NEWS: British Airways extend their book with confidence policy

65 comments

1. What about bookings made before 3 March but for travel after end August? I have flights to San Diego i need to cancel because the conference i was going to has been cancelled. Do i still get the voucher option?

   1. Not currently. It could be extended again so personally I would wait until nearer the time.

2. OMG my booking for August was made before 3 March. I was told yesterday my only option was to pay £300 per person to cancel. So that’s what I did for 4 people. I paid £1,200 to cancel. If I had waited one day I could have had a voucher for the full price.

   1. Really sorry to hear that. At the moment if you are not entitled to a voucher or refund it’s best to leave it as late as possible. It could be worth calling them again?

      1. Thanks Michele but I think on reflection I’m glad I cancelled without having to accept a voucher. It was a costly and hasty decision but I think I’m better off with some money back rather than being stuck with a voucher as I don’t usually fly with BA and I would have struggled to find anything suitable.

         At least I can watch things unfold now without worrying about my own flights.

         Great news for everyone else with BA flights though.

         My next expensive flights are in November to Australia with Cathay Pacific – I shall hold tight and see what happens!

         1. That could be an interesting one depending on what they decide about opening up.

3. Are both parts definitely published on the Travel Trade site? HFP are just confirming the part about the Book With Confidence for new bookings rather than mentioning that pre-March bookings can now be cancelled for August. Thanks for the info!

   1. Yes I have seen both. It should updated shortly on BA.com.

4. If I make an Avios booking now for February and then change my mind about going can I cancel and get everything back and avoid the £35 fee?

5. Michele – if you accept a voucher and your booking was a cash plus GUF2, do you simply lose the GUF2 and get a voucher for the cash component? Likewise with Avios and a 2 for 1 – do you get this carried over?

   Or is that only on cancellatio by BA?

   1. No a voucher is literally an exact copy of your booking including any vouchers like GUF or 2-4-1

6. Michele, you keep saying that South Arica is not opening until February 2021, this is not correct and you are seriously damaging the tourism industry down here. We have had very few deaths and have moved to a level now that is allowing domestic flights between the major cities in SA. I am booked on a flight from Cape Town to London on the 4th July as BA is planning on a direct flight every other day. I may find that I need to go via Johannesburg but we are certainly hoping that international travel will start for business in July and Tourism in September.

   1. Hi. I am happy to write something saying you will open sooner if you can point me to something official that says that. In my articles I have not said that South Africa are opening at any particular point just that they may not open until February as that is the only official thing I have seen which was the proposed roadmap.

7. Hi,

   I have just looked at the BA site regarding cancellation policy and it’s still the same as before (permitted as long as the travel is completed by 31.12.2020):
   “You can change the dates and destination of your booking without incurring a change fee, although you will need to pay any difference in price (applies to bookings made from 3 March until 31 July 2020 for journeys that are due to have been completed by 31 December 2020).”

   1. Yes they have not updated it yet. I expect it to be done today. They have sent out the announcement to the travel trade and the call centre should also know if you ring them

8. Hi Michele
   Just a question on the voucher for new bookings please, if I booked a trip now for the beginning of April but then decided to cancel, how long would the voucher be valid for? I assume they would also issue a voucher if you cancel whilst having only paid a deposit?

   1. My husband and I have a booking made last January to fly to Capetown in the coming November,if we want and see if BA cancel the flight are we entitled to change the date free of charges.Thanks

      1. Sadly you are not currently covered by book with confidence. If BA cancel they would give you a chance to change the dates or take a refund or voucher. You could potentially change the dates anyway as it depends on what fare you booked. You should be able to get a price through manage my booking online. If the flight went ahead and you did not want to travel you could potentially claim on travel insurance if against an FCO warning.

9. Hi I,m due to go on holiday in September to Mauritius. I booked it last year but now wish to cancel, is this possible

10. Michele,you are potentially saying we cannot change our flight if BA cancel it,we are flying Premier Economy
    This seems unfair,as it is not our fault if THEY cancel.

    1. I think you misunderstood. If BA cancel then it is fine, you get your money back or you can change it to another date. If the flight still operates then unless you booked after 3 March, then you are solely governed by the conditions of the ticket. This may allow you to change for a fee or not.

11. Thank you Michele.Sorry bout the misunderstanding?

12. Hi
    Just read that uk citizens now require a visa to enter South Africa,what do you know about this?
    Thank you

    1. You will need a visa to enter South Africa. Border restrictions have been strictly applied and the South African authorities have only been granting visas in exceptional circumstances. Basically only S African nationals allowed entry. Once the borders reopen I would expect this to change.

13. Thank you,MichelleI am a little confused as you say visa are only issued exceptional circumstances..what would these be.??

