Avios partner flight cancellation

[marcolau]

Hello, questions on Avios flights cancellation involving OW partner flights:
I have a future-dated redemption flight on CX HKG-MAD direct and looks like it is almost certain to get cancelled on the day supposed to travel (EU/UK261 not applied) – flights off flight schedule, fare buckets zero-out etc.

When I get the flight cancellation notice, instead of accepting to travel 24 hours early, can I call BA back and ask for rerouting via BA/IB instead, or even CX/IB via other EU airports?

And normally in involuntary rerouting, would the 8-segment maximum in a flight ticket still apply? (meaning I will need to make further voluntary changes for that reroute to be accommodated?)

[ZoeB]

Sorry I don’t know the answer but with a multi carrier redemption to Australia coming up I’m interested in the answer

[SamG]

No personal experience but my understanding is BA will put you on their metal in this situation even without Avios seats

Otherwise they need to liaise with Cathay Pacific via the Oneworld helpdesk to get an alternative option for you. If rerouting via another EU Airport you’d likely need to find an option with award space on the short haul leg as BA / CX can’t force another carrier to open seats for you

Not sure on the 8 segment issue !

[marcolau]

Thanks all, had a chat on local forums as well and was advised one should expect no protection from CX at all and need to fend for themselves.
If BA does offer to accommodate on own metal it’s alredady very generous (even if I need to take 1 segment off and trigger reprice). Spare a thought for those using Asia Miles trying to find any remaining redemption seats… not much left for the holiday seasons.

Now it’s just wait and see when will CX officially cancel those flights and get the rebooking running…

[SamG]

marcolau wrote:

Thanks all, had a chat on local forums as well and was advised one should expect no protection from CX at all and need to fend for themselves.
If BA does offer to accommodate on own metal it’s alredady very generous (even if I need to take 1 segment off and trigger reprice). Spare a thought for those using Asia Miles trying to find any remaining redemption seats… not much left for the holiday seasons.

Now it’s just wait and see when will CX officially cancel those flights and get the rebooking running…

Yep – was a big issue during COVID, they were putting up completely fantasy schedules then cancelling and not offering any good alternatives. No protections flying into the EU on a non-EU carrier of course (though they weren’t even being reasonable about flights they were on the hook for!). Fingers crossed for you getting sorted easily

[marcolau]

ZoeB wrote:

Sorry I don’t know the answer but with a multi carrier redemption to Australia coming up I’m interested in the answer

I had another Avios redemption involving CX short-haul that was certain not to operate, called BA hotline in UAE over the weekend and they said it was “cancelled” (in quote as I still haven’t got any cancellation notice), then I was offered to travel one day early or one day later in the same cabin.

I did find another flight on the day of supposed travel but in lower cabin, the agent was able to rebook me onto that but no point refund can be issued. Therefore, I asked the agent to cancel the booking outright, and rebook the flights online concurrently.

I had tried to ask the agent to escalate to “OW Liasion” but the agent said unable… so YMMV. If you can’t accept any replacement automatically offered, and no redemption seats are found otherwise, try call BAEC hotline in APAC to see if they can help…

(As for this long-haul flight, I had just booked a new set of flights of differnt routing one month later. As soon as I got cancellation notice I will just call and ask for refund; maybe will ask for the rebooking options as well – I do remember at the height of COVID restrictions in Hong Kong CX were still able to give you a identical replacement flight for cancelled segments, the question is the date and time of the replacement. Worst case I will just forgo one set of cancellation fee…)