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British Airways - Is This Acceptable?

I went to Cyprus in September 2021 with BA, and when booking through On The Beach in March 2021, there were 2 flights showing on the departure and arrival dates I was looking at. Departing, there was an early morning flight and a mid-morning flight. The mid-morning flight was preferable for travelling with a child and an infant so I accepted the additional £75pp charge. Arriving was similar, there was one arriving late at night in the UK, and another arriving in the evening. Not wanting to arrive home in the middle of the night with a young family, again I accepted the additional £50pp charge and booked the evening return.
As we got closer to leaving (admittedly still with reasonable time-notice), BA moved the airport departure and arrival from Gatwick to Heathrow (annoying, but understandable). They also then informed me that our flight times had changed. They had moved us onto the cheaper flight! To be honest I don't know if the flight number changed or not (I don't think it did), but I have been involved in email 'ping-pong' with BA since, because they refuse to refund me the difference in cost of the two flights.
Am I genuinely fighting a losing battle here?
I genuinely don't understand how you can be offered 2 products, at different prices, pay for the more expensive, and then get told that actually you are getting the cheaper one but are paying for the more expensive one?! BA say that because they let me know about the change there is nothing they can do, as flight times can be changed, and in their T's&C's blah blah blah.
I am just staggered and would like to hear whether I am right to feel this way or need to give up.
Many thanks!

Comments

  • Westin
    Westin Posts: 6,211 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Frustrating but unfortunately that's the way of life at the moment.  Flights are still being consolidated and settling into match demand.  I really can see your point but I really don't think you will get anywhere with it regarding partial refunds on what you say were cheaper flights.  Added to the mix you have booked via a 3rd party as part of a package.  You will be pushing stone up a hill.
  • Thanks Westin. You're right, so frustrating! I tried explaining it to them using a different example but still got nowhere. I said "imagine being offered a Ford at £10,000 or a Ferrari at £100,000 and you pay for the Ferrari, only to be told you're having the Ford even though you've paid the £100,000!" Pretty sure that would be classed as criminal behaviour, but in this instance it seems not. Absolute madness.
  • Caz3121
    Caz3121 Posts: 15,732 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    In your example (and in your case) you could instead take a full refund for the Ferrari then buy the ford. The problem is likely to be that the cheaper flights may have risen in price and you would also have to factor in third party fees as you did not book direct so may not see any savings
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