Guys, thanks for all your help and advice. Without going into too much detail I had a very teary answerphone message from my Mum that one of my uncles was involved in a car crash and I thought it best to return home asap.

After calling NAEC initially at 9am EST they told me to phone the UKEC. I phoned the Blue EC line and spoke to a chap who said because I upgraded a discounted WT+ fare (no mention of T1 or T2) there was no way I could change the date. He said though that there was heaps of availability in WT+ and CW on the upcoming IAD-LHR flights and if I turned up at the airport it'd be pretty cold hearted of BA not to allow me to travel. As it is a 2hr drive from where I am I asked if there was someone in BA passenger handling at Dulles I could speak to. This was to avoid a 2hr drive in vain. I was given a phone number which I tried calling although it never got picked up.

I then checked back on here to see everyones advice and called the UKEC Gold hotline and after explaining my situation to the rep he said....'I think I spoke to you on the phone about 20mins ago' So I told him that noone was picking up the phone at Dulles and he gave me the general Dulles information number which on an automated system quotes a NAEC number I asked again when I got through if there was a number for BA passenger handling at Dulles and was given the same one. I kept ringing for about 2hrs and I then decided to pack up my stuff regardless and head to the airport in plenty of time so I could try and get myself on 6.35 and 9.35 flights. As I was packing I got a call from my Dad in which he said that things were so busy at home that it was perhaps not worth ruining my Xmas with Kirstin and to come home at expense and be effectively useless.

So I am now flying back home overnight in comfort on 2nd January as per planned.

Thanks very much for all your advice it was much appreciated and I hope perhaps that it may help somebody else in the future.

A very Merry Xmas and happy New Year to you all

[This message has been edited by fbgdavidson (edited Dec 24, 2003).]