Dec 20, 18, 5:24 am
Last edit by: Canarsie
Travelling to of from London Gatwick 21 December 2018
All LGW services operated on Friday with 2 exceptions (BA2758/0 to AMS and back; BA2938/9 EDI and back). Many flights were heavily delayed.
List of inbound BA diversions from latest closure is in post 463
Incomplete list of inbound cancellations for Friday 21 December is here in post 298.
Current customer guidelines in this post 344 (you can rebook free of charge to 5 January and reroute via LHR/LCY). Try rebooking via the App if you can, otherwise you need to telephone BA.
Background
Gatwick Airport was closed at 21:03 on Wednesday 19 December following reports of drones flying over the airfield. Sightings have continued throughout Thursday 20 December requiring the airport to remain closed. Gatwick Airport advising all passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. Gatwick airport was further closed on Friday 21 December from 17:00 until 18:25 at which time normal operations resumed after suspected drone sightings.
Previous updates
Current list of cancelled and diverted services
Post 96 and Post 132 and Post 184
All LGW services operated on Friday with 2 exceptions (BA2758/0 to AMS and back; BA2938/9 EDI and back). Many flights were heavily delayed.
List of inbound BA diversions from latest closure is in post 463
Incomplete list of inbound cancellations for Friday 21 December is here in post 298.
Current customer guidelines in this post 344 (you can rebook free of charge to 5 January and reroute via LHR/LCY). Try rebooking via the App if you can, otherwise you need to telephone BA.
Background
Gatwick Airport was closed at 21:03 on Wednesday 19 December following reports of drones flying over the airfield. Sightings have continued throughout Thursday 20 December requiring the airport to remain closed. Gatwick Airport advising all passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. Gatwick airport was further closed on Friday 21 December from 17:00 until 18:25 at which time normal operations resumed after suspected drone sightings.
Previous updates
Current list of cancelled and diverted services
Post 96 and Post 132 and Post 184
LGW closed due to drone activity
Dec 20, 18, 11:46 am
#331
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: London, UK
Posts: 5,003
I missed a flight a few years back due to a train jumper. I booked a new outbound with another airline, tweeted BA to explain, and they kindly kept my return valid (I didn't "cancel" anything)
I don't think they are under any obligation to do this though. I got back the cost of the new outbound through travel insurance.
I don't think they are under any obligation to do this though. I got back the cost of the new outbound through travel insurance.
Dec 20, 18, 11:48 am
#332
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: HH - Gold, BA - Blue
Posts: 187
Just as a side note: There has been 1 movement at Gatwick since 4am this morning.
Dec 20, 18, 11:52 am
#333
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
Message from Sussex Police
https://twitter.com/sussex_police
More#GatwickDrones We are appealing for information to help us identify the operators of the #Gatwick #drones. If you know who's responsible or have any information please call 999 and quote ref 1350-19/12.
https://twitter.com/sussex_police
More
Dec 20, 18, 11:55 am
#334
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Gateshead
Programs: BA Gold, ELAL Top Platinum, Lufthansa and Virgin
Posts: 798
A friend of mine was at NCL today and said that the Swissport staff that were assisting passengers from the diverted flight from ANU were very helpful. All passengers either got on one of three coaches to London, all of which left at 13.00. Other passengers either took a Metro to the station.
How are BA planning on getting planes such as the 777 up in NCL back to LGW, when the crew have left for London?
How are BA planning on getting planes such as the 777 up in NCL back to LGW, when the crew have left for London?
Dec 20, 18, 11:57 am
#336
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland / Estonia
Programs: AY+ Platinum, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, HH Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Diamond Elite
Posts: 6,380
I don't get these very frequent updates. The information is useless IMO. As long as the issue is not resolved, there won't be a reopening anyway, right? And who knows how long it will take.
Dec 20, 18, 12:03 pm
#337
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: All over the place often South Wales and Lake District
Programs: BA Gold for Life
Posts: 4,420
I actually sent a direct message to the twitter team because my two bookings from LGW disappeared from MMB. They came back saying that it was unrelated - usual IT issues. They proactively asked if I wanted to move to the LHER flight and offered me any of the flights with seats left. i thought this was great service. I have sent a well done
Dec 20, 18, 12:04 pm
#338
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 4
This is Saturday, I think this should operate, but yes, keep this under review and look to call tomorrow at some point when things become clearer. However be flexible, offer to go via New York, Boston, Dallas, Charlotte and hopefully something will come up. As you probably know, FLL is just a short road or rail trip from MIA.
Welcome to Flyertalk and to the BA forum tseamer, I hope this gets resolved for you.
Welcome to Flyertalk and to the BA forum tseamer, I hope this gets resolved for you.
