"Your seats have changed" when flight is in fact cancelled (or is it?)
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,963
"Your seats have changed" when flight is in fact cancelled (or is it?)
I received an email from BA today, with the subject line "Seat changes for British Airways booking". The banner at the top of the email said "Your seats have been changed", and gave me a link to MMB.
In MMB, I discovered that not only had my seat changed but so had the departure time and the operating airline: my flight had, in fact, been cancelled and I'd been rebooked onto Iberia. An email with the subject line "Your flight has been cancelled" would have been more appropriate, and no more unwelcome (to me) than one telling me my seat had changed.
None of the alternative flights I was offered in MMB worked for me so I called BA (the Gold Line was answered in 30 seconds ) and requested that the cancelled flight be removed from the itinerary and the rest left intact. This, apparently has to go to the back office for reissue, so lord knows how long that will take.
No sooner had I got off the phone with BA than another email arrives telling me that my flight number has changed but, not to worry, my flight is operating as planned and no action is necessary. (BA457 MAD-LHR on 4 June is now BA7070). So I didn't have to look at alternatives in MMB, nor call BA, nor remove the cancelled-not-cancelled flight from the booking. Although BA had already rebooked me onto an alternative flight, so I'm not sure how that works?
So, for those of you who know about these things: (1) why does removing a flight from an itinerary need to go to the back office black hole, and (2) what's up with that weird flight number BA7070?
In MMB, I discovered that not only had my seat changed but so had the departure time and the operating airline: my flight had, in fact, been cancelled and I'd been rebooked onto Iberia. An email with the subject line "Your flight has been cancelled" would have been more appropriate, and no more unwelcome (to me) than one telling me my seat had changed.
None of the alternative flights I was offered in MMB worked for me so I called BA (the Gold Line was answered in 30 seconds ) and requested that the cancelled flight be removed from the itinerary and the rest left intact. This, apparently has to go to the back office for reissue, so lord knows how long that will take.
No sooner had I got off the phone with BA than another email arrives telling me that my flight number has changed but, not to worry, my flight is operating as planned and no action is necessary. (BA457 MAD-LHR on 4 June is now BA7070). So I didn't have to look at alternatives in MMB, nor call BA, nor remove the cancelled-not-cancelled flight from the booking. Although BA had already rebooked me onto an alternative flight, so I'm not sure how that works?
So, for those of you who know about these things: (1) why does removing a flight from an itinerary need to go to the back office black hole, and (2) what's up with that weird flight number BA7070?
#2
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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I would suspect that this is BA's codeshare onto Iberia. As per the network thread, BA appears to have reduced its MAD's frequency in favour of Iberia adding flights to their roster.
#3
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,701
yes you often get the seat change email a little bit before you actually get the cancellation email itself.
the agent should be able to remove the cancelled flight. it may need to be sent off for ticket reissue, and of course manual calculation of a part refund.
the email is a bit misleading though as you have actually been moved from a BA flight to an identically timed IB flight with a BA codeshare. Your BA flight has been cancelled.
the agent should be able to remove the cancelled flight. it may need to be sent off for ticket reissue, and of course manual calculation of a part refund.
the email is a bit misleading though as you have actually been moved from a BA flight to an identically timed IB flight with a BA codeshare. Your BA flight has been cancelled.
#4
Join Date: May 2014
Location: BRU
Programs: BA GGL, TK E (*G), ITA exec
Posts: 4,023
I received an email from BA today, with the subject line "Seat changes for British Airways booking". The banner at the top of the email said "Your seats have been changed", and gave me a link to MMB.
In MMB, I discovered that not only had my seat changed but so had the departure time and the operating airline: my flight had, in fact, been cancelled and I'd been rebooked onto Iberia. An email with the subject line "Your flight has been cancelled" would have been more appropriate, and no more unwelcome (to me) than one telling me my seat had changed.
None of the alternative flights I was offered in MMB worked for me so I called BA (the Gold Line was answered in 30 seconds ) and requested that the cancelled flight be removed from the itinerary and the rest left intact. This, apparently has to go to the back office for reissue, so lord knows how long that will take.
No sooner had I got off the phone with BA than another email arrives telling me that my flight number has changed but, not to worry, my flight is operating as planned and no action is necessary. (BA457 MAD-LHR on 4 June is now BA7070). So I didn't have to look at alternatives in MMB, nor call BA, nor remove the cancelled-not-cancelled flight from the booking. Although BA had already rebooked me onto an alternative flight, so I'm not sure how that works?
So, for those of you who know about these things: (1) why does removing a flight from an itinerary need to go to the back office black hole, and (2) what's up with that weird flight number BA7070?
In MMB, I discovered that not only had my seat changed but so had the departure time and the operating airline: my flight had, in fact, been cancelled and I'd been rebooked onto Iberia. An email with the subject line "Your flight has been cancelled" would have been more appropriate, and no more unwelcome (to me) than one telling me my seat had changed.
