BA Covid-19 news, views, speculations, general questions, rants & more
Mar 23, 2020, 2:56 am
#421
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: BNE / LHR
Programs: QF Gold
Posts: 1,601
I don't think you understand what's happening. Within a week it will likely be impossible to fly to Australia. So, do you need a week or to get you affairs in order or do you need to get back to Australia? Because it's most probably a choice between the two now.
If you do need to get back home: Forget the baggage allowance. Pack your stuff, book the first flight you can get and give any stuff above whatever baggage allowance the earliest ticket gives you to a mate to ship.
Your options are dwindling by the hour - get on with it, or accept being in the UK for a while.
If you do need to get back home: Forget the baggage allowance. Pack your stuff, book the first flight you can get and give any stuff above whatever baggage allowance the earliest ticket gives you to a mate to ship.
Your options are dwindling by the hour - get on with it, or accept being in the UK for a while.
Looks like all options gone anyway with UAE closing transit :-(
Mar 23, 2020, 3:34 pm
#423
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 943
Might have been posted elsewhere, but Dominic Raab, UK Foreign Secretary, has advised that anyone looking to return to the UK should do so immediately due to border closures limiting options.
From his twitter (@DominicRaab)
From his twitter (@DominicRaab)
My message to British people travelling abroad: As borders around the world close and international travel becomes more difficult, you are strongly advised to return to the UK now, where & while there are still commercial travel options available. Keep up to date with @FCOtravel
Mar 23, 2020, 3:39 pm
#424
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,532
The Swiss government have been urging for Swiss to get home for around 5 days already. I could totally see the current situation coming.
Mar 23, 2020, 3:49 pm
#425
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,399
However, people on here are acting as if flights will just continue as normal. Everything indicates this won't be the case for much longer - the government telling people not to travel, the government telling people to return home, plus more and more countries closing borders only means that airlines will have no choice but to stop flying as they won't guarantee they can get people home. You cannot run a business allowing bookings which you can't guarantee.
Mar 23, 2020, 3:52 pm
#426
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
You can get in the car. You won't be stopped on the motorway! Have you driven recently? The roads are as busy as ever.
However, people on here are acting as if flights will just continue as normal. Everything indicates this won't be the case for much longer - the government telling people not to travel, the government telling people to return home, plus more and more countries closing borders only means that airlines will have no choice but to stop flying as they won't guarantee they can get people home. You cannot run a business allowing bookings which you can't guarantee.
However, people on here are acting as if flights will just continue as normal. Everything indicates this won't be the case for much longer - the government telling people not to travel, the government telling people to return home, plus more and more countries closing borders only means that airlines will have no choice but to stop flying as they won't guarantee they can get people home. You cannot run a business allowing bookings which you can't guarantee.
Govt will subsidise airlines one way or another, they will not fail, but yeah basically 5-10% of fleet and employees will be needed.
Mar 23, 2020, 5:06 pm
#427
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: clue is in the nym
Programs: BA Gold, TP Gold, VS Gold, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 832
If your travel is genuinely essential, all constituent elements of that travel are 'essential' (although you may need documentary proof of such). This seems like basic common sense logic, I'm surprised you would need to ask.
Mar 24, 2020, 2:11 pm
#428
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,937
From an inside source, BA will be running some flights with non-stopping crew. These flights will be double crewed- the returning crew will he dead-heading to take the plane back.
The source also confirmed, which someone already partially started a thread about, will be a reduced service;
No IFR [refreshments not instrument flying]
No BOB
No Hot meal service (just a hot / cold snack)
No alcohol
The source also confirmed, which someone already partially started a thread about, will be a reduced service;
No IFR [refreshments not instrument flying]
No BOB
No Hot meal service (just a hot / cold snack)
No alcohol
Mar 24, 2020, 3:43 pm
#429
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,448
"It's been very crazy but we're getting there. It's taking a little longer for the vouchers to come through at the moment due to a large number of requests. It should be with you in around 5 business days."
This and the email is had telling me they were processing the vouchers and would send an email confirming them and how to use them suggests an actual voucher will be recieved at some point.
Mar 24, 2020, 5:00 pm
#430
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,061
From an inside source, BA will be running some flights with non-stopping crew. These flights will be double crewed- the returning crew will he dead-heading to take the plane back.
The source also confirmed, which someone already partially started a thread about, will be a reduced service;
No IFR [refreshments not instrument flying]
No BOB
No Hot meal service (just a hot / cold snack)
No alcohol
The source also confirmed, which someone already partially started a thread about, will be a reduced service;
No IFR [refreshments not instrument flying]
No BOB
No Hot meal service (just a hot / cold snack)
No alcohol
And double-crewing, yes, but it’s been happening for a few days already, it’s not new news by any means. The Ghana flight had a double crew on board. Presumably this is only possible for the middle-length flights... short ones can do there and back anyway, long range they would need min rest downroute. It also seems the crew will still be getting full hot meals, which is bound to lead to some jealous looks particularly from premium passengers.
