Martin Lewis issues urgent warning to British Airways passengers and reveals £117 MILLION pot of cash for customers to claims is about to expire
Martin Lewis has issued a warning to all British Airways passengers, alerting them to a cash pot of £117million in unredeemed eVouchers.
According to the money-saving expert, 52, more than €139 million (£117 million) in British Airways eVouchers are soon set to expire – and customers of the airline should act fast to secure them.
During the pandemic, the airline granted customers the ability to cancel their flights in exchange for eVouchers to be spent at a later date.
Additionally, those whose flights were cancelled were given the option of a full cash refund, or an eVoucher – though this is no longer currently available to passengers now.
British Airways previously said that customers with vouchers would need to have used up their eVocuhers by April 2022 – though this deadline has been extended several times.
Since this initial date was set, the airline has pushed back the deadline four times – with Martin warning that there is no promise of another deadline being added.
Martin’s Money Saving Expert team urged customers who took the option of an eVoucher four years ago, to check their eligibility to ensure they don’t lose any unused vouchers.
The team urged: ‘The safest option is to redeem your voucher in good time to ensure you don’t lose out.’
Martin Lewis (pictured) has issued a warning to all British Airways passengers, alerting them to a cash pot of £117 million in unredeemed cVouchers
The new expiry date set by the airline is 30 September, 2025, with customers needing to have taken the flight or used up any package before this date.
For passengers of the airline who may forgotten whether they were cash in any vouchers, they can quickly find out by typing their email addresses into the British Airways website.
If eligible, customers should expect to find an email stating whether they are entitled to any vouchers and how much they are. Emails should arrive with the subject ‘Your eVouchers with British Airways’ within two hours of first sending.
The airline also encouraged customers to check their email inboxes to search for any outstanding vouchers.
As a last resort, flyers can search the airlines website for an online form, or call 0344 493 0787.
According to the airline’s parent company, IAG, there was at least €139 million in unredeemed vouchers as of the end of 2023 – with later figures currently unavailable.
Customers can then cash in on the vouchers, using them to pay in part or in full, for flights.
Up to four vouchers per new booking can also be used when making new reservations.
According to the money-saving expert, 52, more than €139 million (£117 million) in British Airways eVouchers are soon set to expire – and customers of the airline should act fast to secure them
Martin’s Money Saving Expert team urged customers who took the option of an eVoucher four years ago, to check their eligibility to ensure they don’t lose any unused vouchers
However, as Martin Lewis pointed out, on flight extras will not be eligible for purchase using the vouchers.
Additional extras such as extra baggage and seat reservations, will all be exempt.
The money saving team also pointed out that customers of the British Airways Executive Club will also need to prepare themselves for change – with changes being made on the 1 April 2025 set to earn passengers fewer loyalty points.
It comes just two weeks after the money saving expert issued an urgent plea to state pensioners who were born before 1958 to claim a free £3,900 government payment.
The money saving expert, 52, has urged state pensioners that they could be entitled to a £3,900 yearly boost from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – though they must claim the cash themselves as it won’t arrive automatically.
Martin’s Money Saving Expert team said a whopping £1.7 billion is waiting to be claimed by 850,000 state pensioners, urging those born in or before 1958 – aged 66 or older – to apply.
To meet the criteria for the £3,900 payment, applicants must be single and have a total weekly income under £218 – though the ITV and BBC team said those receiving less than £235 could also get it.
There is also the chance that couples could be entitled. For those of pension age earning a weekly total under £333, the chances of checking in the cash are high.
Equally, couples who earn less £350 per week also have a good chance of being entitled to the money.
Though the cash won’t arrive automatically and must be claimed, according to the money saving website.
MSE warned: ‘It’s NOT automatic so you MUST claim – here’s how. You can apply via Gov.uk if you’ve already claimed your State Pension, otherwise phone the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 (or the Northern Ireland Pension Centre on 0808 100 6165). You can backdate it for three months, so the quicker you check, the quicker you’ll benefit.’
