BA Refusing Delay Compensation for Code Share

Zoom7000

I flew from London Heathrow to San Antonio, Texas last month. The flight included a connection at Dallas Fort Worth. My connecting flight from Dallas Fort Worth to San Antonio was delayed by over 6 and a half hours.

I booked the whole return trip via British Airways. However, the flight was operated by American Airlines via a code share.

I submitted a compensation claim for £520 under UK Regulation 261 to British Airways, but I got the following reply from them this morning:

We’re sorry to hear your flight from Dallas Fort Worth International was delayed. We don’t underestimate how much this disrupted your travel plans and we understand why you needed to get in touch about this.

I’m afraid your claim for compensation has been refused because British Airways didn’t operate AA0499. If you contact  American Airlines, they’ll be able to consider your claim.

Once again, please accept our apologies for your experience on this trip. We hope to welcome you back on board soon.

As I booked the flight directly with British Airways, are they liable for the compensation? Or do I need to make this claim to American Airlines. If it is American, am I still covered by UK261 because my journey originated from Heathrow as part of the same booking?

I asked both ChatGPT and Gemini, as you do these days, and both told me that the claim is still with BA as they original booking was with them.

eskbanker

Zoom7000 said:

I asked both ChatGPT and Gemini, as you do these days, and both told me that the claim is still with BA as they original booking was with them.

....which once again illustrates the dangers of believing what AI says!

The UK261 regulations are crystal clear that responsibilities under these are held by the operating air carrier rather than the ticket seller.

And yes, if it was booked as a through ticket on a single reference, then AA are liable under UK261 for the delayed leg, unless the reason was something outside their control.

bagand96

Yep, operating air carrier is the one responsible so in this case American Airlines.  Good luck persuading them of that though!

mdann52

I'm assuming AA operated both legs, or did BA operate the first leg and AA the second?