Cancelled flight today – Storm Bert

[harrisjamieh]

Hi all – I know before posting this it’s been answered umpteen times but I’m at the airport and so hard to search on my phone!

Our flight to Rome was cancelled 4 hours before takeoff today. Only replacement on MMB was tomorrow which is no good – we have a connecting flight to catch (sep ticket).

Obviously couldn’t get through to BA on the phone so went ahead and booked onto EasyJet for 3pm today – it was that or miss out J Qatar flights from Rome.

Am I right in thinking BA should cover that cost? Given they can’t get me there today? Finally got through to BA 10 mins ago and obviously they were saying only choice was refund which I haven’t accepted.

Thanks so much

[JDB]

@harrisjamieh – there’s no definitive answer to this question as it definite on the very specific facts. You don’t know that BA couldn’t get you there as you didn’t contact them, even if nothing was offered today in MMB.

From your perspective, understandably, you need and want to get to Rome for those onward flights, but that isn’t strictly BA’s problem and the risk always associated with separate bookings. Ultimately, if BA doesn’t simply agree to cover the cost of the new tickets, it will come down to the test of whether your actions/costs were “necessary, appropriate and reasonable“. The alternative is to take the refund from BA and then simply claim the difference. Make a note with time/date of your eventual call with BA.

[harrisjamieh]

Thanks @jdb, appreciated. Any guidance on whether I should wait to cancel or just cancel anyway regardless of course of action I take?

[harrisjamieh]

And unfortunately that refund will be minimal given it’s an avios booking… sadly!

[Lady London]

keep your phone records of all your attempts to reach BA to request the urgent reroute you needed and had a right to.

This means you gave them every chance to reroute you but despite your having done everything reasonable to give them the opportunity they could not be reached.

I’d expect you to get paid out by any reasonable airline but they may make you take them to CEDR or worse – I’d pursue it though.

If there was no staff available at the airport who could deal with this on behalf of the airline and you made it that far, I’d also mention those efforts to help BA choose which way they preferred to reroute you, that failed due to no one who could help being available at the airport either.

You don’t have to cancel as you’re not on any alternative flight till you either check in at the airport or accept it in MMB.

JDB will say you can cancel and get a refund and also claim reroute costs – I think it’s safer not to, so as not to open any door for the airline to say you chose the refund option rather than reroute. You also don’t need to claim accommodation expenses as well so thus makes your case simpler it’s just about the reroute.

Just put the claim in for reroute costs with note about impossible to reach then for urgent reroute required same day. Obviously do take the refund if the Easyjet cost less, though 🙂

[harrisjamieh]

Thanks everyone! Excellent advice as always

[Ihar]

As said, as a separate ticket so getting you to Rome on time isn’t really BA’s problem. EU261 is quite clear (IMHO) – re-route at earliest opportunity – so I think you have demonstrated that. Personally I’d take the easy route (cancellation?) if it’s not a huge amount of money.

[harrisjamieh]

Just by way of an update – submitted a claim on wednesday to BA for the replacement flights I booked. Approved in full today with payment promised in next 14 days. An all round good result!