Why are British Airways cancelling so many flights?

[cathyj77]

I’m honestly at the point of swearing off them for life. Just back from holiday (no thanks to them) and on the way out, our flight was cancelled when we were at the airport with no apology, explanation or decent alternative given. Had to spend loads on replacement flights or lose the holiday. Will now start the fight for compensation which I’m sure won’t even touch the sides of the extra flights we had to pay for.

this is the third BA flight I’ve had cancelled this year at very short notice. Others were for work so mattered less and I got replacement flights easily at no cost.

What is going on with BA? From social media, I can see I’m not alone and they seem to just be regularly cancelling several flights a day with zero notice. Why??

Had a BA flight from Gatwick cancelled yesterday which was supposed to be in 3 weeks time. More notice than many of the stories on here, but still very annoying!

Not so sure about EU261 now. Is it going up in smoke on the bonfire of EU laws ?

https://www.hfw.com/UK261-Passenger-rights-after-the-Brexit-transition-period-Jan-2021

@SerendipityJane

Not sure if 261 is potentially on the bonfire or not but there has been talk of amending some of the provisions:

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/oleary-hails-sensible-uk-post-brexit-air-passenger-rights-proposals

16 months ago - and I note the weasel word "Proposed".

The only reason I posted was I noticed last week there was a bland assurance from "the government" about things carrying on as before with absolutely no supporting evidence. Which made me suspect this is another area where they will say one thing right up till someone actually tries to act on it.

Forever the cynic.

Austrian are great, I’d go with them

we swore off BA in 2018 and - apart from one business related flight with no other option - haven’t used them since. And that flight reminded us why, they really are shocking on every level.

@SerendipityJane

16 months ago - and I note the weasel word "Proposed".

More recent comment about the legislation by another Irishman here (I supposed I could try winning Irish airline CEO bingo by trying to come up with something by Alan Joyce on this as well..or maybe not 🙄):

" Europe’s infamous EU 261 passenger rights regulation is a contorting contagion. It penalizes airlines for disruptions—misunderstanding that the huge costs of not operating to schedule are already a major incentive."

Hate to say it, won't win votes around here, but both he and O'Leary have a tiny bit of a point.

One of the main reasons for 261 being introduced was to stop the tendency of some airlines to cancel/amalgamate flights on the day - e.g. at 0400 cancelling the 0600 Bremen because there's room to put everybody on the 0800.

The problem is the way the legislation actually works is it potentially puts three figure lump sums in the pockets of every passenger delayed by a few hours, regardless of how well or badly the airline has looked after them during the delay, pretty much regardless of individual circumstances.

https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2023-speeches/2023-06-05-01/

@notimagain if Mr O'Leary thinks they are OK then they are on the side of the airlines so to speak, not the consumer.

I think that alongside whatever compensation is required to be paid to the customer, there should be reduction in flight slots for cancellations above a certain level. Less lucrative summer slots if you are unreliable.

I get what Joyce etc are saying, but it’s missing the point that people aren’t just picking flight times at random - they would normally have a good reason for the particular time they’ve picked.

Sorry, O Leary, not Joyce.

Imagine if restaurants were the same - you turn up for dinner at 6.30 and they’re like, oh sorry, we’ve changed this now and you can eat at 9.00 this evening.
“But I’ve got tiny children with me, I don’t want to eat at 9.00”
“Well you can cancel then”

Substitute almost any other product being swapped at short notice and it would be totally unacceptable - and yet with flights it’s an even worse problem as firstly they’re so expensive and secondly there are often so many linked costs such as hotels, parking, events etc.

The thing that I’ve noticed is ba is cancelling quite a lot of long haul which I’m sure used to be more protected. Delays seem common across the board at the moment. Just recently went away with family (non ba) and across 4 different flights all were 1h30-2 hours delayed. I’m also wondering if airlines across the board also lost experienced ground staff and crew as well as pilots. It all just seems much more faffy and less organised.

There's already a requirement to use a high percentage of your slots...(can't remember the actual number) if you fall short over the season you are penalised..

Yes, O'Leary/Walsh are taking the industry line, but to some extent (IMHO) there's some tweaking to be done.

If a company actually does the decent thing (which we tried to do where I worked) in the event of a delay on the day, basically feed and water passengers, possibly somewhere comfortable off the aircraft and then gets them to destination 3 hours 5 minutes late should each passenger also be entitled, automatically, to at least 250 euro??

Friend hasn't come back from a long haul trip flying BA. Luggage went astray in both directions.

Yes they should. I might get fed and watered but I might then eg miss a train that was advance purchase only so I have to pay again, or miss my check in slot at a hotel because I arrive after midnight and they are closed and I have to find somewhere with a 24 hour reception to stay. If flights are cancelled it's the airline's responsibility. And even if there are bad weather conditions, they choose which flights to cancel, so it's still not completely out of their hands.

And normally passengers aren't looked after - they're often stuck in a plane on the tarmac with no refreshments whatsoever.

Happened to a friend's son flying US to Germany via the UK with BA as well. Although that's down to baggage handlers rather than BA itself - but they contract the baggage handlers.

I read the other day that you should do all you can not to take hold luggage at the moment.

OK, compensation for train etc I get and I don't think even MOL was arguing against that, it's the automatic lump sum(s) for everybody that's the issue.

even if there are bad weather conditions, they choose which flights to cancel, so it's still not completely out of their hands

But it's not completely in their hands either - For info if you're into mass cancellations then for example you may have a crew left with enough hours to do a Paris, you might not have a crew left with the hours on the clock to do Rome...

And normally passengers aren't looked after - they're often stuck in a plane on the tarmac with no refreshments whatsoever.

That wasn't normally the case where I worked when I worked there, certainly not for multiple hour delays on Long Haul.

One of my last long delays I was involved in (just pre-Covid) we got everybody off the aircraft, gave everybody vouchers and the opportunity to eat in the terminal, then re- boarded and then departed several hours late. Another example a few years back, (late night, States, snow) everybody got fed on board while we waited for a de-icing slot to roll around......different airlines can choose to do things differently if circumstances permit.

Imagine if restaurants were the same - you turn up for dinner at 6.30 and they’re like, oh sorry, we’ve changed this now and you can eat at 9.00 this evening.

But the urge to fly, and the urge to eat aren't based in the same reality. No one needs to fly. No one. Not you. Not me. Not uncle tom fucking cobleigh.

But we all need to eat.

Maybe you’re happy with poor service, or with living a utilitarian life where you only do things you need to do, but most people aren’t.

I had a long haul flight home cancelled by BA with replacement flight they offered was 24 hr later. The reroute involved 2 flights rather than one direct and delivered us to an airport further from home.
They promptly paid our expenses but refused compensation cos "birdstrike" which I fully expect to be a universal excuse.

I'd be happy to live in a world where people with disabilities can lead a decent life long before others can fly.

Probably why no one likes me.

Nobody needs to eat in a restaurant so your argument is specious

I'm still waiting 9 weeks after our flights were cancelled for a response.

BA have been excellent for us this year. Flown with them for 4 separate holidays. A couple of times the flights were delayed , but time was made up in the air and landings were just about on time.

This thread worries me slightly though, as we fly BA because of avios points, but we have been impressed this year.

This is worrying. We are flying with them next week. Fingers crossed. I'm finding in general, that customer service has gone through the floor in the last few years. A lot of companies, don't give a shit about the customer experience, there's no interest in keeping your custom or recognising & compensating poor service. Staff seem disinterested and it's almost as if they think they are doing you a favour. A big change is happening.