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We are due to fly back from Istanbul (Sabiha Gokcen Airport) to London Heathrow in July 2025. I received an email last week from BA saying the flight has been cancelled and they have rebooked us into a flight for the following day.
What options do I have as I have already booked our hotel for Istanbul, so now will have to stay one additional night I had not planned on? Would it be best to go via Amex Travel Insurance to see if they will cover the cost of a different flight home on the original dates, or indeed one extra night hotel cost in Istanbul? I would have thought I am covered under travel disruption…
Are you ok with staying an extra night? If so BA should pay for the extra night’s hotel. No need to claim on insurance just book the extra night in the same hotel and claim the cost back from BA after the event.
Alternatively if you need to get home on the same day as originally scheduled you can call BA and discuss what other ways you can get back. Search for other routes home including flying back on BA from the main IST airport.
But you don’t need to do anything immediately so take your time as you only get once chance to reroute for free.
I had same for a trip in April – phoned and got similar times flight from IST instead and as its a BAH they are picking up the transfer. If you’ve booked your own accommodation etc and chose SAW for ease of self transfer you’d have additional costs (but if BA are gonna pick up an extra night accommodation they’ll probably pay for transfer cost instead)
Thanks for you replies.
Just to add to this, I have now received an email from BA saying the timing of my outbound flight from LGW to Antalya has also been changed from early morning to afternoon, so I will now be arriving in Antalya around 9pm (rather than 1pm when I originally booked), therefore effectively losing out on my first day.
Would BA be bound to move us to a morning flight as per our original booking?
Is it unusual for so many issues to be occurring with my flights so far in advance? I am worried there may be further changes closer to the time too…
Yes, in my experience they change the timings of flights to holiday destinations a lot if you book far in advance, happened maybe 50% of the time over 15 or so flights we’ve had over the years. Can work out in your favor though since if the change is 2+ hours you can typically rebook to any other available flight for free online with no hassle (I think up to 3 days before or 14 days later), or even switch airports.
Hi. Just to follow up on this, rather than create a new thread.
To summarize BA have changed 2 of my flights:
1) Outbound from LGW to Antalya – initially was due to arrive at 1pm but flight has been changed to later one by BA so now arriving at 9pm. When booking I wanted to arrive early to make full use of the resort (paying almost £1k per night) but now the first day is effectively a write off.
2) Return from Istanbul (Sabiha Gokcen Airport) to LHR – original flight cancelled, we have been booked in to return the following day (therefore having to stay an extra night in Istanbul).
I have since contacted BA but they have said they cannot help as I booked via third party. I have contacted the third party company but not getting any response.
Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do?
The main issues are 1) losing the first day due to late flight arrival 2) having to pay for an extra night in IstanbuTravel the day before to arrive at the AYT resort at checkin time the next day so you can max the value.
Return on the original day from IST.
Find the BA flights that allow you to do this and then call agent and ask for them. If you don’t get a helpful person HUACA.
Tha
Travel the day before to arrive at the AYT resort at checkin time the next day so you can max the value.
Return on the original day from IST.
Find the BA flights that allow you to do this and then call agent and ask for them. If you don’t get a helpful person HUACA.
Thanks for your reply. Sorry I didn’t quite understand your suggestion – I have spoken to BA and they will not change flights for me.
Do you suggest booking the flights I want and claiming via travel insurance?
I don’t believe there are overnight flights to Antalya, so that would involve paying for an extra night at Antalya if arriving the day before (again apologies if I misunderstood)
You need to do this with the agency you booked via.
Let’s just say some are better than others is dealing with issues like this.
Hello DJJ, sorry to hear all this.
Let’s split this so it is easier …
Your rights: Your flights have been cancelled so you now have a series of rights that are immediately available to you. First of all ,because your flight is far in the future (more than 14 days) you DO NOT have right to compensation. So don’t use that word or BA will simply shut you off. As said before you do not have to rush to make any decision but once you make a decision you lose all other options so take your time.
