BA cancelled flights from Jordan

Firesalen

Hi all,
I had a flight booked from Amman to LHR with BA. 10 days prior BA cancelled it. I immediately rebooked the same flight for the next day, after contacting BA customer service who said it was cancelled because of technical issues. 4 days prior to departure of the new flight, BA cancelled again. Now BA is refusing to provide compensation because they say these were cancelled due to political unrest, whilst I was told technical issues. This caused a lot of stress, shorting my trip and rearranging everything because of both cancellations. What do you suggest?
Thanks

silvercar

If you hadn't flown, I would say you tell BA that other airlines are still flying and you want them to put you on those airlines. You only have one chance, so once you accept a refund they have met their obligations. If you insist on travelling then they should oblige and sort out your tickets with another airline.

eskbanker

Firesalen said:

I had a flight booked from Amman to LHR with BA. 10 days prior BA cancelled it. I immediately rebooked the same flight for the next day, after contacting BA customer service who said it was cancelled because of technical issues. 4 days prior to departure of the new flight, BA cancelled again. Now BA is refusing to provide compensation because they say these were cancelled due to political unrest, whilst I was told technical issues. This caused a lot of stress, shorting my trip and rearranging everything because of both cancellations. What do you suggest?

It sounds unlikely that technical issues would be known about ten days before a flight!

Anyway, I'd suggest going to the FlyerTalk thread where reasons for BA flight cancellations are discussed by insiders, so someone there may have commented on cancellations on that route for your dates:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/2146197-faq-reason-flight-delay-cancellation-2024-edition.html

Westin

eskbanker said:

Firesalen said:

I had a flight booked from Amman to LHR with BA. 10 days prior BA cancelled it. I immediately rebooked the same flight for the next day, after contacting BA customer service who said it was cancelled because of technical issues. 4 days prior to departure of the new flight, BA cancelled again. Now BA is refusing to provide compensation because they say these were cancelled due to political unrest, whilst I was told technical issues. This caused a lot of stress, shorting my trip and rearranging everything because of both cancellations. What do you suggest?

It sounds unlikely that technical issues would be known about ten days before a flight!

Anyway, I'd suggest going to the FlyerTalk thread where reasons for BA flight cancellations are discussed by insiders, so someone there may have commented on cancellations on that route for your dates:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/2146197-faq-reason-flight-delay-cancellation-2024-edition.html

I would agree.

I would think more likely that due to the current instability in the area that BA is working on rolling cancellations.

Compensation not payable IMO as BA have told you.

silvercar

Westin said:

eskbanker said:

Firesalen said:

I had a flight booked from Amman to LHR with BA. 10 days prior BA cancelled it. I immediately rebooked the same flight for the next day, after contacting BA customer service who said it was cancelled because of technical issues. 4 days prior to departure of the new flight, BA cancelled again. Now BA is refusing to provide compensation because they say these were cancelled due to political unrest, whilst I was told technical issues. This caused a lot of stress, shorting my trip and rearranging everything because of both cancellations. What do you suggest?

It sounds unlikely that technical issues would be known about ten days before a flight!

Anyway, I'd suggest going to the FlyerTalk thread where reasons for BA flight cancellations are discussed by insiders, so someone there may have commented on cancellations on that route for your dates:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/2146197-faq-reason-flight-delay-cancellation-2024-edition.html

I would agree.

I would think more likely that due to the current instability in the area that BA is working on rolling cancellations.

Compensation not payable IMO as BA have told you.

I would have thought the reason compensation isn’t due is extraordinary circumstances. With less than 2 weeks notice, ordinarily compensation would be due.

If you still want to fly I would look up who is still flying there, possibly Air Jordanian or another ME airline (Qatar or Emirates maybe) and ask BA to put you on that flight.

BA delayed restarting flights to Tel Aviv recently and I know someone who persuaded BA to put them on ElAl.

eskbanker

silvercar said:

If you still want to fly I would look up who is still flying there, possibly Air Jordanian or another ME airline (Qatar or Emirates maybe) and ask BA to put you on that flight.

BA delayed restarting flights to Tel Aviv recently and I know someone who persuaded BA to put them on ElAl.

Yes, regardless of the reason for cancelling one or more flights, the airline is legally obliged to offer passengers a choice between a refund or rebooking (at the earliest opportunity, on another airline if necessary) so there shouldn't be any persuasion needed!

Re-routing in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 261/2004

Firesalen

Thanks all for your comments! I will add my question to the suggested forum, too. I eventually had to rebook myself on another airline, and when talking to BA Customer Service team they refused to put me on Royal Jordanian so I had to rebook myself on Wizzair 2 days prior to the scheduled departure, which caused cutting my short trip etc. BA only agreed to refund the Wizzair flight but I think that if you cancel flights with such short notice when the political unrest has been going on for months leads to compensation for passengers. 

eskbanker

Firesalen said:

Thanks all for your comments! I will add my question to the suggested forum, too.

I'd suggest spending time reading that thread before posting any questions, it doesn't tend to go down well if something's asked that's already been answered!

Firesalen said:

when talking to BA Customer Service team they refused to put me on Royal Jordanian

That's particularly poor when they're both members of the OneWorld alliance, probably worth a complaint.

Firesalen said:

I had to rebook myself on Wizzair 2 days prior to the scheduled departure, which caused cutting my short trip etc. BA only agreed to refund the Wizzair flight

If you went with the cheaper airline and they refunded then they've met their article 8 obligations, even though they should have handled it better.

Firesalen said:

I think that if you cancel flights with such short notice when the political unrest has been going on for months leads to compensation for passengers. 

It might lead to compensation claims but doesn't in itself mean that there's an overwhelming case for them to be settled, as it really won't be difficult for airlines to justify the situation falling within the definition of extraordinary circumstances, when it's so volatile and changeable.

silvercar

eskbanker said:

Firesalen said:

Thanks all for your comments! I will add my question to the suggested forum, too.

I'd suggest spending time reading that thread before posting any questions, it doesn't tend to go down well if something's asked that's already been answered!

Firesalen said:

when talking to BA Customer Service team they refused to put me on Royal Jordanian

That's particularly poor when they're both members of the OneWorld alliance, probably worth a complaint.

Firesalen said:

I had to rebook myself on Wizzair 2 days prior to the scheduled departure, which caused cutting my short trip etc. BA only agreed to refund the Wizzair flight

If you went with the cheaper airline and they refunded then they've met their article 8 obligations, even though they should have handled it better.

Firesalen said:

I think that if you cancel flights with such short notice when the political unrest has been going on for months leads to compensation for passengers. 

It might lead to compensation claims but doesn't in itself mean that there's an overwhelming case for them to be settled, as it really won't be difficult for airlines to justify the situation falling within the definition of extraordinary circumstances, when it's so volatile and changeable.

Agree with this. You could have taken the risk of BA being obliged to refund you and booked Royal Jordanian yourself. Though I understand why you wouldn’t.