British Airways Club World downgrade or delay compensation claim

[dachan]

Hey all, would appreciate some advice about if I can claim compensation for the below delay and the best way to go about it.

I was due to fly with British Airways BA6 from Tokyo to London in Club World departing at 13:00. I couldn’t check in online, so was suspicious something might be up, and on arrival at the airport was informed the Club World seat was ‘broken’ – as I understand it wound’t recline. Initially I was offered to accept the broken seat or downgrade to economy as the flight was full, neither of which were very appealing.

As I was suspicious about not being able to check in online, I had checked options and there was a Japan Airlines flight with business class availability departing at 00:20 that night. On asking staff about this, they agreed to rebook me on JL41, which meant arriving in Heathrow about 10 hours later.

Can I get any compensation for this, and if so on what basis should I do so? Can I use EU compensation regulations for this, as I was offered the ability to fly, just at a lower class?

Thanks!

[Richie]

The best you might get out of them is a voucher or avios.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

I don’t think you qualify for anything.

To qualify for the downgrade reimbursement you would have had to have flown in economy on the original BA flight.

And since the delay was self inflicted as in you chose to fly later the delay compensation regulations won’t help you.

If BA had offered you the JL flight then you would have a better case for delay compensation.

[TGLoyalty]

You were offered the broken seat in J (probably could’ve complained and got some avios as compensation) or economy and the compensation that would have come with that downgrade

You instead elected to take a later flight of your own free choice as that meant you flew J

As above I don’t see any grounds for compensation from a legal perspective. Feel free to complain to BA they might drop you a few Avios for the inconvenience.

[Alex G]

Console yourself with the fact that JAL is a massive upgrade compared to BA.

[dachan]

Thanks, appreciate the advice! To be honest I was much happier flying JAL, so it definitely wasn’t all bad. Will see if a complaint gets me anything, but won’t be hold out.