Our specific rights in event of BA flight cancellation

[linnite]

Hi, hoping someone can help.

We are not normally business class customers. This year we happened upon some affordable flights to FL in Aug, business class out, PE return.

The business class flights were old BA, 2-4-2 formation. We were also landing from an internal flight at Heathrow and having to get round to Gatwick.

Then as a result of BA cancelling a flight we then ended up not having to shuttle between Heathrow and Gatwick and are now in a 1-2-1 formation so I think this the new Club Suite business class?

So the advice I could use is:

Am i right about the Club Suite?

In the event of further cancellations by BA can I now insist on Club Suite, or at least the right to choose my own replacement flight, like for like?

Similarly can I insist we don't go back to having to shuttle between airports?

We have been so lucky with these flights, we will probably never have this opportunity again, but it starts to look like we might have to contemplate not being alowed to go this summer.

A voucher and no rights beyond that is likely to be a terrible outcome.

Thank you.

[400ixl]

If they cancel more than 14 days before the flight as they are typically doing then you get a monetary value voucher or a refund.

As far as I am aware they do not have to give you like to like flights at any monetary value. That would be purely at their discretion.

[shelle]

I think you may possibly be expecting too much.

If you've booked flight only and the flight in cancelled you can either request a refund or a voucher/to be rebooked. You can be booked on to any flight with availability but you will need to pay any difference in fare.

If this in non-COVID related and we're still allowed to fly as such then you can tell them which flights you would like to move to. I got flights twice the price I paid via this route but I'm not sure they have to agree as they can just refund you instead.

[jetflyer]

You are correct in that 1 2 1 is club suite. Unfortunately you have no right to demand this as aircraft types could be changed at short notice.
Im pretty sure that BA cover themselves by saying product my not be available on all routes as it is still only a limited amount of aircraft that have the new cabin fitted

[linnite]

Thanks all.

The funny thing is, BA did just give us a replacement and much better flight when they cancelled one. I assume at some cost to themselves. But it sounds like that was discretionary?

Better hope we can fly in August then. We're nearly at the point where we would fly just for the flight.

[DisneyCupcake]

Originally Posted by linnite

Thanks all.

The funny thing is, BA did just give us a replacement and much better flight when they cancelled one. I assume at some cost to themselves. But it sounds like that was discretionary?

Better hope we can fly in August then. We're nearly at the point where we would fly just for the flight.

See more...

If the same booking class was available at the time of the change then there would be no difference in the fare element but the taxes, fees and charges may have been slightly different which BA would absorb. Assuming a like for like price for the fare elemnt there would not be an extra cost to travel on an aircraft with Club Suites compared to Club World - you are paying for a journey in Club not a specific type of seat in that cabin.

jetflyer was correct in saying that you cannot insist on flying on an aircraft with the Club Suites - you have paid to fly from A to B in Club. Aircraft substitutions can happen at anytime so no guarantee is given.

As you are travelling in August a lot can change before then so I would keep a careful eye on any announcements by BA (they would be discussed on the Dibb I am sure). At the moment if BA cancel a flight you would be offered a full refund or a voucher (if an alternative flight they offer is not suitable) - depending on your preference but a lot can happen in the next 6 months before you travel.

You will be able to use the LHR Galleries Club Lounge at T5 instead of the LGW one.

[123]

You only have one right in a flight only booking

The airline gets you to your destination (and back) as close to your ticketed time as possible or you can have a refund/voucher

All the rest is nice to have fluff that isn't contractually enforceable

[7SeasSailor]

We had booked with BA for a month, August 21, flying Gatwick - Tampa - Gatwick, like you Upper Class had fallen within reach as a one off. A couple of weeks later we were notified that they had cancelled our flight transferred us. They had kept Tampa as our point of entry but knocked three days off the holiday which we were not happy about. I phoned them, which was a saga on its own and resulted in me asking dibbers for help, and spoke to a very nice man who listened when I said that I was happy to use MCO, MIA or TPA as my point of entry but the twenty eight days was more important overall. Having given him something to work with he then gave me some options and we quickly arrived at an agreement that was . We got the twenty eight days back, up graded the car and we now go through Orlando. The changes also brought the price down. I would suggest talking to them first before worrying about "rights".

[DisneyCupcake]

Originally Posted by 7SeasSailor

We had booked with BA for a month, August 21, flying Gatwick - Tampa - Gatwick, like you Upper Class had fallen within reach as a one off. A couple of weeks later we were notified that they had cancelled our flight transferred us. They had kept Tampa as our point of entry but knocked three days off the holiday which we were not happy about. I phoned them, which was a saga on its own and resulted in me asking dibbers for help, and spoke to a very nice man who listened when I said that I was happy to use MCO, MIA or TPA as my point of entry but the twenty eight days was more important overall. Having given him something to work with he then gave me some options and we quickly arrived at an agreement that was . We got the twenty eight days back, up graded the car and we now go through Orlando. The changes also brought the price down. I would suggest talking to them first before worrying about "rights".

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It is always a good idea to do your research about what other possibilities are available when any similar situation arises 7SeasSailor did exactly the right thing and it put them in a strong position when contacting BA.

Just a little note - BA call it Club World (with 2 possible seat types as they are introducing their Club Suites) not Upper Class

[Kraken]

Originally Posted by jetflyer

You are correct in that 1 2 1 is club suite. Unfortunately you have no right to demand this as aircraft types could be changed at short notice.

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According to the seat maps on ba.com, none of their aircraft have a 1-2-1 Club World cabin. Even their newest aircraft (the 787-900) is 2-3-2.

The 777-200 (which is the aircraft normally used on the MCO route) are all 2-4-2, with a mixture of forward & rear facing seats.

The new Club Suite is indeed 1-2-1 - but I cannot see it being installed on the leisure fleet 777's in a hurry. BA will almost certainly prioritise the refits on aircraft used on business-heavy routes to attract lucrative business class trade when demand picks up.

Having said the above, the BA website is certainly a bit unreliable / out of date. At the bottom of the Club World information page is a link entitled "More about the Club World service to JFK from London City". Hmm, this flight was cancelled permanently at the start of the pandemic!