Keep checking your reservations!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 352
Keep checking your reservations!
Something weird happened this week to my reservation. I had a flight from USA to LHR on American with a connection to Madrid with British Airways in a single ticket, and the connection (the second leg) was gone! Turns out they had canceled that flight. I called and they moved me to the new flight later in the day.
What it was odd is that I did not get any email or message about it missing, and the web page just showed the flights without any messages or warnings either. I had to double check the ticket I bought three months ago to see if I had made a mistake (it was a multi-city ticket for the way back).
What it was odd is that I did not get any email or message about it missing, and the web page just showed the flights without any messages or warnings either. I had to double check the ticket I bought three months ago to see if I had made a mistake (it was a multi-city ticket for the way back).
#2
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,701
Either the flight just cancelled and protection hadn’t occurred, it needs manual intervention, or u are traveling in the future and they wouldn’t notify you u til closer to departure.
happens all the time.
happens all the time.
Something weird happened this week to my reservation. I had a flight from USA to LHR on American with a connection to Madrid with British Airways in a single ticket, and the connection (the second leg) was gone! Turns out they had canceled that flight. I called and they moved me to the new flight later in the day.
What it was odd is that I did not get any email or message about it missing, and the web page just showed the flights without any messages or warnings either. I had to double check the ticket I bought three months ago to see if I had made a mistake (it was a multi-city ticket for the way back).
What it was odd is that I did not get any email or message about it missing, and the web page just showed the flights without any messages or warnings either. I had to double check the ticket I bought three months ago to see if I had made a mistake (it was a multi-city ticket for the way back).
#3
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
It’s always BA’s fault
The problem with mixing AA trips with BA, is that many times the BA flights just don’t go. Case in point BA #303 CDG-LHR at 7:15 am never goes, and it might have connected to many earlier USA flights. Pre-COVID and Post.
And Ba customer service, of any small kind, is either provided by well meaning immigrants who are just happy to not be subjected to rocket attacks at home, or just plain non-existent at any level from the “locals” who speak English as a primary language.
BA-A second rate “Flag” carrier, for a third world nation, with the worlds “best” fourth world airport.
YMMV but my experiences with BA HAVE ONLY left a bad taste in my mouth. I would put on my flame retardant suit, but, what the heck.
And Ba customer service, of any small kind, is either provided by well meaning immigrants who are just happy to not be subjected to rocket attacks at home, or just plain non-existent at any level from the “locals” who speak English as a primary language.
BA-A second rate “Flag” carrier, for a third world nation, with the worlds “best” fourth world airport.
YMMV but my experiences with BA HAVE ONLY left a bad taste in my mouth. I would put on my flame retardant suit, but, what the heck.
Last edited by Dallas49er; Jan 4, 2023 at 10:02 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 352
I see. So it may have been just a coincidence that I noticed it before it got solved.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Isle of Man/East Palo Alto
Programs: AA - CK/Airpass
Posts: 1,046
The problem with mixing AA trips with BA, is that many times the BA flights just don’t go. Case in point BA #303 CDG-LHR at 7:15 am never goes, and it might have connected to many earlier USA flights. Pre-COVID and Post.
And Ba customer service, of any small kind, is either provided by well meaning immigrants who are just happy to not be subjected to rocket attacks at home, or just plain non-existent at any level from the “locals” who speak English as a primary language.
BA-A second hand “Flag” carrier, for a third world nation, with the worlds “best” fourth world airport.
YMMV but my experiences with BA HAVE ONLY left a bad taste in my mouth. I would put on my flame retardant suit, but, what the heck.
And Ba customer service, of any small kind, is either provided by well meaning immigrants who are just happy to not be subjected to rocket attacks at home, or just plain non-existent at any level from the “locals” who speak English as a primary language.
BA-A second hand “Flag” carrier, for a third world nation, with the worlds “best” fourth world airport.
YMMV but my experiences with BA HAVE ONLY left a bad taste in my mouth. I would put on my flame retardant suit, but, what the heck.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Minnesota
Programs: AA EXP; United 1K, Delta, IHG Plat Amb, PE, Marriott/Hilton Gold
Posts: 749
If the flights are pretty far out, or involve a different airline those may take a while to resolve.
If I have a strong preference for an alternative still on the schedule, I may call Monday or Tuesday to have them update the reservatioon to my prefered alternative. Otherwise, I let it ride. Usually resolves in a couple of weeks and then I get an email notice
#7
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,991
BA303 has flown every day for as far back as I can see on FlightAware, and mostly on time.
#8
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
Okay.
As stated, YMMV. “Mostly on time” into LHR! MY experience has been with specifically #303 a 75% fail rate, resulting in missed connections, loss of upgrades, and extended”lounge crawls” in T3. It just became easier with less angst to change in the US. Granted, this was pre-COVID, and back when I flew OneWorld. Happy to see improvement. Other BA experiences (MUC, AMS, etc) resulted in à strategy involving USA to CDG, and trains on the continent,and. vice versa..
As stated, YMMV. “Mostly on time” into LHR! MY experience has been with specifically #303 a 75% fail rate, resulting in missed connections, loss of upgrades, and extended”lounge crawls” in T3. It just became easier with less angst to change in the US. Granted, this was pre-COVID, and back when I flew OneWorld. Happy to see improvement. Other BA experiences (MUC, AMS, etc) resulted in à strategy involving USA to CDG, and trains on the continent,and. vice versa..