None of the alternative flights I was offered in MMB worked for me so I called BA (the Gold Line was answered in 30 seconds ) and requested that the cancelled flight be removed from the itinerary and the rest left intact. This, apparently has to go to the back office for reissue, so lord knows how long that will take.
No sooner had I got off the phone with BA than another email arrives telling me that my flight number has changed but, not to worry, my flight is operating as planned and no action is necessary. (BA457 MAD-LHR on 4 June is now BA7070). So I didn't have to look at alternatives in MMB, nor call BA, nor remove the cancelled-not-cancelled flight from the booking. Although BA had already rebooked me onto an alternative flight, so I'm not sure how that works?
So, for those of you who know about these things: (1) why does removing a flight from an itinerary need to go to the back office black hole, and (2) what's up with that weird flight number BA7070?
I had to check in MMB to see that it was indeed a cancellation and the flight was now on IB.
PS
I don't think I will ever get an email telling me explicitly that the flight was cancelled...
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,963
Thank you, everyone, for helping me make sense of this.
It would have been so much more straightforward if BA had simply sent an email saying "your flight's been cancelled but we've transferred you to an identically-timed flight operated by Iberia". I can only wonder how many other customers have received similar emails and been left scratching their heads this evening.
It would have been so much more straightforward if BA had simply sent an email saying "your flight's been cancelled but we've transferred you to an identically-timed flight operated by Iberia". I can only wonder how many other customers have received similar emails and been left scratching their heads this evening.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club Silver
Posts: 74
I got the same today (well I got two emails, one saying my flight number "changed" and another advising about seat changes). When I open MMB I can apply for a full refund, which is great news as they were cash flights I had wanted to cancel
#7
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
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I got a whole pile of emails, plus requests to call BA about the cancellation and warnings from Flighty. It was a busy afternoon.
For me it looks like all of these were transfer of BA flights to Iberia with flight number changes to BA7070 and BA7071 but at the same times. My 1D seat preferences copied over to the IB flights.
For me it looks like all of these were transfer of BA flights to Iberia with flight number changes to BA7070 and BA7071 but at the same times. My 1D seat preferences copied over to the IB flights.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,963
It was useful to see how MMB has improved, though, and how easy it appeared to be to select alternative flights. And also to see how flexible BA was being: I was offered close to two dozen alternative routings on the original date, and was also able to choose another date. Unfortunately, every alternative involved a tight connection, long layover, fewer tier points, entering the US at JFK and/or flying with Iberia, none of which was appealing, so removing the first sector of this ex-EU trip was the best option for me.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,351
Thank you, everyone, for helping me make sense of this.
It would have been so much more straightforward if BA had simply sent an email saying "your flight's been cancelled but we've transferred you to an identically-timed flight operated by Iberia". I can only wonder how many other customers have received similar emails and been left scratching their heads this evening.
It would have been so much more straightforward if BA had simply sent an email saying "your flight's been cancelled but we've transferred you to an identically-timed flight operated by Iberia". I can only wonder how many other customers have received similar emails and been left scratching their heads this evening.
#10
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Canary Wharf, London
Programs: MyWaitrose, IC Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond & BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,682
I don't think that I would expect a message that specific, which would suppose an above average level of sophistication in the robot handling flight change messages. It would, however, perhaps be simpler to have a single generic message for all changes other than mere seat changes along the lines of something like "there has been a change to your flight. Please check your itinerary on ba.com."
#11
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Location: Leeds, UK
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I don't think that I would expect a message that specific, which would suppose an above average level of sophistication in the robot handling flight change messages. It would, however, perhaps be simpler to have a single generic message for all changes other than mere seat changes along the lines of something like "there has been a change to your flight. Please check your itinerary on ba.com."
Booking Reference: xxxxx
Dear MR KARFA,Your upcoming flight to London Heathrow on Thursday 02 May 2024 will have a different flight number.
You will now be travelling on the BA7070.
Please rest assured that your flight will continue to operate as planned, and no other part of your booking will be affected. Your booking can be viewed in Manage My Booking.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,963
In my case, the affected booking is the first sector of my MAD-LHR-BOS//EWR-LHR trip on 4 May, which cost 950€.
#13
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
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Posts: 12,031
So, I got a lot of these emails, each of which needed me to accept the change to the IB flight, with a BA flight number.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: BA Executive Club, AS Airlines Mileage Plan
Posts: 976
Your seats have been changed
I received an email early this morning from BA with that title, saying our seats for an April trip JKF-LHR in Club World and LHR-SEA in PE, which I paid to choose 2 months ago, have been changed. But when I went into my booking, both earlier and now 20 hours later, there has been no change. The confirmed seats, the flight time, the aircraft type, are all the same as before.
Does it take longer for the changes to show up in MMB? Or is this some kind of mistake?
Does it take longer for the changes to show up in MMB? Or is this some kind of mistake?
#15
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 557
I had this today too, for a LHR-BCN / then return in May. Seats have not changed from the ones I selected at booking. Flight times appear to be the same as booked also. Not sure if it is maybe an aircraft type change?