Avios Booking Rebooked and Downgraded
Aug 7, 2022, 4:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 47
Avios Booking Rebooked and Downgraded
Hello, I had an avios booking from Manchester - Heathrow - Tokyo and return all in business for February.
It's been cancelled and rebooked by BA. My Outbound is now Manchester to Helsinki in economy on Finnair, then Helsinki to Tokyo on JAL in business. The return is Tokyo to Heathrow on JAL in business, then Heathrow to Manchester in economy.
Does anyone know why my short haul is in economy? If I call BA will they move these to business? Also do I have any rights to move these flights to alternative dates (they were booked in April)? Thanks for any assistance
It's been cancelled and rebooked by BA. My Outbound is now Manchester to Helsinki in economy on Finnair, then Helsinki to Tokyo on JAL in business. The return is Tokyo to Heathrow on JAL in business, then Heathrow to Manchester in economy.
Does anyone know why my short haul is in economy? If I call BA will they move these to business? Also do I have any rights to move these flights to alternative dates (they were booked in April)? Thanks for any assistance
Aug 7, 2022, 5:31 pm
#2
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Without knowing the dates it's difficult to know why you were put into economy. But yes, I would call and query that aspect, in case it's just a clerical error. Usually there is a -3 day to +14 wriggle room on moving flights from a cancellation, may be more depending on details such as the date of booking. You would probably be allowed to move to other dates if there is redemption availability
Aug 7, 2022, 5:43 pm
#3
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Without knowing the dates it's difficult to know why you were put into economy. But yes, I would call and query that aspect, in case it's just a clerical error. Usually there is a -3 day to +14 wriggle room on moving flights from a cancellation, may be more depending on details such as the date of booking. You would probably be allowed to move to other dates if there is redemption availability
Or did I miss something?
Aug 7, 2022, 7:22 pm
#4
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Avios bookings are flexible anyway as long as there is availkabillity, EC261 provides for next available flight - not dependant upon booking class being available - the -3/+14 exceeds this..
Aug 8, 2022, 2:52 am
#5
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Sure, if there is Avios availability the OP will be allowed to rebook outside this window. If there is no availability, BA is not going to rebook into revenue class (and has no duty to do so under EU Reg. 261/04 unless it is the next available flight)
Aug 8, 2022, 9:35 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 47
Thanks everyone, called BA and everything's sorted. Moved the outbound the day before and flying out with BA and return with JAL all in business.
On my return it's JAL from Tokyo to Heathrow T3, then BA from T5 to Manchester. When I check in at Tokyo will my bags be checked by JAL through to Manchester?
Thanks
On my return it's JAL from Tokyo to Heathrow T3, then BA from T5 to Manchester. When I check in at Tokyo will my bags be checked by JAL through to Manchester?
Thanks
Aug 8, 2022, 9:53 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 47
Thank you, it's less than 25h.
Fortunately the timing of the JAL flight suits us just fine. Looking forward to trying them for the first time.
Oct 9, 2022, 3:52 pm
#9
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The airline must offer you, on a one off basis, a choice between:
1. the reimbursement of your ticket and, if you have a connecting flight, a return flight to the airport of departure at the earliest opportunity
2. re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity or,
3. re-routing at a later date at your convenience under comparable transport conditions, subject to the availability of seats.
The only ambiguity in the wording of 261 is "later date" which could be either interpreted as later than departure date of the original flight, or later than the cancellation date.
If an agent ever tries to fob you off with -3 / +14 policy, advise them that what they have just said is in breach of the passenger rights laws and ask them to pass it to a supervisor.
Oct 9, 2022, 6:57 pm
#10
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BA is only obligated to take the passenger regardless of booking class availability at earliest opportunity
Beyond that, there is entitlement to rebook later, but only subject to availability. This means that it is irrelevent for an award booking, since award bookings are flexible anyway. For a business award booking, it would be subject to 'U' class availability. If 'U' class is available, then it is a standard change that would be available anyway
Beyond that, there is entitlement to rebook later, but only subject to availability. This means that it is irrelevent for an award booking, since award bookings are flexible anyway. For a business award booking, it would be subject to 'U' class availability. If 'U' class is available, then it is a standard change that would be available anyway
Oct 10, 2022, 1:57 am
#11
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BA is only obligated to take the passenger regardless of booking class availability at earliest opportunity
Beyond that, there is entitlement to rebook later, but only subject to availability. This means that it is irrelevent for an award booking, since award bookings are flexible anyway. For a business award booking, it would be subject to 'U' class availability. If 'U' class is available, then it is a standard change that would be available anyway
Beyond that, there is entitlement to rebook later, but only subject to availability. This means that it is irrelevent for an award booking, since award bookings are flexible anyway. For a business award booking, it would be subject to 'U' class availability. If 'U' class is available, then it is a standard change that would be available anyway
Oct 10, 2022, 9:02 am
#12
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For rebooking award tickets to later, "subject to availability of seats" is interpreted by the airlines that award availability needs to be present for such rebooking to happen, i.e. you will not get rebooked unless you find a travel date with award availability.