British Airways Gives Travellers More Flexibility with Holding Fees

British Airways is now allowing customers to hold fares on ba.com for up to 72 hours for between £5 and £10 per person.

If within 72 hours customers want to pay for their flights, the hold deposit is refunded and the ticket can be bought.

Holding reservations on long-haul flights costs £10 per person, while those wanting to secure seats on short-haul flights would pay £5 per person.

Tracy Dedman, British Airways’ regional general manager, Greater China and the Philippines, said, “There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing a great flight price but not being able to book it straight away, either because you may need to get the time off work or check it’s ok with family or friends – then coming back and finding there are no seats left or the price has changed. Now customers can see the price, hold their seats and be sure that’s all they’ll pay, up to three days later.”

Only one person’s name is needed to hold the flights. The names of everyone travelling can be added within 72 hours of the booking being held. Seats can be held up to 21 days before departure.

The new hold option is the result of a joint project between British Airways and Iberia, both owned by IAG. It applies to reservations for all flights operated by British Airways, including codesharing flights, Iberia, Iberia Express, and Air Nostrum, including any combinations of flights of British Airways and Iberia, as long as they are on the same ticket.