Fixing BA trip with many oneworld partners
#16
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,657
You've not mentioned when the flights are to take place and when you were notified.
As this particularly refers to the SEA-MFR legs operated by AA then the simple answer is no, 261 compensation doesn't cover the cancellation of this sector - AA not being a UK/EU carrier. What you do have is the BA rebooking policy which allows you to be rebooked to your original desination within the rebooking policy if booked on the JSA carriers or more restrictive rebooking options if booked on other carriers:
JSA Policy onto other Oneworld Carriers (AS)
Other Carriers Policy
You also have the "flexible destination" policy but this is limited to 300 miles of origin/destination. BCN/MUC is more than 300 miles so this wont be possible.
As this particularly refers to the SEA-MFR legs operated by AA then the simple answer is no, 261 compensation doesn't cover the cancellation of this sector - AA not being a UK/EU carrier. What you do have is the BA rebooking policy which allows you to be rebooked to your original desination within the rebooking policy if booked on the JSA carriers or more restrictive rebooking options if booked on other carriers:
JSA Policy onto other Oneworld Carriers (AS)
Other Carriers Policy
You also have the "flexible destination" policy but this is limited to 300 miles of origin/destination. BCN/MUC is more than 300 miles so this wont be possible.
The other carrier policy only applies if the flight was cancelled within 24 hours of departure, so isnt applicable here. This means AS isnt an option unless the original flight was AS operated.
On this route as others have mentioned its going to mean its joint business carriers that you can be rebooked to. This means either alternate route within 300 miles with BA/AA and no it doesnt need to be codeshare as prime AA can be used.
Last edited by Anonba; Jun 6, 2022 at 1:28 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
The fare rules permitted a connection on AS from LAX, which is why I previously already mentioned AS as an option, besides AA.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
Posts: 15,792
Did the OP tells us what fare he purchased besides business and a good price?
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MFR
Programs: Alaska MVP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 714
My memory is that it's I class, while the flights between Europe and LHR are J class. BA does not make it easy to find that information. Fare was about $1,600 roundtrip, which is about what economy is running now, so I obviously want to keep it. Just need to find the time for the phone battle.
#21
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
#22
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,657
Although the fare rules may allow changing to AS flights that is for voluntary changes. Its the rebooking guidelines for cancelled flights under conditions of carriage that are important here. They determine what alternatives can be used.
Unfortunately the guideline posted previously for Oneworld carriers isnt applicable because the flight has been cancelled more than 24 hours away from departure. Due to this and the fact that the original flight was AA operated it isnt an option for OP to rebook onto AS.
Last edited by Anonba; Jun 7, 2022 at 6:33 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
They're relevant, since you can use them as your reasoning for flying AS, since that was originally permitted. And he anyway already had AS in there for his final segment. Nothing prohibits being rebooked involuntarily under the original options permitted at the time of booking. The rebooking guidelines only expand the options.
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MFR
Programs: Alaska MVP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 714
An update:
It's been impossible to get through to BA on the phone, but the web chat works. BA agents have been very clear that they can theoretically be flexible on dates, flights, and even start and end points but they can only book flights with BA and AA flight numbers. They will only book AS if it has a BA code share flight number. Only one of AS's 10 flights a day to MFR has a BA number.
ETA: Ugh! Now BA is telling me that I accepted rebooking and now they will not touch the ticket again. I'm not a ranter but this is infuriating. The agent yesterday could hardly find anything, even things I knew to be available, so I accepted some less than optimal flights just so I'd have something. Shame on me. Lesson to others: Don't agree to rebooking unless it's exactly what you want.
It's been impossible to get through to BA on the phone, but the web chat works. BA agents have been very clear that they can theoretically be flexible on dates, flights, and even start and end points but they can only book flights with BA and AA flight numbers. They will only book AS if it has a BA code share flight number. Only one of AS's 10 flights a day to MFR has a BA number.
ETA: Ugh! Now BA is telling me that I accepted rebooking and now they will not touch the ticket again. I'm not a ranter but this is infuriating. The agent yesterday could hardly find anything, even things I knew to be available, so I accepted some less than optimal flights just so I'd have something. Shame on me. Lesson to others: Don't agree to rebooking unless it's exactly what you want.
