I received an email from BA on 29 June to say my Heathrow-Belfast flight on 7 July has been cancelled. This was the BA1418 due to depart at 1725. BA have also cancelled the 1935 departure that day, i.e. they've cancelled the last two Belfast departures of the day.
MMB gave me the options of three earlier flights on 7July (0730 or 1010 departures from LHR or 0855 departure from LCY) or just one option on 8 July (0735 from LHR). I've a work commitment on the morning of 7 July and can't get myself to an airport 7+ hours before the time I was originally due to fly (I couldn't even get there 2 hours earlier!). So I've rebooked for the 0735 departure on 8 July.
I will submit an EC261 claim and so my question is really about a hotel for the night of 7 July. Is this still covered by duty of care even though BA offered flights that morning (albeit 7+ hours early)? And if the answer to that is yes, do I just book a hotel and claim it back from BA at the same time as submitting the EC261 claim, or do I need to try to get them to commit in advance to covering a hotel?
Thanks!