Can You Extend Your BA Companion Voucher If Your Flight Is Cancelled by the Middle East Conflict?

If you have a trip that has been, or will soon be cancelled thanks to the conflict in the middle east, you might be thinking your luck is running out.

People plan their holidays up to a year in advance, and with no sign of this conflict dissipating, that trip you booked a year ago might now be in the crosshairs.

But what if you booked your British Airways flight using Avios and a Companion Voucher, what happens to the Companion Voucher?

What is a Companion Voucher?

The American Express Companion Voucher is one of the most powerful single items in the UK points world, earned by spending £15,000 in a membership year on either the free BA American Express (economy only) or the BA Amex Premium Plus (any cabin, including First). It lets a companion travel on the same reward flight for no additional Avios. You just have to pay the taxes and fees on their ticket.

You can read our full guide on the Companion Voucher here.

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So, if I cancel my Avios booking, what happens to my Companion Voucher?

When you cancel an Avios booking with a Companion Voucher, that voucher will slide straight back into your BA Club account. This Companion Voucher isn't new to you, instead they will reinstate the old one, meaning it'll have the old expiry date on it.

Now, this isn't much use if it expires on 31st March, and your old flight was due to depart on 30th March. But being caught up in a conflict is hardly your fault, is it?

Well, there is a mechanism in the Companion Voucher T's&C's that might be of use to you.

In the T's&C's you'll find:

Extensions for the use of Companion Vouchers for up to three months’ may be granted for the following circumstances only: ... Natural disaster and/or significant socio-political conflict impacting the Cardmember’s and Companion Voucher’s travel itinerary.

Okay, so you should have grounds to extend your Companion Voucher for three months. It's not much, but this may give you enough flexibility to come up with plan B.

One other thing to note:

Extension requests for Companion Vouchers will be evaluated on a case by case basis and will be subject to relevant documentation having been provided by the Cardmember. Each case will be decided at British Airways’ sole discretion and British Airways’ decision will be final.

This is understandable on the part of BA, they want control over the system, but I will say I've been hearing people's accounts on their dealings with BA in the last week over this crisis, and they have been broadly positive. Add into the equation as well the fact that BA are laying on rescue flights out of Muscat, Oman (an airport BA hasn't even served since before the pandemic), demonstrates BA's commitment to making right this situation.

My Companion Voucher is expiring soon, but I was hoping to book last minute flights to Dubai when they became available, can I extend my voucher?

This I would say is murkier ground. You are unlikely to have proof that this was your intention, compared to someone who already has a booking to the region. By all means you can make your case to BA, but expect a lower chance of success compared to someone who has had their booking affected.

Final thoughts

So, is it a guarantee you'll be able to extend your companion voucher, no. But if you request an extension and state your case, I would say your chances are good if you already had a pre-existing booking.

Sam

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