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

mopezone

Butts said:

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 ?

Newcastle to Seattle August - September 21 - as advised here, I added the first night's hotel and it clearly showed that it was a BA package holiday, but on the payment page it was clearly requiring the full £3k

Butts

mopezone said:

Butts said:

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 ?

Newcastle to Seattle August - September 21 - as advised here, I added the first night's hotel and it clearly showed that it was a BA package holiday, but on the payment page it was clearly requiring the full £3k

That's interesting, I wonder if they have canned the low deposits due to extending the fly with confidence guarantee indefinitely ? 

Have you tried booking it as a Holiday rather than adding a Hotel onto flights ?

mopezone

Butts said:

mopezone said:

Butts said:

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 ?

Newcastle to Seattle August - September 21 - as advised here, I added the first night's hotel and it clearly showed that it was a BA package holiday, but on the payment page it was clearly requiring the full £3k

That's interesting, I wonder if they have canned the low deposits due to extending the fly with confidence guarantee indefinitely ? 

Have you tried booking it as a Holiday rather than adding a Hotel onto flights ?

I shall have a go and report back :-)

Retiredwelshman

At the moment think of travel companies as a Ponzi scheme.
They need new bookings to pay back older ones.

Personally won't be booking anything (including UK) until Covid has been kicked a hell of a long way down the road.
When IMO it is safe to travel I for one will not pay for travel many months in advance.

Thrugelmir

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,

There's plenty of countries who have operated restricted entry for some months now. 

rosiesposies

mopezone said:

Butts said:

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 ?

Newcastle to Seattle August - September 21 - as advised here, I added the first night's hotel and it clearly showed that it was a BA package holiday, but on the payment page it was clearly requiring the full £3k

You must book through Ba holidays webpage and not search and select flights then add a hotel at the end of the booking. 

mopezone

rosiesposies said:

mopezone said:

Butts said:

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 ?

Newcastle to Seattle August - September 21 - as advised here, I added the first night's hotel and it clearly showed that it was a BA package holiday, but on the payment page it was clearly requiring the full £3k

You must book through Ba holidays webpage and not search and select flights then add a hotel at the end of the booking. 

Yes, this is correct, I finally got there - it was a bit of a saga, but ultimately I have over £3000 worth of BA flights and accommodation secured for August, and only paid a £400 deposit - and BA's COVID policy means that I can cancel up to 3 weeks before departure, for ANY reason, and receive a voucher for the £400 valid at BA for travel up to 30/04/2022. I don't actually think that's a bad deal for anybody who can afford the up-front £400 and is optimistic enough to think that we may be able to travel by August 2021! 
Thanks to all the people who responded to my OP! I'm a happy bunny, as I COULD be going to Seattle in August!

rosiesposies

Got 4 of the same bookings myself. Here’s going one goes ahead! 

silvercar

All future travel vouchers and evouchers have now been extended to fly by 30 April 2023.