Expectations versus reality. Sometimes you can get a real surprise when things go completely the opposite to how you thought they would. This just happened to be with the British Airways claims process.
Last Saturday, I was notified that my flight on Sunday was cancelled. The rebooked flight was Monday and so I had to pay for overnight accommodation and food unexpectedly. I fully expected I would be waiting a while to be reimbursed.
Expense Claims Process Magic
The day I returned, I decided to submit my case. Since I expected the claims process to take ages, I wanted it get it in immediately. First, I took careful photos of my hotel and food receipts, then I went online to the BA website and entered the details.
Since the booking reference method was only showing the flight I came back on and not the actual one disrupted, I did a manual entry. That is where you can put in “I was on X flight on Sunday, you put me on Y flight on Monday”. Once done, I uploaded each receipt, entered my IBAN for the bank transfer and was done.
Colour me surprised when I received an e-mail this morning (it is Friday, I claimed on Monday!) to say the money had been processed. It appears it’s being paid in full to my bank account and will arrive within 21 days. Done and dusted!
Overall Thoughts
I’m pretty amazed at how efficient the British Airways claims process is. Of course, I knew from experience that they needed to know which flight was cancelled and what flight I was put on instead, and also to have an itemised food receipt. That meant they did not have to come back and ask me anything, which I am sure made their day simple.
Even so, it’s pretty impressive work and that pleases me greatly. Have you made a claim with an airline before? What is the fastest you’ve been paid out or how long was the most you had to wait? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by Alf van Beem via Wikimedia Commons.
That wasn’t my experience with BA at all: My flight was cancelled as well, I filed within days … after almost a month, I hadn’t heard anything. When I called, they were making excuses. I had to quote them the legal situation and threaten them with reports to airline oversight and lawsuit before they relented. Now, 6 weeks after the claim, I have a portion of the claim, still waiting for the rest…
After two out of three recent flights with BA were terrible, they are back on my “black list” of airlines to avoid… I had similar issues with Vueling, suggesting that this is IAG group policy to delay, deny, make excuses in the hope of customers who don’t know better to give up…
Sorry to hear that our experiences varied so much. I guess mine was very straight forward though – I think it takes longer if you are claiming EU261 compensation. Last time when mine took four months, it was a compensation and expenses claim, not just straight expenses. Even then I think I was short changed on the compensation, but it’s too late for that now.
I had the $$ in my bank account 8 days after I made a claim online with BA for a cancelled flight, earlier this year. I agree very efficient. I have made a few claims over the years, with various airlines. This was by far the quickest I have ever gotten a refund.
It is exceptionally quick! I wonder what they do in the background to have it work so swiftly… Thanks for sharing that!