British Airways Cancellation Chaos

[PrettyLittleCryer]

Keep seeing about all the BA flights cancelled, it sounds like chaos. We are booked for a very big special package holiday with them in summer...do we cut our losses and cancel now? If they can't pull it off at Easter, there's not much hope for Summer is there?

[Parky04]

It is likely that covid cases will be a lot lower in the summer so hopefully less staff off sick. Should be a lot better by then.

[LemonMuffins]

I can't see any reason why you'd cancel

[bluebaul]

@LemonMuffins

I can't see any reason why you'd cancel

Op has given the reason. Uncertainty.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

Just ride it out. When they have done cancellations they have been planned in advance and on routes where passengers can be accommodated on other flights. There are almost always rebooking options although a refund is also available if that's what you prefer.

[VaVaVoombangabang]

But if you cancel what would you loose in the way of £'s. some, all, are you able to re book without penalties?

I to would leave it, then see how things go over the next few weeks then decide.

[notimagain]

Whilst BA have definitely got an “issue” with IT at times I’m hearing from a few still working for the compnay that the vast majority of the current cancellations are down to Covid…(amongst crew and ground staff).

They have maybe been a bit quick to try and rebuild schedules as we have come out of the pandemic and company hadn’t been so keen to lay people off two years ago they would have more of a manpower buffer now but that’s now water under the bridge.

To be fair they are not the only airline struggling with manning due illness ATM (cf. Easyjet)

If I was in the OP’s shoes I’d wait until after Easter and then reassess the holiday.

[notimagain]

P.S.
Despite what is on the news most BA flights are operating, and a lot of the airport chaos in the news is down to airport operators.

[Pyri]

We flew with BA a few weeks ago, absolutely no problems at all, luggage came out quickly etc etc

I don’t think “just in case” is a great reason to cancel tbh

[CocktailNapkin]

If its a long haul those seem to be prioritised over short haul network, although there have been a few cancellations here and there over the past few days. Don't be like a poster on another forum who preemptively cancelled their family hols to the Maldives based on the airport chaos news reports!

Part of the problem with staffing is awaiting security clearances - the people may have been hired, but cant start until govt checks are completed. This on top of current crew illness and all the necessary covid checks for various destinations which take up time at check in.

I cant imagine BA wants to lose yet another summer season so best keep an eye on the situation and make a call closer to the time.

[Skyeheather]

They are recruiting new staff, it's just going to take a while to interview, get references, train the new staff etc. Things should be better in the summer when Covid infections are down and they have more staff. Some of the issues aren't down to BA alone, many baggage handlers and security staff are employed by the airport and it doesn't matter which airline you fly with they'll be delays.

[unidentia]

My short haul flight into Heathrow got cancelled on Saturday. They moved half the people onto another BA flight leaving 8 hours earlier and half onto another airline's flight leaving 6 hours earlier. So irritating but not catastrophic.

Heathrow didn't have enough staff, took 2 hours to get off plane and get bags. Passport control took seconds.

[PrettyLittleCryer]

Thanks for the voice of reason. Sounds like it's worth holding out to see. It doesn't help that I'm terrified of flying although I do it because I and my family love travel. But this uncertainty doesn't help - I'd crack up if stuck hanging around for hours. It's short haul BTW.

[Itsbackagain]

@notimagain

Whilst BA have definitely got an “issue” with IT at times I’m hearing from a few still working for the compnay that the vast majority of the current cancellations are down to Covid…(amongst crew and ground staff).

They have maybe been a bit quick to try and rebuild schedules as we have come out of the pandemic and company hadn’t been so keen to lay people off two years ago they would have more of a manpower buffer now but that’s now water under the bridge.

To be fair they are not the only airline struggling with manning due illness ATM (cf. Easyjet)

If I was in the OP’s shoes I’d wait until after Easter and then reassess the holiday.

Everyone seems to think furlough covered everything. It didn't. Employers still had to pay tax, insurance, pensions, holidays so with no money coming in they like others did what they had to do.

[Quartz2208]

Easter was ALWAYS going to be a mess. First big holiday after Covid alongside omicron cases was never going to be good
We managed Christmas and a February and it was fine and they are saying 2 months or so for this one

I imagine Summer will be better hold off for now

[loobylou44]

My parents had an absolute nightmare with their BA flights to Canada being cancelled, delayed etc and BA were absolutely useless.
They left my 75 year old parents stranded in Heathrow (we live in the North) with no information They queued for over 8 hours at the customer service desk with no food or drink or anywhere to rest and the desk closed when they were 2 from the front. They ended up having to book into a hotel without any luggage and then sort out the mess themselves the next day.
On the way back to the UK was even worse and there flight was cancelled twice (once when sat on the plane) had once again customer service was non existent.

The comedian Rob Beckett has been posting on Instagram this morning as his flight to Orlando was cancelled 10 hours before he was due to fly and all BA could do is offer him a flight to Chicago!

[TizerorFizz]

Chicago links to Orlando though. Just not direct.

Every airline has issues at the moment. So do a lot of airports. Insufficient staff.

[notimagain]

@Itsbackagain

Everyone seems to think furlough covered everything. It didn't. Employers still had to pay tax, insurance, pensions, holidays so with no money coming in they like others did what they had to do.

Yep I know, I heard/read all the arguments in the run up to the lay offs, including the observations (usually made by Union reps) that given the time scales needed for some of the pre employment admin and training required for some roles it would be difficult to rebuild the operation quickly once any travel restrictions were dropped and demand for travel picked up.

[TizerorFizz]

@notimagain
I was listening to people talking about Manchester airport not coping this morning on the radio. Let’s hope they can rebuild their companies. Manchester Airport have said they have made mistakes. It’s very difficult for everyone.

[Quartz2208]

Orlando is a slightly different issue in that it had severe thunderstorm warnings yesterday so that the airport in effect was shut. I imagine the flight Rob Beckett wanted to get was affected by that

[Pinotwoman82]

We have a holiday booked for May flying with BA, however part of the entry requirements for that country is to have a negative covid test, how would it work if you are delayed and the time frame for the test passes?

[TizerorFizz]

Covid tests are usually 72 hours before. So maybe do yours 24/48 hours before? We are going away in June and thank God pre entry testing is no longer required! Changed on 1 April.

[pitterpatterrain]

Not sure it’s just BA right now although they do seem to have some problems with their terminal

But long haul tbh there are better airlines that I would prefer to fly with

Agree with PP cancellations are usually rapidly rebooked, if you have the BA app the options show up immediately and you can get your new boarding pass immediately which is pretty easy

My evening flight was cancelled last week returning to the UK, and rebooked first thing the next morning - but travelling for work not with DC so clearly less hassle when hand luggage and no DC

[bert3400]

We have a flight from Madrid to Heathrow on Friday, we booked through BA but we are flying Iberian ....we need to get to Heathrow for a flight to the Maldives, Friday night.....Im hoping Iberian aren't involved in the cancellation chaos

[Solasum]

BA cancelled our flight today back to the UK last night and we are on an alternative flight now. They seem to be doing what the can

[balalake]

I'd look at alternatives. BA seem less resilient than some alternatives, and even though I expect Covid cases to be much less, they seem to struggle with something every summer.