Unilateral BA Flight Change

[smiliemonster]

We have been advised our BA flight from LHR to ATH has changed time and will now depart 1h 20min later. Unfortunately that means we will now arrive in the early hours of the morning. Of course we will get to our destination, so it's not the end of the world, but....

The problem I have is that BA are still running a flight at the exact time I originally booked. They've just given it another flight number. I called up and asked to be put back on the flight at the time I booked and was told it will cost an additional $800 . And since the change was considered minor to them (i.e. less than 2hrs), their system automatically accepts the variance on the traveller's behalf.

The flight's not until later next year so the chances are they'll change it several times between now and then. I've not encountered this kind of bait and switch before. In all other instances where airlines have change my flights over the decades (including BA), they reaccommodate you if the change is unacceptable. Apparently that's not the case any more, or perhaps they are just enforcing a long held policy? Any suggestions? It's a J flight booked directly with BA.

 

[SYD]

Yes, a PITA. I have a flight in a few weeks (BUD to LHR) that was rescheduled to leave much later than expected. A manual change online would be £££s and £££s!

However, if it’s any consolation, BA have a free “on the day / 24 hr” fee free change option for non-lite fares. Basically, go online at midnight UK time and try and change your flight (for free)….

If I have success, I’ll report back. If you don’t hear back from me by NYE, I’ve probably forgotten so ping me!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We have been advised our BA flight from LHR to ATH has changed time and will now depart 1h 20min later. Unfortunately that means we will now arrive in the early hours of the morning. Of course we will get to our destination, so it's not the end of the world, but....

The problem I have is that BA are still running a flight at the exact time I originally booked. They've just given it another flight number. I called up and asked to be put back on the flight at the time I booked and was told it will cost an additional $800 . And since the change was considered minor to them (i.e. less than 2hrs), their system automatically accepts the variance on the traveller's behalf.

The flight's not until later next year so the chances are they'll change it several times between now and then. I've not encountered this kind of bait and switch before. In all other instances where airlines have change my flights over the decades (including BA), they reaccommodate you if the change is unacceptable. Apparently that's not the case any more, or perhaps they are just enforcing a long held policy? Any suggestions? It's a J flight booked directly with BA.

Hang up and call again? Or email/chat. Just ask to be reinstated on the flight leaving at ‘x’ time.

 

[SYD]

Hang up and call again? Or email/chat. Just ask to be reinstated on the flight leaving at ‘x’ time.

I tried that.

BA is 2+ hr delay before they’ll change for free …

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I tried that.

BA is 2+ hr delay before they’ll change for free …

Yeah, I get that, but I’d be arguing that you don’t want to change, you want to be reinstated. There’s a difference.

While everyone seems to acknowledge the ‘2 hours = significant’… it’s not actually defined in the conditions of carriage. I dont see how a policy, unknown to passengers, can override the COC.

 

[smiliemonster]

Yeah, I get that, but I’d be arguing that you don’t want to change, you want to be reinstated. There’s a difference.

While everyone seems to acknowledge the ‘2 hours = significant’… it’s not actually defined in the conditions of carriage. I dont see how a policy, unknown to passengers, can override the COC.

This is my view too, but they wouldn't entertain the idea of doing anything due to this unpublished 2 hour rule. I've reviewed the conditions of carriage and fare rules and couldn't find it referenced anywhere either. Perhaps it's there and I'm just looking in the wrong place?

I'm totally baffled how this is legal. I can understand if the original flight was cancelled, but it's not. It's still running at the same time, on the same day, on the same aircraft type, from the same city, to the same airport. They have simply changed the flight number. It's totally bizarre

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 8:46 PM

I tried that.

BA is 2+ hr delay before they’ll change for free …

@SYD - did you email or just call like I did?

 

[p--and--t]

QR did similar to me a couple years back for my multi segment QF OW Classic award J ticket.

They shifted me to a different flight leaving half a day later KUL-DOH will no other option because “the flight was cancelled”, which meant I would miss the subsequent flight DOH-CMN

They then sent an update moving me to the DOH-CMN flight a day later.

I went online and found the original KUL-DOH had not been cancelled, they had merely bumped me for some unknown reason.

Incensed that I was going to be a day late for my booked tour I got a bit animated and demanded they reinstate the original flights as they were pulling a swifty. (Which they did).

 

[smiliemonster]

Yeah, I get that, but I’d be arguing that you don’t want to change, you want to be reinstated. There’s a difference.

While everyone seems to acknowledge the ‘2 hours = significant’… it’s not actually defined in the conditions of carriage. I dont see how a policy, unknown to passengers, can override the COC.

As I noted above, I didn't have any luck with this approach on the phone so I've written, outlining the issue (again) as you suggested. Thank you; we'll see how it goes!

 

[smiliemonster]

QR did similar to me a couple years back for my multi segment QF OW Classic award J ticket.

They shifted me to a different flight leaving half a day later KUL-DOH will no other option because “the flight was cancelled”, which meant I would miss the subsequent flight DOH-CMN

They then sent an update moving me to the DOH-CMN flight a day later.

I went online and found the original KUL-DOH had not been cancelled, they had merely bumped me for some unknown reason.

Incensed that I was going to be a day late for my booked tour I got a bit animated and demanded they reinstate the original flights as they were pulling a swifty. (Which they did).

Glad to hear it worked out for you. It really does feel like a bait and switch situation which I assume is just as illegal in the UK as it is here in Australia. As in your case, if the flight was really cancelled, that's one thing, but if it's still running and they want more for the privilege of flying on it, it seems like a swifty for sure.

 

[SYD]

@SYD - did you email or just call like I did?

Called. The original flight wasn’t “cancelled”, just rescheduled. If it was AA or AS, you’d normally be able to rebook ANY alternate flight - many actually play the game and book flights more than 6mths out knowing it will most likely be rescheduled.

We booked our BA flight just to lock in a reasonable fare during the Xmas / New Year period over 6mths out. They rescheduled a few weeks later…