Flummoxed by a BA flight time change

[ShelleyB]

Last night received a notification of a flight time change for a BA flight we are taking in Dec from AMM-LHR. The flight is now departing 30 minutes earlier but arriving 20 minutes later. How does that work? It's not a problem as although we are transiting there's still plenty of time, but it does seem hard to explain. Are there flight path changes due to various war zones? We only booked a month ago so I would have thought all current issues would have already been accounted for in the advertised flight times.

 

[Oubline]

Last night received a notification of a flight time change for a BA flight we are taking in Dec from AMM-LHR. The flight is now departing 30 minutes earlier but arriving 20 minutes later. How does that work? It's not a problem as although we are transiting there's still plenty of time, but it does seem hard to explain. Are there flight path changes due to various war zones? We only booked a month ago so I would have thought all current issues would have already been accounted for in the advertised flight times.

When I look at Great Circle Mapper (A map from the Great Circle Mapper) it has the direct route flying over Israel.

Then the most recent BA313 took a definite detour at the start, which I can imagine adds a bit of time: EGLL

Maybe they've changed the schedule to anticipate routing around that area, which is what you are saying. That would make sense.

For example, something similar happened to me last year from HEL-SIN, an extra couple of hours added to the flight time to avoid Ukraine and Russia.

 

[bam71]

Had the same on a GA flight a few years back. Different flight path, added around 2hrs to the sector.

 

[ShelleyB]

A flight path change does seem to be the only explanation that makes sense.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A flight path change does seem to be the only explanation that makes sense.

Some airlines are taking a ‘rolling approach’ to schedule changes involving flights around that region. They’ll decide month by month if they need to update their schedules to reflect longer flying times… so possible they were planning on a shorter route when you booked, but have now revised that.

 

[Flashback]

There are also lots of issues around LHR due to ATC etc., so could also be factoring that in. Every flight I've had recently (that hasn't been retimed) has had an average minimum 30 minute delay.