BA Avios flight change fees

[ramsey]

I wanted to check if the fees I have been quoted to change a flight are correct?

I am travelling business class on Amex Avios voucher from Seattle to Manchester via LHR.

I arrive in LHR at 13.00 hours on 8 October and was on BA1396 to Manchester, which was due to depart to Manchester at 16.05.

BA have notified me of a change to my connecting flight so it now departs 16.40 and whilst only an extra 35 mins in Heathrow, BA1394 to Manchester departs 14.15 which means I would only have 1 hour 15 mins in Heathrow rather than 3 hours 40 min and home a lot sooner.

The email I got says

“If you’re happy to travel at the new flight time, you don’t need to do anything.

If you’d like to book a different flight, please call us.”

However I have been quoted a £35 change fee and £15 service fee per passenger to move to the earlier flight, total £100. I noted to call operator that it’s BA who’ve changed it so wouldn’t expect to pay a change fee given the wording of the email, but they said it’s not significant so fees apply. Seems a little unfair that they can move the flight a little without incurring a cost, but if I want to fees apply!

I called through the number in the email which was a general call centre. Would I potentially get a better response from calling a dedicated avios team? Or just suck it up! 😛

[JDB]

As it’s a schedule change rather than a cancellation, that doesn’t give rise to any statutory rights and BA policy on allowing free changes is only for schedule changes over 120 minutes so they have advised you correctly. Realistically, 1h15 connection time from International to Domestic (so you need to pass through immigration and security) although exactly on the MCT, simply isn’t enough time.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Since your original LHR-MAN doesn’t appear to have been cancelled only a slight schedule change any request to move to the earlier LHR-MAN counts as a voluntary change and is therefore chargeable.

TBH this would be far less stressful than moving to the earlier flight as you would be right on MCT with a good chance you’d miss it if your SEA flight is even slightly delayed.

[ramsey]

Thanks for the advice and info 👍

[Lady London]

Plus there’s a good chance there’s another change going to happen between now and your flights in October.

I think I might just about consider a 1hr 15min connection of any sort somewhere like Zurich or a small airport. But even with the efficiency of Zurich I’d not be entirely happy with such a short connection if there was another choice.

But from long haul to short haul?
Landing at Heathrow anywhere?
Landing at Heathrow Terminal 5 or Terminal 3 ?

Er.. no.
Don’t even think of 1hr 15min. And this, regardless of this being the new official Minimum Connection Time (1min less and the airline system wouldn’t even be allowed to issue your ticket).

Not even knowing incoming Transatlantic flights are often early. There’s a few reasons why 3 and a half hours or so isn’t bad to leave as a gap in Heathrow generally.