BA rescheduled flight and not offering suitable alternative?

[flightsforpoints]

I have a flight in early June, scheduled for 20:00, my return leg from Pisa to LHR. They’ve cancelled it and rescheduled us onto the 12:30 flight same day. BA do not operate any other flights on this day, from this airport. Nearby airports such as Florence also have unsuitable times.

We can’t make it to the airport that early, and it’s going to ruin our plans if we have to cut the holiday a day short. I want to get rerouted on a Ryanair flight at 17:15 which is close enough to our prior flight time, however this lands at Stansted not LHR. So we will also need a taxi which I expect I can claim back later. I’ve spoken to BA on the phone and they won’t do this and offering either a refund or the rebooking.

From reading up on UK/EU 261 legislation am I correct in saying I can opt to reroute myself as BA are refusing to accommodate my request, and their 8h reschedule is unsuitable. Do I need to get written rejection from them in order to make a claim later? I’ve raised a complaint but as everything with BA they’re taking ages to respond to me.

Any advice is really appreciated, thanks!

[JDB]

@flightsforpoints – you don’t need a written rejection (and are unlikely to get one anyway) but just keep notes with time/date of any conversations with BA and if possible ask them to note your plans to reroute yourself. Re a taxi, BA is obliged to pay for transportation from Stansted to Heathrow but not any additional cost you might incur getting home, although they might pay up for this.

In order to save the hassle of getting the money back and being out of pocket for three months, have you looked at getting BA to put you on another flight from eg Florence or Bologna?

[AJA]

@flightsforpoints what date is this? Are there flights the following day? BA will pay for the extra night in the hotel.

Or as @JDB says try flying from another airport. If Florence doesn’t have anything try Bologna. BA has a flight departing at 19:40.

[Richie]

Ask BA to be re-routed on a BA flight from BLQ or FLR, this is better than Ryanscair to STN and a taxi to LHR.
BA customer services isn’t great and will get slower with BAEC changes.

You’re expecting too much of BA and their obligations under UK261.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

You already asked this!

Please dont waste people’s time with duplicate posts!

https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/ba-cancelled-flight-rebooking-alternative-8h-earlier-what-are-my-options/