Sick Pilot Delay

welshman250172

Hi

On my arrival at Sydney Airport for my BA flight back to the UK we were informed of a 24 hr delay due to the pot being taken ill at the hotel that morning. Eventually we took off 27hrs late.

On applying to BA for compensation and costs incurred they were happy to pay for the latter but claim that as Sydney is not a main hub for them, the delay was outside their control.

Should I challenge this as various websites say crew sickness is not an exceptable excuse for delay but I am not 100% sure.

Thanks

bagand96

Interesting one.  Normally crew sickness is not considered as extraordinary circumstances.  However it's hard not to see BA's point too, having spare crew at every destination around the world would not be commercially viable.

You could try challenging it via further complaint to BA then your options would be CEDR or Small Claims Court.

Westin

BA crew that flight from LHR with crew night stopping in SIN.  Crew operate LHR SIN, rest (i think 1 night), then continue SIN SYD, then rest and reverse the operation.  With one flight a day from SYD, difficult to plan for all contingencies and unrealistic to have spare crew on constant standby in SYD for such an eventuality.