Hello,

My husband I myself booked full fare economy tickets direct through the Quantas website to Sydney stopping over in Hong Kong at the rather exhorbatant cost of GBP 4,556 for the two of us, in order to get us to Australia home in time for Xmas.

Due to the adverse weather conditions at H'row yesterday (18th Dec) our flight on BA0025 to Hong Kong was cancelled. When we spoke to the Qantas respresentative today (Sunday) we were advised that the first available flight to Sydney was via Singapore on Thursday arriving late on Xmas day.

A rather rude and rather unhelpful call centre assistant made note of the fact that since BA was operating the first leg of our flight, it was their responsibility to find us alternate travel arrangements. If we were to cancel our flight altogether we would incur a PENALTY cost of GBP300 each!!!

Like others affected, we have resigned ourselves to the fact that our Xmas with family is not going to happen, given that our return back to the UK is not long after our newly advised arrival time.

We have travel insurance which we will claim the GBP600 'cancellation' fee, however , I am somewhat perplexed that we are being unfairly penalised due to conditions that are no fault of the airline and ourselves - force majure under the airline T&C's I believe. I would much rather have the full refund from the airline, as oppossed to the additional time and paperwork involved in filing an insurance claim.

Is this standard pratice in these circumstances?

Thanking you in advance.