Chance of cancellation LHR to Rome July 5
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 6
Chance of cancellation LHR to Rome July 5
Hi, I am booked to fly to Rome on July 5 with BA. Its really really important that I get there without delay. I am now super anxious that my flight might get cancelled due to COVID. I am even considering to book another flight with BA for the same route and on the same day, but unsure whether multiple booking violates BAs rules.
Any advice or insight will be much appreciated!
Any advice or insight will be much appreciated!
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
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Posts: 15,495
Both BA flights have reasonable loads on the outbound, less so on the inbounds. It is doubtful that they would be cancelled.
The worst that can happen is that they cancel you flight and offer to book you on the other one.
With quarantine relaxation expected on 4 July, I would not worry much.
The worst that can happen is that they cancel you flight and offer to book you on the other one.
With quarantine relaxation expected on 4 July, I would not worry much.
#3
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Join Date: Jun 2008
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Welcome to Flyertalk Dorara! I agree with brunos, you do not have much to worry about because Covid-19 cancellations are done weeks in advance as the programme is adapted from month to month. So between late May and early June, a lot of flights to Rome were cancelled, but those that were maintained have pretty much as much of a chance to go as a scheduled flight a week before it takes place in "normal" times, possibly even slightly better given the lack of alternatives.
Moreover, as he mentions, there is talk that a number of countries including Italy might be exempt from the UK quarantine from 4 July with that being announced in just a few days. Of course, we won't be sure till it happens, but if it does (and the Government seems to proceed by "leaking" information a few days before to look for initial reactions before making formal announcements so there is a good chance that like previous such leaks, this one might well be confirmed), this would likely result in more flights being added rather than the other way round.
Of course, major events like a second and brutal second wave in Italy could always change that.
Moreover, as he mentions, there is talk that a number of countries including Italy might be exempt from the UK quarantine from 4 July with that being announced in just a few days. Of course, we won't be sure till it happens, but if it does (and the Government seems to proceed by "leaking" information a few days before to look for initial reactions before making formal announcements so there is a good chance that like previous such leaks, this one might well be confirmed), this would likely result in more flights being added rather than the other way round.
Of course, major events like a second and brutal second wave in Italy could always change that.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 6
Both BA flights have reasonable loads on the outbound, less so on the inbounds. It is doubtful that they would be cancelled.
The worst that can happen is that they cancel you flight and offer to book you on the other one.
With quarantine relaxation expected on 4 July, I would not worry much.
The worst that can happen is that they cancel you flight and offer to book you on the other one.
With quarantine relaxation expected on 4 July, I would not worry much.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 6
Welcome to Flyertalk Dorara! I agree with brunos, you do not have much to worry about because Covid-19 cancellations are done weeks in advance as the programme is adapted from month to month. So between late May and early June, a lot of flights to Rome were cancelled, but those that were maintained have pretty much as much of a chance to go as a scheduled flight a week before it takes place in "normal" times, possibly even slightly better given the lack of alternatives.
Moreover, as he mentions, there is talk that a number of countries including Italy might be exempt from the UK quarantine from 4 July with that being announced in just a few days. Of course, we won't be sure till it happens, but if it does (and the Government seems to proceed by "leaking" information a few days before to look for initial reactions before making formal announcements so there is a good chance that like previous such leaks, this one might well be confirmed), this would likely result in more flights being added rather than the other way round.
Of course, major events like a second and brutal second wave in Italy could always change that.
Moreover, as he mentions, there is talk that a number of countries including Italy might be exempt from the UK quarantine from 4 July with that being announced in just a few days. Of course, we won't be sure till it happens, but if it does (and the Government seems to proceed by "leaking" information a few days before to look for initial reactions before making formal announcements so there is a good chance that like previous such leaks, this one might well be confirmed), this would likely result in more flights being added rather than the other way round.
Of course, major events like a second and brutal second wave in Italy could always change that.
#6
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 365
Dorara, Even if LHR/FCO x 2 both cancelled, BA is also flying to Milan or (if you really do need to get there) there are also Ryanair flights to Ciampino and to other Italian cities. Train from Milan or any Ryanair destination to Rome is easy. So if there's a second wave of COVID, you may be unlucky but if it's merely LHR/FCO cancellations for operational reasons (which is unlikely), there are still plenty of other ways of reaching Rome.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 365
Dorara, Further to above, if BA were to cancel but Italy to remain open, if you're in a position to splurge, travel London to Rome via Doha on QR, and chose your QF flights carefully to ensure you get Q-suites. Much nicer than Ryanair
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 6
Thank you! Flight to Milan and train to Rome sounds like a good back-up plan!
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 6
Im guess thats perhaps because there arent enough passengers on that flight? In my case, the flight to Rome is quite fully booked, there were only 2 seats left when I made my booking. But as you can tell, Im no expert. Hopefully someone else can give you a better answer.
#11
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Greek destinations are very different to Italian ones. Italy Is open to UK originating visitors - Greece currently is not, and won’t be in a week’s time. The UK flight ban lasts until 29th June, and the UK is unlikely to be included in the lifting of international arrivals on 1st July. BA probably doesn’t want to cancel the Santorini flights, but it doesn’t have any choice - the Greek government likely won’t let them fly, so the cancellation is out of their control.
#13
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To answer the question raised here (and elsewhere) about when BA cancels: this of course can come at any point, even after boarding, and it's complicated by BA putting up a comprehensive timetable for 8 weeks from now and then gradually scaling it down week by week (and as someone with a huge number cancellations in recent months, the ensuring workoad is getting quite exasperating). However around about 16 days to departure the main process of cancellations tends to stop, and anything after that is likely to be a genuinely unavoidable cancellation which was not easy to foresee. There is a 14 day timescale within EC261 which rightly tends to concentrate airlines' approach to this, though up to now the protection of EC261 is more limited than in normal times.