Other European Frequent Flyer Programs - IB retimes a flight forces an 8 hr layover in MAD, options?

on Nov 12 I am going JFK-MAD-IST all on IB. IB retimed the MAD-IST flight which caused my connection to become illegal. They put me on the 18:10 flight, but seeing as I get into MAD at 10:10 I don't really want the 8hr layover.

Is there anything I can do? I am on a cheapy ticket with no status on IB or any OW carrier. Is it possible to get re-routed on the 12:25 TK flight?

TYIA.

Probably a bit late, but have you actually asked them what your options are?

They have no code share on the TK flight, so they will not put you on it without a fight (knowing Iberia). But you could argue that this has to be treated as a cancellation, because they do not operate the MAD – IST flight that you were booked on (at least not on the original schedule). And in that case they would have to offer you a re-routing (on TK for instance) according to the European passenger rights. (I have no legal background; just telling you what I would tell them in this case.)

But look at it from the bright side... :cool: Madrid is not the worst city to spend a few hours in. You can be in central Madrid in 30 minutes from the airport.

Given that the flight's changes occurred more than 14 days before departure, the EC directive (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:046:0001:0007:EN:PDF) will not apply in this case, I am afraid.

You may want to call Iberia and ask them to be put on a TK flight (if they say no to you, hang up and call one more time; several agents may give you different answers). If that does not work, ask them for a rerouting (if you do not mind flying via another OneWorld hub). In worst case, ask for a full refund. Or, as mentioned in previous post, hang out in Madrid for a few hours.

Given that the flight's changes occurred more than 14 days before departure, the EC directive (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:046:0001:0007:EN:PDF) will not apply in this case, I am afraid.

They way I understand it you cannot ask for compensation in this case, but you should still be offered a re-routing.
(Start reading in Article 5: 5.1.(c), compensation, does not apply because of the 2 weeks; but 5.1.(a), assistance, does apply – and then they refer you to Article 8.)

Again, I’m no lawyer and maybe my logic is not useful here... :)

The re-routing obligation does indeed apply but I don't see anything in the Regulation that would create an obligation on IB to reroute the OP on TK rather than an IB flight a few hours later. Given the lack of precision of the Regulation, an argument to that effect could conceivably be made but I would not bank money on it succeeding.

This is what Article 8(1)(b) says.

re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their
final destination at the earliest opportunity; or

re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their
final destination at a later date at the passenger's convenience,
subject to availability of seats.

I shall try again.

I am in a similar situation to the OP, wherein my non-stop return on IB (for a November flight) from BCN-JFK was changed to require a connection. I really would just like to cancel my entire itinerary with a full refund. Is that possible in this scenario?

You never had a nonstop flight BCN-JFK. They don't fly that route. What you had was a single flight number that went BCN-MAD, changed planes, and then continued on to JFK. It sounds like they just changed to two different flight numbers due to a schedule change - and I don't think they'll let you refund over that, sorry.

You never had a nonstop flight BCN-JFK. They don't fly that route. What you had was a single flight number that went BCN-MAD, changed planes, and then continued on to JFK. It sounds like they just changed to two different flight numbers due to a schedule change - and I don't think they'll let you refund over that, sorry.

FYI there is a non-stop AA operated flight BCN-JFK with IB codeshare...

FYI there is a non-stop AA operated flight BCN-JFK with IB codeshare...

And AA recently downgraded the BCN-JFK plane to 75L and reduced frequency for the winter by dropping one or two services per week; that might explain what happened to the OP if he by chance was on the codeshare.