Cancelled SFO to LHR flight in first

[Boltonsam]

Hi,

in need of some urgent advice. Flight Sat 26th Aug SFO to LHR (final leg to MAN) cancelled 2 adults and 2 kids booked with 2 companion vouchers.

MMB shows next day 2 tickets possibly in first (can’t see 4 available for cash). Trying to phone on my mobile but it’s not letting me call out.

1) Am I still entitled to a free (claimed) phone call through my hotel room phone?

2) I ll need accommodation for at least one night. Can I book 2 rooms at what is the budget I can claim for? Same question re: food and board.

3) I still have a hire car to return to the airport. I take it ba won’t pay me to extend it one day?

4) with 2 separate bookings for each pair do we have to take separate flights potentially if no block of 4 seats?

Any other advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[e14]

1) Skype
2/3/4 yes

[e14]

1) Skype
2) yes reasonable costs
3) they will cover
4) separate bookings could equal separate flights

[Boltonsam]

Thanks e14- used Skype managed to get flights for 2 days later and extended car hire.

I do remember from years ago there was a specific value that ba would cover per person for board and hotel?

Cheers

[SamG]

£200 per night but it’s not written down anywhere, if you can’t stick to that though I’d take screenshots of rates locally to justify it. 2 rooms is fine. Also your food (no alcohol) is claimable

[JDB]

Boltonsam wrote:

Thanks e14- used Skype managed to get flights for 2 days later and extended car hire.

I do remember from years ago there was a specific value that ba would cover per person for board and hotel?

Cheers

There is no specific sum BA will or won’t cover; the £200 per person for accommodation is the sum they suggest at LHR is reasonable, but other places will often require/justify much higher spend. The actual legal position is that any sums you incur in exercising Article 9 ‘right to care’ provisions must be: “necessary, appropriate and reasonable” and contrary to the HfP myth, claiming for alcohol with a meal meets the test and is, on repeated empirical evidence, fine. Staying in your existing hotel rather than moving should meet the “appropriate” element of the test.

[SamG]

I’d say a glass of wine when BA has left me stranded is very necessary, appropriate and reasonable 🤣 but I’ve put it into claims a couple of times and they always deduct it from the final amount they paid me. Easyjet specifically state they won’t pay

[The Savage Squirrel]

JDB wrote:

Boltonsam wrote:

Thanks e14- used Skype managed to get flights for 2 days later and extended car hire.

I do remember from years ago there was a specific value that ba would cover per person for board and hotel?

Cheers

There is no specific sum BA will or won’t cover; the £200 per person for accommodation is the sum they suggest at LHR is reasonable, but other places will often require/justify much higher spend. The actual legal position is that any sums you incur in exercising Article 9 ‘right to care’ provisions must be: “necessary, appropriate and reasonable” and contrary to the HfP myth, claiming for alcohol with a meal meets the test and is, on repeated empirical evidence, fine. Staying in your existing hotel rather than moving should meet the “appropriate” element of the test.

In your own words this morning: “are you willing to underwrite your ‘advice’?” on alcohol claims 😉 😉 😉 . Guess we know whose round it is at the next HfP party 😀 . It goes directly against the CAA’s published advice and position. Well done if you sneaked a couple of glasses of wine through but it’s clearly wise to work on the assumption that claims for alcohol won’t be allowed – and the empirical experience of many backs that up.

[JDB]

@The Savage Squirrel – a great many people have reported BA has paid for alcohol, and I’m not talking about just the odd glass of wine. A lot of people seem to believe the myth so don’t drink or exclude it from their claim.

The CAA’s position is set out in CAP2155 at para 6.9 and uses the wording per my original post. A standalone drink won’t pass the first test (which is why I specified with a meal) but when having a meal under Article 9.1(a) meets the ‘necessary’ test, having some alcohol with that meal meets the ‘appropriate’ test so you just need to avoid buying a bottle of Romanée-Conti because that will fail the last test.

I have never had a subsistence claim rejected in part by BA even when the hotel is a lot more than £200 and alcohol is very clearly itemised on the food bill. That’s three in the last 12 months. A fourth claim for compensation, car hire, petrol, parking and €50 of a €150 lunch bill being alcohol has been rejected in its entirety and is currently at MCOL but there is absolutely no challenge to the quantum, merely a dispute as to who is the operator of the cancelled flight and whether self-rerouting is allowable.

[JDB]

@The Savage Squirrel – re “underwriting”, if I’m spending or hoping I’m spending someone else’s money I don’t pay more than I would be happy to pay for myself as you never know what the outcome might be. There have been some posts here recently where people are hoping BA will pay for a hotel because a rescheduling means a very early start; that’s very questionable. The implication of your post is that people might buy a drink they otherwise wouldn’t which is contrary to the tests, albeit difficult to prove.

[Lady London]

Boltonsam wrote:

Thanks e14- used Skype managed to get flights for 2 days later and extended car hire.

I do remember from years ago there was a specific value that ba would cover per person for board and hotel?

Cheers

SFO hotel rates likely to be well beyond the theoretical £200. But airine is still liable for reasonable local rates beyond that figure if that’s what reasonable local rates are at the time. Just as @SamG says, keep screenshots/pdf’s/photos of local rates generally available, as evidence of prevailing rates that are at a higher level to justify yours.

Also within reason it’s also reasonable for you to just claim the cost of having to extend your stay wherever you’re already staying. Airline would be responsible for transport cost to and from any extra night needed in a new hotel, if you were having to stay sonewhere new, as well.

Don’t forget to keep receipts for all meals at reasonable local prices too for the extra time you’re stuck there and claim too.