BA’s ‘no-show’ clause cost me £9,000 for new flights

A couple's travel plans were significantly disrupted due to British Airways' controversial 'no-show' clause, which resulted in a £9,000 expense for new flights. The family had initially booked a journey from Glasgow to Mexico City, with a transfer at Heathrow where their son was to join them.

Fearing that a 90-minute transfer window at Heathrow might be too tight due to recent storms, the family opted to take a train from Glasgow the night before their flight. However, upon missing the first leg of their journey, British Airways invoked the no-show clause, which allows airlines to cancel the entire itinerary if a passenger misses any part of their booked journey. This led to the family having to purchase new tickets at a substantial cost.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding airline policies that can lead to significant financial penalties for passengers, particularly in cases of unforeseen circumstances.

Source: www.theguardian.com – https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/may/18/ba-no-show-clause-flights-british-airways