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I have written about this before but have now spoken to BA customer services and still no idea what the best course of action is.
As written on HFP, BA has cancelled its winter scehdule to Thailand. We have cash flights booked in Decemeber that are still showing as going ahead in my account on BA.com. However a simple search shows that BA is not flying over that period.
We cannot cancel as we would only get taxes back and not the approximately £7k we spent on 4 premium flights but we cannot realistically book alternatives as it is BA’s job to re-route us and they still could potentially change their mind and reinstate the scehdule. The person at customer sercvices was quite sympathetic but basically said there is nothing that can be done unless and until BA cancel the booking. She said the flight schedule is not necessarily cancelled but ‘on hold’.
I guess we are stuck just waiting but it means we cannot make firm plans until it is resolved. Any ideas to force BA to either refund or reroute us sooner rather than later appreciated.Is ‘removed from sale’ the same as ‘cancelled’?
If December is not an off peak period, some flights may go ahead.
It appears their intention to provide the service has changed since you booked, not sure if such changes have obligations under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
I suppose that if they eventually don’t cancel you will be able to do your trip (best scenario) and if they cancel they will need to find you alternative routing. The real risk is that if they put you on a Qatar plane you will have only Economy and Business (in case you booked premium economy).
Is ‘removed from sale’ the same as ‘cancelled’?
If December is not an off peak period, some flights may go ahead.
Not really, they could simply remove the tickets from general sale (for instance they are changing the plane type and don’t want more people booking).
] The person at customer sercvices was quite sympathetic but basically said there is nothing that can be done unless and until BA cancel the booking. She said the flight schedule is not necessarily cancelled but ‘on hold’.
I guess we are stuck just waiting but it means we cannot make firm plans until it is resolved. Any ideas to force BA to either refund or reroute us sooner rather than later appreciated.
Unfortunatly there is not a lot you can do at the moment.
As I’ve posted when other people have asked this question BA is cancelling these flights in date order so they can properly do the rebooking and offer them to passengers.
As the rebooking is usually on QR – with two flights to coordinate – this isn’t quite the quick process it is when it’s purely a BA flight and the alternatives are on BA.
Any further news on this? I am booked to fly bkk to lhr in Early March 23 and have heard nothing from BA yet……….
BA will very likely contact you in January/February 2023 to tell you it’s cancelled.
It’s all to do with holding your money for as long ad possible or not having to fork out for a re-route on another airline.
I am also booked to travel to Bangkok on 5th November and heard nothing yet regarding the status of the flights.
I decide to contact BA on Wednesday and, quite simply, the BA representative I spoke with could not understand exactly why I was calling when the flight were clearly still showing in MMB and he could see all the flight details on his screen too?
I had to explain to him twice that my flights were no-longer listed on their site and that a direct flight from Heathrow to BKK no-longer existed, the only option now being with QR via Doha.
His response to this was to admit that, yes, admittedly, it was strange but that likely answer was that the flight were sold-out!The longer BA leave this, the harder it will be for them to rebook and I also have the added issue of having two business class return flights booked with an Amex companion voucher and November is when the World Cup is on in Doha and all flights will be at a premium!
Can’t really see QR accommodating BA on this one?
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
@Maplebank consider deciding how you want to be re-routed and formally advising BA which alternative flights suit your convenience, if the BA flights were cancelled.
@Maplebank consider deciding how you want to be re-routed and formally advising BA which alternative flights suit your convenience, if the BA flights were cancelled.
Thanks for the advice, but going by the attitude of the person I spoke with, they are unlikey do anything but until they “officially” cancel my flights.
On a completely seperate note, while looking at MMB today I discovered that another set of flights my wife has with some friends for Palma in August have been cancelled.
No notification what so ever from BA and discovered purely by accident.
It’s not good.
I also have a stake in this for November and this time I see little prospect of much rerouting on QR due to World Cup plus Xmas and New Year, plus resurgent demand. Rerouting on Cathay may increasingly become an option, and there is also Sri Lankan and Royal Jordanian. However, my out of left field guess is that BA9/10 will run this winter via a Finnair wet lease or consolidation of BA and AY into HEL-LHR-BKK-LHR-HEL. Finnair already operates longhaul aircraft to LHR for cargo reasons on some rotations, and it might work given the current long detours AY need to make round Russia to get to Thailand. Furthermore, I think I read that Finnair are currently wet leasing 3x a350s to Eurowings until October so tgey will become available at the right time.
I like others has not heard anything about our December flights. Very frustrating, especially as I paid for Premium and Qatar does not have a premium cabin and is not direct. I doubt there will be any availability for our dates by the time they get round to sorting it.
So finally BA has today cancelled our booking, some 4 months after it was clear they would not be operating flights to Thailand over winter 2022.
I have been on the phone for an hour now to customer services (US number) and they are offering me a switch to non-direct flights via Qatar and a downgrade to economy from premium. These flights are at least 4 hours longer in total and we don’t want to be downgraded but they ave refused to countenance an upgrade. I have found alternative direct flights on EVA air on the original dates at similar times and premium economy but they are refusing to book them for me.
