Originally Posted by
ADNANALI
Mnay thanks. I had not requested for a refund, but asked BA to reimburse for the alternative flight with KLM booked for the same day. Below is the response I got from BA. What should be my next step? Any advice?
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-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
Sent: 10 Jan 2023 22:33:26 +0000
To: xxxxxx
Subject: Your Response from BA Customer Relations
**Please don’t hit ‘reply’ – we won’t receive it. If you need to get in touch, please use the link at the bottom of the email**
Dear Mr xxxx
An update from British Airways
Thanks for contacting us about your claim for compensation. We're sorry it was necessary to cancel your flight from Gatwick on 12 December. Your claim's been refused because BA2622 on 12 December was cancelled due to Adverse weather conditions.
The most common reason for disruption at London Heathrow is weather. The types of weather that have the biggest impact on airline operations are thunderstorms, fog, ice, snow and strong winds (both on the ground and on approach to the airport). When London Heathrow is affected by adverse weather, Air Traffic Control reduce the number of flight departures and arrivals. Ground operations are also affected due to poor visibility and other safety issues. This results in delays and cancellations.
We take all reasonable measures to avoid disruption to a flight and we always consider if there are any other alternative solutions before we make a decision. The cancellation was out of our control and caused unforeseen disruption to our schedule.
I do appreciate your reasons for asking, although I’m afraid we can’t reimburse your cost of alternative flight.
Thanks again for following this up with us. I hope we have the chance to welcome you on board again soon.
Best regards
Shama Shaikh
British Airways Customer Relations
Your case reference is:xxxxxxx
Whilst they're correct that adverse weather will often eliminate any entitlement to compensation (if it's a knock-on delay, rather than weather specifically preventing your flight departing, you
may still be eligible), all your other rights (refund, refreshments etc.) apply regardless of the reason for the disruption.
As such, they haven't given a valid reason for rejecting your claim.
If you don't want to contest your eligibility for compensation and are only interested in getting your rebooking expenses back, I'd respond saying something along the lines of:
Dear Ms Shaikh,
Thank you for your email. I am disappointed that you have wrongly rejected my claim. Whilst I appreciate that the cancellation of my flight was caused by circumstances outside your control, that only affects my entitlement to compensation - not my other rights, such as to be re-routed at the earliest opportunity.
There were no alternative BA flights available on the date of my departure and therefore I rebooked on KLMin line with my rights under Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) 261/2004 (as amended in UK law).
[Add any details of an attempt to get BA to rebook you here] therefore I am entitled to claim back the cost of this rebooking.
I await your response confirming you have accepted my expenses claim.
Yours sincerely,
Mr XXXX