British Airways

[brentwoodbaby]

Hi,

Firstly, this post is a first world, pretty self-indulgent, post and I know it so please don't remind me of the seriousness of the situation- I know, I'm sympathetic BUT, as is human nature, I'm naturally anxious about how it may affect me personally.

We are due to fly to Vancouver with BA on 31 July returning on 19 August. We booked the flights in January but haven't yet booked the car hire/accommodation/electronic visas so only the only liability presently is around £3,000 on the flights.

We're certain that the trip of a lifetime holiday we had planned - driving through BC/the rockies- won't be possible and would be more than happy to rearrange the flights for late December 2020 (the only time my husband and I can get more than 2 weeks off work at the same time as kids off school is Xmas and summer holidays) though obviously it's not clear if even then we'll be acting as 'normal' however BA are only extending free changes to those who booked after the start of March 2020.

My biggest worry is that flights will go ahead but we'll be required to self isolate for two weeks on arrival leaving us to fight with the insurance company about the fact that we can't reasonably be expected to travel in those circumstances.

I've never had to claim on travel insurance before. I wonder if any fellow Mumsnetters might be able to shed some light on where we stand or if it really is a waiting game?

TIA

We have flights booked as well, into California and out of Canada- again pretty much the same, only flights and some accommodation.

Also all booked pre corona, so should be covered with insurance? Hopefully

When did you book? Did you take out travel insurance at the time?

I booked around January, and always have travel insurance

Flights booked in January 2020; we have an annual multiple trip world wide travel insurance policy covering USA and Canada that was renewed on 31 August 2019.

I think the issue here is that if restrictions are lifted to allow flying, but not movement, then would insurance pay out if we didnt go?

Sorry Sussex, I was meaning brentwoodbaby. If she booked before COVID, and has good insurance, then she may not have a problem.

No problem @

OP, my insurance policy only covers me if the FCO advise against travelling to a particular place, or against any non-essential travel (as is the case now). In your situation it would depend on what the current FCO advice is when you are due to travel. So, if BA were operator the flight but the FCO are still advising against travel, I would be able to claim on my insurance.

I had a trip booked for 31 March. My insurance company refused to pay out as it was a package holiday and I was therefore legally entitled to a refund from the tour operator. However, the tour operator refused me a full refund! After weeks of arguing with the tour operator, I did manage to secure a full refund.

In your case OP, if the flight is cancelled then you would be entitled to a full refund from BA. The reports I have read suggest that BA have been one of the better companies and have been processing their refunds much more quickly than others.

Do you know what, unless you have dates very soon where money has to be paid (but I’m sure with BA that isn’t the case) I would just try not to worry about it right now. If BA cancel, you get your money back...if you cancel, you don’t.

Things are changing daily and who knows what the world will look like in 2 weeks time let alone 12 weeks time.

Think of your exit strategy so you know what to do in the event it’s cancelled, for instance: claim insurance, get money back off BA or lose deposits...but if I were you I’d wait and reassess in 4 - 6 weeks time.

what have the insurance company said?

Insurance company won't do anything at the moment- our policy states that we are covered if, at the time of travel, the FCO advise is all but essential travel so it could be that we have to wait for the day of our outbound flight to know if we're covered. If the advice changes the day before our flight departs we're either not covered or needing to book the rest of our trip in 24 hours- as I say we have no accommodation or onward transport booked at the moment and would be unwise to do so at the moment!

Some online searches have suggested that insurance companies may consider claims 30 days before planned departure so we will just sit tight for now and reassess at the end of June

so they had no advice about what to do if the FCO allows you to travel but you are made to quarantine on entry?

I suppose it's very easy to say "our insurance doesn't cover that" because it's so unusual.

I booked flights with BA in January for end of May/June. They contacted me a couple of weeks ago to cancel the outward flight (but not the return) and offering a voucher or to rebook the flight via their website.

Knowing my rights and wanting a full refund I didn’t apply online and instead had to phone the number. After a few days of not getting through I left it a week and then tried again and got through after being on hold for half an hour. They have now cancelled the return flight too and my refund will take around 3 weeks to be sent.

I would say sit tight for now until you hear from them because if they cancel you can get a refund.

Hope you get to do your trip at a later date; we did that one last year and it was amazing so definitely something to look forward to when restrictions are lifted.

Still no word from BA although they've now extended the policy of travel vouchers for travel up to and including 31 July for all bookings- not just those made after 3rd March.

We're going to sit tight until 01 July (30 days before departure) then pursue a refund; it's still possibly to book 4 seats on our onward and inbound flights online

I have a flight and hotel booked to a European city in June with BA holidays.
They emailed me a couple of days ago to say the flight there is cancelled. That was it.

When I looked on their website it shows flights operating on other week days and on my return journey.
Strange as BA have announced when they will be operating again.
I’m just going to wait for them to contact me again