BA and changes of flights

Flossthedog

I know one person already who has been told by BA that they have to get an earlier flight than they booked, as the original flight has been cancelled. And of course I have read similar stories in the media.

My problem is that two of us are booked to fly with BA to Cagliari airport in the south of Sardinia.  If BA cancels this flight, it could put us on a later flight that day. However, both its later flights go to Olbia airport in the north east of the island, and one isn't scheduled to land until the evening. Our hire car will be waiting for us at Cagliari airport, about 170 miles from Olbia.

What rights do we have in a case like this?

Westin

It might be worth reading the MSE guides -
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/flight-delays/

You haven’t mentioned when you are flying.  Hopefully by mid May/June things will have stabilised at BA.  At the moment lots of domestic flights seem to be the ones culled, or those with multiple frequencies each day.

BA apparently continue to struggle recruiting cabin crew and have already bought in aircraft or have plans to from other airlines to cover some flying (Iberia Express, Titan, Finnair). They are also setting up and recruiting for crews in Spain to then base on 5-6 stints in the UK to operate some flights.  

Flossthedog

We're travelling out mid-June and unfortunately Sean Doyle. the CEO of BA, has this week announced that the airline will be cancelling flights until the end of June at least.

I have read the flight delay article, but that doesn't deal with changes of destination airport or problems in consequence. I really need to know what rights we have and what responsibilities BA has if any change on its part fouls up our onward travel arrangements. 

onashoestring

All the  information on your rights if your flights are changed/ cancelled are in the link @westin posted above .

read the section “Flight CANCELLATION compensation – the rules” Section 3 - 

Flossthedog

Yes, I understand that we could claim compensation.

What I'm not clear about, and what is not noted in "Flight CANCELLATION compensation – the rules” Section 3 , is whether and when BA would arrange onward transport to the booked arrival airport.

It says under "My flight was diverted to a different airport", "An example is if you were supposed to fly direct from London to New York, but ended up being diverted via Washington, which meant you suffered a delay. In this example, you would normally be taken by an alternative flight, coach, taxi or train, provided by the airline, to New York – so what counts for your claim is the overall time it took to get to New York." 

Does "you would normally be taken by an alternative flight, coach, taxi or train, provided by the airline" mean that all airlines are obliged, by law or contract, to make such transport arrangements?

Also, what are its liabilities if we were to arrive after the car hire office has closed? Would it, for instance, have to compensate us for accommodation if we had to wait until the office opened the next day to pick up the car? Would we be compensated for the day we had paid for a hire car hire but not been able to use it? Always supposing we had enough notice to contact the car hire office and explain the situation.

Caz3121

I am assuming this is all hypothetical since your flight has not been cancelled (and may not be)
compensation would not be applicable if you are given more than 14 days notice of the cancellation
if they cancel you may be better looking at alternative carrier rather than choose to go to another airport
what dates are your flights? (not all are operated by BA, some are operated by Iberia Express for BA so may be unaffected by BA cancellations)

sheramber

Being diverted would mean the flight intended to go the first airport but, in flight, was diverted elsewhere.

I t would not  apply to a change of flight.