Cancelled flight - coach offered - can we refuse?
 

You can certainly ask to be rebooked to another service, I doubt that would be refused, you may need to call BA on the USA number using Skype. It may prove problematic there if the ground staff haven't offloaded you from their system, but hopefully that has now been done. The hotel bit is tricky. Essentially you would have to argue that the coach offer was not "comparable transport conditions" and therefore a hotel was the alternative if other flights were not offered . I think that's fairly strong but may engender hassle in terms of claiming it, but if you did this, keep the cost reasonable and just send in the bill without commentary after the event. I would book it yourself rather than getting the ground staff to help.

However don't forget to ask exactly why the flight was cancelled.

A coach from MAN to LHR is a grim prospect, arriving well after after midnight :(

I'd add a fiver to Skype and claim that off BA too. You won't be connected for very long if payment is needed, you won't get past the Privacy Policy.

No actual need for Skype credit for the 1-800 number btw (although you may want to add it anyway...)

It's just possible that the App will allow you to rebook straight away, assuming you have a BA.com issued ticket, bought via BA channels and doesn't have unusual arrangements such as POUGs on it. Once a flight is fully cancelled it is possible that you are rebooked automatically.

If a MAN-LHR flight is cancelled, will BA pay for train travel? The last train from Manchester to Euston is at 21:15, arriving in Euston just before midnight. That might suit some people better than a coach.

Alternatively, for someone not is a hurry and assuming the direct flights any morning are likely to be full, ba.com offers MAN-HEL-LHR in Finnair Business and MAN-MAD-LHR in Iberia Economy. Both take most of the day, but will give extra TP and Avios.

Under EC 261/2004 it was OP's option to travel at a later time and that is what he elected. The sole question is whether there is a duty of care and that is up in the air.

Given that the result is uncertain, I would not spend anything I would not spend if I knew it would not be reimbursed. Put another way, spend only what you would spend if out of pocket. It may wind up that way.

As an aside, one may always cancel for a refund. If a train ticket is less than the air ticket, do that and purchase the train ticket yourself.

Funny, as a Yank I read it as coach class, as in economy class, and thought who couldn't fly in economy class vs. staying over at a hotel on such a short flight. However, I see OP was referring to what people on this side of the pond would call a bus.

As an American and FTer, I also took coach as Y ! Guess it meant a motor coach.