Am I going to have better luck angling for Miami or for a smaller airport nearer my final destination (Tampa or Fort Myers [RSW])?
Dec 20, 18, 12:05 pm
#339
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 61,080
I can see the point you are making, not least because it seems never-ending. But what it usefully does is rule out a whole series of hypothetical options that could have happened. So for example we now know that there's no point looking for any late take-offs today, it's not going to happen. Whether anything happens at 06:00 hrs is certainly open to conjecture (and I'm wondering if they will hold back until daylight) but at least some people can get on with other plans.
Dec 20, 18, 12:08 pm
#340
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 96
I think I actually just got the last seat going out of London tomorrow direct to Barcelona. It wasn't showing earlier and now BA has no availabilty until 23 December for leaving London. But the call centre just confirmed I'm on the 10:20am flight tomorrow out of Heathrow. A win all round as I don't have to get out of bed early - and I get to enjoy a breakfast in the Cathay lounge.
The airline gods must be smiling on me this evening. Now, fingers crossed the drone team don't move their activities to Heathrow overnight!
Dec 20, 18, 12:09 pm
#341
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 61,080
It will be luck of the draw I fear. Passenger numbers will be flowing all over the place to as people cancel or fail connections. There's a bit of me which would say "get me to the USA" and then sort it out from there, But these small airports often only have a few flights in smaller aircraft. So Miami, perhaps transferring via New York or elsewhere, may work out. By all means check in this thread tomorrow to see what is possible.
Dec 20, 18, 12:10 pm
#342
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 4
It will be luck of the draw I fear. Passenger numbers will be flowing all over the place to as people cancel or fail connections. There's a bit of me which would say "get me to the USA" and then sort it out from there, But these small airports often only have a few flights in smaller aircraft. So Miami, perhaps transferring via New York or elsewhere, may work out. By all means check in this thread tomorrow to see what is possible.
Dec 20, 18, 12:34 pm
#343
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Mucci de l'Arbitrage
Posts: 927
Looks like you can now ask to be rebooked on westjet too.
Advice for British Airways-125 ticketed customers whose BA flight is still OPERATING.
Show less Rebook onto
British AirwaysAirports affected
BA operated services FROM or TO:
19 December 2018
Ticket travel dates
20 - 21 December 2018
New travel dates
Up to and including 05 January 2018
Rebooking Allowance
Rebook into the sameclass as the original flight or lowest available in the same cabin
Rebooking Allowance onto other airlines
Rebook on Westjet lowest class same cabin on a routing which connects with a BA/ AA/ IB service where applicable
Origin/Destination/Stopover changes
No
Refunds Allowed
Yes - All flights, both Shorthaul and Longhaul
Redemptions included
Yes
Available for Trade
Yes
Important Information
Show less Rebook onto
British AirwaysAirports affected
BA operated services FROM or TO:
- London (LGW)All flights, both Shorthaul and Longhaul
19 December 2018
Ticket travel dates
20 - 21 December 2018
New travel dates
Up to and including 05 January 2018
Rebooking Allowance
Rebook into the sameclass as the original flight or lowest available in the same cabin
Rebooking Allowance onto other airlines
Rebook on Westjet lowest class same cabin on a routing which connects with a BA/ AA/ IB service where applicable
Origin/Destination/Stopover changes
No
Refunds Allowed
Yes - All flights, both Shorthaul and Longhaul
Redemptions included
Yes
Available for Trade
Yes
Important Information
- One involuntary ticket change allowed from the above options
- Customers can be rebooked to/from an alternative airport in London
- For customers on cancelledflights, please follow the standard customer guidelines >
- Adherence to commercial policies/standard customer guidelines remains entirely the responsibility of the user. BA reserves the right to withdraw guidelines at any time
Dec 20, 18, 12:55 pm
#345
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,038
Whilst understanding the difficulties I must say I'm quite surprised that after almost 24 hours the authorities haven't been able to come close to securing the area for operation.
A bit less surprised that insurance companies are starting to wheedle their way out of claims by claiming there is no mention of drones in their policy wordings.
And definitely not at all surprised to hear Simon Calder on the radio saying that airlines are again failing to advise customers of their entitlements under EC261.
Hey ho. Must be devastating for passengers wanting to get home or away for Christmas. Apparently the ban on night flights has been lifted if they can get the airport open again which may help some people.
A bit less surprised that insurance companies are starting to wheedle their way out of claims by claiming there is no mention of drones in their policy wordings.
And definitely not at all surprised to hear Simon Calder on the radio saying that airlines are again failing to advise customers of their entitlements under EC261.
Hey ho. Must be devastating for passengers wanting to get home or away for Christmas. Apparently the ban on night flights has been lifted if they can get the airport open again which may help some people.
