Flight refund

Pinkcatz61

Hi Forumites,

This is my first ever post so please be kind if I've got anything wrong.

I'm looking for some advice. My relationship has sadly recently broken down which has thrown me into financial hardship. I have a trip planned in Sept for which I've been able to get a refund on the accommodation. The flights are with BA and I have a friend who is willing to buy them from me if we could get them transferred. But when I rang BA 'customer service' I was given a cold hard "your flights are non-refundable and non-transferable, those are the rules" and then silence. Totally unhelpful and left me reeling if I'm honest.

I really need the money back to be able to now pay household bills as a newly single Mum. Has anyone experienced this and can give any advice please?

eskbanker

It's a bit of a long shot but worth checking through the paperwork you were given on booking to check that BA are correct in their assertion that the tickets are non-transferable, but if they are, then that's exactly what it means and they're unlikely to make any concessions, except for matters like bereavement perhaps.

Humphreyshalfmoon

I wish I had good news, but the reality is the vast majority of scheduled tickets are sold as non refundable and non changeable. You need to check the email you had confirming the flights, the fare rules should appear there but don't get your hopes up. This is one time when booking a proper package holiday as opposed to flights and accommodation separately would have helped as the law allows package holidays to be transferred. Good luck!

Woodstok2000

BA flight only bookings are non-transferable, not helpful but those are the rules. You can cancel the ticket and you may get something back (e.g. the APD) but it may not be much and there might also be admin fees to pay.

If you have premium travel insurance it may offer cancellation cover for any reason?

NoodleDoodleMan

BA as a commercial business are adhering to the terms and conditions of the contract entered into - as above, that is the legal reality unfortunately.

Obtaining a refund on the accommodation is good news - many such bookings don't allow this.

Caz3121

No name changes / transfers is common with non-Low Cost Carriers it is not just BA

Had the flights been with a low cost carrier like EasyJet or Ryanair than name changes are possible for a fee

Unless you can find someone with the same name as you wanting to use the tickets to the same destination on the same dates then the flights are lost.

BA do sell refundable tickets but usually they are very expensive and I suspect very few people buy them