31 May 2022 : British Airways operated by Comair (South Africa) flights suspended
#151
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,439
#152
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold Elite, IHG Gold,
Posts: 52
Thanks I did post this on the JNB thread too but in case you know
For a flight arrival into JNB at 0915 (BA), would a 2h15m self transfer be possible to catch an onward Airlink flight to LUN departing at 1130? would be flying business on BA and with luggage so requires re checking. This is for late Oct.
Upon exit from baggage reclaim are there Airlink desks there where would I be able to drop off luggage or would I have to go all the way up to the main check in desks?
For a flight arrival into JNB at 0915 (BA), would a 2h15m self transfer be possible to catch an onward Airlink flight to LUN departing at 1130? would be flying business on BA and with luggage so requires re checking. This is for late Oct.
Upon exit from baggage reclaim are there Airlink desks there where would I be able to drop off luggage or would I have to go all the way up to the main check in desks?
#153
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Colorado, US
Programs: LH Senator BA Silver
Posts: 162
Does anyone on this threat have experience with CemAir within SA? I have a need for some trips later this year where CemAir is the only direct (and with better times) to/from Plettenberg Bay. If they are a disaster, I can go with my trusted Airlink to George and deal with the drive.
#154
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,439
Thanks I did post this on the JNB thread too but in case you know
For a flight arrival into JNB at 0915 (BA), would a 2h15m self transfer be possible to catch an onward Airlink flight to LUN departing at 1130? would be flying business on BA and with luggage so requires re checking. This is for late Oct.
Upon exit from baggage reclaim are there Airlink desks there where would I be able to drop off luggage or would I have to go all the way up to the main check in desks?
For a flight arrival into JNB at 0915 (BA), would a 2h15m self transfer be possible to catch an onward Airlink flight to LUN departing at 1130? would be flying business on BA and with luggage so requires re checking. This is for late Oct.
Upon exit from baggage reclaim are there Airlink desks there where would I be able to drop off luggage or would I have to go all the way up to the main check in desks?
Personally that would be too tight for comfort. However if you have a good fallback option(s) then it might be worth a go.
#155
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold Elite, IHG Gold,
Posts: 52
Airlink international check in closes 50mins before departure. So you have 1h25 to arrive, clear immigration, customs and recheck. Airlink check in is fast IME but there are no recheck desks after international arrivals so you will have to head upstairs.
Personally that would be too tight for comfort. However if you have a good fallback option(s) then it might be worth a go.
Personally that would be too tight for comfort. However if you have a good fallback option(s) then it might be worth a go.
#156
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,422
Does anyone on this threat have experience with CemAir within SA? I have a need for some trips later this year where CemAir is the only direct (and with better times) to/from Plettenberg Bay. If they are a disaster, I can go with my trusted Airlink to George and deal with the drive.
They cancelled our flights in the end and it was impossible get hold of them, they stopped answering their phones or responding to emails. We did eventually get our money back but decided to avoid them in future.
I would have concerns about their financial position in these times although they are still flying so perhaps they are doing OK.
#157
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Colorado, US
Programs: LH Senator BA Silver
Posts: 162
We had flights booked with Cemair in 2019 when they had some issues with the regulator and landed up in a bit of financial trouble.
They cancelled our flights in the end and it was impossible get hold of them, they stopped answering their phones or responding to emails. We did eventually get our money back but decided to avoid them in future.
I would have concerns about their financial position in these times although they are still flying so perhaps they are doing OK.
They cancelled our flights in the end and it was impossible get hold of them, they stopped answering their phones or responding to emails. We did eventually get our money back but decided to avoid them in future.
I would have concerns about their financial position in these times although they are still flying so perhaps they are doing OK.
#158
Ambassador: Oneworld Alliance
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold (GGL), Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,215
I asked that very question. BA rebooked (and rerouted) me from business on Comair to Vic Falls to Airlink economy to Livingstone. They told me that there was no refund from the downgrade, but that Avios and TPs will be awarded. I will report back after the flights over the next couple of weeks.
#159
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lincoln, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 1,266
BA are contributing to the cluster duck of long wait times that tie up staff in the call centres and service desks. I was caught up in the Comair collapse the day it happened. I arrived at JNB for a flight to PLZ. Bar a couple of A4 sheets of paper advising an E-Mail address, there was no assistance in the airport. I tried calling the Gold line twice, and was cut off after 1-hour (and £36 of cost) each time. In the end I applied for a refund (which arrived 20 days later) and rebooked myself on Airlink.
I have twice written to BA asking for Original Routing Credit and compensation for their inadequate communication systems. This is the reply I received today:
Dear HarryHolden68
Our final response
Thanks for your email.
Whilst your booking was made through British Airways, the operating carrier of your flight was a separate entity to British Airways, owned by Comair Limited. Therefore all claims with respect to Comair flights were historically handled independently by Comair in accordance with its responsibility as operating carrier.