    1. Things like a family emergency such as death, serious illness. Definitely not tourists.

14. Another question my husband is Spanish how would he go about a visa????

    1. Have a look at the FCO page.

15. So as a tourist,one does not need a visa???Thanks

    1. No that’s not what I am saying. The country is effectively closed to everyone currently apart from a very small minority of people. Tourists will not be allowed entry unless they qualify for one of the reasons for getting a visa. I would not expect to travel to S Africa in the next few months.

16. Thank you.it is clear now?

17. We booked with a travel agent online,but it is IMPOSSIBLE to contact them ,left messages through their website ,sat at the telephone for nearly two hours…nothing!!!! From what I can gather,any changes have to be made through them,not on the BA website…is this correct? ?

    1. Yes sadly BA aren’t usually able to change travel agent tickets. Have you tried social media?

18. No,do not really use social media what do you suggest,please.
    Thank you
    Cate

19. Hi Michelle
    Had email from BA today ,to tell us they have changed time of flights, Heathrow/Capetown and the return flight.
    Will the tickets numbers remain the same.? Although I honestly think they will be cancelled altogether unless South Africa open the borders
    Also do you know if Face Shields can be used in place of a mask which will prove very uncomfortable on a very long flight.
    Thank you
    All the best
    Cate

    1. Yes the ticket numbers will be the same. Highly likely to will br cancelled or you will not be able to enter anyway. Technically you should wear a mask but if you have a condition that prevents you wearing a mask you could pay a face shield.

20. Thank you Michelle,
    I hope I can wear a face shield as I find it difficult to breath with a mask.No I don’t think we will be flying in
    November, either.Very disappointing as we were to have gone January 2019 and two weeks before ,I became ill and could not go. And now look what has happened, unbelievable!!! It is my homeland and so want to see my family again.
    But worse things happen so should not complain
    Take care
    Cate

21. Hi Michelle
    Went onto BA website to check how things are going only to find our Manchester to Heathrow flight has been cancelled..but.. not the return flight,how can a domestic be cancelled.On top of that ,shouldn’t our travel agent have let us know,? You are going to advise me to get in touch with them..impossible…you cannot even access ones booking on their website..it is very stressful? Can BA not help,although I find them rather hopeless too!!

    1. When you say you can’t access your booking online do you mean on the travel agents site? If so, I would try BA’s manage my booking. It should allow you to access the booking and it may allow you to rebook a different flight. Flights are being constantly cancelled due to lack of demand but it is very likely there is another flight that day that you could book onto. If it doesn’t work on BA.com then your only option is the travel agent. If they have social media that is worth a try. Which agent is it?

22. Hello Michelle,
    After my last post I rang TravelUp,the travel agents and ACTUALLY got to speak to someone,he booked me a replacement flight to Heathrow in place of the cancelled one.I told him that I cannot access my booking on their website,he tried it too and couldn’t, said he didn’t understand why.I asked him to send me confirmation, of the new flight , as yet ,not received.I have just been on the BA website and it is not showing there,still marked as cancelled.Aren’t the travel agents supposed to inform them of the replacement flight ???
    Talk about stressed out….and probably at the end of the day ,it will be all cancelled if South Africa will not open up.
    I would not worry so much if had a decent travel agent,with whom one can rely on.

    BTW,BA said to contact agency on the website

    Enjoy the rest of your day
    Cate

    1. It can take 24 hours to show on BA.com. If it has a different reservation number you will need to enter it again.

23. Hi Michelle,
    Still having trouble communicating with Travelup, did not receive confirmation of changed flight and also is not showing up on the BA site,still shows as Cancelled. There does not seem to be any interaction between Travelup and the airline at all.I cannot get the booking up on Travelup, it is hopeless and really don’t know what my best option is,to wait until BA cancel the whole booking or to change it now.South Africa is now at Phrase 2 ,so being optimistic, hope they might open their border by end of November….hoping!!!
    Do you think if I ring BA they may be able to advise me
    Thank you .Stay safe

24. Hi Michelle
    Regards to the flight Manchester to Heathrow which BA cancelled ,it still shows the same.Rang BA but of no use.They know nothing about the flight that Travelup gave me to replace it.
    So ,what if we book a flight with ,say,Easyjet to Heathrow, then use our E-Ticket for the rest of our journey
    But,I seem to remember being told ,one cannot do that
    Can you advise me please
    Regards
    Catherine

25. Hi Michelle ,
    Finally got things sorted after numerous phone calls
    Had a look at the forms one needs if going to South Africa…..very confusing!!!!

    Then I saw this: “On your day of departure, please do not go directly to OR Tambo International Airport. You will need to report at an assembly point between 06:00 and 08:30.

    The assembly point address is: Garden Court Hotel, OR Tambo International Airport, 2 Hulley Road Isando Ext. 3, Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa”

    We are not going to Jo’Burg but to Capetown ????