I know I can book them myself and fight it in court, but can anyone offer any other advice as to how to persuade them to honour the EU261 regs?
If I do book EVA should I accept a refund from BA or will that ruin my case later?
ThanksSo finally BA has today cancelled our booking, some 4 months after it was clear they would not be operating flights to Thailand over winter 2022.
I have been on the phone for an hour now to customer services (US number) and they are offering me a switch to non-direct flights via Qatar and a downgrade to economy from premium. These flights are at least 4 hours longer in total and we don’t want to be downgraded but they ave refused to countenance an upgrade. I have found alternative direct flights on EVA air on the original dates at similar times and premium economy but they are refusing to book them for me.
I know I can book them myself and fight it in court, but can anyone offer any other advice as to how to persuade them to honour the EU261 regs?
If I do book EVA should I accept a refund from BA or will that ruin my case later?
ThanksThere is no other option and BA will not under any circumstance re-route you with EVA. You could try with Finnair, they have Premium Economy and it’s quite good.
Under no circumstance accept a refund. You also only get 1 shot at rebooking. If Qatar for example cancels your return or changes timings, you have no EC261 rights. You do have them on the way out though.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
Thanks, so on the basis that we don’t want to fly with Qatar in economy and cannot fathom paying £24,000 for 4x business tickets, should I book an alternative myself and then ask BA for compensation? Also, if I do that should I then accept a refund before the case is resolved or keep the BA booking active and let them keep my money?
As I said above, you must not request a refund. This question gets asked daily, so please read up on the forum.
If you book yourself on another airline it would have to take BA to court to enforce your rights with extra associated costs.
If you take the Qatar option and you are downgraded then you will also be entitled to 75% cost of the original ticket back.
I’d seriously consider asking for Finnair re-route, they have the new Premium Economy that is more akin to business class (no flat beds, but very comfy).
Thank you. Yes makes sense. Just mad that BA literally ignore the law that they have pasted on their website.
Thank you. Yes makes sense. Just mad that BA literally ignore the law that they have pasted on their website.
Fairly much every European airline is ignoring its legal obligations. Some of it relates to poor training, some deliberate, some too much hassle; when you speak to them, refer them to their Standard Customer Guidelines at
and option 8 appears to be the one relevant to you? So they need to get internal permission = too much hassle.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
Just wait a week or two, BA will eventually sort out some reasonable reroute and publish a policy for the call centre to rebook.
As I posted on the other thread:
Yes theoretically you can buy any comparable flight you like and MCOL BA right now, but it may not go your way if by the time you get to court BA is ready to offer a rerouting.
Yes ideally BA would come to an agreement with QR/AY *before* cancelling their own flights, so that the moment they cancel they can already offer a rebooking.
But either they are incompetent and didn’t think to do this, or they deliberately did not do this because they want to persuade as many people as possible to take a refund, then rebook the rest later.
Last night I also received the email saying my flight to Bangkok from Manchester was cancelled for January 2023 so I called straight away and managed to get through thank goodness. They have changed my flight from Manchester to Bangkok with Qatar. I was hoping they could re route me to Phuket but the agent said we can only reroute to your existing destination. Does anyone know if thats right just for future reference? The agent by the way was very helpful and I feel I was lucky to act get to talk to someone.
Last night I also received the email saying my flight to Bangkok from Manchester was cancelled for January 2023 so I called straight away and managed to get through thank goodness. They have changed my flight from Manchester to Bangkok with Qatar. I was hoping they could re route me to Phuket but the agent said we can only reroute to your existing destination. Does anyone know if thats right just for future reference? The agent by the way was very helpful and I feel I was lucky to act get to talk to someone.
Per their guidelines, they would rebook (to Phuket) if it is all on the same ticket to/from the “back and beyonds” on their list or the 300 miles if not.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
Last night I also received the email saying my flight to Bangkok from Manchester was cancelled for January 2023 so I called straight away and managed to get through thank goodness. They have changed my flight from Manchester to Bangkok with Qatar. I was hoping they could re route me to Phuket but the agent said we can only reroute to your existing destination. Does anyone know if thats right just for future reference? The agent by the way was very helpful and I feel I was lucky to act get to talk to someone.
Was your flight booked with Avios or cash?
We had ours booked on a companion voucher to BKK, returning from Singapore. BA won’t rebook us on anything and are only offering us a full refund. Even though there are 6 flights via Qatar leaving the same day.
Last night I also received the email saying my flight to Bangkok from Manchester was cancelled for January 2023 so I called straight away and managed to get through thank goodness. They have changed my flight from Manchester to Bangkok with Qatar. I was hoping they could re route me to Phuket but the agent said we can only reroute to your existing destination. Does anyone know if thats right just for future reference? The agent by the way was very helpful and I feel I was lucky to act get to talk to someone.
Was your flight booked with Avios or cash?
Our flight was booked with a 241 and @nick1988 the customer service person I spoke to was extremely helpful and even asked us if the new timings were ok but he said he couldn’t do Manchester via Doha to Phuket instead of Bangkok but jot the end of the world!! I would try again if I were you, don’t give up.
Hi Shilly – did you manage to get rerouted via Qatar Airways?
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