Last edited by PDXpress; Jun 20, 2022 at 11:59 am
#25
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1,110
Oh no! I'm sorry you had that experience. Unfortunately, BA (and many airlines) are usually pretty rubbish at rebooking/rerouting unless the passenger themselves is well equipped with the rules/policies themselves as well and armed with all the necessary information, collated from sources such as Expertflyer (which is great for determining codeshares and availability) as well as ITA Matrix. The whole "can only book with BA and AA codeshares" is complete BS sadly. The only exception is that a BA prime service is not booked under a codeshare itself. The beauty of the transatlantic JV is that they can literally mix-match and chop and quite a heavy number of domestic flights that connect onto a JV flight themselves can also be booked, barring AS unless the original itinerary had it. Sadly you've fallen foul to a rogue agent giving incorrect advice in the first place which then lead to the somewhat "forced" acceptance by you.
Generally if I sniff that an agent is being funny or not applying the policies correctly, usually this is quite easy to determine within a few sentences/tone of an agent, then I always go for HUACA. Whilst I know that is proving tricky with BA from time to time, the chat facility and even Twitter remain decent alternative points of contact.
FYI, here are BA's rebooking/cancellation/rescheduling policies in detail which is good to bear in mind before speaking to an agent in the future:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...mer-guidelines
Generally if I sniff that an agent is being funny or not applying the policies correctly, usually this is quite easy to determine within a few sentences/tone of an agent, then I always go for HUACA. Whilst I know that is proving tricky with BA from time to time, the chat facility and even Twitter remain decent alternative points of contact.
FYI, here are BA's rebooking/cancellation/rescheduling policies in detail which is good to bear in mind before speaking to an agent in the future:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...mer-guidelines
#26
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,657
Oh no! I'm sorry you had that experience. Unfortunately, BA (and many airlines) are usually pretty rubbish at rebooking/rerouting unless the passenger themselves is well equipped with the rules/policies themselves as well and armed with all the necessary information, collated from sources such as Expertflyer (which is great for determining codeshares and availability) as well as ITA Matrix. The whole "can only book with BA and AA codeshares" is complete BS sadly. The only exception is that a BA prime service is not booked under a codeshare itself. The beauty of the transatlantic JV is that they can literally mix-match and chop and quite a heavy number of domestic flights that connect onto a JV flight themselves can also be booked, barring AS unless the original itinerary had it. Sadly you've fallen foul to a rogue agent giving incorrect advice in the first place which then lead to the somewhat "forced" acceptance by you.
Generally if I sniff that an agent is being funny or not applying the policies correctly, usually this is quite easy to determine within a few sentences/tone of an agent, then I always go for HUACA. Whilst I know that is proving tricky with BA from time to time, the chat facility and even Twitter remain decent alternative points of contact.
FYI, here are BA's rebooking/cancellation/rescheduling policies in detail which is good to bear in mind before speaking to an agent in the future:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...mer-guidelines
Generally if I sniff that an agent is being funny or not applying the policies correctly, usually this is quite easy to determine within a few sentences/tone of an agent, then I always go for HUACA. Whilst I know that is proving tricky with BA from time to time, the chat facility and even Twitter remain decent alternative points of contact.
FYI, here are BA's rebooking/cancellation/rescheduling policies in detail which is good to bear in mind before speaking to an agent in the future:
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb...mer-guidelines
#27
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,657
They're relevant, since you can use them as your reasoning for flying AS, since that was originally permitted. And he anyway already had AS in there for his final segment. Nothing prohibits being rebooked involuntarily under the original options permitted at the time of booking. The rebooking guidelines only expand the options.
#28
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
He originally had AS on SEA-MFR. AS was already involved with this itinerary in question.
#29
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,657
A) there is no bartering involved. B) the cancelled flight was an AA flight is my understanding, so it still doesnt affect the rebooking.
Last edited by Anonba; Jun 21, 2022 at 11:43 am