BA Pilots strike impacting on Qantas award booking - advice please

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andrew58

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So I received an email from BA yesterday telling me that my flight from LHR to LYS on Sep 8th was cancelled due to the pilot's strike. 2 tickets - both QFF award in J. So I went ahead and made alternative travel arrangements (Eurostar - unchangeable without a fee). Fares were escalating by the hour for that date with other carriers (eg AF). Today I received an email from BA telling me my flight is now "operating as originally planned". So I rang Qantas to cancel my flights (x2 seats, x2 separate award bookings) and request not to be charged the 6,000 point cancellation fee. QFF tell me that they have "no commercial relationship with BA" and will not absorb any costs as no Qantas flights were cancelled - the 6,000 points cancellation fee (x2) stands. Any advice? I don't like my chances ...
 
So I received an email from BA yesterday telling me that my flight from LHR to LYS on Sep 8th was cancelled due to the pilot's strike. 2 tickets - both QFF award in J. So I went ahead and made alternative travel arrangements (Eurostar - unchangeable without a fee). Fares were escalating by the hour for that date with other carriers (eg AF). Today I received an email from BA telling me my flight is now "operating as originally planned". So I rang Qantas to cancel my flights (x2 seats, x2 separate award bookings) and request not to be charged the 6,000 point cancellation fee. QFF tell me that they have "no commercial relationship with BA" and will not absorb any costs as no Qantas flights were cancelled - the 6,000 points cancellation fee (x2) stands. Any advice? I don't like my chances ...
You should not cancel your flights. You should claim the cost of your Eurostar ticket to BA.
 
Qantas Award Booking? You should have contacted Qantas first.

Their policy with oneworld bookings on Qantas (081-) tickets is to re-accommodate on alternate oneworld flight(s) in the same cabin as booked at no charge.

 
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Qantas Award Booking? You should have contacted Qantas first.

Their policy with oneworld bookings on Qantas (081-) tickets is to re-accommodate on alternate oneworld flight(s) in the same cabin as booked at no charge.

But QF would have said the flight was not cancelled (8 September flights were not actually cancelled except a few). I saw on the BBC that BA will potentially reimburse people who have received cancellation emails by mistake if they have booked alternative travel arrangements.
 
LHR to LYS on Sep 8th was cancelled due to the pilot's strike
my flight is now "operating as originally planned"

So was the flight cancelled or not?

From the first email it would appear that it was. So there was nothing for you to cancel with Qantas - it was already cancelled.

When BA cancelled one of my QFF award flights this year, the email said:

For further information, and to rebook yourself on to the next suitable flight or to claim a full refund, please go to Manage My Booking on ba.com
Alternatively, please either contact your booking agent or call us
 
I saw on the BBC that BA will potentially reimburse people who have received cancellation emails by mistake if they have booked alternative travel arrangements.

That seems the situation!
 
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I was incredibly lucky to have my three BA flights booked on the 8 and 11. I received 3 cancellation emails yesterday. I saw that the flights were not cancelled on Expert Flyer and this morning I received 3 emails saying my flights were never cancelled. Happy I didn't do anything!
 
But QF would have said the flight was not cancelled (8 September flights were not actually cancelled except a few). I saw on the BBC that BA will potentially reimburse people who have received cancellation emails by mistake if they have booked alternative travel arrangements.
In which case it should have been fine.
 
If it was a mistake cancellation email from BA (as it seems it was) it would seem to me to be a BA issue.
 
Yes, that is exactly what happened - the flights were not cancelled as it turned out. In manage my booking on BA yesterday there were no options for changing or cancelling flights (presumably because it was a QFF award ticket) and it said to contact BA in Australia (Mon-fri 9-5). I actually did check EF and noted the flight was still there and also still being sold on BA.com, albeit at hugely inflated prices (one-way in Y 523 pounds, vs 49-79 pounds the days prior), but I thought there was just confusion due to the strike. In the meantime I booked the Eurostar and I'm quite happy with that ($290 premiere class and about the same total travel time) but I suppose I'm just a little annoyed that because I acted on their email I will be 12,000 points worse off. No biggie, just annoying. Blame the pilots I suppose.
 
