Tafflyer

I cannot think of any airline that currently does this. Rather more that don’t dare to mention the C word.

In the past it was different. I can remember the yearly “snowmageddon” events at LHR where you would always get an A4 leaflet telling you you’re on your own, here’s the phone number we will never answer and here’s the website to explain your rights. I don’t think they even bother to do that any more.

hartwith

This is a common issue with BA958. Twice I have been on this flight which was delayed to the extent that it could not land in MUC, because they have strict rules regarding flights arriving after midnight. The first time we were diverted to Vienna and put on an overnight bus to Munich (grim), the second time we turned around somewhere over Dusseldorf and put in an LHR hotel at 1am before flying to MUC at 6am (equally grim).

I really don't understand why BA don't bring this flight forward by at least 30 minutes, given the limited window they have to land at MUC in case of delay. I was on this flight twice last month when it landed at 23.55 after delays at Heathrow.

BA if you are reading this, please change the flight time!

stifle

Given the compensation amounts are set down in law, it is most unlikely indeed that MCOL will be "more generous", and I don't believe CEDR has binding powers to award anything, only recommend.

plunet

I agree that the sentiment of the regulation infers that passengers should be informed of their rights, but I think the practicality is that passengers are served notice if they book on the BA website, and if they check in online. And there is no doubt a tatty A4 sheet in a broken perspex holder on a bunch of check in desks [at outstations it might have some other random airline name on it]. BA are absolutely no different in their approach here, as far as I can tell most other airlines act in exactly the same way and the EU commission are not jumping up and down to clarify that they're all doing it wrong.

You could hope that airlines would have a bunch of preprinted leaflets to hand out in the case of IRROPS like they would for landing cards, but there's the obvious issue that the airline doesn't want to bring peoples attention to their rights, and also because of the complexity of the regulation being able to ensure everyone gets the information they need without crew needing to become regulation experts and also the risk of causing false hopes and unintentional consequences is also complicated.

A leaflet wouldn't hurt, but the practicality is that it's probably better for both parties to deal with the detail offline once the incident is over.

Confus

Because they have an endless stream of available aircraft and crew available at exactly the right time, with the right slots (at both ends) to allow this.

I’m sure BA would love to be able to fly wherever they want, whenever they want, with all the resources any airline could dream of. In the real world, however……

hartwith

Ffs. This is now the 3rd time I have been on this cancelled flight. Tonight there was a tech issue with the plane and they didn't have enough time to fix it and get us to Munich by midnight closure, so we're now all heading to a Heathrow hotel for the night.

I reiterate what I said earlier in this thread: move this flight forward by at least 30 mins BA! I will never take this flight again whilst it's rostered at 20:30.

South London Bon Viveur

I feel for the OP- can't have been pleasant at all.

Why was so much booked up around LHR? Were there many cancellations and, if so, why? I have had an aviation free week and feel very out of the loop

Kranebitten

I hear you! It is also really fun to be on BA947 MUC - LHR as that has a scheduled departure of 07:20 formed by the aircraft that flew in as BA958 and so you usually find out about the cancellation just as you are looking to get ready for bed and your early start. You then spend time mashing the phone keypad to speak to someone out of hours at BA and argue your case for being re-booked on the likely already busy LH2470 so you can still make your meetings.

steveholt

I sympathize with what was a frustrating experience, but your language here is pretty dreadful. Do passengers from outside of the UK or EU not belong in an international airport? What makes them refugees and not passengers? Is there a curfew on kids and babies flying if flights get cancelled?

Nephoi

one might expect a substitution aircraft when starting on an aircrafts home base..
and yes, while waiting for a flight crew to appear for my BA988 (Berlin) schedules to leave at 1920, I had something similar in mind. taking the last flight of the day is a bit of a risk. and im not sure im willing to take that, If I have urgent things in the morning.

SKRan

261 is the first message (to be dismissed) when checking in for many airlines, AY included.

stifle

Indeed. There is no legal obligation that the informing be done by a leaflet, nor at any specific time.

Waterhorse

On these late flights that are scheduled into German airfields with their very hard edged night jet bans, an aircraft substitution would probably make no difference. Getting the new aircraft ready for flight, fuelling, catering, getting the crew to the new aircraft in time, getting a gate team and loading team and tug etc all in place, is highly unlikely to happen in time to happen in time either. Aircraft movements take some time to sort out, and an aircraft technical issue that cannot be fixed in time is only likely to be discovered during the turn round and there is never enough time in a short haul turn round for much additional engineering work to be fitted in. Aircraft are now, by and large, so reliable that substations are seldom required, when they are needed it always takes longer than you would expect.