British Airways Flight cancellation

Zopa_Trooper

Hi All. A group of us are going to Turkey next September. Today BA cancelled our flight and moved us on to the one the day previous. I contacted our hotel, they were unable to extend our stay, so I've ended up booking the group (12 people) into a hotel close to the airport on our arrival day for one night. I had to ring BA to agree to the flight change and enquired whether we were entitled to any compensation as we now had the extra expenditure for an extra night hotel and transfers, plus one couple have had to take an extra day off work. They said "no" as we had accepted the flight change but we had little choice in that regard as the holiday has already been paid for. Is this correct?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Was you permitted to cancel or amend the flight without charge at the time the airline did OP?

Zopa_Trooper

There was no charge for them moving our flight from the Sunday to the Saturday. While we could have just cancelled the flights and had a refund, we couldn't as the holiday was already booked and paid for separately.

HillStreetBlues

Flight details do change when so far in advance, so this is allowed for. The options were book another airline with correct dates (if possible) and cancel BA flights, or accept.

BoGoF

Unfortunately this is the gamble when booking a non-package deal so far in advance - flights are subject to change.

user1977

Enjoy your extra day's holiday!

HillStreetBlues

The wisest option would be to book a refundable room for first night and keep checking at hotel to see if space opens up.

Zopa_Trooper

Thanks for all the replies. Personally I'm not fussed but as organiser, some of the group asked what I could do for them. Sadly the flight time is awful on the Saturday, wont get to the hotel until nearly midnight so not really gaining a day. Oh well, worse things happen at sea.

MeteredOut

Zopa_Trooper said:

Thanks for all the replies. Personally I'm not fussed but as organiser, some of the group asked what I could do for them. Sadly the flight time is awful on the Saturday, wont get to the hotel until nearly midnight so not really gaining a day. Oh well, worse things happen at sea.

BA may have automatically moved you to the last flight on the previous day. It might be too late now if you've accepted the change, but if there are multiple flights the previous day, you could see if you could get moved to arrive on an earlier flight and have more of that extra day.

CardinalWolsey

I hope you booked that one-night by the airport on a tariff that allows for free cancellation. This far out, there is every chance that the schedule will change again and you fly on the Sunday. Keep an eye out.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Zopa_Trooper said:

There was no charge for them moving our flight from the Sunday to the Saturday. While we could have just cancelled the flights and had a refund, we couldn't as the holiday was already booked and paid for separately.

Sorry OP just to be clear, putting aside the issue of changing dates but looking at the terms specifically, if instead you had wanted to change the flights could you have done so and would there have had been a fee for this? 

If you had been allowed to change the flights without a fee then the contract is balanced and their actions are fair, if they would had imposed a fee for you to change the flights then the contract isn't balanced.

If it wasn't balanced I'm not sure if that means they should pay you an equal amount for them making a change to contract or if their term would be void allowing you cancel (which you mentioned they offered).