BA wanted to cancel my flight
Jun 21, 2013, 11:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: BA Silver, United, HH, club Carlson
Posts: 217
BA wanted to cancel my flight
My company travel agent contacted me this afternoon to say that BA had contacted them to say they were cancelling a flight I was connecting to as I didn't make the min connection in CDG of three hours. I am flying in with Air France and my BA flight to LHR leaves 2:45 mins later. BA told TA min connection is three hours so they were cancelling flight. TA contacted every BA rep group she could think of to try to get around them. No joy. The TA has never seen this before and is amazed at the inflexibility of BA. She had explained that I am no eejit when it comes to connections. That I am a frequent flyer blah blah blah. Deaf ears. Rules are rules they said
Ok I do agree rules are rules but they should be delighted I want to fly BA and not looking at cancelling my flight especially when i do have 2:45 hours to make the connection. I often do this connection and never had a problem before. In fact it's always the same routing I take with past three years.
The only reason BA knew I was on a connection on the air France flight was TA had booked them on the same booking. Only way around that she could do is cancel connection and re-book under another ref number thereby "masking" my inward flight to CDG.
I find it bizarre - has anyone had this experience recently with BA
Phew - rant over - sorry for long post
Ok I do agree rules are rules but they should be delighted I want to fly BA and not looking at cancelling my flight especially when i do have 2:45 hours to make the connection. I often do this connection and never had a problem before. In fact it's always the same routing I take with past three years.
The only reason BA knew I was on a connection on the air France flight was TA had booked them on the same booking. Only way around that she could do is cancel connection and re-book under another ref number thereby "masking" my inward flight to CDG.
I find it bizarre - has anyone had this experience recently with BA
Phew - rant over - sorry for long post
Jun 21, 2013, 11:30 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: London, England
Posts: 366
I agree that it's annoying, particularly as no other airlines I've come across have a three hour MCT at CDG. I can only assume that CDG was costing BA a lot of trouble with missed connections and costing them too much money/time.
Because I live closer to Kings Cross than Heathrow, sometimes I've taken the TGV + Eurostar instead of BA when the timings no longer make sense.
Otherwise separate tickets does seem to be the only way around it, but don't expect any sympathy if things do go wrong, from BA or your travel insurance (depending on who it is).
Because I live closer to Kings Cross than Heathrow, sometimes I've taken the TGV + Eurostar instead of BA when the timings no longer make sense.
Otherwise separate tickets does seem to be the only way around it, but don't expect any sympathy if things do go wrong, from BA or your travel insurance (depending on who it is).
Jun 21, 2013, 11:32 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,818
If the MCT truly is 3:00, then I agree with More Champagne Sir?. A connection that violates the MCT can't legally be booked as a single ticket. Separate tickets are fine, you just take your chances if you misconnect.
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Results from ExpertFlyer.com
Code:
Connecting Cities: Connecting at CDG Incoming airline AF Outgoing airline BA Flight type International to International STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I. ONLINE .20 1.00 1.00 1.00 OFFLINE .20 1.00 1.00 1.00 ** OR * ARE ALL **-BA II 3.00 **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2A - 2A **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2B - 2A **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2C - 2A **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2D - 2A **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2A - 2B **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2B - 2B **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2C - 2B **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2D - 2B **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2A - 2C **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2B - 2C **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2C - 2C **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2D - 2C **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2A - 2D **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2B - 2D **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2C - 2D **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2D - 2D **-** II 1.30 ALL - TLV TRM 2F - 2D **-** II 1.30 TRM 1 - 1 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2A - 1 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2B - 1 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2C - 1 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2D - 1 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2E - 1 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2F - 1 **-** II 2.30 TRM 2G - 1 **-** II 2.00 TRM 3 - 1 **-** II 2.00 TRM TN - 1 **-** II 2.00 TRM 1 - 2A **-** II 1.30 TRM 2A - 2A **-** II 1.30 TRM 2B - 2A **-** II 1.30 TRM 2C - 2A **-** II 1.30 TRM 2D - 2A **-** II 1.30 TRM 2E - 2A **-** II 1.30 TRM 2F - 