Will BA pay for a hotel if the flight is cancelled in advance?

[StaringAtTheWater]

BA has cancelled our return flight and there is no other option with BA that day, so they have rebooked us onto a flight the next day instead. Will they have to refund our hotel costs for the extra night? Or because it's cancelled in advance of the outbound flight, are they not legally obliged to refund us?

How far in advance did they change it?

If it's more than 14 days ahead your rights are limited to a choice of replacement flight or full refund for scheduled flights. If you have a package holiday under abta regulations you have more protection and should speak to your tour operator.

Under 14 days different rules apply

Thanks, it's more than 14 days away unfortunately. Ideally we would cancel the return flight only and rebook with another airline, but they are saying that our only options are cancelling the whole booking for a refund, or accepting a flight on a different day. They won't refund on the return flight only - is that in line with the rules? (There's no point cancelling the whole thing and rebooking the outbound flight only, as the outbound flight is now more expensive than the whole booking)

Did you book a package or flight and hotel separate?if it's a package they will pay for it. If not did you buy dynamic package insurance?that should cover it. If you didn't then it will be at your expense. You could ask them to cover it as a gesture of goodwill

Your insurance might pay for the additional hotel though

I wouldn't have thought so, especially more than 14 days in advance. Your travel insurance may cover it though.

Where are you flying from and to? Could you ask if there are any flights with partner airlines they can put yet on instead?

I thought they had to offer an alternative within a reasonable time of original flight, even if via a different airline?