Flight cancelled- help!

[flighthelp]

8 hours behind UK, can't speak to airline until it opens in 4 hours. Flight cancelled, flight is 24 hours later, indirect and brings us back to the wrong airport. Anyone know what our rights are? There are flights with other airlines tomorrow, can we risk booking with them and getting a refund? Any experimenter or help appreciate, quite stressed.

Does the airline not have representation in the country you are currently in?

Good luck, I don't know what the legalities are, but it must be a pain.

BA, the operational number is dead and the people I phone can't help as it's a holiday booking not a flight by itself.

Oh, I see. That's a pain. One would hope that ABTA or ATOL would provide some degree of protection, but I don't know what your rights would be.

https://www.atol.org/about-atol/what-does-atol-protection-mean/

This is what the ATOL website says, but I assume you've already seen it.

Rather than ringing the airline, ring your holiday insurance number. They will have 24 hour coverage.

This is the 24hr BA holiday line - +44 208 707 4495 is it not working?

I’d be cancelling and booking with the other airline. I’d be 99.9% confident you’d get your money back for the BA flight as it’s totally unsuitable. Years ago EasyJet did this to me and I said I wanted a refund not the new flight and they refunded no quibbble.

You could phone one of their Asian numbers (Japan/hong kong). Have a variety of options you would like them to book you on to at hand and see what they can do.

If it's booked through a holiday company, you need to phone them, not an airline.

How horriffic would it be if you bought the extra flights, and didn't get a refund? If that is financially viable, I'd do it. Consider they may only refund the difference between a single and a return flight - which might not be much.

I think it’s best to wait. It’s up to BA to get you home and you can ask to be put on another airline. I don’t think you should book with another airline. That then becomes your decision to change.

Have a look here

https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/delayed-or-cancelled-flights

can you log in and change?

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/holiday-cancellations-and-compensation/if-your-flights-delayed-or-cancelled/

This suggests you're entitled to a full refund, plus expenses, plus possibly compensation.

We got all three when a flight from Milan to the UK was cancelled, we declined the chaotic support at the airport, booked a hotel overnight and flights with a different airline the next day. On return we were initially offered a token amount, but a single letter saying exactly why we were due payment sorted it out. I would add, however, that that was pre Brexit, so your situation isn't exactly the same. But the CAB link says that it applies if the cancelled flight was with a UK airline and should have arrived in the UK so I think you're covered.

We had this with easyjet - twice. . Forget them - you’re on your own. We had to source over night accommodation buy and pay for new flights then reclaim all the costs afterwards. Keep receipts. They did reimburse us but the whole thing was a massive faff. And we were out of pocket by hundreds of pounds for weeks. Perils of modern travel.

Thanks all, it's BA holidays we're booked with. When I log in it says no flights available. Cant call for another hour as have to talk to the holiday team, but as there are 300+ people being rebooked I doubt there will be anything sooner. Going to see what refund would actually be, but assuming the viable flights over found with Virgin will be gone soon.

We had an issue with a BA holiday - hotel rather than airline. Their phone line was24 hours iirr and there were really helpful at the time.

So there's one flight with virgin but the connection is only 1hr18mins in the US, that's not enough surely?!

Definitely call your travel insurance first. Or try BA on Twitter

So, assuming you'd be flying to the UK from the US but what is the first flight? Is it domestic (so US city - US city - UK) or another country (so country X - US city - UK). And what airport in the US? It's tight for anything but details make a big difference.

Before they open up OP, I’d have a search online and see what flights you would like back home. That way you are prepared with what you will and will not accept as an alternative from BA. Sky scanner should be able to help here.

@McSpoot it's Las Vegas to Salt Lake City, and then SLC to London. We have checked baggage.

@tastydiner thank you, wondering if we could try to get to LA for a direct flight.

Presumably it’s a change from LGW to LHR or vice versa at the arrival end with a 24 hour delay?

If BA have already booked you on the later service IMHO it would make sense to stick with that rather than cancel, and I certainly wouldn’t risk a tight connection in the US.

No idea of the financial angle.

I would be happy to attempt this in 1h18, but I take connecting flights very frequently so can navigate changes like that quickly and without getting stressed about it. If that’s the case for you as well, I’d go for it but be mentally prepared for it to not work out (and remember US airlines don’t always put you up in hotels if you miss a connection - rebooking might be all they offer).

SLC is not the busiest airport and presumably you’d be on a one-through ticket so that means your bags are transferred directly to the London plane and you don’t have to reclaim them. Worst case scenario they don’t make it on time and you wait 2-3 days at home for them. None of this would bother me personally but for others it’s an issue.

US -> US -> international works out find with such a tight connection. Would not attempt the other way around.

Having said all that, there’s no guarantee you’d be reimbursed for the flight by BA. Check with your insurance whether they’d be prepared to cover those costs.

They will be covering your hotel if an extra night, 3 meals a day and provide transport/cover reasonable costs to get to the airport you started at. This is routine for them, don't worry. These things happen. Additionally you may be eligible for compensation but this is dependent on the reason why they had to cancel your flight (it needs to be their fault not for instance huge thunderstorms or a volcano speaking from experience!)

I am a lawyer working in this area. The post directly above this is correct. Unless you literally rushing home to someone’s deathbed I would not risk buying an alternative flight for the sake of 24 hours unless you are willing to accept that BA might not reimburse you.

On the other hand, they have to look after you till the new flight leaves, and get you back to the original airport you were booked to.