You have the right first of all to cancel your flights and get your money back (maybe it is just simpler for you at this point to fly with someone else if prices have not changed much. Otherwise, you have the right to ask for flights that are convenient to you given your original plans. Because you booked with a 3rd party (I suppose an online booking web or OTA) you will be bounced back between them and BA (and this is why we always recommend you book directly with BA unless extremely cheaper).
Start by checking what other flights BA has on the previous day or the day you wanted to fly. Call the OTA or contact them via Web and ask them to put you on those flights. If THE ONLY option is a day before or after you can claim the hotel but it will be hard to do so if you are being offered a flight on the same day with BA but decide to fly before because it is more convenient to you. HOWEVER, if you need to fly on the day you originally planned (as it seems to be the case) check what options exist with other carriers and tell the agent about that. You are within your rights to book those flights and demand BA pays the difference later on (but you may struggle a little and may not be up for a fight).
I think the most important thing is to remember you have a lot of time to make a decision so don’t rush or accept anything.
Who was this booked with? I note OP says they have tried unsuccessfully to contact them. Do they have a phone number?
There’s only one AYT departure per day so it may be a change rather than cancellation on the outbound (my LGW-OPO flight last year was moved by 8 hours a few months before departure). So no other same day BA options.
Who was this booked with? I note OP says they have tried unsuccessfully to contact them. Do they have a phone number?
There’s only one AYT departure per day so it may be a change rather than cancellation on the outbound (my LGW-OPO flight last year was moved by 8 hours a few months before departure). So no other same day BA options.
1) Outbound flight from LGW to Antalya – changed rather than cancellation
Initial flight – leaving 0730, arriving Antalya 1355.
New flight – leaving 1355, arriving Antalya 20402) Inbound – Flight from Sabiha Gokcen to LHR – original flight was cancelled and we have been rebooked for return the following day (same route).
Booked via Travelup – not easiest to contact via phone and not responded to emails.
Hello DJJ, sorry to hear all this.
Let’s split this so it is easier …
Your rights: Your flights have been cancelled so you now have a series of rights that are immediately available to you. First of all ,because your flight is far in the future (more than 14 days) you DO NOT have right to compensation. So don’t use that word or BA will simply shut you off. As said before you do not have to rush to make any decision but once you make a decision you lose all other options so take your time.
You have the right first of all to cancel your flights and get your money back (maybe it is just simpler for you at this point to fly with someone else if prices have not changed much. Otherwise, you have the right to ask for flights that are convenient to you given your original plans. Because you booked with a 3rd party (I suppose an online booking web or OTA) you will be bounced back between them and BA (and this is why we always recommend you book directly with BA unless extremely cheaper).
Start by checking what other flights BA has on the previous day or the day you wanted to fly. Call the OTA or contact them via Web and ask them to put you on those flights. If THE ONLY option is a day before or after you can claim the hotel but it will be hard to do so if you are being offered a flight on the same day with BA but decide to fly before because it is more convenient to you. HOWEVER, if you need to fly on the day you originally planned (as it seems to be the case) check what options exist with other carriers and tell the agent about that. You are within your rights to book those flights and demand BA pays the difference later on (but you may struggle a little and may not be up for a fight).
I think the most important thing is to remember you have a lot of time to make a decision so don’t rush or accept anything.
thanks for this breakdown. I will try what you have suggested
Never heard of them but it seems they don’t take Amex so they wouldn’t normally appear on the HFP radar!(Hopefully you used another credit card to pay for the holiday, in case the worst did happen; there are some grumbles on Trust Pilot about limited payment methods and slow refunds).
They seem to have mainly positive reviews though, it might just be a case of staying on the line until they answer the phone.
Travelup treat 12-15 year olds as adults so they can charge the APD and keep it for themselves.
Would that not be illegal?
