Reply To: BA flight HND-LHR cancelled New flight NRT-HKG then HKG-LHR

[Lady London]

@ad4mlon really sorry for this inconvenience. With 4 of you including 2 children, being switched from an easy nonstop “we can relax once we get on the plane at HND as then we’re going straight home” to a longer flight via Hong Kong on a different airline, is much more stressful than just 1 or 2 of you.

The good news is that many passengers on BA cancelled Japan flights have been (illegally) refused routing on CX via Hong Kong in exactly your situation. Or, BA initially refused and they had to fight to get it.

Hong Kong transits can work with short times but if you land late and miss your connection, ground staff will reroute you and Hong Kong is one of the best airports in the world to get stuck in. Good choices in CX and other lounges if you are lounged but also other facilities.

I would however insist on pursuing a compensation claim for cancellation of the BA flight at the rate of £520 per seat for your 4 seats (it’s every seat even if any are 241 seats). I simply do not believe atc or weather delay caused this although it’s highly possible BA will try to lie but I’d keep pursuing it. As for a 20 hour ahead cancellation it’s BA rearranging their routes for commercial reasons, or mechanical, or crew etc all of which are not exceptional reasons – they don’t get BA out of compensation. ATC instructions, that might exempt them, are very unlikely to be the reason on long haul.

Good luck and please persist on a separate claim (separate from any hotel and 3-meals a day reimbursement claim for you all for any extra stay in Japan and extra travel time) for compensation.