British Airways (BA) has caused major disruptions for thousands of travelers this week due to an IT glitch. The issue, which has now been resolved, continues to create chaos for those traveling during the half-term holiday. Passengers are uncertain about whether their flights will proceed due to the impact on cabin staff schedules caused by the cancellations. If your travel plans have been affected, what options do you have?
What are my rights if my flight was delayed?
To qualify for statutory compensation, passengers must be departing from a UK or EU airport or be flying with a UK or EU-based airline. The delay must be the airline’s fault.
If the flight was 1,500km (932 miles) or less and delayed for three hours or more, passengers can claim £220. For flights between 1,500km and 3,500km, as well as flights longer than 3,500km, the compensation amount increases to £350 and £520, respectively. If a flight is delayed for five hours, passengers are entitled to a full refund within seven days if they choose not to travel. If they do travel, they can still claim up to £520 as long as the delay was caused by the airline. Compensation is only available if the cancellations are not due to uncontrollable circumstances such as bad weather or terrorist alerts.
However, travelers are still entitled to assistance. According to consumer group Which?, passengers flying with a UK or EU-based airline or departing from a UK or EU airport have the right to either a full refund or to be rerouted as soon as possible, even if it means being booked on a different airline.
What are my rights if my flight was cancelled?
If a flight is cancelled, passengers are entitled to either a full refund or a replacement flight to their destination. The Citizens Advice charity advises that if a passenger is already in transit and does not wish to take a replacement flight, they have the right to a flight back to their original departure airport.
Passengers also have a legal right to “reasonable expenses” if a cancellation results in a delay of more than two hours for flights under 1,500km, three hours for distances between 1,500km and 3,500km, and four hours for distances over 3,500km. These expenses can include food and drink, access to phone calls, accommodation for overnight delays, and transportation between the airport and hotel. Airline staff may provide vouchers for these expenses, but it’s important to keep all receipts and proof of payment.
Can I claim reimbursement for a flight with another airline?
In certain cases, yes, but this approach is risky. If the airline does not offer a suitable alternative flight, passengers can attempt to book with another airline and seek reimbursement from the original airline. However, consumer group Which? recommends pursuing this option only after exhausting all other possibilities.
Which? cautions that claiming reimbursement for an alternative flight with another airline may only be successful in exceptional circumstances where travel is time-sensitive, like attending a funeral, a job interview, or a close relative’s wedding. It may also be a viable claim if passengers have to wait more than a couple of days for the rescheduled flight offered by the original airline.
Which? advises travelers, “Importantly, do not cancel your existing booking—this will leave you in a much stronger position to claim back the cost of your alternative flight.”
This article is regularly updated with the latest information.
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