British Airway claim - flight cancellation - please comment

CurlyJules

Hello fellow Forumites!

I have recently opened a claim with the world's favourite airline. I will try my best to explain what has happened as clearly as possible.

A couple of months ago my OH and I were to fly back from AMS to LGW on Aug 2 on a 9.45 pm BA flight. The events leading to our return home ended up taking place across 3 days. I ask for your patience as I recall what happened.

Day 1 - Aug 1

On the afternoon of the eve of our original departure we were notified via email that our flight had been cancelled due to "operational reasons"and we had been rebooked on one for the morning after the original date of departure (hence - Day 3 in this saga). 

Day 2 - Aug 2

In the morning on what should have been our departure date, we received an email associated to our original booking saying that the flight would be delayed due to weather conditions (but we already knew that that flight had been cancelled - see day 1. So why were we told "it's now delayed"? Confusing to say the least).

That night we needed another hotel booking but everywhere we turned it was sold out OR costing stupid money. Cue the sofa bed of some acquaintances to save us from a park bench.

Day 3 - Aug 3

We flew out on the "rebooked flight" in the morning.

Since then, I have had the chance to check on FlightRadar that the night we were supposed to fly out (Day 2), another BA flight at a similar time had regularly flown to LHR and so a couple from KLM. Most other flights from BA/KLM/EasyJet etc had flown earlier and thought the same day (some a bit delayed, but this is so frequent nowadays).

Therefore, I started a claim procedure with BA and asked for a reimbursement. I felt we had a point as we were not offered an alternative carrier's flight nor told this was not possible OR even offered accommodation OR an apology for not being able to offer accommodation ...and still flights had taken off for the same destination on day 2, when we had been grounded and unable to fly back home. 

I had a couple of exchanges in writing with BA since then, and every time BA has replied that they were taking our (passengers') safety at heart when deciding to reschedule the flight, and it was really bad weather. I have no way of remember if on Aug 2 at night there had been a typhoon or other Armageddon-like climatic event en route or in the UK - but to me this smells of BA cancelling a very empty late evening flight and let it pass for a reason beyond their control, or an act of God type of thing.

Any help or comment would be really appreciated. Thank you.

Mark_d

It was rather hot at the end of July/beginning of August but I don't recall any thunderstorms.

I feel that airlines sometimes tell you what they want, so that they can avoid paying compensation.  It sounds like in you care they are responsible for meals, overnight accommodation plus UK261 compensation.

I find that it's too frustrating trying to make progress with airlines so I'm prepared to give up some compensation and let professionals do the hard work:
https://www.bottonline.co.uk/

dave2319

Looks like the weather was fine for flying according to this site, both at Gatwick and Amsterdam. Very little rain, and it was actually windier on the day you flew back.