BA deem me a no-show.. for being in hospital
Apr 17, 2019, 6:55 am
#31
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As a Doc can I please ask that the next time you are going to be ill you book an appointment four weeks in advance of your illness starting and any symptoms appearing - and you can't change or cancel it either once booked and if it's private the fee will not be refunded!
It would make the lives of healthcare staff so much easier if everyone could make sure they comply.
It would make the lives of healthcare staff so much easier if everyone could make sure they comply.
Apr 17, 2019, 6:59 am
#32
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I know that a family member who was suddenly hospitalised a year or two ago, interfering with a planned trip before departure, was able to simply reschedule the trip without charge. And they reported that dealing with BA on this was painless, although it did require the submission of medical evidence.
Apr 17, 2019, 7:47 am
#33
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Any chance of getting something in writing from the medical professional you saw that stated you were not fit to fly?
Admittedly we are talking a different scale of things here (and a few years back) but my ex was hospitalized due to a traumatic brain injury prior to the start of a non-refundable BA ticket. BA refunded her ticket on the back of a letter from her neurosurgeon. Was surprisingly straightforward.
Admittedly we are talking a different scale of things here (and a few years back) but my ex was hospitalized due to a traumatic brain injury prior to the start of a non-refundable BA ticket. BA refunded her ticket on the back of a letter from her neurosurgeon. Was surprisingly straightforward.
Apr 17, 2019, 7:56 am
#34
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I think two things needed to happen here. First, the OP should have advised AA that they would not be travelling. If the OP was checked in for the flight then only AA could have offloaded them to avoid being a no-show. BA did not mark the OP as a no show - AA did. After that BA should have been involved to deal with the remaining coupons on the ticket. That AA marked the OP as a no-show complicated things.
Apr 17, 2019, 8:15 am
#35
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Not sure if anyone can advise me on how to untangle this.
I was scheduled to fly PIT-PHL-MAN today, on AA metal but via a BA ticket. It was the return portion of the ticket.
I fell ill early this morning, and ended up in hospital. It seems I have a virus, which caused me to pass out first thing. A message was sent early this morning to BA via Twitter, nominating a family member to call and move my flights if need be.
My relative called, and was told no changes without medical proof. Fair enough, medical evidence was then sent which confirmed I was being held for tests, and so would be there until after flight time.
Despite this being passed to BA two hours prior to departure, they deemed this a "no-show," and refused to make any changes. I've been offered a "gesture" of a 2k ticket to fly home tomorrow.
Given the refusal to budge, I've booked a one way with DL/VS, and will have to take my chances with insurance.
However, do I have any recourse against BA? It was a ticket booked in WTP/PE.
Thanks for any advice, I'm now going for a lay down...
I was scheduled to fly PIT-PHL-MAN today, on AA metal but via a BA ticket. It was the return portion of the ticket.
I fell ill early this morning, and ended up in hospital. It seems I have a virus, which caused me to pass out first thing. A message was sent early this morning to BA via Twitter, nominating a family member to call and move my flights if need be.
My relative called, and was told no changes without medical proof. Fair enough, medical evidence was then sent which confirmed I was being held for tests, and so would be there until after flight time.
Despite this being passed to BA two hours prior to departure, they deemed this a "no-show," and refused to make any changes. I've been offered a "gesture" of a 2k ticket to fly home tomorrow.
Given the refusal to budge, I've booked a one way with DL/VS, and will have to take my chances with insurance.
However, do I have any recourse against BA? It was a ticket booked in WTP/PE.
Thanks for any advice, I'm now going for a lay down...
IMO there should have been at least several calls to try to rebook, ideally documented with the supervisor's name as well as the exact time and date of the call.
The BA CoC say that they'll try to rebook you (on one of their own flights). It doesn't say that you can pick another carrier's flight and expect BA to pay the cost.
The BA CoC say that they'll try to rebook you (on one of their own flights). It doesn't say that you can pick another carrier's flight and expect BA to pay the cost.
Apr 17, 2019, 8:54 am
#36
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OP here. Firstly, thank you all for your kind replies.
I'm out of hospital, and headed home via another carrier. The hospital released me yesterday evening, provided confirmation I was in hospital and that I couldn't have flown.
