BA Flight Cancelled - Rebooked one day earlier

griggs79

Our return flight with BA in May, has been cancelled, and we have been rebooked on a flight 35 hours earlier. 

This means that we will be losing a considerable amount of our holiday, which I guess is just disappointing. However we have a non-refundable and non-amendable hotel booking. Therefore we a losing one night’s stay. Plus we also have car hire, which hopefully we can amend.

Has anyone had experience of a similar situation? Have they had any joy at getting compensation from BA for loss time, or the loss of expense of the hotel?

Or is this purely a matter for travel insurance?

eskbanker

BA wouldn't be liable for the lost holiday time, so that would be a matter for travel insurance.

Are there any alternative flights available that would fit your schedule better (not necessarily with BA)?

griggs79

There are flights with other operators on the date we originally booked, including an indirect flight with one of their alliance partners.

bagand96

No compensation will be due.  Your bookings with other parties are nothing to do with BA. However you don't have to accept the new arrangements.  Your options are:

1) Accept new arrangements
2) Cancel your flights for a full refund
3) Be re-routed on your original dates

As @eskbanker says, option 3 doesn't necessarily mean on BA.  If another airline has flights on your original date you can request to be booked on those flights.  If BA won't book it for you, you are entitled to book the alternative and claim the cost back from BA.

eskbanker

griggs79 said:

There are flights with other operators on the date we originally booked, including an indirect flight with one of their alliance partners.

I'd suggest reading the CAA's guidance on rerouting obligations and in particular chapter 4 and its reference to the primary importance of offering alternatives on the same day.  Identify what works best for you on that day and ask BA to reroute you onto that instead of their proposed option 35 hours earlier....

griggs79

Thanks @eskbanker and @bagand96!

Followed your advice, and after speaking to BA they have re-routed me on the original dates!

eskbanker

griggs79 said:

Thanks @eskbanker and @bagand96!

Followed your advice, and after speaking to BA they have re-routed me on the original dates!

That was quick!  Good result, well done....