Missed flight due to M1 collision Advice please

[anuj]

Hi,

We booked a three person trip to singapore using a companion voucher on BA, RTA has meant we have missed flight.

What are our options in terms of the platinum insurance. I’m guessing this doesn’t count as abandoned ? We tried ringing BA but it was within 24 hours. I tried calling the insurance provider but they are closed.

Guessing most we will get is £300 each so will have to book economy flights now?

Many thanks for any advice !

[JDB]

@anuj – I’m really sorry to hear this; what a nightmare. I fear that your initial analysis of the Plat policy is correct. You would get your money back, assuming you paid for the trip with Amex and met other conditions, if you claimed under the Cancelling, Postponing, Abandonment section but that does require you actually to abandon the trip which it’s sounds as though you understandably don’t want to do. I don’t know if there’s any leeway in the fact you are de facto abandoning the missed flight but that’s probably a bit tenuous but could perhaps be explored. Realistically though, I fear you may have to fall back on that paltry £300 Travel Inconvenience unless you have another policy.

It’s a long shot, but if you are planning to go to the airport anyway, BA has occasionally been known to take pity on people and rebook them – there are plenty of Club seats on the earlier flight. You could call as well if not going to the airport. You need anyway to speak to BA to make sure your return is protected.

[anuj]

Thank you for your message. I did try calling but it was basically we can’t do anything whatsoever. Not even for any cash.

My mum actually has HSBC premier so her and my dad should be covered and on that policy it gives a much higher amount £1000 per person for missed departure and doesn’t exclude reward flights however it does say that it needs to be a similar level of flight.

I guess worst case we could potentially get £1000×2 and then £300 for me.

Does HSBC premier also require flights booked on the card itself?

We are on the way to the airport anyway as we were almost there when they motorway was totally closed in the southbound direction so see what they say.

Thanks
Anuj

[JDB]

@anuj – great that your parents have the HSBC Premier cover and there’s no requirement to pay with any particular card on that policy. I hope you get something sorted out to get your trip back on track soon.

Once the dust settles and if you have the energy, you should write to Amex to complain as that Platinum policy is not fit for purpose or of a quality that could reasonably be expected of Amex’s top of the range card.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Phone line can’t reaally touch a booking this close to departure so you need to get to the airport and speak to staff there.

Airport staff are usually on the ball when it comes to traffic alerts and will start to ask questions when a lot of people suddenly start missing their flights.

They basically have people in ops looking at issues like this and tube / train issues and so on.

Airport staff have more flexibility when it comes to rebooking when it comes to issues like this so don’t start spending money on new flights until you’ve spoken to a member of staff at T5

There is a provision in BAs conditions of carriage that covers situationslike this (usually, but erroneously called a ‘flat tire’ rule)/

One of the provisions of that is you informed BA as soon as you realised you were goign to miss your flight and you have evidence you did call them.

Good luck.

[JDB]

@anuj – the term in the BA Conditions of Carriage to which I think @BAFIS is referring is copied below. It’s rather less generous than some, but none of that prevents them rebooking you at no cost if you fall on the right person. Fingers crossed.

“3e) Your rights if you are prevented from travelling by events beyond your control
If:
you are a consumer.
you have been prevented from travelling by events beyond your control and
all or part of the fare for your ticket is non-refundable.
We will give you a credit for the non-refundable part of the fare. We will do this if you:
have a completely unused ticket
have told us promptly about the events beyond your control and
have given us evidence of these events.
The credit can be used for future travel on us by you or any person you choose. We may take a reasonable fee from the credit to cover our administration costs.”