Yes, that is exactly what happened - the flights were not cancelled as it turned out. In manage my booking on BA yesterday there were no options for changing or cancelling flights (presumably because it was a QFF award ticket) and it said to contact BA in Australia (Mon-fri 9-5). I actually did check EF and noted the flight was still there and also still being sold on BA.com, albeit at hugely inflated prices (one-way in Y 523 pounds, vs 49-79 pounds the days prior), but I thought there was just confusion due to the strike. In the meantime I booked the Eurostar and I'm quite happy with that ($290 premiere class and about the same total travel time) but I suppose I'm just a little annoyed that because I acted on their email I will be 12,000 points worse off. No biggie, just annoying. Blame the pilots I suppose.

12000 points cancellation, but you'll get back the $290 for the train?

It might also be worth emailing QFFF with a screenshot of (a) the BA cancellation advice (with time stamp if possible), (b) the error message from BA and (c) your train ticket (with time stamp matching (a)). Maybe they'll cancel fro free.

Alternatively your travel insurance may cover the cost of the points. Or maybe even the train (whichever is higher). Check the PDS.

(Re Eurostar, if you haven't travelled with them recently they have somewhat downgraded 'premier' in the last few years. It's more like a first class seat with just a very basic snack these days. Not like the past when it was a full meals and champagne.)
 
Thanks all for the useful suggestions. I'm happy to stay with the Eurostar (happy to avoid BA for the time being), but will start with my travel insurance and then if no luck BA and finally Qantas again. See how I go.
 
Basically if the QF system still shows the bookings as 'HK' - confirmed, then QF will not be able to waive the cancellation fee on the bookings. The bookings in QF's system, need to be shown as HX - segment cancelled.
 
Basically if the QF system still shows the bookings as 'HK' - confirmed, then QF will not be able to waive the cancellation fee on the bookings. The bookings in QF's system, need to be shown as HX - segment cancelled.

If they can't waive the cancellation fee they can make a 'points adjustment' to return the 6000 points.
 
BBC has coverage of this mistake and the entitlements of passengers who where affected by it.

That's some good news for the OP. Still unclear how this will all work in terms of processing refunds, and how much. EU261 may also apply if within 14 days.
 
An Update: I decided to try twitter to contact BA and to my surprise I received a message back promptly asking for my full details and exactly what compensation I was seeking. I explained about having booked x2 Eurostar tickets (at 173 euro each) and the loss of 12,000 QFF points (but with the taxes of $92 being refunded) and left it at that, expecting a further request for documentation etc at some time in the future. Well, lo and behold, today my Amex was credited with 2x $357.09 (196.44 GBP x2). There has been no further communication or request for invoices/receipts. But I'd have to say I'm very surprised and very satisfied. Overall a good result.
 
Goo
An Update: I decided to try twitter to contact BA and to my surprise I received a message back promptly asking for my full details and exactly what compensation I was seeking. I explained about having booked x2 Eurostar tickets (at 173 euro each) and the loss of 12,000 QFF points (but with the taxes of $92 being refunded) and left it at that, expecting a further request for documentation etc at some time in the future. Well, lo and behold, today my Amex was credited with 2x $357.09 (196.44 GBP x2). There has been no further communication or request for invoices/receipts. But I'd have to say I'm very surprised and very satisfied. Overall a good result.
Good News and well done. I always say it is better to ask - they can only refuse - or as in this case, act responsibly.
 
Qantas Award Booking? You should have contacted Qantas first.

Their policy with oneworld bookings on Qantas (081-) tickets is to re-accommodate on alternate oneworld flight(s) in the same cabin as booked at no charge.


I don't think that would have helped as BA is the only oneworld carrier that services LYS.

An Update: I decided to try twitter to contact BA and to my surprise I received a message back promptly asking for my full details and exactly what compensation I was seeking. I explained about having booked x2 Eurostar tickets (at 173 euro each) and the loss of 12,000 QFF points (but with the taxes of $92 being refunded) and left it at that, expecting a further request for documentation etc at some time in the future. Well, lo and behold, today my Amex was credited with 2x $357.09 (196.44 GBP x2). There has been no further communication or request for invoices/receipts. But I'd have to say I'm very surprised and very satisfied. Overall a good result.

Uh oh. It sounds like helpful people with commonsense have taken over the BA Twitter account.

Seriously, though. I'm stunned. That's an incredible response for an airline that is notorious for denying legitimate EU compensation for delayed and cancelled flights.
 
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