Flight time extended by 5 hours - compensation available?

Tijayfly

I have a flight booked from through BA for December, which has two legs. Both legs are BA codeshares - the first leg is with Finnair, and the second with JAL.

The flight with JAL has recently had its predicted arrival time extended by 5 hours, although the departure time remains the same.

I'm aware there is compensation available for delays en-route, and advance changes in departure time, but are there any possibilities to get the flight changed or (partially?) refunded if the airline extends the arrival time in advance?

Ayr_Rage

Where does the JAL leg fly from and to ?

If it is Helsinki to Japan then the "normal route" is no longer available due to the disinclination of many airlines to use Russian airspace.

silvercar

Something wrong somewhere, I can't see how a flight time can extend by 5 hours.....unless they is a re-route to avoid air space of a country that has declared a no fly zone or Japan has diplomatic problems with flying in their airspace. Even then it is usually at short notice and for a limited time eg flights over Niger were re-routed a couple of days ago due to a coup.

Care to share the JAL flight number?

Anything notified more than 14 days in advance gives you cancellation and possibly re-routing options, it doesn't give you compensation.

daveyjp

Not sure where the 5 hours is from.

Finland to Japan is currently routed north then west over the northern Greenland, south through Bering Strait,North Pacific to Japan.
taking about 12.5 hours.  Great circle route which goes over Russia takes less than 10 hours, but isn't an option.

Caz3121

if this is JAL48 then the pre-Ukraine situation duration was 9hrs 30mins, currently with the large detour required they are publishing it as 14hrs 5mins although from flightaware it is more commonly taking 13 to 13.5hours
As the end date of the situation is unknown, no-one can say when the previous route will be available again,JAL are showing 9hrs 30 from end March (start of Summer timetable) but that may well change also.

OP you mention getting flight changed...do you mean to fly to a different destination or are you hoping to find an airline that will take you through Russian airspace to shorten the flying time?

bagand96

Notification of the change this far in advance would mean no compensation due. You might be entitled to cancel for a refund, or look of there's any other routing options available, you'd have to talk to BA.

Sounds as if it is the diversion due to Russian airspace, so not really within the airline's control anyway. 

Ayr_Rage

Finnair are going the other way, SSW and then over Romania and the southern Black Sea, the last 4 days it has taken 12 hours 30 minutes.

daveyjp

Ayr_Rage said:

Finnair are going the other way, SSW and then over Romania and the southern Black Sea, the last 4 days it has taken 12 hours 30 minutes.

There is no fixed route,  Finnair will also go the polar route,  The airline decides the easterly or westerly route when planning to take into account weather patterns and wind speeds.

Ayr_Rage

daveyjp said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Finnair are going the other way, SSW and then over Romania and the southern Black Sea, the last 4 days it has taken 12 hours 30 minutes.

There is no fixed route,  Finnair will also go the polar route,  The airline decides the easterly or westerly route when planning to take into account weather patterns and wind speeds.

I know, I was in ATC for 30 years !

rigolith

Had this with ANA last year. There isn't anything, it's due to the war in Ukraine and the airline won't be liable for that.

It's made worse because you have to go via Helsinki. Even direct from LHR it adds a couple of hours.

eskbanker

Tijayfly said:

are there any possibilities to get the flight changed or (partially?) refunded if the airline extends the arrival time in advance?

You may be able to argue for a full refund (in lieu of travelling) or a change of flight, but not some sort of compensation while sticking with the same booking.