#9
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Omaha
Programs: AA Life Plat 4mm, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,459
Ticketed OMA/ORD/LHR/BLQ landing at 13:10 - award April 4
BA cancels last leg now get in at 3:30, I saw an IB flight ORD/MAD/BLQ for $ call to ask
AA agent says no problem she will do an even swap, was emailed a confirmation with 2 ticket numbers on IB
I asked for the IB PNR so I could do the seats myself - long pause she couldn’t t get it, put me on hold for 30 minutes
A supervisor came on and said she had done an incorrect ticket swap.
Here is where things gets bad, said all she has now a flight getting in at 11:40 pm - the BA flight landing at 3:30 ( which we had seats on) is no longer available for award ticketing.. I said we can’t get in at midnight, how are we supposed to get to Florence, staying at a boutique hotel front desk closes at 10pm
She promised to call me Thursday after reaching out to IB and BA to improve it
What should my expectations be?
BA cancels last leg now get in at 3:30, I saw an IB flight ORD/MAD/BLQ for $ call to ask
AA agent says no problem she will do an even swap, was emailed a confirmation with 2 ticket numbers on IB
I asked for the IB PNR so I could do the seats myself - long pause she couldn’t t get it, put me on hold for 30 minutes
A supervisor came on and said she had done an incorrect ticket swap.
Here is where things gets bad, said all she has now a flight getting in at 11:40 pm - the BA flight landing at 3:30 ( which we had seats on) is no longer available for award ticketing.. I said we can’t get in at midnight, how are we supposed to get to Florence, staying at a boutique hotel front desk closes at 10pm
She promised to call me Thursday after reaching out to IB and BA to improve it
What should my expectations be?
#10
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,945
Ticketed OMA/ORD/LHR/BLQ landing at 13:10 - award April 4
BA cancels last leg now get in at 3:30, I saw an IB flight ORD/MAD/BLQ for $ call to ask
AA agent says no problem she will do an even swap, was emailed a confirmation with 2 ticket numbers on IB
I asked for the IB PNR so I could do the seats myself - long pause she couldn’t t get it, put me on hold for 30 minutes
A supervisor came on and said she had done an incorrect ticket swap.
Here is where things gets bad, said all she has now a flight getting in at 11:40 pm - the BA flight landing at 3:30 ( which we had seats on) is no longer available for award ticketing.. I said we can’t get in at midnight, how are we supposed to get to Florence, staying at a boutique hotel front desk closes at 10pm
She promised to call me Thursday after reaching out to IB and BA to improve it
What should my expectations be?
BA cancels last leg now get in at 3:30, I saw an IB flight ORD/MAD/BLQ for $ call to ask
AA agent says no problem she will do an even swap, was emailed a confirmation with 2 ticket numbers on IB
I asked for the IB PNR so I could do the seats myself - long pause she couldn’t t get it, put me on hold for 30 minutes
A supervisor came on and said she had done an incorrect ticket swap.
Here is where things gets bad, said all she has now a flight getting in at 11:40 pm - the BA flight landing at 3:30 ( which we had seats on) is no longer available for award ticketing.. I said we can’t get in at midnight, how are we supposed to get to Florence, staying at a boutique hotel front desk closes at 10pm
She promised to call me Thursday after reaching out to IB and BA to improve it
What should my expectations be?
#11
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,785
IME, the airlines do not bother to send a notification until a few weeks before the flight. That is because there could be additional changes. Saves them from multiple updates. That would be fine if airline travel happened in a vacuum. But it does not. As such, like voting. Check early and check often.
#12
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,945
IME, the airlines do not bother to send a notification until a few weeks before the flight. That is because there could be additional changes. Saves them from multiple updates. That would be fine if airline travel happened in a vacuum. But it does not. As such, like voting. Check early and check often.
#13
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,135
I was notified the week before Christmas that our BA connection in LHR this March went from two hours to an illegal 50 minutes (the old flight was never canceled - we were just bumped from it). The only other alternative available to us was a 10-hour layover. Nobody could move us to a different connecting flight, even if there were cash space available, because we booked with AA miles.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium (Plat Life), HH G, Amtrak, B6, MR
Posts: 1,548
This past summer I had a BA leg of an AA award (BA short-haul to AA TATL) reservation cancelled. No notification. I don't know what possessed me to check, but I was at my departure city 5 days out when I did and found out that I didn't have a flight to get me to London. Totally ridiculous that it didn't auto-rebook into something else. I ended up spending an hour on the phone with AA to get it fixed. I lucked out and they were able to find me another option to London connect to my original TATL flight. But their position was:
We will open up award space on AA metal if we need to (which would've meant rerouting me), but we we can't do that for partners, so we can only book you on a partner if they have award availability.
I think this is a fairly standard, albeit not very customer-friendly, response. If the said partner cancels your flight, they should have an obligation to re-accommodate you on something else, even if it means opening up inventory.
We will open up award space on AA metal if we need to (which would've meant rerouting me), but we we can't do that for partners, so we can only book you on a partner if they have award availability.
I think this is a fairly standard, albeit not very customer-friendly, response. If the said partner cancels your flight, they should have an obligation to re-accommodate you on something else, even if it means opening up inventory.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,196
Whilst this may appear weird it’s actually common place and is more to do with AA and BA using different systems than any nefarious plot which is why when you have a BA flight you need to use it’s app to keep an eye on it.
Comments about BA flights just not operating are unhelpful. I could say the same about AA given the regularity of my need to rebook AA flights as part of my trips.
Comments about BA flights just not operating are unhelpful. I could say the same about AA given the regularity of my need to rebook AA flights as part of my trips.
Last edited by UKtravelbear; Jan 5, 2023 at 5:26 am