We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Ongoing Flight voucher challenge following cancelled flight in 2020 as a result of COVID
Options
SharonO23
Posts: 2 Newbie
Dear All,
I am not sure where I stand and it maybe that nothing can be done however, in Nov 2019 I booked flights for myself and 2 children to Africa. I was taking my children on a holiday of a lifetime trip. I booked British Airways flights through a travel agent called The Flight Office. We were due to Fly in July 2020 but of course, it was at this time a series of lockdowns occurred in various countries. In June 2020 we were told our internal flights (Precision Air) across Africa were cancelled so we could get into Africa but were not able to get across the country and no reliable option of getting back out of the country. I checked with BA regularly to see if they were still going to fly and unfortunately, the outbound flight went. 48 hours before the flight departed I had made the decision not to go on our holiday because we could not get to our internal destination and may not have been able to get home again. I was able to get a full refund for the internal flights but BA via The Flight Office, gave vouchers. This would be OK except it seems impossible to spend them! I have tried for 2 years to spend them. It seems to take weeks for BA to get back to The Flight Office with confirmation by which time I have had to change plans. Last year I tried to spend them on flights to Turkey. The direct cost with BA was a total of £2,800 but going through the Flight Office I was informed that BA wanted to change an extra £860 per person (£2500) on top of my £2,400 voucher! Naturally I had to decline that also and was not given a reason as to why the direct BA price vs Flight Office price were so different. I have until Sept 2023 to spend the voucher or loose it :-(
I thought I would post here on the off chance that I can get some advice as to wether or not I can get my money back or do I have to try again this year to spend the voucher without paying a fortune on top of the value of the voucher.
Much thanks
Sharon
I am not sure where I stand and it maybe that nothing can be done however, in Nov 2019 I booked flights for myself and 2 children to Africa. I was taking my children on a holiday of a lifetime trip. I booked British Airways flights through a travel agent called The Flight Office. We were due to Fly in July 2020 but of course, it was at this time a series of lockdowns occurred in various countries. In June 2020 we were told our internal flights (Precision Air) across Africa were cancelled so we could get into Africa but were not able to get across the country and no reliable option of getting back out of the country. I checked with BA regularly to see if they were still going to fly and unfortunately, the outbound flight went. 48 hours before the flight departed I had made the decision not to go on our holiday because we could not get to our internal destination and may not have been able to get home again. I was able to get a full refund for the internal flights but BA via The Flight Office, gave vouchers. This would be OK except it seems impossible to spend them! I have tried for 2 years to spend them. It seems to take weeks for BA to get back to The Flight Office with confirmation by which time I have had to change plans. Last year I tried to spend them on flights to Turkey. The direct cost with BA was a total of £2,800 but going through the Flight Office I was informed that BA wanted to change an extra £860 per person (£2500) on top of my £2,400 voucher! Naturally I had to decline that also and was not given a reason as to why the direct BA price vs Flight Office price were so different. I have until Sept 2023 to spend the voucher or loose it :-(
I thought I would post here on the off chance that I can get some advice as to wether or not I can get my money back or do I have to try again this year to spend the voucher without paying a fortune on top of the value of the voucher.
Much thanks
Sharon
0
Comments
-
If you were given vouchers when choosing not to travel then it's highly unlikely that they'd buy them back from you for cash, and they're under no obligation to do so.
If buying through an agent is more expensive than buying direct then ask the agent why they're charging more....1 -
Short answer is no, you're not entitled to your money back. No harm in asking, but they don't have to buy them back from you.1
-
What are the T&Cs of the voucher?
Having a company issue a voucher but then want twice the normal price to use those vouchers seems unfair.
Let's Be Careful Out There0 -
Who are the vouchers with? Are you only able to redeem them through the Flight Office rather than directly with BA?1
-
Thats a good question! I don't have visibility of the vouchers. I have an email stating that I have vouchers but no physical visibility of them. Everything is done over email but I think based on your comment, I shall ask for T&Cs. ThanksHillStreetBlues said:What are the T&Cs of the voucher?
Having a company issue a voucher but then want twice the normal price to use those vouchers seems unfair.0 -
As the flight was not cancelled deciding not go was disinclination to travel. You are not due a refud as the vouchers are a goodwill gesture only.
0 -
Were the flights (BA & Precision Air) booked at the same time via The Flight Office?
Let's Be Careful Out There1
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 350.7K Banking & Borrowing
- 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.4K Spending & Discounts
- 243.6K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 256.8K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards