Dec 20, 2018, 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, 2018, 1:54 pm
#361
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: 63,800
I'm afraid that is the IB way of working, they don't go into the proactive flight management on the whole, unless it's a Joint Business flight. I think you will need to stay the course here. On the other hand they are more likely to rebook you at the airport than a BA flight if there are further mass cancellations.
Dec 20, 2018, 1:55 pm
#362
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: 63,800
Dec 20, 2018, 1:59 pm
#363
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
I know this isn't a BA related post, but it's very much a Gatwick clusterf*ck related post... I'm booked on EZY8503 LGW-KEF landing at 1130. I then have a separately booked flight WW121 KEF-DTW that takes off at 1520.
Now, clearly the easyjet flight is totally fubared. I have no idea what my options are at this point though. There isn't another flight that goes from London to KEF in time, and booking a last min flight from London to Detroit is going to cost £1200 which I don't really have to spare. Does anyone have any ideas or advice?! I have some travel insurance through bank accounts, credit cards etc but most of them aren't very helpful about this situation...
Now, clearly the easyjet flight is totally fubared. I have no idea what my options are at this point though. There isn't another flight that goes from London to KEF in time, and booking a last min flight from London to Detroit is going to cost £1200 which I don't really have to spare. Does anyone have any ideas or advice?! I have some travel insurance through bank accounts, credit cards etc but most of them aren't very helpful about this situation...
You could try and reroute yourself to KEF as above.
Otherwise the only real advice here is to speak to your insurers on whether they will cover a replacement ticket. Sadly It is already being commented on BBC that insurers are in 'no dice' mode.
Dec 20, 2018, 2:01 pm
#364
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
I know this isn't a BA related post, but it's very much a Gatwick clusterf*ck related post... I'm booked on EZY8503 LGW-KEF landing at 1130. I then have a separately booked flight WW121 KEF-DTW that takes off at 1520.
Now, clearly the easyjet flight is totally fubared. I have no idea what my options are at this point though. There isn't another flight that goes from London to KEF in time, and booking a last min flight from London to Detroit is going to cost £1200 which I don't really have to spare. Does anyone have any ideas or advice?! I have some travel insurance through bank accounts, credit cards etc but most of them aren't very helpful about this situation...
Now, clearly the easyjet flight is totally fubared. I have no idea what my options are at this point though. There isn't another flight that goes from London to KEF in time, and booking a last min flight from London to Detroit is going to cost £1200 which I don't really have to spare. Does anyone have any ideas or advice?! I have some travel insurance through bank accounts, credit cards etc but most of them aren't very helpful about this situation...
Dec 20, 2018, 2:06 pm
#365
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 99
Welcome to the BA forum here on Flyertalk Daventry, and though it may not be so useful at the moment, there is an Iberia forums as well!
I'm afraid that is the IB way of working, they don't go into the proactive flight management on the whole, unless it's a Joint Business flight. I think you will need to stay the course here. On the other hand they are more likely to rebook you at the airport than a BA flight if there are further mass cancellations.
I'm afraid that is the IB way of working, they don't go into the proactive flight management on the whole, unless it's a Joint Business flight. I think you will need to stay the course here. On the other hand they are more likely to rebook you at the airport than a BA flight if there are further mass cancellations.
Regarding rebooking at airport - Just wanted to avoid going there as it's such a mess right now.
Customer Services were keen to rebook me on the 24th December for the same flight LGW-MAD. They told me that for something such as LHR-DUB-MAD I would need to go the airport.
I guess I'll stick to flying BA from now on (this IB flight is one of those I purchased for the 90k avios promo back in June).
Dec 20, 2018, 2:26 pm
#367
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,016
Dec 20, 2018, 2:31 pm
#368
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 99
Dec 20, 2018, 2:58 pm
#371
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Nottingham, England
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 968
Had to use it once when our BA flight landed too late into CPH for us to get our connecting flight back home with RA. Spent the night at the Hilton Airport for £300. Insurers paid for the hotel and the flights home less our excess.
Dec 20, 2018, 3:07 pm
#372
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 887
Used the BA App to change onto the last LHR-GLA flight tomorrow night. The app actually worked well - showed all flights between LON-GLA tomorrow and those flights with availability had a button next to them to allow you to select it.
Dec 20, 2018, 3:11 pm
#374
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 124
Are you stranded? Friday 21st
Given the issues today and the potential disruption faced by many travellers tomorrow, I'd like to offer help to those who cannot leave Gatwick tomorrow and have no other options.
I live in Windsor, so while not immediately local, it is within taxi distance and gives you a very local option to LHR for rebooking.
I can accommodate from Friday evening until Sunday 6pm. I will then myself be departing from LHR.
I also have a car so please let me know if you (or someone you know) needs help.
It's Christmas after all.
Given the issues today and the potential disruption faced by many travellers tomorrow, I'd like to offer help to those who cannot leave Gatwick tomorrow and have no other options.
I live in Windsor, so while not immediately local, it is within taxi distance and gives you a very local option to LHR for rebooking.
I can accommodate from Friday evening until Sunday 6pm. I will then myself be departing from LHR.
I also have a car so please let me know if you (or someone you know) needs help.
It's Christmas after all.
Last edited by Mks6; Dec 20, 2018 at 3:18 pm