T5 seemed back to its pre pandemic self today amazing queues everywhere even to the First check in. I've never seen every stool at the Fortnum & Mason stall full. It was great to see HAL back to it's former self.
Our flight to Catania, after much consternation at the gate was cancelled - Flight deck out of hours. I thought a standby crew should have been in place mid afternoon or is that an expectation too far?

I felt for the poor duty manager and the pilot who came to the gate to announce the cancellation. Some Pax were understanably put out, especially those with kids, but having to back through immigration then to the luggage hall to find no bags could be unloaded, but we will get you back out tomorrow afternoon seemed with a pragmatic head reasonable.

My wife and I accepted the £10 vouchers, I double checked the hotel policy to be told up to £200 / room. After a little phoning around on this really busy school holiday Saturday the best we could get was T5 Soffitel at £281 with breakfast.

Would those that know advise:
Is this covered (I got the price down by 10% by joining their 'Club) to £251 plus a sensible dinner for £55?
Meet and greet had stashed our car somewhere remote so we couldn't drive home and back in the morning.
A 24 hour small car rental from Sixt was £450 so it had to be the overnight hotel.

This trip was booked through BA Holidays so one day (of six) is lost.

We are both Gold, flying in CE. What is a reasonable outcome please?

Oh BTW my two bottles of duty free Tanqueray 10 are now landside with me. There is nowhere or no way to take these back through so I will look for the T5 foodbank :-)