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Dear all,
Apologies as I’m sure this will have been asked a million times, but I couldn’t quickly find a similar thread…and tbh just wanted to vent a little!
On 6th Feb at 17:30, I received notification that our flight to JNB (the BA57) was to be cancelled due to operational challenges. Of the three people I spoke to when trying to arrange a suitable re-routing, none could provide a reason for the cancellation. One of them took 30 minutes to even be able to search for alternatives. Nothing got us into JNB earlier than 24 hours after our scheduled arrival, and sadly we missed a wedding that we had mainly been going to. We flew with BA 24 hours later and were encouraged on the phone and on the flight, to apply for compensation.
Compensation was today refused due to air traffic restrictions on the route caused the cancellation. I understand that this is behind many such cancellations. It just doesn’t seem to stack up to me. Maybe I am cynical, but all other flights to JNB that evening flew as planned.
Does anyone have any successful experience of contesting this?
Oh dear so sorry to read that. I just looked at the reason for cancellation thread over on FT and your flight shows as
Friday 7 February 2025
BA57 JNB = ARPNWhich suggests it is not eligible for compensation.
JNB had flagged potential fuel shortages from Feb 2nd onwards due to a refinery fire at the beginning of January but this post suggests that the plane supposed to operate your flight had been in maintenance all week so suggests that you go to CEDR:
@ChrisA – I’m sorry to hear of the cancellation and the impact it had by causing you to miss a wedding. It’s fairly normal for staff on the ground sorting out your rerouting not to know the reasons behind any delay/cancellation. Operational reasons cover a multitude of sins and where there are compound reasons for a delay/cancellation, a decision on 261 liability isn’t made until some days later.
The burden of proof is on the airline to demonstrate that “the cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.”
However, airlines rarely provide the proof to passengers but will have to if you escalate to CEDR or MCOL. In this instance, as BA could potentially have an absolute defence, I would go to CEDR so that you don’t incur any court fees if you lose.
You would be entitled to £520pp for the cancellation and additionally the reasonable costs of accommodation, food and transportation which are owed irrespective of the cancellation reason.
In making your claim to CEDR it’s important to cover both legs of the requirement cited above.
Please come back to let us know how you get on.
Was there no chance of a reroute to get you there9 on time
I always advocate searching for alternatives yourselves before phoning and then suggesting these to BA or any airline
Was there no chance of a reroute to get you there9 on time
Sometimes it’s just not possible.
The BA57 departs at around 21.00 so other options may not be available.
The only direct flights would be VS and it’s likely the VS flight was unable to accommodate everyone.
Plus the other options would have involved at least one change and again availiabilty on both the required might have been an issue.
Compensation was today refused due to air traffic restrictions on the route caused the cancellation. I understand that this is behind many such cancellations. It just doesn’t seem to stack up to me. Maybe I am cynical, but all other flights to JNB that evening flew as planned.
There are only two airlines that fly ex LHR to JBN – BA and VS. BA has 2 flights and VS 1.
When airport restrictions are in place airlines get some leeway on which flights to cancel and in those cases they are exempted from having to pay compensation even though it’s the airline decided upon which flight to cancel.
But the right to care still applies so I assume BA got you a hotel including means etc – if you did those yourself they will reimburse based on receipts.
Was there no chance of a reroute to get you there9 on time
Sometimes it’s just not possible.
The BA57 departs at around 21.00 so other options may not be available.
The only direct flights would be VS and it’s likely the VS flight was unable to accommodate everyone.
Plus the other options would have involved at least one change and again availiabilty on both the required might have been an issue.
They had over 24hs , off the top of my head indirect flight possibility include , Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Niarob1 , Cape Town, Dubai, Doha
Thanks very much to all for the replies. Very much appreciated. There were indeed no suitable re-routing options despite extensive searches with other carriers across Europe and also Ethiopian etc. We met various other people on the next day’s BA flight who were also unsuccessful in having found a quicker re-routing.
I think really I’m just saying that I feel suspicious of ATC being the reason for the cancellation. I’m aware of BA’s problems with the A380, and have often been delayed on BA57 whilst they have found a replacement aircraft. I will ponder raising with CEDR just purely if I feel that they need to be held to account.
Unfortunately I think you’ll get the same response. Whilst BA might “play by the rules” to their interests, I’m sure the reason for the cancellation is documented and legit (not what the gate agent says, but what BA says).
BTW I have no issue in such situations for BA to choose which flights to cancel. Makes perfect business sense.
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