Originally Posted by
just_starting
Had a flight moved from 10am to 7am out of Gatwick, with 6 months' notice.
This means I will now have to stay at Gatwick the night before because it's not feasible for me to get there in the middle of the night.
I know that 3 hours are sufficient to trigger EC/UK261, and of course there's no compensation payable - but will I be able to claim a hotel?
EU/UK261 would cover you for a hotel in your departure city in the event of a flight being moved later (overnight), but it is not at all clear that it covers a hotel before you depart. You can try submitting a claim (after you fly), but I don't think you have much recourse if BA refuse to pay.
3 hours is only the threshold for getting delay/cancellation compensation (for a journey up to 3500km); the threshold for a hotel is you being delayed overnight. The threshold for the remaining 'right to care' entitlements (food/drink/roaming/transfers) is between 2 and 4 hours depending on the length of the journey.