As your flight departed a non-EU and non-UK country and was operated by a non-EU and non-UK carrier, the compensation provisions of EC Regulation 216/04 do not apply. Following Comair’s insolvency, the position remains unchanged, and British Airways is unfortunately unable to further progress your complaint.
If you’re still unhappy with the outcome, and want to take it further, you can refer your complaint to the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution. CEDR is an independent dispute resolution provider, which is certified by the Civil Aviation Authority. They decide on any disputes between airlines and passengers that can’t be resolved using the airline’s own complaints procedure.
A few notes about contacting CEDR:
I hope this information is useful to you.
Best regards
I wonder if these people are badly trained, badly led, badly motivated or deliberately instructed to avoid the issue at hand until the customer gives up in frustration. I really do believe it is the latter. I have had one more attempt at getting an answerand then I will ask at the airport next week if there is anyone would like some feedback before giving it anyway.
I have twice written to BA asking for Original Routing Credit and compensation for their inadequate communication systems. This is the reply I received today:
Dear HarryHolden68
Our final response
Thanks for your email.
Whilst your booking was made through British Airways, the operating carrier of your flight was a separate entity to British Airways, owned by Comair Limited. Therefore all claims with respect to Comair flights were historically handled independently by Comair in accordance with its responsibility as operating carrier.
As your flight departed a non-EU and non-UK country and was operated by a non-EU and non-UK carrier, the compensation provisions of EC Regulation 216/04 do not apply. Following Comair’s insolvency, the position remains unchanged, and British Airways is unfortunately unable to further progress your complaint.
If you’re still unhappy with the outcome, and want to take it further, you can refer your complaint to the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution. CEDR is an independent dispute resolution provider, which is certified by the Civil Aviation Authority. They decide on any disputes between airlines and passengers that can’t be resolved using the airline’s own complaints procedure.
A few notes about contacting CEDR:
- Please contact CEDR directly to check whether they cover your dispute, there are some disputes they cannot deal with.
- Please check their website here for contact details.
I hope this information is useful to you.
Best regards
I wonder if these people are badly trained, badly led, badly motivated or deliberately instructed to avoid the issue at hand until the customer gives up in frustration. I really do believe it is the latter. I have had one more attempt at getting an answerand then I will ask at the airport next week if there is anyone would like some feedback before giving it anyway.
#161
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,355
https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article...47/231194.html
I’m not sure how reliable this is or exactly what’s intended. SAA to join OW? BA & SA to form a joint venture?
I’m not sure how reliable this is or exactly what’s intended. SAA to join OW? BA & SA to form a joint venture?
#162
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LON
Posts: 388
https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article...47/231194.html
I’m not sure how reliable this is or exactly what’s intended. SAA to join OW? BA & SA to form a joint venture?
I’m not sure how reliable this is or exactly what’s intended. SAA to join OW? BA & SA to form a joint venture?
Personally, I would love to see some sort of BA-branded operation return to SA. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.
#163
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,771
Has anyone managed to get BA to rebook them on to SAA for a domestic connection, rather than Airlink? My BA flight LHR-CPT was cancelled and there is no space on any direct BA flights now on our departure date. But if we go via JNB and connect on a domestic carrier for JNB-CPT, the next Airlink flight with two business class seats on it is about 8 hours after we arrive in JNB (arrival 10.15am, departure 6.10pm), which is very inconvenient and wastes the first day of the holiday. Conversely there are much better flight times for JNB-CPT available on SAA (eg 1pm).
BA currently refusing to rebook us on QR for the whole trip, as that rebooking policy apparently only extends up to 29th Oct and we are travelling in November.
Thanks for any assistance, this is proving quite stressful to reroute.
BA currently refusing to rebook us on QR for the whole trip, as that rebooking policy apparently only extends up to 29th Oct and we are travelling in November.
Thanks for any assistance, this is proving quite stressful to reroute.
#164
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 1,924
Has anyone managed to get BA to rebook them on to SAA for a domestic connection, rather than Airlink? My BA flight LHR-CPT was cancelled and there is no space on any direct BA flights now on our departure date. But if we go via JNB and connect on a domestic carrier for JNB-CPT, the next Airlink flight with two business class seats on it is about 8 hours after we arrive in JNB (arrival 10.15am, departure 6.10pm), which is very inconvenient and wastes the first day of the holiday. Conversely there are much better flight times for JNB-CPT available on SAA (eg 1pm).
BA currently refusing to rebook us on QR for the whole trip, as that rebooking policy apparently only extends up to 29th Oct and we are travelling in November.
Thanks for any assistance, this is proving quite stressful to reroute.
BA currently refusing to rebook us on QR for the whole trip, as that rebooking policy apparently only extends up to 29th Oct and we are travelling in November.
Thanks for any assistance, this is proving quite stressful to reroute.
FD.
#165
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: BA gold
Posts: 62