Flight changes: AF booked with Virgin Points

[Boi]

I booked a flight for my sister on AF using flying club miles: MAN to JNB. Air france have now cancelled the 2pm flight from Man to CDG and rebooked her on the 11am flight. This gives her a whooping 7.5 hours layover which is too much.

1. Can she ask to be re-routed on another airline? If so, does she contact virgin or air france?
2. If she decides to stick with air france can she change the date for free (she would like to go a week earlier)

[memesweeper]

She definitely needs to speak to Air France if relying on EU261 rights.

I’d call them up and ask them what they can offer in terms of flexible arrangements. They will have policies for what they can do following the cancellation and staying within these policies is the best way to a convenient and quick result.

I have no experience of trying to move a flight forward by a week after a cancellation, so can’t comment if the law is on her side if Air France refuse to provide her with anything acceptable and she decides to “go legal”.

[JDB]

As advised above, you need to call AF and persuade them to help. This is an odd one as I believe you have rights under EU261 but not UK261 because the ECJ decision re flights brought forward post dates Brexit. I think they will be reluctant to book her on another airline and this may anyway cause issues of she has luggage. Assuming this is in the near future (ie winter weather) I would be inclined to accept a longer layover rather than cut things too fine.

[Boi]

Thanks both. I will call airfrance and see what they can do. The flights are in March, so plenty of time.