I had told BA via Twitter circa 6am US time that I was unwell and on my way to hospital, nominating a relative as a point of contact.
My relative called BA mid-morning US time - they said needed proof of medical issue and they'd re-book.
I finally got that proof two hours before flight time - as you can imagine, other things had a greater priority.
That was immediately sent to BA. A further call confirmed receipt but their answer was the "no-show" line detailed in my original post. I should say, the first flight was PIT-PHL, with MAN-PHL much later. The no-show bit doesn't make sense to me, as all this happened well before the cut-off for check in.
Given that reply, I booked a ticket home with another carrier.
The twist is this - Twitter message received 230am US time, saying they'd had a think about it, and wondered if perhaps I'd like to fly home with BA on Friday.
Way too late, and in any event I need to be back at work tomorrow. However, a bizarre flip in position.
I should stress, this isn't one of those "what can I get" threads, as I'm insured and covered. Just a bit miffed BA handled it all so badly.
Thank you again
I'm out of hospital, and headed home via another carrier. The hospital released me yesterday evening, provided confirmation I was in hospital and that I couldn't have flown.
I had told BA via Twitter circa 6am US time that I was unwell and on my way to hospital, nominating a relative as a point of contact.
My relative called BA mid-morning US time - they said needed proof of medical issue and they'd re-book.
I finally got that proof two hours before flight time - as you can imagine, other things had a greater priority.
That was immediately sent to BA. A further call confirmed receipt but their answer was the "no-show" line detailed in my original post. I should say, the first flight was PIT-PHL, with MAN-PHL much later. The no-show bit doesn't make sense to me, as all this happened well before the cut-off for check in.
Given that reply, I booked a ticket home with another carrier.
The twist is this - Twitter message received 230am US time, saying they'd had a think about it, and wondered if perhaps I'd like to fly home with BA on Friday.
Way too late, and in any event I need to be back at work tomorrow. However, a bizarre flip in position.
I should stress, this isn't one of those "what can I get" threads, as I'm insured and covered. Just a bit miffed BA handled it all so badly.
Thank you again
Apr 17, 2019, 9:31 am
#37
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Ok, so that complicates matters somewhat. BA have offered you an alternative flight home, but you’ve already made and used alternative arrangements. I’d imagine you will need to rely on Travel Insurance now.
Not well handled by BA, although this is a complex area that does probably needed specialist input.
Glad you recovered so quickly and don’t rush back to work too quickly if you had a serious illness that required hospitalisation.
Not well handled by BA, although this is a complex area that does probably needed specialist input.
Glad you recovered so quickly and don’t rush back to work too quickly if you had a serious illness that required hospitalisation.
Apr 17, 2019, 1:47 pm
#40
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If the primary rulebook for this is the USDOT one, the flight must be booked something like 7 days in advance of scheduled departure for the 24 hour rule to apply. Though you can sometimes get lucky with Delta CS reps, who are given a decent amount of power to go beyond the CoC minimum, being willing to refund a ticket purchased more shortly before departure as a 'one time customer service gesture'.
Apr 17, 2019, 2:07 pm
#42
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Apr 17, 2019, 2:42 pm
#43
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No, I'm from the UK. I don't want to sue anyone, just saddened my first BA experience in years (really enjoyed WTP outbound on the 787) was marred by such inflexibility.
I'll probably email them when I get home, see if they'll at least refund some of the taxes, but to be honest I'll just be glad to be home in one piece.
Thanks again for the replies.
I'll probably email them when I get home, see if they'll at least refund some of the taxes, but to be honest I'll just be glad to be home in one piece.
Thanks again for the replies.
Apr 17, 2019, 3:35 pm
#44
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Bad weather is not unusual or unforseeable and yet gets used as an excuse by airlines. Most people rarely go to hospital without a chronic complaint.
Apr 17, 2019, 3:41 pm
#45
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On the grounds that the OP was given wrong and misleading information and that in turn led the OP to spend money on a new ticket when BA should have remediated the situation.
I'd be claiming the cost of the new ticket on the other airline.
I'd give that a go in Court, even in the UK.
I'd be claiming the cost of the new ticket on the other airline.
I'd give that a go in Court, even in the UK.