Flightshare codes and volcanoes!

ditsydoris_2

Cut long story short, partner flew to Melbourne 5th April. Due to return 19th April. Codeshare flight through BA. Return journey was Quantas to Singapore and then BA to Heathrow all on BA flight number. He was turned away from Melbourne Airport by Quantas as flights were grounded. He was then told new flight would be 5th May!. When he queried what he should do in the meantime the Quantas rep shrugged and said " not my problem ". Refused to help. BA would not answer phone or email enquiry. He eventually made it home on 1st May. He had been staying with friends so was lucky enough to be able to go back to their house. Virgin travel insurance ( gold ) refused point blank to help. BA ( when they finally replied ) sent him to Quantas. They in turn sent him to BA. Mobile phone bill is astronomical and 2 weeks lost wages ( self employed ). Only got his flight home moved forward when we found out that a friend had made it back to UK on BA flight from Singapore that had lots of spare seats, he pointed this out to BA who suddenly found him a sooner flight. We know he will get no financial redress but would like to know what happens with a codeshare flight? Who ultimately has responsibility in a situation such as a volcano? Can you strand someone for 2 weeks with no offer of help? What if he had been in a hotel and not at a friends house? Not looking for money, just some answers for the future!

eslick

Thanks, Cityboy from all of the stranded passengers who you have helped on this and the other forums

richardw

Where does it say 'operating airline' in the EC regs?

What if it is a wet lease charter? What happens then?

richardw

Excellent. Many thanks Cityboy.

IMHO part (b) should include codeshares because it isn't always clear who the operating airline is.

ditsydoris_2

Many thanks for help. I was just wondering what happens, like I said, I knew there would be no financial redress. But, on another point, when we booked the flight through Lastminute, they took the booking as a BA flight. It was months later we found out the flight would be split between BA and Quantas ( all on a BA code ). Not very fair in my view. They should have mentioned the flight would be split between 2 airlines when we made the initial booking.

mikey72

So if it's a BA ticket, why aren't BA responsible, even if they as the operating air carrier who performs or intends to perform a flight, whether with owned aircraft, under dry or wet lease, or on any other basis.
And the basis being a codeshare on a Quantas plane.
Still a BA ticket after all.