2A **-** II 2.00 TRM 2G - 2A **-** II 2.00 TRM 3 - 2A **-** II 2.00 TRM TN - 2A **-** II 2.00 TRM 1 - 2B **-** II 1.30 TRM 2A - 2B **-** II 1.30 TRM 2B - 2B **-** II 1.30 TRM 2C - 2B **-** II 1.30 TRM 2D - 2B **-** II 1.30 TRM 2E - 2B **-** II 1.30 TRM 2F - 2B **-** II 2.00 TRM 2G - 2B **-** II 2.00 TRM 3 - 2B **-** II 2.00 TRM TN - 2B **-** II 2.00 TRM 1 - 2C **-** II 1.30 TRM 2A - 2C **-** II 1.30 TRM 2B - 2C **-** II 1.30 TRM 2C - 2C **-** II 1.30 TRM 2D - 2C **-** II 1.30 TRM 2E - 2C **-** II 1.30 TRM 2F - 2C **-** II 2.00 TRM 2G - 2C **-** II 2.00 TRM 3 - 2C **-** II 2.00 TRM TN - 2C **-** II 2.00 TRM 1 - 2D **-** II 1.30 TRM 2A - 2D **-** II 1.30 TRM 2B - 2D **-** II 1.30 TRM 2C - 2D **-** II 1.30 TRM 2D - 2D **-** II 1.30 TRM 2E - 2D **-** II 1.30 TRM 2F - 2D **-** II 2.00 TRM 2G - 2D **-** II 2.00 TRM 3 - 2D **-** II 2.00 TRM TN - 2D **-** II 2.00 TRM 1 - 2E **-** II 1.30 TRM 2A - 2E **-** II 1.30 TRM 2B - 2E **-** II 1.30 TRM 2C - 2E **-** II 1.30 TRM 2D - 2E **-** II 1.30 TRM 2E - 2E **-** II 1.30 TRM 2F - 2E **-** II 2.00 TRM 2G - 2E **-** II 2.00 TRM 3 - 2E **-** II 2.00 TRM TN - 2E **-** II 2.00 TRM 1 - 2F **-** II 1.30 TRM 2A - 2F **-** II 1.30 TRM 2B - 2F **-** II 1.30 TRM 2C - 2F **-** II 1.30 TRM 2D - 2F **-** II 1.30 TRM 2E - 2F **-** II 1.30 TRM 2F - 2F **-** II 2.00 TRM 2G - 2F **-** II 2.00 TRM 3 - 2F **-** II 2.00 TRM TN - 2F **-** II 2.30 TRM 1 - 2G **-** II 2.00 TRM 2A - 2G **-** II 2.00 TRM 2B - 2G **-** II 2.00 TRM 2C - 2G **-** II 2.00 TRM 2D - 2G **-** II 2.00 TRM 2E - 2G **-** II 2.00 TRM 2F - 2G **-** II 1.30 TRM 2G - 2G **-** II 2.00 TRM 3 - 2G **-** II 2.00 TRM TN - 2G **-** II 2.00 TRM 1 - 3 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2A - 3 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2B - 3 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2C - 3 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2D - 3 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2E - 3 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2F - 3 **-** II 2.00 TRM 2G - 3 **-** II 2.00 TRM TN - 3 **-** II 2.00 TRM 1 - TN **-** II 2.00 TRM 2A - TN **-** II 2.00 TRM 2B - TN **-** II 2.00 TRM 2C - TN **-** II 2.00 TRM 2D - TN **-** II 2.00 TRM 2E - TN **-** II 2.00 TRM 2F - TN **-** II 2.00 TRM 2G - TN **-** II 2.00 TRM 3 - TN **-** II 1.30 TRM TN - TN
Jun 21, 2013, 12:12 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: BA Silver, United, HH, club Carlson
Posts: 217
Thanks for replies guys. Annoying but yes if MCT is three I suppose its the rule but it is very extreme for CDG.
Between us. I don't rate our companies TA very much at all. I always seem to end up doing the searches to get best flight options and they still end up getting 25 euros for each trip they book per ref number. I wish we could book ourselves but alas company policy.
Take care all
Between us. I don't rate our companies TA very much at all. I always seem to end up doing the searches to get best flight options and they still end up getting 25 euros for each trip they book per ref number. I wish we could book ourselves but alas company policy.
Take care all
Jun 21, 2013, 12:49 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Helvetia
Programs: AS; BA Silver; UA; HH Gold; Sprüngli Connaisseur
Posts: 2,912
Jun 21, 2013, 12:55 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This is 100% the TA's fault and has nothing to do with BA. MCT's are binary. Your schedule either meets or does not meet the MCT. If it doesn, it's not a legal connection.
MCT represents a carrier's willingness to accept the risk of a misconnect and has nothing to do with what one individual passenger might or might not be able to manage.
Unfortunately for OP and others, EU nanny rules make carriers' willingness to take the risk all the less. MCT implicates both duty of care and delay compensation, so that translates into longer MCT's.
Not only is it inexcusable for a TA to book under the MCT, but it's even more silly for them to run around calling various people at BA when they know full well that it's not waiveable.
Nothing prevents OP from purchasing separate tickets if he thinks he can make the <3 connection. If he makes it, he's home earlier. If he misses it, he's on his own.
MCT represents a carrier's willingness to accept the risk of a misconnect and has nothing to do with what one individual passenger might or might not be able to manage.
Unfortunately for OP and others, EU nanny rules make carriers' willingness to take the risk all the less. MCT implicates both duty of care and delay compensation, so that translates into longer MCT's.
Not only is it inexcusable for a TA to book under the MCT, but it's even more silly for them to run around calling various people at BA when they know full well that it's not waiveable.
Nothing prevents OP from purchasing separate tickets if he thinks he can make the <3 connection. If he makes it, he's home earlier. If he misses it, he's on his own.
Jun 21, 2013, 1:18 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,602
Post 2 which shows the MCT for connections to BA at CDG, shows it to be 3 hours as informed to the OP's travel agent
Jun 21, 2013, 2:41 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,209
Have to ask, if you're flying inbound on AF then onwards on BA (presumably to LHR as I don't think BA flies Paris to LCY or LGW) why didn't you just book AF all the way through? Shorter minimum connection time and it's only a short flight.