    I am beginning to think it is not the worth the hassle but people will be disappointed. Plus I believe it is virtually impossible to get ones money back and don’t really want vouchers as that means one has to use BA…am I right in thinking this?
    All the best
    Catherine

    1. Yes you need to use it on BA but it can get anything you book through BA which includes codeshares, holidays etc. I thought South Africa’s Border’s are closed except to residents?

26. Yes,they are still closed and we are keeping a close eye on things.
    We are certain they will not be open by November but as we have a terrible travel agent cannot rely on the to keep us up to date with things.
    Have a nice weekend and take care
    CATE

27. Hi Michelle,
    So SA are FINALLY opening their borders to some countries ,which ,as yet unknown to me.
    On reading it says one has to have a COVID-19 PCR ,taken 72 hrs prior to travel ,I assume by one’s doctor, ??
    Maybe a bit awkward for us as we are supposed to travel on a Monday (surgery closed over weekend),
    We are seriously considering cancelling as everything is so complicated,but if the flight does go ahead,we will lose our money.??
    I know things could change between now and November.
    Will TRY and get hold of our agent but do not hold my breath as to being able to.
    What do you know about this ,which countries etc,
    Thank you

    Regards
    CATE

    1. No country specific information has been announced. You have to get a private test. There was an article yesterday with discount codes through BA. Private testing works 7 days a week. Yes if you chose not to travel you potentially lose your money if it wasn’t within the period of the book with confidence guarantee. Have a look at the BA Covid page. It gives all the information there.

28. Hi.
    What exactly is this “book with confidence “,could you explain it please.
    We booked last January, so you are saying we will lose our money because we did.I would have thought it would be people.who are silly enough to have booked after the Covid-19 began.
    I have seen the BA info. On their website.
    And I am absolutely fuming !!!
    Regards
    Cate

    1. Book with confidence was a way to make people book new trips as no one wanted to book as everything is so uncertain. That’s why it covers later bookings not earlier ones.

29. Hi again,
    Just looked at th City Doc on BA website £93 each!!
    Followed the link where one has to choose their destination country and it says South Africa does not require the test.”.South Africa No”.. believe me I am really puzzled why it says one thing and elsewhere another.
    Regards
    Cate

    1. That’s because it has only just been announced and the country is not actually open yet! It will be updated I’m sure.

30. So how do we stand if our flight is cancelled?…
    Thank you Michelle

    1. you can get a cash refund or voucher

31. Thank you Michelle
    We shall reschedule if need be.
    Take care
    Cate

32. Hi Michelle
    Hope you are keeping well.
    So South Africa opens its borders tomorrow for some countries.
    These are ,at the moment,hypothetical questions.
    Will we need visas for 3 week stay?
    Also,this Covid-19 test one may have to have before travelling is causing us some stress as it has to be done ,at home,72 hrs before travel.We are supposed to fly on Monday, the 72 hours brings us to the prior Friday,how can we possibly get the results in time???? Or can we apply for it a bit earlier?
    Have tried ringing the City Doc,which BA has recommended, with a discount,but after one goes through the options ,it rings ,then cuts off,impossible to get to speak to someone to get any info.the same goes for another clinic we tried.
    Never have we known it to be so difficult !!
    Is there anything you can advise us please
    Thank you
    Regards

    1. Should get clarity from S Africa today. At present you would not get a visa as they are only giving them to UK in exceptional circumstances but the announcement could change that. There are lots of Covid testing companies that can do it in that time frame but they are expensive. I would email City Doc for an answer.

33. Thank you Michelle.

34. Hi Michelle
    Good news..sorted about the Covid-19 test for travel.
    Now am confused about the visa ,first I read from the UK one doesn’t need one only for long stay.to South Africa Then in the next breath one does need for even just for vacation??????
    Confusion all round!!!
    Cate
    Of course this is all hypothetical at the moment.

35. Hi Michelle,
    I am hoping you can help me, Rules are changing by the minute, causing confusion. Do we need a visa for our three weeks stay in Capetown ?
    I know about the Passenger Locator .
    But I saw a couple of weeks or so ago, two documents needed to exit South Africa,one was,I think,a health statement ,it was green and another form that had to be sent to some office ,I should have downloaded them at the time,but now I cannot find them.
    Do you know anything about this,please.?
    Thank you
    Cate

    1. You need to contact the South African embassy in the UK. I am not able to advise on whether you need a visa. However, my last information was that you need one and can only get them in exceptional circumstances. I highly advise you to consult official sources for this sort of information. The FCDO page is also a good source of accurate information. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/entry-requirements

36. THANK YOU,MICHELLE

37. Hi Michelle

    I am reading all sorts of contradictory info. about travel to South Africa .Can you tell me the very latest on this,as far as I can see UK is banned from entry.
    Regards
    Cate

    1. Yes it is banned.

38. Thank you ,Michelle. Take care?

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