Dear Alex,
I recently had to cancel flights from Bermuda to London owing to the sickness of my daughter. I had booked a special online fare with British Airways, which cost only US$10, but after taxes, fees and surcharges, the total came to US$350.
However, the refund that BA came up with was merely US$96. It has kept the US$222 fuel surcharge, saying it is linked to the ticket price and that since the ticket is nonrefundable, the fuel surcharge is also nonrefundable. Are you aware of this?
Harald Schlie, Bermuda
Alex replies:
Prior to December 22 last year, BA would refund fuel surcharges on cancelled tickets, but then it quietly changed the rules. If your ticket is a nonrefundable one – and that includes most sale deals – British Airways will now keep the surcharge if you cancel the ticket.
While this won’t leave short-haul passengers overly out of pocket, it has an impact on long-haul travellers because the charges are much higher. UK-based passengers currently pay a surcharge of £12 for a domestic or European sector economy flight, but this sum rises to £53 or £66 for each long-haul flight depending on distance. The rates for premium economy/business/first tickets are from £15 to £98.
Other British Airways passengers worldwide are charged equivalent sums, although there is some variation depending on the market.
