Booking flights with Avios points offers flexibility, including the option to cancel and get a refund. However, there are some rules and fees to keep in mind. Let’s explore the costs and steps involved in cancelling an Avios redemption flight.
Costs of Canceling an Avios Redemption Flight
When cancelling a flight booked with Avios, the fee varies based on the currency of the local departure. You can cancel Avios redemptions online for flights operated by British Airways or its partner airlines. The cancellation fee remains the same, based on the local departure currency.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Cancellation Fee: Typically £35, €42.50, or $55 per person, depending on the local departure currency.
- Maximum Fee: If the taxes and charges you paid are less than the cancellation fee, you will only be charged the amount of those taxes and charges.
- Family Bookings: For a family of four, the total cost would be £140, €170, or $220.
- Separate Bookings: If your outbound and return flights are booked separately, you will need to pay the cancellation fee for each booking.
How to Cancel a Flight Booked with Avios
Online Cancellation
After a frustrating two years, Avios redemptions can once again be cancelled and refunded online. This will be music to the ears of anyone who has spent hours on hold with the British Airways Executive Club call centre and was often told to call back later due to “unusually high call volume.”
The new functionality has been added to the “Manage My Booking” section of the British Airways website. As first reported by Head For Points, it allows for easy online cancellations with all Avios and fees, taxes, and surcharges refunded (minus cancellation fees, as discussed below). Here’s how it works:
- Log In: Access your British Airways account.
- Manage My Booking: Navigate to the “Manage My Booking” section.
- Flight Details: Select your Avios redemption flight details.
- Cancel Flight: Click on the blue “Manage My Booking” bar at the bottom of the page.
- Consent: Confirm you have the consent of all passengers to cancel and refund the booking online.
- Confirm: Follow the prompts to complete the cancellation.
If you didn’t book the flight yourself, ensure you log in with the account of the person who did it to avoid any IT issues.
Phone Cancellation
If the online method doesn’t work, call the British Airways Executive Club for assistance.
Cancellation Timeframe
- Before Departure: You can cancel up to 24 hours before the outbound flight departure.
- After Departure: Once you have flown the outbound flight, you cannot cancel the return for a refund. However, you can change the date and time for a £35 fee, provided there are Avios seats available.
Companion Voucher
If you used a companion voucher for your booking, the same cancellation rules and fees apply. Cancelling the flight will usually reinstate the voucher to your account, allowing you to use it for a future booking. The companion voucher itself does not incur an additional fee when cancelling; you only pay the standard cancellation fee for each passenger.
Refund
- 100% Return: All Avios points used for the booking will be returned to your British Airways Executive Club account immediately.
- Taxes and Charges: The amount paid for taxes and charges will be refunded to the credit card used for the original payment, minus the cancellation fee. This process may take a few days. For example, if you paid £116.74 in fees, taxes, and surcharges, and the cancellation fee is £35 per person, you would receive a cash refund of £46.74 per person after deducting the fee.
Conclusion
Cancelling an Avios redemption flight is straightforward but comes with a few costs and rules. The key points to remember are the cancellation fee based on local departure currency, the 24-hour cancellation window, and the 100% return of Avios points. By following these guidelines, you can manage your travel plans with confidence and flexibility.
