British Airways - delay of a flight

downuno

What rights do I have to getting compensation for missing day 1 (of 3) family function because my flight was delayed?

In December, I flew from the UK to the United States. I flew from point A to point B via point C. So my flight was point A to point C (international flight), point C to point B (domestic flight). eticket said I had 110 minutes at point C to go through customs, immigration and re-check in to board the domestic flight point C to point B.

The first flight (point A to point C flight) was delayed by about 45 minutes. The immigration line at point C was 50 minutes long. Also taking into account the taxiing of the plane to the gate, the exiting from the plane to the gate, the walk from the gate to the immigrations queue. To sum up, I missed my connecting flight from point C to point B because my first flight (point A to point C) was delayed.

Both flights were BA### flights. They issued me with a flight for free from point C to point B but I arrived at point B four hours later than if I had not missed the initial connecting flight, I missed the day 1 of that family function, and I lost 4 hours of my time. I want compensation for that, but BA is refusing me it.

What are my rights? How do I get BA to give me compensation for missing a family function event and for experiencing the stressful four hours delay?

Gavin83

How much compensation do you want exactly?

shaun_from_Africa

The first flight (point A to point C flight) was delayed by about 45 minutes.

A 45 minute delay wouldn't have caused any probles to you connecting flight providing that the immigration process didn't take 50 minutes. This second delay is out of the hands of any airline.

The minimum time delay for which airlines are liable for any compansation is 2 hours, and you were only 45 minutes late in departing, BA are correct in that they don't have to offer you anything apart from getting you on an alternative flight to your destination.

TonyMMM

110 minutes is no way long enough to do a transfer at US airports if you have to go through immigration. If you booked through an agent, perhaps they should have warned you about that. If you booked it yourself, no one else to blame.

Sorry.

visidigi

TonyMMM wrote: »

110 minutes is no way long enough to do a transfer at US airports if you have to go through immigration. If you booked through an agent, perhaps they should have warned you about that. If you booked it yourself, no one else to blame.

Sorry.

What he said ^

Infact when we go to NYC we take a very specific flight as nearly all other clash with inbound flights from the carribean and west coast. The specific flight, if on time allows us through immigration in less than 30 mins - if you take one of the others its usually 2hrs.

Hintza

Oh oh the "C" question! :eek:

If it was that important surely you should have arrived the day before?

A 4 hour delay, is nothing and if you think it is you obviously haven't flown very much, you can get that on London Underground.