salut0

On BA213 now LHR-BOS and got a message that AA 7pm flight BOS-JFK has been cancelled. lucky I paid for Wifi messaging — have upgraded to full browsing to be able to use web, flyertalk, ExpertFlyer etc but v slow connection.

Best strategy?

I and my traveling companion would ideally like to get back to NYC tonight. I’d also ideally like original routing credit so as not to lose the 40TP from my BOS-JFK leg, and I’m wondering if this counts for UK261 comp if we get in more than 3/4hrs later than scheduled?

I’m not fussed about J vs Y seats for a short hop but would like the tier points so don’t want to be denied that on grounds of a voluntary downgrade.

I don’t mind taking a more roundabout route if it’s the only thing possible.

Thoughts and suggestions? can anyone see why AA4294 has been cancelled? And is the smog/haze/smoke the cause of this or some other reason?

edited to add: may well be able to stay in Boston overnight although it’s not my preference. At present we may have to: AA seem to have auto rebooked us on AA4283 tomorrow around 2pm. Nothing arriving earlier, even via somewhere else to LGA/EWR/JFK?

bisonrav

See what they offer on landing, and if necessary put in an original routing request. It's not really something you need to think about now.

salut0

ExpertFlyer has these details:

Is that eligible for UK261?

NWIFlyer

If ATC, I'm afraid not. That's circumstances beyond the airline's control.

bisonrav

Just to add there's not much available tonight, the options are mostly indirect and you'd be better off taking the direct flight tomorrow as far as I can see. I'd be focusing my efforts on discussing a hotel with AA rather than trying to fly today.

corporate-wage-slave

ATC congestion (actually ATC short staffing) is not good for EC261.

I think you're likely to end up in Y, and will need to seek ORC after the event, either on AA or jetBlue. If you want to avoid ORC then I don't know if AA.com is offering you say a BOS-DCA-NYC routing, since unsurprisingly DCA firsts look wide open.

salut0

But is that still true if the airline had contacted me beforehand and popped up a “Travel Alert” message on the record locator on the AA app?

As far as I understand, it is a bit like the situations in which British Airways use the CB4D pop up, so AA did know in advance and could have made alternative plans.

I didn’t change our trip proactively because there were very compelling reasons (not just tier points) for us to stay on the LHR-BOS rather than switch to a nonstop LHR-JFK (if that would even have been available).

KARFA

sure if there are slot delays and restrictions already they will know beforehand. Also when there is significant weather across the north east usually AA issue a waiver to allow some movement - but of course that depends on there being free seats on other flights and everything is busy atm.

what alternative plans do you think they could have made for everyone on the flight? Sometimes you have to accept that there are delays and cancellations, and there is no magic wand to fix it or compensation due.

jerry a. laska

Typically, yes. Not sure what control AA has over ATC staffing.

salut0

Sorry for sounding grumpy — result of about 3hr sleep last night, coaxing a 7yr old to get up at 5am, starting very early this morning in ARN where the Arlanda Express is running from a different platform and we missed our intended train, and chaperoning nervous elderly relatives for several hours through LHR to the BOS flight (the reason we had taken that one and not LHR-JFK).

By the way, for that last escapade BA staff were fantastic — and also the Heathrow Assistance staff at T5 who were very jovial and helpful with wheelchairs and sensitive to the people they were helping.

orbitmic

Frankly, I don't think you are in luck and it's going to be a tall order. You are in one of those cases where even though you'd rely on BA for UK261 as AA per se is not covered but the full itinerary is, the disruption was to an AA flight and it was their disruption which is outside of their control and which they will presumably take all reasonable measure to take you to your destination at the first available opportunity.

In other words, whilst your trip from LHR to JFK is covered by UK 261, BA is not responsible for AA's issues and if you are trying to make the argument that BA should take all reasonable measures when they are not affected by a delay to protect you against another airline's delay, I think you'll be entering unchartered legal territory (as far as I know) and one which you would certainly not be certain to see turning in your favour (and certainly not without a very long and complex fight).

If both flights were BA and BA chose not to reroute you from point of origin when knowing your itinerary would lead to your failing to arrive on the same day because of their own cancellation and lack of existing service via that specific routing, the situation would potentially be different, but here, the idea that you can seek compensation from BA for a cancellation which is not theirs is already an exception of sorts.

stifle

If you have GlobalEntry or otherwise get through USCBP promptly, there's an Amtrak from Back Bay station to New York Penn at 6:45pm arriving 10:52pm. A free bus will take you from Logan to Back Bay in about half an hour. That's the last train today as the 9:36pm is cancelled.

sdmr

Worth asking cabin crew if ground staff would escort you through the border to enable you to make the Amtrak? The sticking point might be if you have checked luggage. Still might just be doable. I’d probably Uber/Lyft from Logan to Back Bay.

salut0

V interesting idea. Can I claim back the Amtrak cost? I assume I can’t get AA to pay to rebook me on Amtrak — I know that there was some discussion in this forum if BA reimbursing people for trains from London to northern cities instead of flights….

guv1976

AA is currently selling seats on an AA-coded, JetBlue-operated 7:00 pm BOS-LGA flight. Since AA has "control" of the ticket on day of travel, perhaps they can rebook you on that flight.