's have said, these dates have been rolling, and moved a few times.  They have to set an end date though, at some point the flexibility will end.

If you're worried, another way to add a layer of protection is to make it a package by adding a hire car, or hotel.  Your booking would then be with BA Holidays, and you'd be protected under the Package Travel Regulations.  BA's have been very good in honoring their obligations under the PTRs.  You only need to add one nights accommodation (your first?) or even one day's car hire to qualify. 

This is the best advice and affords maximum protection - An FCO warning against all but essential Travel to your destination is enough to kick in a full refund and you only have to front up a small deposit with the balance being payable three weeks before travel.

Up to that point you can cancel for any reason and get your deposit back in the form of a Travel Voucher.

I have had at least eight BA Packages unable to go ahead in the last 6 Months and have had no problem obtaining a full refund of monies owing usually within days.

My problem is that I've gone through to the payment page, and I am being required to pay the whole booking despite having added a night's hotel to the flight  - whereas I assumed that I would only have to pay a deposit?
Is this something that's changed, or have I missed a box somewhere that I needed to check??!!

mopezone

silvercar said:

Thrugelmir said:

silvercar said:

BA have now abandoned the end of August restriction. All bookings are now covered by the 'book with confidence' promise. Future travel vouchers are still valid for travel to 30 April 2022.

Not difficult to see more countries restricting travel and entry this year to combat the spread. 

Agreed. I was just answering the OP that the date on book with confidence has been removed.
The UK will be top of the list of countries restricting travel/ entry, unless you consider a week+ in a Hounslow hotel room a fitting end to your holiday,

I'm not so bothered about this, as I'm booking for an August>September trip when I hope that such restrictions will no longer apply!! And also trying to make sure that I can cancel and lose nothing if things are still as bad as they are right now!

Butts

mopezone said:

Butts said:

bagand96 said:

As other's have said, these dates have been rolling, and moved a few times.  They have to set an end date though, at some point the flexibility will end.

If you're worried, another way to add a layer of protection is to make it a package by adding a hire car, or hotel.  Your booking would then be with BA Holidays, and you'd be protected under the Package Travel Regulations.  BA's have been very good in honoring their obligations under the PTRs.  You only need to add one nights accommodation (your first?) or even one day's car hire to qualify. 

This is the best advice and affords maximum protection - An FCO warning against all but essential Travel to your destination is enough to kick in a full refund and you only have to front up a small deposit with the balance being payable three weeks before travel.

Up to that point you can cancel for any reason and get your deposit back in the form of a Travel Voucher.

I have had at least eight BA Packages unable to go ahead in the last 6 Months and have had no problem obtaining a full refund of monies owing usually within days.

My problem is that I've gone through to the payment page, and I am being required to pay the whole booking despite having added a night's hotel to the flight  - whereas I assumed that I would only have to pay a deposit?
Is this something that's changed, or have I missed a box somewhere that I needed to check??!!

When is the booking for and where are you going ?