[beek]

My sister was set to fly into Houston this past Saturday afternoon on BA from the UK, just after Ike came through. Knowing what was about to happen to the Houston area, my brother and I told her to change her flight to Sunday--- thinking that we would be up and running soon after the hurricane. She did and they charged her $100 for the privilege. They then cancelled the flight. With 4 million people out power (including us), we thought it best that she postpone her visit altogether. She changed her flight from this past Sunday to November. Again BA charged her $100 and then promptly cancelled the flight.

She called them to ask for a refund of the change fee since they cancelled both flights. They refused saying that they held up their end of the bargain when she changed flights. According to the Houston Chronicle the majority of US airlines are allowing Houston bound passengers the opportunity to change flights even if they were outside the two days that the airports were closed with out penalty. Why can’t the “world’s favorite” airline see what has happened in Houston and do the same?

[silent owl]

In my opinion, I would recomendation reading their contract of carriage and keep an eye out for the phrase "Act of God" these are major disasters (ex Hurricane Katrina) where by altering or refunding the Ticket is generally more flexible.

[abutterfinger25]

Beek:

The changed ticket fee is not tied to the actual travel. When a passenger changes a discounted ticket, the carrier charges the fee. If the flight that the passenger is changed to gets cancelled, the passenger is entitled to a refund of the original fare, but not the changed ticket fee, since that service was actually provided (the changing of the ticket).

In my experience (at least with US carriers), send a nicely worded letter to British Airways customer service department explaining the situation and request that they waive their policy and refund the changed ticket fee based on the circumstances. BA may be willing to provide you a voucher in lieu of a cash refund.