Originally Posted by
barafear799
Hi. I'm currently in Romania on holiday from UK. Flights were booked as reward flights do part Avios and part cash. Flight was booked as return. Arrived on Fri 13 from Heathrow, due to go back on 415pm flight on Wed 18. As far as I can see there are no direct restrictions to or from Romania in relation to Covid 19. Received email/SMS from BA yesterday informing me my return flight is cancelled, but rebooking me on the morning flight home on same day. In the greater scheme of things not a massive issue, although early morning arrivals at airports is not my preference. Anyway, my email from BA suggested I needed to accept this change and clicking the link from email and SMS took me to My Booking area of BA website where there were two links.....accept change or look for alternative flights. My initial preference was to ask to go on evening flight on following day if BA would pay reasonable expenses ok booking extra night in hotel. So I clicked that link and result generated an "error, unable to find itinerary". So I tried to call. I had not seen the advice about 72 hours. My flight (originally) was around 96 hours ahead, and if on new flight, then about 88 hours ahead. First time I called I got through the initial messages and then was just cut off. I left it s few hours and called back. I was aware longer I left it the harder or more expensive hotels were going to be, or even the possibility of getting on alternative flights if everyone else in same situation as me had the same idea. Next time I called I was on hold for around 30 mins before I gave up.....partly due to cost of calling (I do not have access to free minutes and call is not toll free) and partly thinking I could have waited on line another 30 mins with same result.
I then tried link to my booking again and decided to click the link to accept change and rebook. This link also produced error.
Can I see reason for future flight cancellations? Am I likely to be able to claim under EC261? What additional costs will BA pay?
All if this is speculation anyway if I am unable to actually contact BA. Looking at their Twitter feed others are in same boat. I also understand the ongoing issues with countries that have imposed restrictions such as Spain and USA, but I do need to get home and on a flight that I can make it to airport to board.
As I write this, my new flight (if I was able to accept) is in around 75 hours. BA helpdesk opens in around 4 hours. Advice most welcome.
I cannot answer all your questions, however, you are rebooked onto the morning flight, whether you click accept or not (its just an acknowledgement button) - if the flight shows in the app, then you’re good to go. Hope you manage to change though - but if no luck, then at least you have a flight that you can check into.