Iberia flight delayed + cancelled (booked via BAEC)

[Scotsman]

Hi All,

Currently at the tail end of a holiday in Argentina. Made the booking via BAEC on Iberia using a 2-4-1 for a 50% single person discount for business class. Outbound leg was MAD-EZE. Inbound is tomorrow, Saturday 14th Dec, and is EZE-MAD-LHR.

Tomorrow’s flight IB102 was meant to depart EZE at 14:20, arrive in MAD at 05:55 (on 15th), then depart on IB713 on 15th from MAD at 07:45, arrive at LHR at 09:15.

I just got an email from Iberia that my EZE-MAD flight has had a time change to depart at 17:50 and arrive at MAD at 09:25. Flight number is unchanged. The email states the MAD-LHR leg has not changed oddly so I would miss the connection. I’ve checked Iberia’s website and they are still selling cash tickets in economy for the original flight time at 14:20 on the 14th for EZE-MAD. My new flight time doesn’t exist.

I tried to see what options I had via my manage my booking on the Iberia website, but it said I need to contact my travel agent (BA). I went to check-in via the BA app, which directed me to Iberia and I could see both flight have changed and the MAD-LHR flight has changed to IB717 departing at 13:25, landing at 14:55.

Called BA and they said it’s not a flight cancellation, that they can’t see the MAD-LHR flight change on their system only the time change for EZE-MAD, and as Iberia have given more than 4hrs notice from departure I have no further rights as per t+c’s, just need to accept the changes. They also said I wouldn’t be able to claim EU261 flight delay compensation (I had pointed out I would land in LHR 5.5hrs after the original time) as Iberia have given more than 4hrs notice.

Wondering if you someone can confirm if BA are correct or if I can claim delay compensation from Iberia? I can see there are no alternatives in business from EZE-MAD but saw from earlier MAD-LHR flights on BA that would get me in at 12:15pm on 15th, can I request they change me to that flight? If they do change that last leg, it’s still a 3hr delay on arrival, can still claim EU261 compensation or not as they changed the last leg at my request?

Thanks in advance.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Any compensation claim would have to be made from IB as the operating carrier.

[AJA]

I just looked at Flightradar24 and I think this all stems from the fact that the original plane scheduled to operate your flight tomorrow is currently flying back from Lima to Madrid and scheduled to arrive in Madrid tomorrow morning. This means another aircraft must be allocated to the MAD-EZE flight departing in 2 hours time.

I’d just accept the new flight times but I’d head to the airport as originally planned ie to fly as originally scheduled to depart at 14:20. I suspect you will receive another email basically telling you to ignore today’s email.

If you do end up arriving in LHR more than 3 hours later than originally scheduled you will need to claim compensation from Iberia.

[Scotsman]

Thanks both for the replies.

AJA wrote:

If you do end up arriving in LHR more than 3 hours later than originally scheduled you will need to claim compensation from Iberia.

Can I still make that claim against Iberia for a 3hr delay if BA (as my agent) change the MAD-LHR flight to an earlier flight landing at LHR at 12:15pm (on BA metal opposed to Iberia) at my request?

[JDB]

@Scotsman – you can’t make any delay compensation claim until you actually suffer a delay of the requisite length (3hrs for €260 or 4hrs for €520) on arrival in London. To the extent that you voluntarily make changes, that confuses matters and might affect your bags, but doesn’t necessarily change the overall position. In any event, you will need to seek the compensation from IB as the operating airline of the delayed inbound flight and, to put it politely, they don’t play nice (sic).

[Scotsman]

@JDB – thank you for the clarity.

BA managed to change my MAD-LHR flights to land at 12:15 (initially they refused saying it was a time change only, despite the flight number changing and cancellation email). In theory I have a 3 hour delay compared to 5.5hrs now. Will keep an eye on the actual touchdown time to see what the actual delay is.

I’ve read a few others experience with IB on the forum before making the booking. Will revert back if more sage advice is needed. Thanks.