British Airways Cancels Ticket Over Seat Fee Chargeback, Charges Family $3,200 For New One

A family traveling with British Airways from Paris to fly to their destination reported a costly disruption tied to a seat-selection fee chargeback. Luke Diaz described, via reporting summarized by View from the Wing, that Chris Martinez said British Airways canceled his wife’s airfare after a separate credit-card dispute over the seat fee, even though the family’s check-in appeared normal. When they reached the counter to obtain boarding passes, BA system behavior blocked issuance, and agents had to call internally for answers. The family ended up paying $3,200 for a last-minute ticket to avoid being left behind. The narrative argues EU261 could apply because the cancellation occurred without warning despite valid booking confirmations.