How long to receive a "seating refund"?

As Covid was begining, I canceled a flight and BA refunded the fare. It took a couple of months more before I saw the fare refund. They are two separate things.

That’s disconcerting, Len44. So the flight was determined to be “overbooked.”. How come you got downgraded, and not some other ticket? And BA stalling on getting you paid the difference ?!?

Any chance you could request extra Avios for the problems you’ve experienced, for a situation they caused?

This summer, we were unexpectedly upgraded from basic World Traveller to World Traveller Plus, no charge. The food and ambience are clearly better than the cheapest seats, but now having experienced it, I wouldn’t pay that much extra. The overstuffed seats weren’t actually an improvement, nor the footrests. They should be paying you the difference, ASAP. Whether that happens promptly, I can only guess. Again, asking nicely for some additional Avios, that’s the least they should give you (besides the money you paid in good faith) under the circumstances. Best of luck for a speedy resolution!

You are owed a refund for a downgrade in class, but I had to fight for it when it happened to us. But our situation was different—- we booked seats in Business Class on a flight from Venice to London, which was canceled. They put us on a later flight, but there were no business class seats left, so we were in Economy.

When you checked in online as soon as BA notified you that check-in was available, you found out then & there that BA bumped you from Premium Economy?

You are also most likely eligible for involuntary downgrade compensation
under UK261 regulations.