Was away most of the summer, and returned to 3 (yes 3!) major family emergencies that have delayed my discussing the following with you all. Do not know if I am planning to pursue this, as more than 2 months have passed but want to run it by everyone and see what they think. I warn you, its long and complicated!

Last legs of AONE4, issued by AA, end of June thru mid-July. Was scheduled this way: LHR-(CDG-LHR-purchased)-NBO-SEZ-NBO-JNB (all on BA). This was during the Brit Gov't ban on flts to/from NBO, but BA was cancelling flights only 5 or less days ahead. Prior to leaving the US (Jul 23), I found that BA had rerouted us LHR-EBB-SEZ (Jun27-28) on our outbound, as I had expected, but our onward flts SEZ-NBO-JNB (Jul1-2) were showing as scheduled since they were still 8 days out. Was expecting to be re-routed, and since either NBO or EBB required an overnight to continue to JNB, was prepared with hotel numbers, etc. I had spoken at length to several BA agents to prepare for any possible rerouting, and was told that we would be re-routed SEZ-EBB(overnt)-NBO-JNB. There were few other choices, and none for my original dates of travel (July1-2)

Went to CDG on my own dime, and returned to LHR at noon, Fri, July 27 for our evening flt to EBB/SEZ. Was in the Concorde Lounge for most of the afternoon, trying to get info, but that day several BA trans-Atl flights were cancelled, and ticket agents needed to get them taken care of and put me off til later. Once the Concorde had departed and the lounges had cleared, I tried again to speak to a ticketing agent, but they had decided to leave for the day. I spoke to a wonderful lounge agent, who pulled up our records to confirm.

Wow! As expected, we had been rerouted, but now our records showed: LHR-EBB-SEZ/NBO-JNB, with no flights out of SEZ at all! The agent got a BA ticketing rep on the phone, who explained that there was no way for us to leave SEZ on the date we had expected. I asked her about the SEZ-EBB flt, and was told that there were no seats left on that flight. Since this was still our original, ticketed flight #, just rerouted, I asked how this could have happened, and why I was not notified (I had been checking my online records with AA and had hubby at home in case anyone called). BA said it was AA's responsibility to contact me, but AA still showed the original flights as operating (as I found out later, BA had never contacted them about ANY NBO cancellations).

There was no flight off SEZ for my original date of travel (other than BA's EBB flt). The agent on the phone was a tad snippy and I was given two choices: To leave SEZ one day early on Air Sez directly to JNB, or leave one day later on Air Sez thru MRU, connecting to SA to JNB (and missing my onward connection). Tough decision, as I would lose one prepaid hotel night either in SEZ (first option) or JNB (second option). Decided to leave SEZ a day early (Mon, instead of Tues) as to hold the end of our trip together. I asked if I could be booked in Bus Class, as these were paid FC reservations, and was told "No, why should we, Air Sez isn't our partner!". As the time for our departure was approaching, the agent told me to re-ticket in SEZ and hung up.

Boarded our very pleasant flight LHR-EBB-SEZ and arrived the next day. Upon arrival (Sat afternoon), went directly to the BA office. Although there was someone inside, the door was locked and nobody would open it. Checked into hotel, explained that we would be leaving Mon instead of Tues and they were kind enough to let me out of the prepaid last night. Tried to call BA locally, no one answered. Went about my business for the next day or so and found the BA office was closed Sunday, and MONDAY because of a holiday and would not reopen until Tues, one day after our newly scheduled departure.

Through all this, Hubby was home, rearranging his own NBO flts, and making calls for me, as it was difficult to phone out of SEZ. He finally got me conferenced with BA on Sunday night, who now rescheduled us on Wed thru MRU (gratefully!). Paid for 2 additional nights in SEZ, plus booked one night in JNB for our very late arrival. Got to the BA ticket office when they reopened Tues, and the agent was able to arrange us BC seating on one of the two flts (the other was S/O). Made it to JNB almost a day later than expected, lost about $500 for a prepaid night in Sun City, and lost my elite/earned miles for everything past SEZ. Plus there was more than $100 of phone calls trying to reschedule the flts, the additional night in SEZ and JNB airport hotel, thanks to our missed connection to Sun City.

So here's the sticker: Upon getting my new tickets in SEZ, the BA agent did some research and found that BA had cancelled our SEZ-NBO res, and sold our reserved/paid A seats from SEZ-EBB with the same Flt #. He told me that they were supposed to rebook us thru EBB to NBO and on to JNB and had just left the segment unfinished. There were no notes in the record that said BA had tried to contact either us or AA, and AA's record showed SEZ-NBO as HK (holding confirmed) with no notice of flt cancellation. Plus, the Gov't ban on NBO flts had been lifted in the meantime, so it was BAs choice NOT to fly thru NBO on July 1. So, is anyone to blame for this? Should I just be happy that I made it home at all, and eat the mileage lost and the $$$? If I pursue the miles for the reroute, do I go through AA or BA for AA miles?

Discuss amongst yourselves....

[This message has been edited by Fishbait (edited 09-03-2003).]

WOW!!! What a tale of woe.

I'd go after BA for everything and hope to at least get the miles. It sure looks like they screwed up.

Trying writing them at:

British Airways
75-20 Astoria Blvd.
Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370

Attention: Customer Relations