Unilateral BA Flight Change

[kangarooflyer88]

Even EC261 only confers rights if the flight is delayed within certain bands, depending on distance.

In this case the flight was below the significant time change under BA policy, which is 2 hours.

That is assuming they use a delay as the reason for the disruption. However, if they claim denied boarding, there are no such limits on arrival time.

 

[TomVexille]

QF pulled this carp on us a couple years ago. It took a formal complaint to get us back on the original flight, which was then cancelled on the day

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That is assuming they use a delay as the reason for the disruption. However, if they claim denied boarding, there are no such limits on arrival time.

It can only be denied boarding if the passenger holds a valid reservation for the flight.

In this case the passenger does not.

There is also no delay, based on the above.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

It can only be denied boarding if the passenger holds a valid reservation for the flight.

I wonder if it could be viewed as defacto denied boarding. Yes you are right that generally speaking denied boarding means you aren’t allowed to board the flight you were booked on. However, if it can be shown that the departure time slid out by two hours whilst at the same time BA scheduled a new flight at the original time then it could be seen as BA using fancy footwork to try to deny boarding without the hassle of facing the consequences of such. Again, OP would have to gather the evidence to show that this was in effect denied boarding by another name, but something to consider.

-RooFlyer88

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The OP just needs to get to the right person at BA and make a case to be reinstated on a flight at the originally booked time. (Easier said than done.)

Unfortunately BA’s current policy is that a schedule change of less than two hours is not considered significant.

There doesn’t appear to be a case under UK261 or MC99.

In Australia it is *possible* the ACL would assist. That the revised service is no longer fit for purpose, or that the passenger wouldn’t have bought the flight had they known the revised timing.

For all our complaints about the lack of airline laws in Australia, this is one area where our airlines are pretty good. Even with a schedule change of as little as five mins our airlines are generally happy to reaccommodate you. No questions.

 

[docjames]

About 18 months ago, I was booked on the first BCN-LHR flight for the day, ticketed through QF and operated by BA/IB. Got 2hr flight time change about 4 months prior to travel - flight number had been moved to later departure, with new flight number at originally booked time.

Managed to get QF to get BA to move me back to the time booked (new flight number).
Later flight was going to be legal but too tight for my liking connection to QF 10 at LHR so I requested originally booked time.

Note I was dealing with QF not BA. But it is clearly possible. But whether BA “customer service” will do this directly I’m not so sure.

 

[smiliemonster]

QF pulled this carp on us a couple years ago. It took a formal complaint to get us back on the original flight, which was then cancelled on the day

That's probably what will happen to me too!

 

[smiliemonster]

About 18 months ago, I was booked on the first BCN-LHR flight for the day, ticketed through QF and operated by BA/IB. Got 2hr flight time change about 4 months prior to travel - flight number had been moved to later departure, with new flight number at originally booked time.

Managed to get QF to get BA to move me back to the time booked (new flight number).
Later flight was going to be legal but too tight for my liking connection to QF 10 at LHR so I requested originally booked time.

Note I was dealing with QF not BA. But it is clearly possible. But whether BA “customer service” will do this directly I’m not so sure.

That's good to hear @docjames, thank you. This booking is directly with BA, though it does have my QF WP status noted. Still waiting for a response to my email (aside from the "dear smiliemonster" email asking me to confirm my name and email address ).

 

[smiliemonster]

An update to close the loop on this one.

After getting nowhere on the phone and through chat, I submitted a complaint on the BA website using the phrasing suggested by @MEL_Traveller. It's done the trick, and I've just received new tickets on the original flight.

The BA support person was quite apologetic. I'm guessing the order they upload flight changes to their system matters, otherwise strange things like this occur. A good outcome in the end, though it's a shame their phone and chat staff couldn't (or wouldn't) fix it. Thank you everyone for all your help.

 

[clifford]

it's a shame their phone and chat staff couldn't (or wouldn't) fix it.

IME, I think it might help if you have status with BA and have a british accent when speaking with the staff at the Newcastle call centre.

 

[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!

Success changing for free on the day (Free Change on the Day (FCOD) using BA terminology) yesterday BUD-LHR. Changed from 5pm to 12:30pm departure. I had to wait until after 1am local time, but nabbed two seats via the app - easy, peasy.

So a good fall back option!

So long as you:
1. Flying UK domestic or Europe
2. Non “Lite” fare (points flights not possible)
3. After midnight GMT, online or app or call and change flight.
3. Must be same day and same airport pairs

Also, DON’T do OLCI because then you’ll have to ring to get offloaded and rebooked.

I’m not sure what the go is if you’ve paid for a discount upgrade in an advance - I suggest not doing that if you want to do a FCOD. Note: I had to “checkin” after I made the change to select seats but it promoted me for an option to “upgrade” for possibly less than I was quoted months ago. But I didn’t bother.

Use EF to check the alternate flight seatmaps. Within 48 hrs (and certainly less than 24 hrs), it should be a reasonable indicator of loads and likelihood of finding an alternate with decent seats.

If they’re lightly loaded, you can probably wait until the morning. I went in after 1am Euro time to do the change. Eligible flights will show zero £/€ change fee. Select the one you want and it’s processed immediately with new ticket email issued.

Since you’re within 24hrs, you’ll then need to do OLCI to select seats. It probably will auto allocate seats but there’s the option to change to any available seats.