Mar 24, 2020, 9:59 pm
#431
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Tit, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold, Carlson Gold, UA*S,
Posts: 1,363
Are BA cancellations due to coronavirus not eligible for compensation under EU law?
My flight from TLV to LHR was cancelled. In the end I was rebooked on United.
Here is the email I got from BA:Thanks for contacting us about your claim for EU compensation. We're sorry it was necessary to cancel flight BA0162 on 14th March 2020. Unfortunately, your claim's been refused because BA0162 was cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
We take all reasonable measures to avoid disruption to a flight and we always consider if there are any other alternative solutions before we make a decision. The cancellation was out of our control and caused unforeseen disruption to our schedule.Thanks again for getting in touch with us.
My flight from TLV to LHR was cancelled. In the end I was rebooked on United.
Here is the email I got from BA:Thanks for contacting us about your claim for EU compensation. We're sorry it was necessary to cancel flight BA0162 on 14th March 2020. Unfortunately, your claim's been refused because BA0162 was cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
We take all reasonable measures to avoid disruption to a flight and we always consider if there are any other alternative solutions before we make a decision. The cancellation was out of our control and caused unforeseen disruption to our schedule.Thanks again for getting in touch with us.
Mar 25, 2020, 2:31 am
#432
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC GGL/GFl, HH Diamond, BW Diamond, Virgin Voyages Deep Blue Extra, Blue Peter Badge Holder
Posts: 3,937
IFR = In-flight Retail (i.e. duty free), not refreshments.
And double-crewing, yes, but it’s been happening for a few days already, it’s not new news by any means. The Ghana flight had a double crew on board. Presumably this is only possible for the middle-length flights... short ones can do there and back anyway, long range they would need min rest downroute. It also seems the crew will still be getting full hot meals, which is bound to lead to some jealous looks particularly from premium passengers.
And double-crewing, yes, but it’s been happening for a few days already, it’s not new news by any means. The Ghana flight had a double crew on board. Presumably this is only possible for the middle-length flights... short ones can do there and back anyway, long range they would need min rest downroute. It also seems the crew will still be getting full hot meals, which is bound to lead to some jealous looks particularly from premium passengers.
Are BA cancellations due to coronavirus not eligible for compensation under EU law?
My flight from TLV to LHR was cancelled. In the end I was rebooked on United.
Here is the email I got from BA:Thanks for contacting us about your claim for EU compensation. We're sorry it was necessary to cancel flight BA0162 on 14th March 2020. Unfortunately, your claim's been refused because BA0162 was cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
We take all reasonable measures to avoid disruption to a flight and we always consider if there are any other alternative solutions before we make a decision. The cancellation was out of our control and caused unforeseen disruption to our schedule.Thanks again for getting in touch with us.
My flight from TLV to LHR was cancelled. In the end I was rebooked on United.
Here is the email I got from BA:Thanks for contacting us about your claim for EU compensation. We're sorry it was necessary to cancel flight BA0162 on 14th March 2020. Unfortunately, your claim's been refused because BA0162 was cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
We take all reasonable measures to avoid disruption to a flight and we always consider if there are any other alternative solutions before we make a decision. The cancellation was out of our control and caused unforeseen disruption to our schedule.Thanks again for getting in touch with us.
Mar 25, 2020, 2:42 am
#433
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
Thanks, I had seen no report on here to say it is happening hence my post. They are on a flight there and back with flight time around 11 hours to a destination towards the west of USA, so I guess it depends what you count as long range.
I don't know, I'm not one of the EC261 experts on here, perhaps you could try the specific thread, but I personally wouldn't ask for compensation as it is clear that this is certain extraordinary circumstances, others may well disagree.
I don't know, I'm not one of the EC261 experts on here, perhaps you could try the specific thread, but I personally wouldn't ask for compensation as it is clear that this is certain extraordinary circumstances, others may well disagree.
Mar 25, 2020, 4:17 am
#434
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1
It makes sense that where governments have forbidden travel you are out of luck on compensation (beyond a straight refund, which you are due if they don't fly you). However, in some cases BA has consolidated flights for commercial reasons (e.g. 5 flights a day reduced to one flight the night before), I think in this case you should be due compensation. But I'm not an expert and that is just my opinion.
Mar 25, 2020, 4:45 am
#435
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Accor Live Limitless Gold, Hilton Honours Gold, Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1,807
“In light of the mass cancellations and delays passengers and transport operators face due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission wants to provide legal certainty on how to apply EU passenger rights. In case of cancellations the transport provider must reimburse or re-route the passengers. If passengers themselves decide to cancel their journeys, reimbursement of the ticket depends on its type, and companies may offer vouchers for subsequent use. Today’s guidelines will provide much-needed legal certainty on how to apply EU passenger rights in a coordinated manner across our Union. We continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation, and, if need be, further steps will be taken.”