British Airways offering you EU compensation as Avios – at a poor rate

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

• Vic1 says:

  11 Dec11 December 11:39

  Any advice on the following (that I’ve been sitting on for 6 months as I’m confused who should be paying compensation)? Booked on Orbitz and travelled in May 2016 LGW-BCN MAD-LHR in Business (I). O/B on BA was fine. Return was “Iberia 7462 operated by OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS — BA463”. Delayed for 4 hours. Orbitz recently sent me an email saying “You may be eligible for up to $172.25 per person for the delay under EU passenger law. Orbitz and our partners at AirHelp can help you get that compensation.” 1. Am I too late in making a claim? 2. Do I claim against BA or IB? 3. Should I use Orbitz/Airhelp? 4. Isn’t $172.25 light?

  • John says:

    11 Dec11 December 11:48

    1. If you live in the UK you have 6 years to make the claim.

    2. The operating airline is responsible so in your case it is BA. In some cases airlines can subcontract the processing, for example if your KLM transatlantic flight was delayed and you live in the US, Delta will pay the compensation, but this doesn’t apply to you.

    3. It depends on how much work you want to put in and whether you mind paying their fee.

    4. That looks like the amount you will receive after Orbitz takes their fee.

    • Vic1 says:

      11 Dec11 December 13:52

      John, many thanks for your guidance…the fog has cleared!

• John says:

  11 Dec11 December 11:39

  Whether or not this “associate citizenship” becomes a reality has absolutely nothing to do with regulation EC261/2004. By your logic, US citizens would not be able to claim EC261 compensation for a delayed flight from Brussels to Berlin.

  EC261 applies to EU *airlines* for all flights, and also applies to *all* airlines for flights departing the EU.

  When BA stops being an EU airline, this regulation will no longer apply to BA flights departing the UK, but it will still apply to all BA flights from the EU to the UK (and elsewhere, if on a connecting ticket).

  Individuals signing up to the proposed “associate citizenship” will not cause BA to become an EU airline again.

  That said, the proposal is a good idea especially for people who voted LEAVE – they get to retain all the personal benefits while getting rid of all the (perceived) political downsides of the EU. It is basically an indefinite EU visa, and you would be silly not to sign up whatever your views on the EU, unless the obligations were particularly onerous.

  • the real harry says:

    11 Dec11 December 15:33

    ‘When BA stops being an EU airline, this regulation will no longer apply to BA flights departing the UK’

    Au contraire, most laws, rules & regulations will remain exactly the same after Brexit. Gradually over time some will get changed – probably not EC261, though (IMV) – as it is generally seen as good for the consumer & sharpens up the performance from airlines.

• John c says:

  11 Dec11 December 13:45

  We took a BA voucher instead of cash. Last year. They offered about 33% more as a voucher. However. It was only valid for flight only purchases. So no use when we tried paying for an Orlando Package. And also refused when we tried to pay for flights 24 hours after fixing the price on ba website. Also had a 15 month expiration. So beware of troubles in redeeming your vouchers. Cash may we’ll be better.

  • Nadeshka says:

    11 Dec11 December 18:25

    I refused a voucher and countered with avios (which they agreed to) for the reasons you listed – difficulty in actually using it and short expiry. Also note it can’t be used to pay the taxes on a redemption flight (at least that’s what they told me).

• the real harry says:

  11 Dec11 December 15:45

  Disagree 100%.

  I generally buy @ T-355 – using Avios redemptions – and never get less than 1.3-1.5p value.

  Might just be my route, I guess – but I doubt it

  If I were getting under 1p value I would consider using cash instead, haven’t had to do that for a long time

  • mark2 says:

    11 Dec11 December 15:52

    +1

  • Lady London says:

    11 Dec11 December 16:26

    Harry in being able to plan and buy at T-355, you are truly an exceptional case.

    • the real harry says:

      11 Dec11 December 17:01

      Just a factor of kids, schools, holidays fixed by somebody else a year or more in advance, place & rellies abroad 🙂

      • the real harry says:

        11 Dec11 December 19:00

        the other thing is: I am usually buying in peak, ie school hols – so BA make the regular ticket price expensive even as soon as they are released – but Avios redemptions cost the same (peak) as usual

      • the real harry says:

        11 Dec11 December 19:04

        poor old AA Gill

        brilliant writer, died far too young

        just thinking right now I would dearly like to retire out at our place abroad – that’s 2 untimely deaths I heard this week, AA Gill and the brilliant car mechanic out at our village (‘Alex’, 60, stroke)

  • Andrew says:

    11 Dec11 December 17:33

    I also disagree – having had to pay a last minute BA fare (to visit a very suddenly and seriously ill grandmother and having no choice of flights because of other family members’ decisions at a difficult time) I had to buy a seat at T-72h. Return LHR to SFO was £2,300 in Y (Y class).

    Being able to get a last minute C redemption LHR-DUB and then an ex-DUB return (out in Y, back in J) for £600 less. Still a lot of cash but the Avios came into their own.

• Lady London says:

  11 Dec11 December 16:14

  Sounds great but will mean fewer tier points if the journey is done without a stop with a change of flight number en route.

  I’ll probably still do it though.

• AH says:

  11 Dec11 December 16:20

  This however could be a good deal for anyone using a 2-4-1 voucher!
  Especially if 2 of you are delayed on a flight a 2-4-1 voucher was used.

  For flight delay, I am having a nightmare against Enter Air
  As they have no UK base of operations, I cant take them to UK court.
  I have tried contacting them, using mediation services, CCA, etc.
  They refuse to pay out for my party of over 20 passengers!

• Lady London says:

  11 Dec11 December 16:28

  Can you not sue them in Poland (EU), where they seem to be incorporated?

  • jonboy73 says:

    12 Dec12 December 05:01

    sue who for what exactly?

• James says:

  11 Dec11 December 17:52

  2 Off Topic Questions
  1. I have a Gold card, how do I recommend a friend for the platinum card, I’m only given the option to recommend a Gold.
  2. If I use upgrade with avios to upgrade a WTP booking to CW, do i have to pay the taxes difference as well?

  • Alan says:

    11 Dec11 December 17:59

    1) They can pick the other card at the bottom of the referral link page (it’s all a bit poorly done!)
    2) Yes, although there shouldn’t be too marked an amount extra to pay

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.