BA change the airport we fly from

SandLake

I have a booking on BA through Expedia to fly from Gatwick to Rome next March and BA appear to have cancelled the flight from Gatwick and have rebooked us onto a flight with similiar times from Heathrow, the problem is that I have a connecting flight from Gatwick to get me home with only 2 1/2 hours in between, now I will have to get from Heathrow to Gatwick which I don't think will give me enough time. BA have offered a full refund but I will not be able to get to Rome any other way for the price.

I expect that BA can change the flight times (up to a point) but can they legally change the airport in such a way as to make the overall journey un-viable?

There is a flight from Heathrow home at the right time and I would have booked it from the outset, if I had known I was retuning into Heathrow and I feel that BA should be liable for the cost of this (BMI) flight now.

Where do I stand?

Thanks

jetboy

I don't think you'll get any joy on re-imbursing the connecting flight as this was arranged at your behest but they had no right to change your departure airport and should have consulted you first before changing it. With that in mind you should be able to claim a refund on your rome ticket.

SandLake

As I said a full refund has been offered, but all I want to do is complete the journey I originally booked, it was only after this booking was made that I made the connecting arrangements based on the information I had at the time. The flight originally cost me £100, similiar flights are now available for £250. If I cancel and get a (£100) refund then BA can sell my seat for £250, thats a good way to make money!!!!

blindman

Were BA the cheapest carrier to Rome in March?

How about Ryan air?

jetboy

Easyjet fly LGW-Rome but the times differ from BA. I can't understand why BA have done this unless they are moving the service to LHR completely.

richardw

jetboy wrote:

I don't think you'll get any joy on re-imbursing the connecting flight as this was arranged at your behest but they had no right to change your departure airport and should have consulted you first before changing it. With that in mind you should be able to claim a refund on your rome ticket.

They can change your flight, it is in the terms and conditions

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/genconcarr1/public/en_gb#9a

Never book two separate connecting flights, the airlines do change flights and your plans fall apart.

SandLake

Thanks for that link but it only mentions changes to flight times, it even does state in there 'We will carry you to the destination shown on your ticket' and on the return leg that is not going to be the case!
Is this actually a case of Denied Boarding?

SandLake

I have found this comment about schedule changes on the Air Transport Users Council website

"Before you accept a schedule change, be sure that it is not actually a cancellation. If the flight number is different, and if you are being told of a change within 14 days of travel, you might be entitled to redress under Regulation EC 261/2004 on denied boarding, cancellation and delay"


This is a flight number, airport, time change


In the event of a cancellation under EU law you are entitled to

A refund of the full price you paid for your ticket within seven days for the part or parts of your journey not made (and for the part or parts already made if the flight is no longer serving any purpose in relation to your original travel plan) and a return flight to the departure airport as soon as possible.

This sounds more promising to me

richardw

But it isn't less than 14 days before travel.

I think BA will tell you to claim on your travel insurance.

Is your Domestic flight to LGW a BA flight? If so you might get a pleasant BA person who would change it to LHR.

You are not alone https://ukprepin.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ukprepin.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2324&p_created=1152542486&p_sid=enVuvifi&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MzEyJnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0cz0wJnBfcHY9JnBfY3Y9JnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9Z2IgYWlyd2F5cw**&p_li=&p_topview=1