Under EU261 Article 3:
“5. This Regulation shall apply to any operating air carrier providing transport to passengers covered by paragraphs 1 and 2. Where an operating air carrier which has no contract with the passenger performs obligations under this Regulation, it shall be regarded as doing so on behalf of the person having a contract with that passenger.”My limited understanding (IANAL) is that BA have an implicit contract and therefore can’t pass the buck – it is responsible. I’m sure someone will correct me. Personally I’d never book flights with a 3rd party for this exact reason (also typically it will be in a very cheap fare bucket!).
Airlines often seem to play a game of who will blink first, and unless you have deep pockets it can be an expensive game to play 😟
@lhar BA don’t appear to be denying anything here.
The issue is the OP has to go via the TA to get rebooked etc
Even if they chose to cancel the flight for a refund they have to go via the TA to get it and they can and likely will charge their own set of cancellation fees.
@lhar the passenger has chosen to go via an agent so rerouting etc. can only be handled by the agent who is empowered by BA to deal with these. If you have a post flight claim, you can go directly to the airline although a good agent should help the passenger to do this.
The advice above to leave it as long as you like to rebook is, as ever, madness.
I was about to helpfully suggest to the OP that I would be surprised if such a length of time later move of your flight would be something they’d be obliged to accept. At £1000 a night with a scheduled arrival mid-afternon I would be expecting to use all the faciities of my destination that same afternoon after the flight whose timing I had offered and accepted with my activities in mind. I am thinking such as swimming, spa treatments, guided walks, tea or drinks arranged with friends then dinner while the resturant is atill open.
All of these arrangemnts would be ruined by a so much later arrival than booked. I do not believe UK / EU 261 oblige you to accept a flight so much later and even under BA’s own ts and cs O do not believe you are obliged to accept a flight change that much later.
To preserve my arrangements if there is no earlier flight that same day BA will put you on then ask them for 1 day earlier, even 2, so as to keep your ( and your wife’s spa, hair etcl arrangements and keep marital peace at the start of your holiday. Ask them to put you up at an airport hotel the day before. Be nice.
This way is better as had you lost a day of your holiday to suit BA’s commercial purposes, you’d never get anything back for that even if you’d lost a £1,000 paid hotel night – you don’t need to say that to BA or travel agent but that’s why you go for the day before, be nice and ask them to pay a cheap airport hotel. If it came to it I’d pay that extra night myself.
Travelup anecdotally is about the worst OTA so my sympathy has run dry after giving you the above. As basically anyone who’s paid attention to travel forums in the past 5 years at least, would sooner swim to Turkey than book with them. All I can suggest is give it another week of trying to connect with Travelup then if prices havent moved too much cancel if you can get better timing with someone like TK. I’d try for a refund even at a slight loss, so as not to have to deal further with Travelup in case of any other issues personally.
Otherwise as BA was obliged legally to tell you of the change, and not just tell your OTA I’d email BA and Travelup jointly equally, ie “To:” both stating your specific altetnate flight request or your refund request plus ask nicely about airport hotel for x date and request their urgent action and confirmation within 14 days.
Meamwhile in those 14 days look at the bit in the BA terms you should have eceived in your confirmation and find the bit that states they can move your flight a max of less hours than they have. Other posters may not all agree but I’d use that and the flight change notice to open a s75 claim on your UK credit card that you paid with, for the card to refund as you’re not receiving what you paid for and go for it if not sorted within the 14 days.
If you have insurance that covers this, obvs use that instead as will be easier.
You have really complicated things for yourself both by booking through an OTA and then holding off addressing the issue for five months!
The travel agent is authorised to rebook you 2 days either side following a schedule change, but as has been reported elsewhere, these flights have been consolidated, so likely to be very busy, so a decision ought to be made as soon as possible. Whether BA will pay for a hotel if you travel the day before in response to a schedule change rather than a cancellation is very uncertain. You need to pass the ‘necessary’ test of Article 9.1(b). I can’t see how it’s something an insurer would cover or indeed engage any s75 liability anyway, but particularly as this has been booked through an agent, breaking the link with the supplier.
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