Help with delayed flights
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Scotland, Spain
Programs: Skywards Gold, Amex Plat, SkyTeam Silver
Posts: 1,157
Help with delayed flights
Good morning guys,
Up until now (touch wood) never needed any help with delays but need advice.
Flying MCO-PHL-MAD-PMI
A delay in MCO means I miss my connecting flight.
I'm looking for help with
-my flight is operated by AA and IB but on a BA ticket. Will anyone put me up in a hotel as it's looking like all options will involve n overnight.
- can we claim expenses if they don't? Do we speak to BA? Do we speak to American?
-can we claim eu261?
-the AA women on the phone said it was "prior maintence delays" when I asked if the delay was due to weather? How do I check this for AA768? Thanks for all and any help.
Mark
Up until now (touch wood) never needed any help with delays but need advice.
Flying MCO-PHL-MAD-PMI
A delay in MCO means I miss my connecting flight.
I'm looking for help with
-my flight is operated by AA and IB but on a BA ticket. Will anyone put me up in a hotel as it's looking like all options will involve n overnight.
- can we claim expenses if they don't? Do we speak to BA? Do we speak to American?
-can we claim eu261?
-the AA women on the phone said it was "prior maintence delays" when I asked if the delay was due to weather? How do I check this for AA768? Thanks for all and any help.
Mark
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Scotland, Spain
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Posts: 1,157
#4
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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I can't see EC251 applying here, that's one of the disadvantages of using AA on routings.
However usually AA will provide hotel accommodation if that is the cause. You would normally get that via a card issued in MCO airport, it will typically be at a utilitarian level rather than luxurious. AA is responsible for any out of pocket expenses. You may be better looking at your travel insurance policy if you have one. On the other hand AA will rebook fairly freely on any sensible routing, including BA, if that proves necessary, so by all means look at options which suit you the best before approaching AA.
However usually AA will provide hotel accommodation if that is the cause. You would normally get that via a card issued in MCO airport, it will typically be at a utilitarian level rather than luxurious. AA is responsible for any out of pocket expenses. You may be better looking at your travel insurance policy if you have one. On the other hand AA will rebook fairly freely on any sensible routing, including BA, if that proves necessary, so by all means look at options which suit you the best before approaching AA.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Scotland, Spain
Programs: Skywards Gold, Amex Plat, SkyTeam Silver
Posts: 1,157
I can't see EC251 applying here, that's one of the disadvantages of using AA on routings.
However usually AA will provide hotel accommodation if that is the cause. You would normally get that via a card issued in MCO airport, it will typically be at a utilitarian level rather than luxurious. AA is responsible for any out of pocket expenses. You may be better looking at your travel insurance policy if you have one. On the other hand AA will rebook fairly freely on any sensible routing, including BA, if that proves necessary, so by all means look at options which suit you the best before approaching AA.
However usually AA will provide hotel accommodation if that is the cause. You would normally get that via a card issued in MCO airport, it will typically be at a utilitarian level rather than luxurious. AA is responsible for any out of pocket expenses. You may be better looking at your travel insurance policy if you have one. On the other hand AA will rebook fairly freely on any sensible routing, including BA, if that proves necessary, so by all means look at options which suit you the best before approaching AA.
Does the AA routing still not help that it's a 125 ticket?
#6
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In theory, despite being a 125 ticket, you are firmly in a joint business arrangement then any BA/IB/AA solution should be possible. BA and AA are on different systems which makes it trickier for the AA agent, but usually if there are seats showing available then AA generally will try very hard to make it happen. The ticketing may need intervention from BA staff at PHL (?) but so long as they get you seats that can normally be resolved at PHL or whereever.
#7
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All sorted now. However 10hour layover in London and a airport change. Does anyone have experience claiming expenses for these sort of delays? I'm by no way trying to milk the system in anyway but also aware the fault isn't mine.
Lunch at Orlando as we wait for the flight?
