BA0294 Chicago to London – Air Belgium

[Mick S]

as reported earlier in the month, its now official. Two phone calls to BA today, around four hours in total, and for me it’s not a good outcome.

(1) Downgraded from First – appreciate it’s first world issue, but this is my 4th trip with BA this year and the 4th time I’ve been downgraded. If I move to BA0296 I miss my connecting flight to Manchester, resulting in almost 8 hours at Heathrow. Not an option – I’ve have to be home for something critical.

(2) Discussed amending my return flight, and coming back from Washington. Connecting times worked (sort of), but involved moving from a reward seat to a cash seat. Was put on hold for ages – agent came back and advised that moving to a cash ticket was fine, but a BA policy regarding Air Belgium changes means changing location is not allowed.

(3) Discussed moving to BA0296 again, but 24 hours earlier. Connecting time acceptable, down to 5 hours. The connecting flight to MAN would be economy and the agent advised I wouldn’t have lounge access at Heathrow.

Becoming frustrated I just hung up at this point before blowing up with rage. I’m now half tempted to just deal with the situation and thrown in a compensation claim for the downgrade to Club. It’s just so difficult doing anything it seems.

[Richie]

Four hours on the phone is nearly half the flight time from Chicago to London, Air Belgium biz class doesn’t look that bad.

[Always Somewhere Else]

You’ve not given dates so we can’t check availability but what about keeping ORD as your origin but taking an AA domestic and connecting onto BA F? That should be allowed under BA’s rebooking policy. Working back I assume you’re on BA0924 and so need to be in LHR around 6:30am. Could you take AA532 ORD to JFK which departs 11:38 arriving 14:30 and then connect on to BA 0112 at 18:30 arriving at LHR 06:30 or BA0174 at 18:50 arriving at 6:50. You could use the layover to try the Chelsea Lounge at JFK which will be a significantly better ground experience than BA at ORD and you can use the AA Flagship Lounge ahead of the ORD to JFK leg too. Miami could be another option. BA0206 would get you into LHR for 6:30am but you’d need an earlier flight out of ORD to connect on to it AA1788 at 8:29 should work and at MIA you would get to use AA Flagship First Dining.

[SamG]

If you arrive in F you’d get CCR access at LHR by showing your arriving BP, even if in economy to Manchester

Personally I’d just take the planned flight and enjoy my compensation, it’s a pretty short flight and likely you’ll want to get some sleep anyway if you’re busy the next day