Help! V late cancellation

[AJA]

@SMB I’m glad to read that. It’s not great when these things happen but this site and FT are great resources and there are really helpful people on both. I’ve had great advice and help when I’ve been stuck so it’s nice to be able to repay that kindness by helping others.

@Grant enjoy the Fairmont and good luck for tomorrow. Glad you managed to get seats. As for today’s cancellation I’d say it’s highly likely to be down to BA’s IT meltdown rather than extraordinary circumstances. But extraordinary circumstances is for BA to justify – you don’t need to know reason for the cancellation just put in the claim for compensation regardless. It might be worthwhile doing a separate claim for expenses (hotel, meals, taxi from LHR to hotel and back again tomorrow) and another for the compensation. That way if BA try to wriggle out of compensation they don’t delay the expenses reimbursement.

[Grant]

I’ll bring this sorry tale to an end by confirming that, after a comfortable night at the Fairmont, we are ‘bums on seats’ on todays BA450 to PMI.

CE is 14 rows full today so unfortunately we in ET but I’m happy that we’re on our way at last.

Thanks to all those who offered advice, both here and at The Other Place.

[Lady London]

Very glad for you Grant.

Now you have a 3rd separate claim to make. Not much but every little helps as BA can so often leave you in the lurch.

For each seat you are now due downgrade reimbursement of 30% of what you paid for your Club class seats as they flew you in Economy.

So take out APD and the very small immigration and airport-type levies you will see in the fare breakdown, calculate 30% of the remainder and claim that reimbursenent. Keep it a separate claim from compo and just in case retain evidence of seats assigned/boarding pass.

Article 10.2(a) in EU261, think numbering is still the same in the UK Air Passenger Regs as they are still a direct copy.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

You will also be able to get a refund of the APD difference between CE and ET so £13 as a separate calculation to the downgrade reimbursements.

[ABA]

Grant, I was in this exact situation multiple times so can understand how you feel but it all works out OK once you are back on a plane to your destination. BA did pay out a significant sum over their quoted amount per night so just log a claim and you will get your money back.

[Grant]

For completeness, I’ll round this off by confirming that my claim with BA was entirely painless. I submitted a single claim which included £220 per pax for the delay; c £1,000 in duty of care expenses (overnight accommodation, a meal and taxis to and from LHR) and Avios returned for the downgrade (30% of the one-way CE fare in Avios per pax). This was all agreed without question by BA 9 working days after submitting the claim and the Avios were returned, and cash in my bank account, 14 working days after my claim was submitted.

[WaynedP]

Good to hear a positive outcome to an otherwise very unpleasant turn of events @Grant.

[PB2]

Good to hear all resolved.

I’m yet to experience a downgrade of a reward ticket, but only a matter of time.

I’ve seen some references in the past to compensation of 75% what you paid, be that cash or Avios – whereas the above mentions 30%? Can someone clarify for me. Thanks

[AJA]

@PB2 The 75% is the payout for journeys over 3500km, in other words for longhaul flights. The 30% rate is for shorter European flights up to 1500km. There is a further rate of 50% for journeys between 1500 and 3500km

[PB2]

Thank you!