Transport from LGW to LHR? How direct does this need to be? Food in London? Etc
No overnight required now luckily.
Lunch at Orlando as we wait for the flight?
Transport from LGW to LHR? How direct does this need to be? Food in London? Etc
No overnight required now luckily.
#8
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It's not certain that AA will pay your expenses, but generally they will for BAEC status passengers. So you best be fairly frugal, spending what you would have to pay if it was totally your fault, keep and photo the receipts, then send them in when you're in a position to do so. If you are in no hurry to transfer airports in London, then it's cheaper to take the tube into town and then the Southern from Victoria. Under the Montral Convention AA is supposed to make good anything in this area but few airlines cover themselves in glory on this one. You may, however, get a voucher from AA by way of customer service remediation.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Scotland, Spain
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It's not certain that AA will pay your expenses, but generally they will for BAEC status passengers. So you best be fairly frugal, spending what you would have to pay if it was totally your fault, keep and photo the receipts, then send them in when you're in a position to do so. If you are in no hurry to transfer airports in London, then it's cheaper to take the tube into town and then the Southern from Victoria. Under the Montral Convention AA is supposed to make good anything in this area but few airlines cover themselves in glory on this one. You may, however, get a voucher from AA by way of customer service remediation.
Anyway, going to eat as I would and may speak to BA staff (flying them now) when get to Heathrow.
#10
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Okay. So AA won't cover meals etc even though it's 'their' fault? No worries. It seems complicated cause it's BA marketed and their site says they'll cover expenses but AA seem more tight.
Anyway, going to eat as I would and may speak to BA staff (flying them now) when get to Heathrow.
Anyway, going to eat as I would and may speak to BA staff (flying them now) when get to Heathrow.
#13
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That may be correct actually, if you paid BA for the ticket, and in fact there is a liaison process between BA and AA in this area. But BA will just lob it over to AA to resolve unless there is a ticket refund due, which doesn't seem to be the case. You will find forms on the AA website for making customer service claims.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
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It's really easy to get annoyed by the information (and perhaps misinformation you receive) during IRROPS. The best advice I can give is to just do your best, save receipts, and deal with getting reimbursed when you return home. This advice might be easier said than done, but in my experience, you'll have more time after the journey than you will now, and it's really not much fun traveling being worked up when someone gives you bad or conflicting information at the airport, etc.
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Scotland, Spain
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So Incase anyone is interested in the (very condensed) story.
-At MCO notice flight to PHL is late so will miss onward flight.
-AA agent allowed me to borrow her phone instead of waiting in line. I found a MCO-LGW LHR-BCN-PMI flight option I liked but agent on phone said she wouldn't be able to book me on any flight options that didn't contain an AA flight so I should speak to a desk agent.
- passed security and helpful agent booked me on these flights
- got to gatwick and found sooner flights which avoided a trip to Heathrow and was a 3hr layover rather than 10hour.
-gatwick agents helpfully put me on the flights I suggested
-At MCO notice flight to PHL is late so will miss onward flight.
-AA agent allowed me to borrow her phone instead of waiting in line. I found a MCO-LGW LHR-BCN-PMI flight option I liked but agent on phone said she wouldn't be able to book me on any flight options that didn't contain an AA flight so I should speak to a desk agent.
- passed security and helpful agent booked me on these flights
- got to gatwick and found sooner flights which avoided a trip to Heathrow and was a 3hr layover rather than 10hour.
-gatwick agents helpfully put me on the flights I suggested
-ended up arriving 2hours later than originally planned.
Overall VERY impressed with all the agents I encountered. Particularly AA at MCO and BA at Gatwick.
Moral, as always suggested here... Head to the desk with a suitable solution rather than just a 'im going to miss my flight'
Overall VERY impressed with all the agents I encountered. Particularly AA at MCO and BA at Gatwick.
Moral, as always suggested here... Head to the desk with a suitable solution rather than just a 'im going to miss my flight'